Whilst at camp I bought the shetlands a new toy, it’s interesting to stuff with hay but was worth it to see them eating from it. Imperial Equestrian Ltd you were right they love it.
Lesson report, yesterday M Dressage World came out to teach me. Got into the school and did our little in hand exercises and Frodo was much more obliging about doing them. Got on and he decided he wasn’t really in the mood for a lesson, I didn’t realise at the time but a horse was being turned out so that might be what set him off, but he’s not asked to do much so an hour in the school is justified, he can go and do his own thing after.
We both got a little tense, I need to learn to give more and allow him to relax, being tense doesn’t help. We had to canter (it was tense and quite bouncy) but it needed to happen, eventually he relaxed (it was probably only 30 secs worth) and we were able to get on with the lesson, we worked on leg position and reaction from pony, lots of serpentine, working on the bend/straightness/bend - I’m tending to go from bend to bend and not having a few straight strides across the centre line. Think about quicker corrections rather than allowing a few strides of long and flat as it’s then harder to correct.
We had a few good transitions and some nice canter so I declared we’d finish on a good note and yet I soon found myself and Frodo working again, this time on stretchy trot, it feels stretchy from on top but I’m not sure that’s what the video shows as this is something I’m trying to incorporate in schooling sessions it is still very much a work in progress so it will get better.
Little bit sad that technology let me down, I actually think it was lack of rider input in that I didn’t ask Equilab to record the ride so have no idea of how long we were in each pace etc…. Really pleased about my attitude towards Frodo’s lack of willingness to start with and I did just get on with it, ok so we worked on A end of the school away from the field for some time but we did work and once he settled we used all the school. I am loving the surface and size of the school ❤ never realised how much difference it would ma
Little video taken in our David Rumsey Dressage lesson
Frodo is questioning my life choices today, tbh so am I.
I had to have one of the dogs pts and tbh not feeling the love for much right now so really didn't want to ride but decided today if I didn't get out and ride I may make it worse so decided that I'd just have an 'on the buckle' hack out (well ok not all on the buckle) it was quite blustery whilst I was tacking up and it kept making things rattle, so I did wonder how sensible I was being, but without really delving into the 'is this a good plan' I decided to just get on with it, told the OH what I was doing and so he came to open the gate for me.
We turned left out of the house as this is my favourite way and it feels closer to the farm track, I haven't actually measured it but I'm sure I'm correct. Just as we got to the first bend I could hear a car roaring up the road behind us, with that a cyclist said 'good morning' I jumped as hadn't heard them, I could hear the car slowing down so I relaxed and part way around the corner got Frodo to trot the last bit and onto the track and safety.
The rain by this time was cold and really begun to sting as it hit my face brrr Frodo assumed the wet weather position trying to shelter his face as much as possible. First gate done and we had to negotiate around a huge muck heap that I suspect is going to be spread on the fields we turned left as I felt it would be easier coming back the other way with the wind behind us and round the corner a pushchair and a dog, the lady pushing it quietly stood still and got the dog nice and close, only obviously to my odd horse this meant it was danger so he had to stop and stare a bit, come on Frodo you've had a pushchair in the school with you!!
Got all the way around the other side only to find the gate not only shut but locked as it's only a permissive ride they're well within their rights to do this so our only choice as we wouldn't fit through the kissing gate was to go back the way we'd come, I made Frodo trot up the slight
Sorry I've been a little lax about writing schooling reports but I have 2 lessons to write about 🙂
The first was last night, a polework lesson with Tessa Seed at CCrockstead Equestrian Centrewe gave a friend a lift which brightened Frodo's face considerably because he could reach his haynet and erm rather embarrassingly pulled it off the tie ring and appears to have gorged rather on it (and indeed it was all gone when we got back to theirs). I was very pleased to have the opportunity to work inside, let's face it the weather hasn't been that nice these last few days, not so pleased about the darkness but the good outweighed that.
We seemed to spook the other horses in our lesson with my squeaky boots/saddle I'm hoping they settle down soon. We got warmed up and started going over four poles randomly on the ground, really good fun choosing a path over them. Then we split into pairs and worked over the poles done the other end of the school, so working on centre line straightness and then bend around the corners. Frodo loved this bit as he was following his mate Aussie that brought the snacks 🙈🤣 and was unphased by the squeaking. We ended up working over the poles in a circle over a fan of poles trying to think about the correct path for the stride of the horse. It took us to the last time over to get it feeling just so. It was a nice outing and good for us to use another instructor as I get so complacent with just doing Jan clinics so helps with confidence and working without her holding my hand, mind you I know Tessa so still a bit of a cheat but a good one as Tessa works us hard.
It was a lovely outing and even better with a friend. I think Frodo might have been a little upset when we dropped Aussie home, I daresay Aussie slept well last night. I know Frodo did judging by the flattened bed (and poo).
Then this morning Jan Carter came out to give us a lesson, we worked on suppleness and considering Frodo had worked last night and been in since
Evidence of cantering. Thankfully Mialee can ride one handed.
Poor Frodo didn't appear as keen to go out this morning - I did tell him he was going to Alder Lake Farm (my favourite venue) and we were going to see Jan Carter and Rebecca Wood he muttered something about not needing to go, but when I said I want to he skipped onto the trailer and off we set.
He was really pleased to see Lisa Bates when we arrived. I got him tacked up and we went in to get warmed up, Jan Carter gave us a potted lesson before we started to ride the test - novice 27 as I felt it was a bit tricky and we could do with the input from Jan. I need to tweak my warm up when out so it actually mirrors the warm up at home. So lots of transitions, turn on the forehand and more transitions - include a serpentine/10 metre circles, if he's falling in check left hip!!
Then before he was exhausted did started riding the test - only someone second guessed where she should be going so we had to do it again, I know the test and feel really cross with myself for not trusting myself. I can remember a test.
After we'd finished talked about the test with Jan, I was really pleased with the timing of the canter transition, but not the quality!! The canter/trot transition needs to be later and more forwards - again trust you can do it. The trot/walk/trot transition needed to be more forwards - balance yourself and make him go forwards. So we worked on trot/walk/trot transitions on a circle and then did a lovely trot along the long side, think balance and getting him working from behind, for Frodo transitions are the key to that. He felt like a bouncy ball in the trot ❤ he did however run out of go go so stopped whilst he was happy and let him chill out on a long rein.
It was lovely in this weather to be in an indoor arena however Frodo managed to stay dry but I was soaked by the time I got in the car. Many many thanks go to RRebecca Woodfor organising yet another beneficial clinic and letting me change from Nov 28 to Nov 27 as we definitely needed the input on
This afternoon we were meant to have a lesson with Mathieu's Dressage World but sadly he had to cancel, one of the reasons for the lesson was to film our entry for the Equi Fun club virtual dressage show - I needed Matt here as I’m so hopeless at remembering tests so he was going to call it having helped me warm up for it.
So we had to warm ourselves up - to a strict time (like at proper dressage) as I’d instructed my OH to come out at a set time to video me, I knew I had to ride it correctly and whatever happened it had to be done in one take, so warts and all it was going to be submitted.
I’m not as bad as I thought and not only did I learn the test but stayed calm enough to remember it in the test. No it wasn’t our best effort, but we did it and we’ll get honest feedback and know what to work on for next time. There was some elements that I was happy with, and some I know we need to work on, this is without the judges judgement.
Frodo doesn’t much like working on a warm day, and I’m not much better so was pleased that neither of us downed tools. He’s in for a treat tomorrow but will let you know after the event what we did and how it went. I’ve added a video of what we have to contend with at C - the llama of doom, Badger likes to spit at us when we come past.
Woohoo wonderful Wednesday's so since last weds we've mainly been doing in hand work, lots of bending and trying differing things to start building fitness and suppleness but also to get him moving. This Weds I rode him - this was so exciting and scary, scary as what happens if he's still lame?
He also had turn out today for the first time in 5 weeks, I was worried he'd zoom off on the hard ground and it was made into more of a task as he had to go through the llamas field. I really shouldn't have stressed he got a little (lifted his head) excited had a big roll and shake and then mooched off to say hello to the other horses.
He came in nicely tonight but was slightly wide eyed by the appearance of tack, I did typical girlie eek he's going to be difficult, why I do that to myself I don't know but as the thought came into my head I told myself that even if he did I could deal with it.
So of course when I got on he was fine, we did lots of walking and maybe a little spook, and seek reassurance from the audience of horses at the tiger by the school (ok it was a cat) and he softened and off we set, me laughing at the cat. Keeping the rhythm of the walk was my aim, and for the most part I'm convinced we did that, lots of circles large/small thinking about maintaining bend without too much flexion. All in all I was thrilled to be back up there and him feeling good.
