for the relentless happiness...I am so sorry, but I think I have to enjoy it while it lasts,we all know what horses are like...preparing my arse for the coming down to earth with a bump 
/> Bit late, but with the end of term craziness,life has been hectic...wouldn't have it any other way 
/>Monday we met Douglas Hibbert...he trains my trainer and she has managed to persuade him to do monthly clinics at our yard, which is an amazing opportunity which we have grabbed with both hooves 
/> He had a look at us warm up said he was happy with his general way of going and pleased that he seemed to be equal in both reins, not one side particularly weaker than the other and a quick chat about the Smallbrown one...as usual I began to reel off all the problems we had and the things we couldn't do....he stopped me and said 'Is there anything good about this horse!!' That stopped me in my tracks....I MUST stop belittling ourselves.The focus of the session was Power and Reactivity. I was glad it was one of the first things he wanted to look at. My MASSIVE bugbear the more dressage I watch is the kick, kick, kick I see every stride. He said all that tells the judge is your horse is not going forward and NOT off your leg. It all starts at home....use an aid you would like a reaction from and if there is no immediate reaction back it up with a firm, quick reminder. He strongly believes that whips discourage the rider from insisting immediate reactivity to subtle leg aids , so away my whip went! It hasn't made a reapearance since!! 
/> We looked at 'sparkling' a little as we are guilty of trying to look fancy without truly being forward and powerful. Smallbrown thought all his Christmas's had come at once when he was asked to 'gallop' down the long side repeatedly 
/> We tried the activity we do in our polework sessions, changing the number of strides and he challenged us to get down 60m in 5....wow, really made me think about the LENGTH of stride!! But, he went forward and after a couple of rounds,a tiny leg aid was all that was needed /> The same was true of the trot, he got me to lift my hands and send him forward with conviction off the single leg aid, once he knew I meant it...we were off!! He talked a lot about the gears in every pace 1-5 and the lightness in the rein 1-5, was VERY interesting...I am still absorbing an awful lot.The most interesting thing was the focus on the walk quality. We went onto a 20m circle and he asked me to do nothing...would he carry on walking forward without dribbling to a stop, slowing down. How many strides would he do without an intervention from me? Fascinating and very thought provoking. He declared him pretty good at this, by the end we were managing a whole 20m circle with a quiet rider allowing her horse to move forward without constant nagging...a clear aid, with a clear response. He then looked at the quality of the walk, adding a bit of 'sparkle' without a nagging leg....the determined and clear aid again, collecting him on the seat for the collected walk but maintaining the energy. He asked us to think 'Could we go into canter from our walk at any point?' Medium walk and then extended walk seemed to improve with the energy and activity...I was chuffed to bits with him 
/> There was so much to take in, it was a really, really fabulous 45 minutes...Learnt so much with so much to take away. We have changed spurs to a small pair and Mr whip has gone on holiday (I am sure he will come out when we do the ground work for the piaffe and passage /> )Thursday was then our little outing to local BD venue in West Sussex. Was busy even though regionals were in full flow. Had to go on my own, with a lovely friend popping along to support and read the Medium test for me later on. First challenge for me is being able to remember tests at higher levels...my old age has made it hard, but I was determined this time. Outdoor warmup, with a super surface, indoor tests with a spooky gallery/cafe. He warmed up really well, but man alive it was HOT
/> We didn't do too much, but focused on the rectivity and forward and softness....it was the first time without a whip and it felt a little bit odd, but we did it!!! Clearly I didn't have him quite off my leg and forward as he managed to do some pretty impressive sideways teleporting in the test...for a couple of 5's 
/> One of which had me having to stop and regroup and have a firm word with him....the trot work was calm and relaxed, 7.5's for the leg yields and medium trots, both of which are MASSIVE improvements 
/> I had to laugh as he was sooooooooooooo silly in the medium canter...was more than happy with 66.4% with the comment that canter tension had affected our marks today!Hour wait between tests, so back on the box for a rest, planned to do 10minutes warmup mainly focusing on the lateral work but in the end did 15 as they were running late. Pleased with his stamina. He was super, really listening, half passes in canter still make me grin if they come off well. He felt good /> Aim was to get over 60% if at all possible, then we would have our 2 sheets for Petplans.I am beginning to love Medium level, yes, it is harder (as it should be) but the sitting trot really suits us, I feel so much more connected with him and able to use my aids effectively. The business definitely suits him...no time to get into any trouble 
Supergroom was reading for us, so I had my comfort blanket. Took a deep breath and off we went. It felt good (for us) still a little tension in the canter half pass, but he is definitely getting the idea- we both are! We did all the bits in the right places, I am beginning to think I can make subtle changes to his way of going during a test, so don't have to satisfied with what he offers. I also don't feel like I am in a rush to get it over with, taking my time to show us off a bit more, so that is a MASSIVE change of mentality for me! Took him back out feeling satisfied we had had a good go. Warmed down and popped him back on the box for a munch of haylage while I took an envelope back to the secretary. Went to look at results and thought they had been written up wrongly.... 67.2%!!!!!!!!!!!! I burst into tears, so pathetically surprised and proud was I!!! 
The poor lady thought I was crazy I am sure when I went to ask if she could double check it was written up correctly 
I haven't got the sheets yet, but the lovely lady let me look at it....bloody hell, we got 8's for the free walk and extended walk and 7.5 for the collected walk....absolutely down to the work we had done with Douglas Stopping and starting also good, I think 7.5 but by this point I was too overwhelmed to take it all in...will be interesting to see her comments when it arrives in the post. What a clever boy So blessed, so blessed to have such an amazing team around us who have enabled us to get this far, far beyond my wildest dreams!!! The boy is going to spend the next few days hacking and then 2 weeks off which are so well deserved. We need to regroup and have think about plans, we have 6 Regional points already, which is the stuff of dreams, so we will see what trainer thinks about attempting to qualify for regionals. Either way,as long as he is sound and happy that is all that matters...he will enjoy hacking and a bit of jumping...whom am I to deny the boy.Onwards
You couldn't make it up />/> What a lovely, lovely man...but more of that in a moment...pony tales first!! />/> Saturday dressage is a rare thing for us as I usually work all day, but decided to take the day off and go further afield for a change...different judges, hopefully better surfaces, a fresh pair of eyes />/> Fairoak Grange is such a lovely venue. Can highly recommend. Lovely cafe, quick results, fantastic stewarding, large open warm up (if a little dusty), great little 20 x40 indoor with mirrors and fab 20 x 60 outdoor (in middle of field weirdly, but not spooky) />/> Takes about an hour and 15 minutes from yard, but a nice easy, straight run, so OH and child were relatively happy!Rocked up, parked on grass, lots of fancy ponies there....must learn not to look around, I get very freaked out by the sheer size of some of the beasts, especially higher up the levels />/> Had entered 2 short arena tests, initially the medium as training, but after chatting with trainer decided to just go for it and move to restricted...its not as if he is ever going to be sold so a blip in his results won't matter 
/>/> Soooooooo, our first affiliated medium />/> A day of firsts to be honest. I think I am exceptionally lucky to have such a thorough and observant trainer. As per last blog, it's been all about the relaxation and harmony....she suggested doing some of our ribbon exercises in the warmup if possible, and in particular the turn on the forehand to canter to engage those hind legs and mobilise behind the saddle. Luckily, there was plenty of room as I was last in the Elementary...only 2 MASSIVE prancing beasts to negotiate. Had a lovely chat with a lady who appeared to know the Smallbrown one />/> and then we had our first proper focused warm up />/> Why am I surprised that it worked??!! He was with me, had a couple of spooks early on, but they were very half hearted and it was truly the best he has felt in a competition situation...*whispers* perhaps he is growing up /> Trundled off to the indoor, nearly killed by a pigeon/boxer dog altercation 
/> and we were off...I had learnt this test, so no caller (my safety blanket) which is a first, but wanted to see if it made a difference...there were a couple of senior moments, but was pleased I got through it without error 
/> Truly won't bore you too much, but I felt I had time to correct things, manouevre him, set him up and sort of kind of enjoy it. E44 is nice and easy and one that plays to his strengths, lots of 10m circles and half circles, 5m canter loops a medium trot away from the judge on the long side /> simple change, I felt like we had done ourselves justice and that is truly a first for a highly self critical virgo!!! /> He was in front of my leg, taking me forward, active, relaxed and compliant. I had the biggest grin when we came down the centre line for the final time...definitely a first too!!!Pictures are here: WonderponyWe had 45 minutes between tests so popped back to trailer, offered him a drink (no thanks Mum) stood under a tree in the shade as it was by now boiling hot and chilled out /> I never look at scores between tests normally as it can be a bit hit and miss with the wonderpony and I prefer not to know if it is a shocker, but as they have live feed there had a sneaky peek at the phone and thought they must have put the wrong score up!!! 70.4% and 1st overall....bloody hell, I nearly fell over!! Clever, clever pony!!!Feeling about 10 feet tall, we went back to do a short bit of warmup for the Medium. It was about 100 degrees in the shade by now, so just wanted to get him awake a bit, engage those little legs and make sure we had some lateral buttons Everyone else was by now 17.2hh at least, bar one other very smart dressage pony (who was parked next to us...20 years old and doing advanced and gorgeous!!) As we were trundling round, notice a very familiar face on the edge of the warmup....bless him, Keith Chegwin 
Couldn't work out if it was wife/partner/child support crew as there were a lot of people half passing around and we were trying not to get squished with a degree of success!! First in for the M63, so took a deep breath, it's all about the experience right??!! Had decided whatever happened we would keep calm and carry on and anything over 50% would be great starting point. The mirrors in the indoor were a god send for the shoulder in work as we have been a bit enthusiastic with the angle this week. He felt tired (which didn't surprise me) but was still infront of the leg, bless him and he felt calm at least. I felt like we schooled round it, rather than confidently rode it, but things happened in the right place. The trot half pass was better left to right and the canter half pass was a bit tense, but at least it happened. Blooming husband was reading this one in case I got flustered, and as I cantered to the centre line I heard him say, track left, judge was shaking her head...shit I thought if I go left there is going to be some serious flying changing needed, Then I hear a squeak and 'no, no, sorry track right' from the corner...judge now laughing, I had time to roll my eyes, so it can't have been that much of a trauma and we finished in a bit of a relieved heap at G 
THank god she had a sense of humour is all I can say! I said I wouldn't offer him out to any other competitors....at which point the steward said it could be quite a good nobbling of the opposition tactic!! Indeed We didn't wait for sheet as we had to get back for a 40th birthday party, but delighted with 63.4%...actually more than delighted, over the moon and on cloud nine to be fair!! Our first go, our first points...what a wonderful boy I have.As I wandered over to leave an envelope for my sheet, Keith Chegwin was filming his wife's test,bless him. Stopped to watch...man alive, he is one Huuuuuuuge pony...but what a lovely calm test he did. They were coming out as I was and he decided to mug me for sweeties, and we had a little chat. Seems even if you are famous, you dare not read a test for your wife....woe betide if it goes wrong. They were both utterly charming and very down to earth....he definitely has a fan in me Big pats and kisses for the boy when I put him to bed. Looked later on line and discovered we weren't even last in the Medium, which in itself has made my bloody year!!! OH had taken some great pics, which are in the link above...so I trawled through them at 11pm last night, with a glass or 3 of bubbly and a huge grin...He just looks so different...powerful and grown up, and so much better from behind 
Be interesting to see what Douglas makes of him tomorrow...Onwards little man
Who'd have thought it huh?? /> Tuesday we worked on suppleness and relaxation to improve the quality of the trot this time...Having warmed up in what felt like a sauna, trainer wanted to look at improving the trot with a view to getting a little more power, softness, elevation, suspension and essentially cadence...I say more, any would be good /> With an eye on the future, canter has improved immeasurably in quality and trot has been a little neglected of late as he is quite regular and rhythmical and active, so a good basis for novice and elementary tests, but definitely needs more quality for Medium and above /> We worked on a basic forward and softness large around the school, checking the gears and reactions were there first of all, then moved to more ribbon exercises. So on the right rein: left leg yield, to shoulder in, changing the bend to quarters in, to a half 10m circle to centre line keeping the quarters in to half pass and then repeat on the other rein /> To be fair, he is pretty good, what I have to work on is the softness in the neck throughout, the rhythm and not rushing him out of that...so I can give him enough time to take the bigger steps and use himself properly /> We then worked on leg yield on a 20m circle, keeping the front legs moving around the circle yet mobilising the back and hind legs behind the saddle...in walk to get the idea, then onto trot. Gosh, my head hurt and it became quite obvious that the boy found it hard work too, so we did a few steps, then out of it and forward, a few steps, out of it then forward. repeated on both reins...but WOW!! What a trot when we came out of it, he was pinging (as much as a Small brown pony can) /> Trainer advised we incorporated that into our competition warm up as it really, really improved the quality of his trot! /> We then had a look at his walk piri's which were declared fine and good to go...phew!!Finally a quick recap on the canter work from last lesson, a turn on the forehand in walk straight into canter...keeping that inside hand up, outside hand down and supporting the outside shoulder...it is feeling lovely />We have now begun to look at the length of stride he takes, trying to further improve the power and quality, but also to achieve a more 'uphill' canter. She asked me to imagine him needing to step the inside hind up and under his tummy, pushing him up and forward....really helped me to visualise...but more than anything I have learned to 'ride' the bloody canter!! Now he is on my seat, I can influence the stride, we do not need speed, but bigger strides...we shall see how that progresses. I need to get OH over to film some bits and bobs I think!Wednesday we had a polework and jumping lesson with a wonderful eventer, who is such a lovely quiet,confident rider. I did the trot and canter poles with him and then she popped on and gave him a spin over a cross pole, parallel and then an oxer. You can see the wonderpony's grin from outer space!!! He LOVES to jump, I love to see him jump, Eventer declared a huge difference in his canter since last week, so pleased with that He is light and forward in her hand and really taking her into the jumps, and it does him the world of good Dressaging on Saturday, then Douglas lesson on Monday...that will be interesting, of that I am totally sure...Onwards
