A Scott lesson 22.11.10

Time to again drag out the brave pants, given Andrew's tendency to build rather large jumps during lessons - although having said that, it is what I was looking forward to, and seeing how Sampson and I coped.

I shared my lesson with another rider, funnily enough also on an Anziyan (which I picked as soon as I saw him) - very pretty horse.

Sampson went very well, given he had been on his worst behaviour the preceding day and scared me...in actual fact, he was dead quiet. Of course this led to me being reminded to keep his engine going coming into the jumps!

But, I was also advised not to try to protect him: that he need to learn also to back himself off when needed.


Basically Sampson just popped over everything happily, and I will admit to being a little disappointed that although we did a few at about the 1.05 mark, in general they seemed very small.

Although, isnt it GREAT to be leaving a lesson wishing the jumps had been higher, rather than scaring oneself silly cos they looked too big.

Have already put my name down for his next visit up here, and asked to be in a group jumping slightly bigger (but not huge please!), and a day of XC too. Can't wait!

6/7 November 2010 - My Turn :)

OK Brave pants packed, and I remembered to put them on!

He was a bit wound up warming up for dressage, but it was a relatively small area and very busy. Spent most of my time trying to avoid everyone else, and hoping that we wouldnt collide with the inevitable skedaddles. But we survived. I actually enjoyed having 'more horse' and some natural 'life', rather than having to bully him along as I do at home.

Unfortunately on our way to the arena he kept putting his foot Under the tape instead of stepping over it, but we got there. Bit spooky down that end, cars passing above us, horses appearing and jumps, and people walking the XC...apart from one wee skedaddle whilst going around the outside of arena he coped.

It wasnt too bad a test, although I have to admit to being very disappointed with his score. Oh well, we at least completed it with no major dramas; hopefully the judge will mark us better next time. Interesting that the judge was the same one that judged my very first dressage test on 17.11.1974
!

Onto the show jumping: He warmed up quietly and sensibly and in we went. He was absolutely lovely, just toddled around jumping everything nicely. Was super pleased, especially when the commentator said it was a "lovely clear round" :)

Cross country, and I'll admit I was very worried given I had been warned that he would be far too strong for me XC.
He was a little full of it warming up, and pretty keen to run off after the practice jump, but he did behave himself.

I took him very quietly, just cantering over the first couple, then (eeek) trotting down the hill (for fear he would get away on me and get too strong). A few spooky times between some of the early jumps where he was googling at the people, trucks, ambo etc, but he just kept toddling along behind the bit and popping over whatever I pointed him at.

After the water (at which I got the dreaded "E" - not because we failed to jump, but because stupid jockey jumped out over the wrong jump), I pushed his stride out a little and he felt even better, the jumps came up lovely and he was really listening.

Absolutely thrilled with him.
I realise that not every outing is going to go as well, but I am so glad I got to feel how he can go, so I know what I am aiming at.

Yay: bring on the next start!
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SJ Leamington 31.10.2010

Yay! I actually did a competition on the big pony.

Joined in with an adult riding club day yesterday on him, and he was very well behaved. Didnt even skedaddle when we were all trotting around in a circle, even though one or two others did the whole bucky, bouncy thing. And a couple of people commented on how quiet and relaxed he was (people who didnt know him). So very proud of him. He then went awesome and jumped everything asked of him - we had a XC play.

Today, I took the two boys to Leamington for the SJ.

I even got straight on him at the truck without leading him around first!

Yes, he did some pretty big skedaddles while warming up, but for some reason I was fine with it (maybe because some others were having far more 'interesting' rides than I was, so my boy seemed easy in comparison?).

I started with the 80 class, and just took one rail. Set out really well, then lost the canter between 2 & 3 so got an odd spot with no impulsion. Then I got it together, and he felt great.

For the 90 class I got my timing a bit wrong, so had to run over, throw on his gear, trot to the warm up, a quick warm up and in.

Again, started off great, then AGAIN! didnt maintain enough canter (to the point of even allowing him to trot), and he took a couple of rails. But I sorted it out, and he (and I) finished great. Really pleased.

And it was great to be able to see it on video cos I could see so clearly the lack of canter in places. Ha ha, and he looked so quiet and sensible :)

Rushed off and got on Willie, another quick warm up and in. Again started great, then YET AGAIN, allowed the canter to fail (interestingly in the same places), but unlike Sampson, Willie stopped. grrrr. He stopped twice.

The judges then kindly allowed me to go back in. I rode far more determinedly, and he went great....apparently I did several lines and cut in front of jumps for the jump off that nobody else had even tried, but then Willie loves doing jump offs and I also get my adrenalin up. It was great fun! So finished there on a good note.

Also nice to get feedback that I see to be beating the tilting habit, and I am sitting in behind them better. Likewise wasn't anxious, and when I cocked it up, I simply fixed up what I was doing wrong rather then letting it get to me. Now just need to maintain the right canter (on both of them), and react quicker and right RIGHT to the jump on Wilson.

Yay; I'm on my way.

Taupo HT 16.10.2010

Having ridden Sampson before leaving (and spent 40 minutes looking for a pulled shoe), we arrived to find Taupo Equestrian Centre basked in sunshine.

After setting up camp, I tacked up Sampson and rode him over to the sand arena to do some schooling. He was a little tense to start, but when he realised that there were water sprinklers going, that was it! He just wanted out of there, and I'm afraid I got a bit defensive.

I got off and spent some time leading him near the sprinklers until he could cope - first time in a long time he has done the passagey skedaddle thing when being led, but he soon calmed down.

I got back on, but I'm afraid I didnt really ride him forward, and we had a couple of skedaddles - probably him taking the mickey. But I did persevere, so that's still progress.

Next morning I tried to lunge him, only to find that was a dead loss. He was quite wound up, and there were plenty of pretty passage movements with his tail stuck up like a flagpole, and going round in circles quite simply, was not high on his agenda.

Eventually I did manage to get him to lunge at trot in both directions, but we must have been at it for about an hour.

It had been mentioned to me that if I was feeling at all tentative about riding him, I was better not to, for the horse's sake. I therefore offered the ride to Frank, who was kind enough to ride him at his first training event.

Funnily enough, the horse walked calmly over to the warm up area and warmed up sweetly - definitely makes a difference when the rider is not anxious or tense. He did a pretty good test, just coming a little behind the vertical at times, which is simply due to the fact that he was a little tired at that stage and couldnt maintain his carriage. All in all very pleasing finishing on 68% and 8th place after dressage.

It was not only the first time Sampson was attempting training, but the first time Frank had jumped him. Over the practice jumps a few times, and into the arena.

He went very quietly and jumped confidently, just being unlucky to have a couple of rails - interestingly enough though, with the two rails, he was still in 10th place going into XC.

It was probably not the smallest of cross country's for a first start, with a skinny, large trakener, and a bounce. Frank gave him a lovely ride, taking him quietly and confidently including going the direct option at the bounce (the majority going the long route, and those attempting the bounce looking somewhat less than pretty).

Sampson looked lovely, and jumped well, only having a wee look at the skinny, and being surprised upon landing after the drop - simply green issues. He did the bounce beautifully, and at the end of the day finished in 9th place. Not bad for a first training start, and having had two SJ rails!
Many thanks to Frank for stepping in at the last minute....hopefully I will maintain my nerve enough to have a go myself next outing!

Te Rapa HT 2-3.10.2010

Sammie's second outing.
He was excellent warming up for dressage, much more relaxed, although got a wee bit tired in his test which results in him coming a little behind the vertical. But overall a lovely test, again ridden beautifully by Wendy.

He scored highly being pipped for the lead by a very good dressage horse, but both of them were quite a way ahead of the rest of the field.

On to the show jumping.
He was a little concerned initially when we led him over, but soon settled, and warmed up well.
Very calm into the ring; indeed not quite focussed on the first jump which cost him a rail, but did a beautiful round. Wendy rode him calmly and in a lovely rhythm and the two of them looked really lovely.
Cross country time.
Again quite settled warming up.
He looked really nice going, and looked to enjoy himself.
Wendy described his round as "gorgeous"...she said he was much softer than at Taupo and came back as soon as she sat up, and just got on with the job. Looked at a couple, but it was simply to suss out the job.

Although he had taken a rail SJ the top two were ahead enough that Sammie had retained second place.

Word came through that the leader had missed a jump, although this was not recorded by the jump judge. The honesty of that competitor meant that Sammie had won his class.

Proud Mummy moment!

Photos thanks to Jan at www.takethemoment

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1.03.01

Taupo 10-12 Sept 2010

Photos courtesy many thanks to Michelle of Kiwi Sporthorses.




Headed down to Taupo Friday for the weekend, including the first training trial of the Spring.

Truck loaded with lots of gear, Saarin's pony (his first weekend away), Sampson, and Wilson.

Gave Sammie a half hour ride before leaving and he was on his best behaviour, hoping that he would maintain that frame of mind for his first XC clinic that afternoon with Kirsten Kelly. Oh my gosh; what have I let myself in for....only a matter of weeks since my big fall from him and still sporting bruising and a very sore shoulder.

Went for a hack on arriving with Wilson and Saarin's pony, then the butterflies started in anticipation of the xc clinic!

First few jumps he was a bit yeehah, lets go (I'm afraid my hands came up the first time, but after that I managed to keep them down), but after a few he got better and eventually just jumped and pulled up happily.

He was great!
Jumped quite a few different sorts of jumps and I found that he kept a good rhythm, was soft and light, and actually started to focus on the job.

Kirsten said he was a very nice horse, and jumped in very good style (and that it was effortless for him).

I was thrilled, not only with how he went, but how confident I felt riding him.



Saturday 11th

As has been usual for the weekend of the Taupo training trial, there was a practice SJ on the Saturday. We toddled over with Sampson and Wilson all tacked up ready, and I started on Sampson.

He warmed up lovely....felt soft and round, and Saarin said he looked lovely. I also noticed a couple of people's attention had been drawn to him....what a nice feeling. Just one wee skeddaddle when someone jumped the practice jump behind me, but no problem.

Into the smaller ring 75-85 .... he was a little distracted, but every jump I pointed him at he just popped over, whether at trot or canter, including the liverpool.

So....into the bigger ring...probably set at about 85 but the white wall was at 95 as apparently wouldnt go any lower. Again, he just popped over everything happily, including swedish oxer, triple bar, one stride triple, and the liverpool. He did do a yukky jump over the white wall - but he never offered to stop.

So again thrilled with him, and me! (I rode a little messily, but felt confident)

Willie however, was AWFUL! Did the 95 and he was like a bulldozer....hooned at everything with no brakes....YUK Perhaps he is a little short of work and the quiet hacks should have been work outs!

SUNDAY

The day of the training trial had arrived for us to find everything extremely wet. I decided not to run Willie; he had felt a little off the day before and was particularly grumpy (I am now wondering if he is suffering a spot of jealousy having for eight years been number one only to be usurped). Had it been fine I probably would have run him, but I also wanted to focus on Sampson, whom Wendy was riding.

It is so nice to see your horse ridden by someone like Wendy. She is always calm and quiet and does such a beautiful job.

I gave him a 20 min lunge just to give him a chance to blow a few cobwebs out, then we got him ready.

Unfortunately, I made a big mistake in thinking having Wilson around while he was warming up would help him settle. WRONG....he simply got very tense and distracted always worrying to see that Wilson was still there. He didnt actually do anything wrong in his test, but was tense and distracted, which spoilt the work he is capable of doing. However still got some positive remarks on paces and the nice rider/horse combination, and that he showed potential.

15th place with 57.5% (well over 30 starters)

SJ ....LOVELY, (left Willie in yard)...he warmed up nicely and Wendy did a lovely rhythmic calm round on him.

XC...he did find it a bit hard to cope with the multitude of horses warming up, and got very tense and was napping. Wendy took him off by himself and he slowly got his focus back on her.

Into the start box and away....trotted up to the first, which he popped over, upon which he decided this might be rather fun, and became very strong. However Wendy skillfully managed to keep him in check in a nice rhythm and he jumped everything very calmly and boldly. Basically didnt worry about anything.

So clear and just the 3.2 time faults which pulled him up to 8th (5th if no tf)

So, very pleased with the wee boy
:)


Taupo Competition photos courtesy of Jan Sutherland of Take the Moment photography

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1.03.01

Clover Hay ?

Ok, following on from the weekend, Sampson was a little on edge Tuesday and Wednesday when ridden, then Thursday simply awful, to the point where he was leaping all over the place and incredibly tense - and this was in his home arena - at the walk!. (bummer as I had set up the show jumps for a jumping session on him).

Anyway, got off and tried to do some ground work. More leaping about, barging etc, and the far end of the arena harboured horse eating gremlins.

On with the lunging gear.

Lunging was....'interesting'....lovely elevated cadenced trot :)
lots of ummm hooning (rather than cantering), including many flying changes.

However, after an hour he finally dropped his head and relaxed, so gave him another ten mins and finished.

Then the questions....WHY?

Hmmmm; what had I changed....the only thing I could think of was that I had been giving them lovely clover hay, which may well be the problem. Have spoken to some friends who give their horses clover hay, but NOT their full-on horses, who they tell me have gone absolutely nuts on the stuff.

Also, I realised that I gave them the nice clover hay at Taupo for a 'treat'.....Sampson actually ate a whole bale Friday night and another half on Saturday.

So, it is back to crap hay for him (much to his disgust)....will be interesting to see if he goes back to 'normal' after a day or so off the clover.

Oh well, one lives and learns.
:)