Winter SJ 17.06.2011

First show jump outing for Winter.
Unfortunately Willie came up lame yesterday, so Sampson went on his own.

He was actually quite well behaved warming up, with just the odd quite small moment, so that was great (for me!).

Just entered 80 and 90, with the intention of working on my forward and ensuring he is going forward with enough power to jump easily. Worked on this yesterday with Wendy, and the new catch phrase is "power up", which sums it up perfectly....."power up" on the turn etc, then just let the jump come up.

He was good in the 80 and jumped a nice clear round.

In the 90 I think we had a good forward rhythm (felt fast to me, but everyone told me it was a good speed)....he jumped really well, until I stuffed up the last jump....came around corner, got line wrong, was crooked and leaned forward....if I had sat up and just waited he would have jumped it properly and we could have had a go at the jump off....there had however been very few clear rounds, and even fewer clear jump offs. Oh well, next time I'll make sure I get it right over EVERY jump.

Very pleased with his behaviour, and how he went.

Plan is to start at 90 next time, and also pop around the meter.

Kaurilands 03.07.011

Having received quite a difficult draw, I decided to do the best I could to adhere to it. In my first horse's second test, I had one horse drawn to follow him, then a break, then Sampson.

In order to attempt to achieve this, I had both horses up by the grass arenas (Sampson covered as it was rather cold), and Saarin held him while I did my two tests on Wilson. It was a bit of an ask for Saarin though, as Sampson become very upset every time he thought Wilson was going anyway and he would leap about and play a fool. Not very confidence inspiring for a wee slip of a lass trying to hold a demented 17.3 lad.

Having completed my test on Wilson, we rushed over to the picnic tables (so I had some means to clamber on the wee beastie), and got the saddle changed over (poor Saarin couldnt even reach to get it off Wilson, let alone being able to help saddle up Sampson).

And on I got.

Hmmmm - interesting....he kept skedaddling and trying to return to Wilson, but in the end I got him cantering (ok, so it was RIGHT in front of Willie) and just kept him on a circle...round and round and round.

Keeping an eye on the arena, but there didnt seem to be any break and the riders just kept going through, so we wandered over there, and I started to wander around the arena....only to be asked by the judge if I was even going to bother to ride, and basically being firmly told off for not being there sooner (it was the same judge that had judged me on Wilson). I advised that I had been drawn to ride after the break but it seemed that the riders just kept coming through....only to be told that there was no break, and was I going to ride or not!

Well, that rather got my dander up!

Probably to the good, because I was so annoyed that I didnt even think about getting nervous about what the wee beastie might do, and I actually rode him....and....he did the whole test without skedaddles. Ok, he was somewhat lacking in impulsion but it was a MUCH better effort than the previous Kaurilands outing!

52.17% in Test 1.5
with the sum up comment - needs to reach and cover ground freelyl carry rider forward with purpose and expression (which was fair comment)

Straight onto the second test
1.6

He actually went very well and I did start to RIDE him....it was only at the last trot up the centre line though that he really felt loose and free - but hey, at least we got there - even if it was at the end.

He couldnt resist doing a skedaddle in one of the canters though (for a course error), but I was actually able to laugh at it, and just carried on ... YAY

Scored 63% (despite course error deduction without which he would have been 5th)

Test was all 6's and 7's with sum up being essentially that he needs to go much more forward throughout.

So, the next question is of course whether him having his buddy up there helped or hindered. Next time I will ask that Sampson be first on the draw so I can warm him up properly, and hopefully not have to have the two of them there together. That way I can really see how we get on, and learn to get through the demented flea stuff without the security blanket.
Will that mean he reverts to his fantastic scores of the last outing.....can we achieve a further zero?? I guess we will find out in due course.



Thanks to Debbie Stevens for the photos from the day.

My very first ZERO

Kaurilands 05.06.2011

Well, the wee boy was just a tad full of himself, skedaddling at every opportunity and at every excuse. Warmed him up on the grass arena and it was somewhat interesting. I rather think he was nappy because he had TWO friends back at the yards.

I got really frustrated, as I just couldnt work him through it...he just remained stuck behind my leg, overbent, and skedaddling.

Oh well, went in and gave the tests a go anyway - he was quite simply not going to get away with that behaviour without at least doing a test.
First test he was pretty awful, and I hadnt intended to try the canters he was so awful, but did anyway only to be rewarded with an interesting skedaddle, spin around (and nearly slipped over)...oh well, at least I tried. We consequently got a course error for that (? - he did actually do the correct movement - he cantered between the markers...it was after that he skedaddled), and a zero for the circle R 20m(were trotting again by that stage).

Not sure why I got marked with the second course error either...we were to walk at A, which we did??

Oh well, it was such a dreadful test, it's not like it made any difference anyway...AND...I at least completed the test on the naughty wee pony!

Ended up on 45% (there were a couple of 6's -GO me!)

Second test, was perhaps marginally better, and he did get some 7's, funny enough for his canter trans (the trans was great, it was the skedaddle that followed that wasnt so great), his walk, and a trans to trot.

And we scored ... a grand total of....52.8%

Rider comment "You did the right thing in taking him quietly to get him through it"

Not particularly looking forward to his next outing either, but at least I got more frustrated than scared....not that I enjoyed it!!

Waihou Dressage - 15.05.2011 (First placings)

Having had a dreadful week riding Sampson, I almost chickened out of taking him.

Basically, as I was still feeling vulnerable, I was allowing him to bully me to some extent, which made me more tentative, enabling him to play around yet more.

My WONDERFUL instructor Wendy, came with us, and the difference having her there was amazing. She worked me through some disengaging first, then flexing him which softened him through the neck and shoulder, taking his power away, and putting me back in the driver's seat.

She then warmed me up for his first test, and we only had a couple of baby skedaddles, which I was onto pretty quick. The key was also I think being told to push myself (and him) out of our comfort zones - dare him a little.....basically start RIDING him!

Unfortunately I think we were about the only ones to get rain for our test, but all in all it wasnt too bad. I started to feel more confident as I went along, which then meant I rode less tentatively, and he went better.

Actually better than I had thought, for 69.58% and 4th place!!

Some good comments and 4 x 8's.
Only really lost marks on one movement getting a 5 for an early transition to walk.

7 for Paces, Impulsion, Submission and Rider.


Second Test
Again Wendy helped me warm up (and again I struck the rain).

He was far more relaxed to start, and I really felt like I was starting to ride him a little, and asking for more forward etc.

I was really pleased with how he went, and apart from a couple of parts where he slipped, and on one fell back to trot as a result, I felt he had done a reasonable test.

Yay: scored just over 68% for 3rd (less than 1% off 2nd and First was on 71%)

So I have had my first dressage placings on Sammie.

All thanks to Wendy!!

Woodhill Sands May 2011 - Training

OK: This was supposed to be an easy run to finish off Sammie's first season on a good note, after his fall at Te Rapa.

However, going into a competition somewhat 'expecting' to do really well is probably not the best attitude. Because when it turns to custard (and it's a when, not an if with that kind of attitude), it leaves one feeling a little flat.

So, having thought I had this dressage malarky sussed, I was expecting to do a good test, and get a good mark. Unfortunately, nobody told my horse the plan. He just thought it would be a great day to display his sense of humour and take the mickey out of his rider. The fact that said rider was still sporting a damaged shoulder and was feeling rather vulnerable made his mission that much more fun.

At one stage I was spinning round in small circles at the canter, having lost my stirrup, sitting perched and panicking as I was SO scared I was going to fall off and do more damage to my shoulder. (When all the time I should have sat up, stopped flapping around and actually given him a kick in the guts and told him to behave)

A million thanks to Donna Smith who was kind enough to help me and warm me up - I think I was just about on the verge of calling it a day if it wasnt for her intervention. VERY much appreciated!!

I am pleased that I did actually do my test, and it FELT dreadful....he felt on edge the whole time and did do the odd skeddadle, but I did do all the movements kind of at the right time and in the right place. Some movements he actually did do well, and got some good marks. Of course he came last but the mark wasnt nearly as low as I had expected.

Funny enough when I watched the video, I was surprised that the test didnt look anything like as bad as it felt, and there were indeed some good bits. What really hit home to me is that I could see that I simply needed to start RIDING him, and not allow him to play on my insecurities and feeling of vulnerability.

I had walked the show jumping and cross country, and thought it was very small. The SJ would probably have been a good chance to practice riding it well - lines, the right canter, etc etc, but I do wonder if there would have been anything to gain from doing the XC - except give him a run.

And also interestingly enough, looking at the results, had he finished on his dressage score he would have placed....ha ha...just goes to show.

Lesson learned - have the RIGHT attitude to start with (and don't allow your horse to dictate how you ride - just keep RIDING!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUWMAHBxVXA

Te Rapa Horse Trial 23/24 April 2011

Dressage
Warmed up really well (after a few of the obligatory skedaddles), and was moving forward nicely in a lovely frame and really swinging from behind. He got a little tense when I moved up to the arena, but soon settled again, and although not quite a good, was going quite nicely.

The test itself wasnt a world beater, but he was listening and obedient, although I lost marks for inaccuracy, and losing the canter (followed by incorrect lead). A little disappointed with his mark, but he was still mid field, so nothing too much to complain about. And no mention ANYWHERE on his test sheet about lacking impulsion, so we are definitely getting there. Although he only got in the mid 50's he still scored 7 for paces.

Show Jumping
Bit like dodgem cars in the warm up, and he reacted to the foray, but soon settled once we started over the practice jump. He felt great over the practice jump.
Went into the ring, and he gave me a really lovely ride over most of the course. Got a bit deep to number 2 and jumped it a bit green but got over it.
I got my line wrong to a pink striped upright off a turn, and he took that one out, but was GREAT through the one stride double and everything else....jumped the triple spread liverpool great, then turned onto the final double....an "easy" two stride with upright in and oxer out. My thoughts on the corner were..."yay, just one rail"....horse took it as a signal he had finished his job and switched off. Cantering into double, horse 'not home' was a weird feeling. It was only right at the foot of the jump that he suddenly realised there was a jump...needless to say he crashed through both elements of the double....but what a superstar to even have tried.
12 jump faults

Cross Country
Bit of an ask, but I was looking forward to seeing how we both coped with the different questions, and in all honesty, I wasnt expecting him to actually stop at anything.
I also wanted to ensure that at this outing I had him 'on the job' when he came out of the start box - and he was. Was more forward, and I was asking him to go forward...jumped number 1 really well, a bit looky on approach to number 2, a somewhat stark looking mobile spread, but he jumped it happily. Kicked him on up the hill and got a lovely bold jump over the curved log. Onto the Wedge to BIIIGGGG ditch combo. I had been warned that horses were backing off the bright yellow wedge, so rode him quite strongly into it, to be rewarded with a big bold jump over it......however, that then meant that the ditch came up very quickly. I really dont think he understood the question, having never encountered a ditch of that depth or width, and with the two logs on the face of the landing side I wonder if he for a moment thought it was an in and out or something? However, he tried, but got a bit tangled up, feet this side of the landing logs, and down he went (with me catapaulting in the process).
So we got the big E for a horse fall....
frustrated we didn't get to do all those other jumps, also feel a bit silly that I haven't taken the opportunity to school him over that ditch (or indeed the other jumps up there) given it is all of ten minutes away. But I had been concentrating more on my dressage and show jumping.
Also wonder if I had simply popped him over the spooky wedge jump, if the extra time would have enabled him to work out the question better?

However, will drop back to training for Woodhill, so that he can have a very easy run and finish the season on a good note. Am also planning on running him in the snaffle, so that will be a good testing ground. I really don't feel he needs anything stronger XC, but would rather find out for sure on smaller jumps.

He started this Season as a green pre trainer, so he has done very well to progress to Pre Novice, and complete the season with no stops either SJ or XC.

And to think I was too scared to even ride him at home this time last year, and wanted to sell him!

Waihou Dressage 17.04.2011

Naughty pony!

Decided to play on my injury, in terms of the fact that I was still quite sore, but more so feeling very vulnerable about falling and re-injuring it.

Didnt help that Saarin's pony kept calling out to him from the truck, but it was simply an excuse.

We had a multitude of skedaddles, napping to the point where I pulled the bit right through his mouth, a few leaps and bounds etc.....not good for nerves.

I scratched from his first test as he was soooo dreadful, and led him around for a while before remounting to warm up for his second test...ha ha

Yep; more of the same.

However this time I persevered, and despite him going very overbent and behind the leg in the test, I completed all the movements and survived. Ok, the score was abysmal, but I was astounded that he wasnt even last - not even 2nd to last!!

Sometimes having a pony with a sense of humour is not appreciated.