Jan/Feb Training Update

What a busy few weeks its been, in between thick snow and torrential rain. Its very frustrating when its start-stop all the time, but I’ve had plenty to organise when I’ve not been able to ride, like which new bridle to buy Risby :-p Oh and I'm all booked for Germany so roll on September! On a more serious note, the 2013 diary is getting booked up with teaching and judging, plus I have some shows lined up. I think having a deadline really helps to make your riding more efficient.

Risby came back on January 10^th from his Aunty Julia, and has settled into his new home extremely well. He loves his windows, and has several friends he can "chat" to. He can even watch the other horses in the school if he fancies learning some new moves. I wanted him to just chill for a while before bringing him back into proper work. I have been working on suppleness as he can become tense at times, and also on getting the contact much more steady and keeping the poll up. He has also been hacking and had a jumping session, probably the first time he’s done both in over a year. I think variety is crucial for dressage horses to keep them fresh both mentally and physically. I’m totally of the opinion both dressage riders and horses should be brave, and I look forwards to taking Risby for a good blast across the fields or round the canter track at the yard. After his jumping session his trot and canter were hugely improved, his back was really swinging and the contact was the best its been. I am really excited and very lucky to be able to compete him this year.

Risby in his new stable Jan 2013

I had planned to take him for a lesson to my trainer June Long on 8^th February so she could finally meet him. A few days before I thought I’d better start the horsebox as its barely done anything all Winter and I just had this inkling something might go wrong… Sure enough it decided not to start, even after charging the battery. My very kind friends Nikki and Pete (who’s a mechanic) came to look at it and diagnosed a couple of minor problems which were sorted out. The next day I drove it to fill up diesel and was driving back when the engine totally cut out on a dual carriage way! All good fun. Luckily it started again but a few warning lights remained on. Basically, this all put an end to me taking Risby for a lesson and the horsebox was sent off to the garage.

June very kindly offered to let me ride her schoolmaster Algie instead. Initially I wasn’t too sure and almost thought, “not another horse to ride!” I think I’d just had a pretty tiring week with a lot of riding hours. However, I was so glad I did and I had the most amazing session. Algie is a 16.3hh Irish bred gelding who has a lovely temperament. He has been competed by June’s daughter, Emily. He’s a little tricky initially as you really have to know which buttons to press, and the warm up was spent just getting him soft through the poll. We then did some straightening exercises and he went on to work really nicely, and wow what a lovely, rideable canter he has. June is a fantastic trainer and I left the session on a very positive high, with Risby pencilled in for the following week, horsebox permitting.

Riding Algie

I found the lesson translated really well when I next schooled Charmeur. Like Algie, he is also a right bended horse and I have to be so careful where I place my weight when riding on the left rein. I used the same leg yield exercises on him and practised changing the flexion often so that he started to take more contact on the right rein. His left canter still needs more work to get him straighter and into my outside aids. But I’m really pleased with him considering he’s barely done anything all Winter and has only been in proper ridden work for 9 months now. Once he’s all fit and muscled up (and lost his Winter fluff) he’s going to be great. We also had a fun fast hack out with our friend Hayley on the pony she rides, Toffee. The best way of opening up the canter is on a windy day through a huge field, spooking as you go... it will also help with your depth of seat!! Remember that dressage people ;-)

Jack has been behaving himself as usual and I am excited to be helping a new little rider with him who is very naturally talented and also keen to learn. He is a real schoolmaster and he always tries to please. So his work is cut out now as it looks like we may both be competing him this year. It was a shame our show got cancelled at the end of December, which would have been his first BD and we had planned two Novice tests. Hopefully we will soon pick up where we left off 

Check back soon to see if Risby finally made it for his lesson :-)