Dancer's first jumping lesson

Dancer's first jumping lesson, a set on Flickr.

After a discussion with Liz Geldard who owns Dancer the other day, I thought it was about time Dancer had his first jumping lesson.
As you can imagine poles and wings are not something you would easily find in a dressage yard, but find them Liz and Mum did and we headed out to the lovely outdoor school.
I started his session by schooling round random poles on the ground, he was a bit lookey at first but soon got used to them and he wouldn't go near the wings at the side of the school. Then after about about 15 minutes of schooling on the flat and through the poles, we gently went over the first. He didn't want to but with some encouragement he went over, eventually we managed to trot over all the poles in the school in a very relaxed way. Then we put the jump wings in on their own and just got him schooling between those, gradually we added a pole on the ground, then two poles and then a little cross pole. He looked at the cross pole but I told him to go and he trusted me. We jumped that cross pole a handful of times and finished on a good note without over doing it. I was so so pleased with him, very little resistance and he learned so quickly.
Another bonus of going over to Fiona Bigwoods to jump Dancer was to see the two beautiful foals born this week. Pictures above.

Goring Heath Horse Trials Show Report

Goring Heath Horse Trials 0312, a set on Flickr.

Eventful journey! It took us 3 hours as we did a few detours, this time it was Mum's navigating. We arrived with not as much time to spare as we had planned but enough time for a coffee and we were ready for the off.
I think I can safely say that Yara was not focused and took a lot of warming in. My dressage test was also done in my jumping saddle as we are waiting for her dressage saddle to be adjusted and the jumping saddle helped free up her shoulders more. Not sure it does much for me though!! She wasn't the easiest to handle and contain but there was some nice stuff. It didn't flow as I would have liked but there is so much to work with, it will get better and the mark was a 35.5. Dressage judge comments stated three correct paces, she just needs a bit more through from behind in some of her work. Fair comments and fair marking.
The show jumping was awesome. She pinged round the course and I was so so pleased with her, she learnt so much over the past couple of months and really put it into practice at Goring Heath.
We thought the XC course was a fair test, it was up to height, she had some sticky little moments but nothing that made me think she was going to stop, it was if she was just looking to me to tell her it was ok.
She is a horse that you need to set up for every fence but gradually she is trusting me, listening to me and riding to my aids.
So I finished on my dressage score, double clear inside the time and we were placed. Very chuffed! Good girl Yara.

Dancers and my First Affiliated Dressage Competition

For some reason I was so nervous about Friday. ( I never get nervous). I think it was because I wanted to do the right thing by Dancer. It was his first Affiliated competition and second ever outing. We were in the Shearwater four year old qualifier.
We turned up and erm well I felt a little out of place, there is lots of bling in dressage, one particular diamante brow band with a diamond tear drop in the middle caught my eye, and not for good reasons! Also there were some rather stunning riders.
So off I went to the warm up and tried to ignore the fact that I was riding alongside International Grand Prix Riders and professional producers! Luckily I don't know anyone in Dressage really and so was not intimidated by who they were even though I could see how well they were riding. Dancer had to be one of the smallest horses there and I was the youngest by far!
Actually I think Dancer held his own in the warm up, I have never felt him go so well, he learns so quickly but I think he got a little too comfortable and familiar with other horses going round, because when it was our turn to go into the ring he was really spooky again and of course he is not used to people watching around the arena either, so it was a bit of an experience for him! In the end he got 63%. Liz was really pleased with our performance, he just needs to get out to as many places as possible to gain experience. I had a great road trip with Liz and I can't wait for the next one. Have I been converted to dressage? Think I may have the bug you know! Now where is Pearl lets go and practice!

Update on Estella

Estella's PRP treatment went well at Arundel Veterinary Hospital on Wednesday and she will now be recuperating at her owner's Jill Chator. Jill has an ideal set up with stables onto an enclosed yard so she can get some limited exercise and of course she will get spoilt rotten, which is absolutely what she derserves. Decision time as to whether she will come back to eventing or whether she might be put into foal again will be in 12 weeks time. We only want what is best for Stella, she has been the most wonderful horse and I have been the luckiest of girls to have ridden her.

XC schooling 28/3/12

XC schooling 28/3/12, a set on Flickr.

Just got in a quick xc schooling session after school today, to get Yara's eye in before Goring Heath on Sunday. Beautiful weather and she was stunning. We jumped mostly Novice jumps. Good girl Yara.

Maidstone Dressage 25/03/12

Maidstone Dressage 25/03/12, a set on Flickr.

Our day started earlier as the clocks went forward and after loading Pearl we set of to Fiona and Anders' Yard to collect Dancer. Dancer and Pearl met for the first time in the lorry and all was well, so good start. It turns out that Liz is as good as navigating as me, so we put the sat nav on, it thought we were somewhere completely different and at one point told us to turn right off the motorway. So I was told to hand the directions over to Liz, Liz then told Mum to turn off at junction 3 when she meant 6! Mum promptly told her to hand the directions back to me! By then the sat nav finally started working and realised where we were and we were able to hand over the responsiblity to the lady on there. By some miracle we found our destination!

Dancer certainly did Dance , all over the warm up arena and also in the main arena! However we did get a tune and there were some cracking bits there, so much to work with. This was his first ever competition and I was so so pleased with him and can't wait to take him again, I know he will just keep improving and the judges loved him. Place - a very respectable 3rd, not bad for his first competition!

Next was Pearl, Pearl has not been out for a long time and we have been working hard to build up the strength behind. She was so chilled and relaxed. At times she lacked the engagement that I can get out of her at home, but I was very pleased with her, still lots to build on - but we won! Good girl Pearl.