SJ Lesson 17.07.010

Great lesson with Wendy.

Did quite a bit of work initially on getting him to stretch down and out, and then on raising his poll, before moving onto the canter pole exercises....PUFF PUFF PUFF - geeze, I sound like an old, unfit, 2 packet a dayer! Not to mention that I also felt like I'd been in a sauna for several hours.

Sampson went very well, and apart from me learning to control his shoulder, and turn using my legs, all was good.

Moved onto a trot cross to oxer with the object being to use my legs, rather then my upper body, particularly when he feels a little flat. I need to build up the energy (not the speed) on the approach and keep him sharp. He can tend to fall asleep a little if allowed to - yeah, sounds a bit strange when my problems with him stem from skedaddles and reactivity.

He can actually be quite hard work (although a lovely lovely ride), and often not particularly sensitive. But when the mood takes him, he becomes reactive to his surroundings (or any excuse really)...so it becomes a feeding balancing act so that he retains sufficient focus to enable him to be able to do his job. (As well as me learning not to react too, and just correct and ride)

We then moved onto jumping a course, which he did well. Up with a few of the jumps and we finished off with a lovely round...I did lose his shoulder on one turn, but it was all good. I just need to be more demanding with him. Wendy tells me that because he is so big and strong, she finds her half halts are ten times stronger than with any other horse. And yet when he is soft, he can be very soft.....all part of his learning curve I guess.

So, very pleased with how both he and I went today.

:)

Kaurilands 11.07.2010

Despite being a "little inattentive" and reactive warming up (resulting in a few skedaddles), Wendy rode Sampson beautifully and managed to hold his attention through both his tests.

1.4
68.8% for 1st place

4.2
68.75% for 1st place

So the wee boy gained his first red rosettes.

Another Awesome lesson 28.06.010

Toddled out to Wendy's, where Sammie is 'at boarding school', and had a SJ lesson.

Sampson didn't put a foot wrong, and I was thrilled to find that I had not one moment of even slight concern, or the "what if's".

Hard work though....we did a lot of work on my position, and in particular keeping the lower leg in the right place, rather than swinging. In fact, if I hadn't swung it so much in the early part of the lesson I may not now be in agony with a large rub on my leg. So much for cheap chaps...the burn on my leg is not nice, and extremely stingy in the shower.

Lots of work on two point, working on balance and maintaining leg position.

And trying to simply sit and wait for the jump, whilst maintaining rhythm and impulsion.

Sampson just kept on doing his thing while I tried again and again to get it right - lucky for him I did - eventually.

Interesting also, that now I am learning to ride Wilson more forward focusing more on getting him to come from behind, he and Sampson feel a lot more similar to ride. OK, Willie doesn't have the spring from behind of Sampson, but I felt yesterday riding the two of them, that there was FAR less difference between the two of them. I also didn't feel that Sampson was going too fast at all, which initially had been my feeling when going from one to the other. So that tells me that I am also riding Willie much better too....so all good!

Kaurilands - 13.06.010

Sampson is now an old hand at this dressage lark, and he is ever improving under Wendy's careful schooling.

He just seems to be getting more and more confidence, and more relaxed. Wendy has helped him heaps with his little insecurities, and it is really good for me to see first hand the fact that with a rider who does not get tense and anticipate trouble (like I tend to), Sampson manages to cope with the little distractions.

Both his tests were on the grass, which was a bit slippery for a big green horse, but he tried really hard.

First test was in torrential rain and I was so proud of him; he just kept on trucking.
I was writing for his second test (otherwise would have had some photos), and again it was a 'proud mummy' moment. He lost a little balance on occasion but overall went very nicely and he looked so relaxed.

Much kudos to Wendy for the help she gives him.

First test:
80.83 % for 2nd

Second test:
67.69% for 4th

So again a very successful outing for the wee pony.

And again, many thanks to Wendy for the wonderful job she is doing with him.

Change of Heart

How surprising!

Like many others before me, I changed my mind about selling.

I think if the initial agent had managed to contact his buyer sooner, I wouldn't have had the time for my doubts about selling to grow. The agent had looked at the pony, liked him and asked for first option, which then delayed him being listed on the open market.

However, no sooner was he listed than people wanted to view him. As soon as someone had made an appointment I knew I wasn't ready to sell.

Maybe I had to go through this exercise to realise that in my heart of hearts, it is not the right thing at this moment. It may be that down the track it is the right thing to do, and I will be more sure of my decision at that time (hopefully).

I think also, having looked for a replacement with a budget MUCH higher than any I have ever had before, it made me realise that it isn't that simple.

17h does not necessarily mean 17h, indeed it seems you are lucky if it is a good 16.2 (which is big enough anyway).
Good paces and 'straight' movers often dish.
Never bucked, reared, shied etc, means that on viewing the horse does some big leaps at trot, then proceeds to hop behind at the canter.

The horses that I actually got to the point of looking at, and even riding, just didn't cut the mustard. In fact the ones I tried, I found that I quite simply did not feel happy on. And funnily enough, having ridden them, Sampson suddenly felt so much safer - added to which he is a lovely ride anyway.

And of course good old Willie: he's also a tough act to follow in terms of comfort.

Maybe I am just spoilt.

Well, too bad.
Now to continue to work on the confidence, and Tally Ho!!

Still Hunting??

Had Sammie home while Wendy was at the 3De, which was great. Made the most of it, riding him every day barring the last...he felt wonderful!

Picked up trial horse last Sunday, (Sammie going back to Wendy Monday) and was quite excited to try him out. He seemed a lovely boy, with a lovely expression and outlook and had already completed a few training trials so on his way. He was also plenty big enough.

Unfortunately, I just didnt like him, and nothing I could even put my finger on....I just didnt feel happy on him, despite him doing absolutely nothing wrong. Perhaps it was that I am used to more horse in front of me (my breastplate which is fine on Willie and Sampson, absolutely swamped him). He didn't have the nice mouth that my two have got, and was more inconsistent in his contact and did tend to come right up from trot to canter....but that's nothing that cant be schooled??

I persevered for the week, before deciding. I also got Saarin to ride him so I could see what he looked like and get her feedback. I wasnt really inspired watching him, and funnily enough, Saarin didnt feel happy on him either.

I know I am comparing everything else to both Willie and Sampson, but I guess that is only natural; after all, if I am looking to replace Sampson, I have to feel at least as happy, if not more so, on it than riding Sampson. Otherwise what is the point?I will see how things pan out, but I am starting to toy with the idea of having a more confident rider start him out a few times, to get over those usual first outing nerves....or even having someone do a season, or half season on him?? (it really is quite fun seeing your horse being ridden well)....and maybe see how I feel riding him out and about then???


Still undecided, but will go with the flow.
Meantime, it is lovely to see how he is progressing with Wendy; she rides them so nicely.

Kaurilands 16.05.010

Is it wrong to think one's own horse is rather beautiful, and makes others around him look somewhat mediocre?

Watching him warm up, he looked lovely.

His first test was up on the grass right in front of all the activity, and he did get quite distracted at kids, and loud noises and all the goings on, but Wendy rode him absolutely beautifully...she has the ability to stay focussed and relaxed and reassure him when he needs it.

His trotwork was lovely, although he lost focus a little in his canter, and with his right canter he did struggle to maintain it, with quite a lot of the movements being in trot having broken. Although he broke once on the left lead, he did manage to keep going.

Despite the lack of canter, he placed 5th and was only 4% off first place!

In his second test he was on the sand, and a little more relaxed, the only mistake being a sideways step at the halt, which actually cost him the win!

His test sheets read like ones I dream of getting, with high marks pretty much throughout.

I am absolutely blown away by what Wendy has achieved in just one week, and watching my pony I realise I am right in thinking he is something special (yeah, ok so I might be a little biassed!)

I can now see that I would get so much enjoyment in just seeing my pony out competing with a good rider, as an owner.....so that is yet another option for me to consider if he doesnt sell (is it wrong that I am now hoping and praying he doesnt sell?)

And could it possibly be the case, that once he has had a season under his belt with a confident rider to see him through his insecurities (young horse thing), that I could ride him myself?

Or do I just go with the flow, and if he sells, he sells, and if he doesnt, it's not such a big deal either?
Oh dear, the dilemmas!