A fun-filled week

Lesson time again!
And this time it was polework to improve the medium trot and our 'forward' thinking canter.
After the usual warmup, stretch in walk, trot and canter, out came the poles...and the Small Brown ears!
he does love a pole or two....

One to begin with, focus on quality of trot, a good corner,straightness to the pole and a giving hand over it. Leg on...no dying after the pole allowed!
We quickly moved to 3, which as the rider is crap and flaps didn't go well to begin with...bit of preparation and thought and lord...all of a sudden he lift up, forward and it felt amazing!!!
We have our orders to do the same at least once a week, increasing number of poles, and hopefully distance between them step by step.
Canter poles make me panic still...if I panic...guess what?! Pony thinks, what on earth is going on...and bang goes the relaxation!
practice, practice, practice needed, forward thinking, straight and energetic....we finally got there!

Today we went hacking.
It is no secret...hacking and I have not been friends in the past. two nasty falls, one culminating in me being dropped on my head in the road from the top of a bank having finished my riding career for a LONG time...it has been a long time getting both my mojo and my confidence back!!

Nannied by super Brenda, meant that we could hide behind her 16.3hh of lovely grey bottom when the going got tough! Small Brown wasn't sure why in heavens name I had taken him to a strange yard and now expected him to walk through open fields, over logs and through thick bushes...I struggled to breath....shooters were out, and the crazy dog walking lunatics...but to be fair to the boy, he just kept on going.One or two minor 'moments' but held my breath when we arrived at Newlands Corner carpark and it was FULL of the world and his wife, and their dogs, prams, bikes, balls, bikers, caravans...Eeeekkkk!! God bless the boy, he just carrried on...actually made me smile, so confident did he feel next to the new love of his life!!
The view is STUNNING:

So proud of him dealing with all the noise and commotion!

Onwards, and by now he was pooped....on a very long rein and ready for home.

By now I was starting to actually enjoy it!!! What is the world coming to??!!

Just feel like outings like this are not only fabulous, incredible progress but an invaluable education for a boy who is a bit of a wimp....surely bigger shows can't be worse than being faced with 100's of Harley Davidsons??!!

Lots of love for the boy tonight....can't wait to go again!!

Prior planning and preparation...

The entries have been sent...
So we have 6 weeks left to prepare! Operation 'We CAN'T come last' has commenced!!

So training has focused upon taking the Championship test apart bit by bit and building it back up with specific exercises and practice of the bits we find hard AND the bits we do well...

Managed to find a venue running the test (so few do) and went for a trial run,which was very, very useful. Two huge mistakes, and we still got a respectable 63%and the judge, luckily was one who like to make LOTS of comments...great for us, lots to work on :)

Trainer has been very thorough at each stage. So began with straightness in entry and halt work....surprising how many marks you can lose for the stopping bits! Have really had to address my own straightness this last month, no point in trying to get pony straight if  I am a crooked old bag. New physiotherapist/chiro/sports therapy practice appraoched, expalined situation, posture assessment done and conclusion....LOTS of work to be done. Plan has been formulated, strengthening and suppling exercises dispatched and hopefully with the nutrition plan as well we should be in great shape by the new year!! Having this little beauty done next week to get to the root of my neck and shoulder pain: Eeeeeekk!

Have worked bloody hard on the halts...collecting the final 2 strides, lifting him up and into the halt, ensuring I am straight and balanced (not an easy task!!) Having him waiting, relaxed and attentive, then the hardest bit, lifting him up and forward into the direct transition to trot. He is really eager to learn and as we have been applying the principle at ALL times in ALL our halts, on hacks, on the yard, at the mounting block...he knows what to expect. Also I have had to learn to make my aids more subtle,as he becomes more educated 'less is definitely more': Little snippet of halt

Culminating in much more consistency: the theory being we have to be doing it EVERY time at home otherwise it aint going to happen in a test!!

Suppleness is also a work in progress. Managed to persuade a list 2 judge (who judged this test at petplans a couple of weeks ago) to give me a lesson (though we are going to need many more!!) from her point of view as a judge! SUCH a useful session. Her mantra for success....relaxation and suppleness has to be at the heart of EVERYTHING! First thing to go was the whip!!! Eeeeeekkkkk!!

SO as this was the suppleness that was commented on in our 4 loop serpentine...perfect chance to practice...and chuffed to bits with the work he is starting to produce: 

This has been the key to conquering the warm up demons...he expects the same routine as a warmup, and immediately relaxes into a soft outline. We follow exactly the same routine at competitions and so far (touches wood furiously) he has been a changed boy!

Medium trot is our nemesis...too much rushing and not enough power from behind. We have been playinng with the 'on and back' and breaking it up into sets of 4 strides so he keeps his balance. I still need the discipline to remember to collect in the corner, straighten him, look up and BUILD the medium, not  boot him into it, steady the pace with MY rise and think hips forward, shoulders up:

work in progress

Found the exercise with Sue on Thursday really, hugely improved the quality of the trot, it was THE most hard work, but wow! Moments that I felt could be the basis for a much more powerful,controlled and RELAXED trot!!

Slowing the trot

Suppleness in the 10m circles also important and although small and manoueverable he has the tendency to drop onto the forehand as I don't have him balanced and on his backend enough:

Combining this with the sitting trot work we did is our homework for next time:

10m circling

WE have also been working very hard on self carriage...part of the prep for the 10m canter circles, giving and retaking the inside rein: Useful ideas from trainer here,and one of the areas I feel we have made huge progress!!

Self carriage?

Lots of work done and lots more to do...but we WILL get there,and it is blooming exciting now!!

The boy will definitely appreciate his day off this week!!

Extended walk work and medium canter shenanigans still to come...grab yourself a cuppa ;)

Happiness....

Is it the key to success?

Have been mulling it over for the past few days as there have been a number of moments where I have had to pinch myself over the past few weeks....

I happened to be watching this short video of our world champ in action...and the comment at the end struck such a chord with me...have a watch...

St Georg view of dressage success

I am convinced it is the key to our small triumphs since the Spring

Totally unprompted the farrier (who sees the boy every 5 weeks) commented on how fit, well, relaxed and happy he thought he looked...and as I stood there I realised he was right...
So what has changed?
Well, the yard for sure. We have fallen on our hooves in our little corner of West Sussex. I had begun to lose faith in the existance of that 'perfect' yard....
How much of a difference does it make to a busy, working Mum and wife, to know that the pony is safe and secure, to be able to go on holiday without a moments worry or concern?
What a difference a professionally run, happy yard makes to a team...nothing too much trouble, every horse treated like the YM own (and believe me, that is not an understatement) spotless, organised, sensible routine, support, giggles :) SB has his own little quiet corner, but can chat to his pals over the fence, great quality grazing, spotless beds, we have even begun to like hacking again! I swear he cannot believe his luck every day he is there. he is relaxed, I am relaxed. He is thriving on grass, fresh air and great quality hay...just as it should be!!
Simple, logical horsemanship.
And when we go to work, he goes to 'work'
It might be pole work, lunging, jumping, a spin round the canter track, a pootle through the woods, a school on the grass arena...variety being the spice of life....he has really changed this summer.
Our last BD outing was at a totally new venue to us...this might have resulted in meltdown a year ago, this week he didn't bat an eyelid...not one....we achieved our Petplan qualification on that outing, 3 sheets in 3 tests at 3 different venues with 0.5% difference between them!
Am I happy?.... of course...is he happy? I think his actions speak the loudest of all.
He truly is a 'happy athlete'

And me? How has this year changed me?
Finally at 42 I have stopped worrying what other people think.
No room for the negatives, the doubts and the fears...
 We do it our way and in our own time, with great support from positive people who believe in us. It makes me believe in us!
My faith is hugely important as is that little thing called gratitude...
On my bedside cabinet is a little reminder: 'Begin each day with a grateful heart'
So I do....and today I am grateful that we are both healthy and happy and if it all fell apart tomorrow then I would look back and know we had given it our all, given it our best shot, tried our hardest and above all had the best fun doing it together.

xxxxxx