Can I smell Spring?

I have never been so excited at the prospect of the clocks changing, what a long Winter it has been! I am really looking forwards to extra hours in the day to fit in teaching and riding.

I took Risby for our weekly lesson and he was really super. His whole neck is changing now and he takes the contact so much better, especially in the walk which was previously quite tricky. We warmed him up in the usual way with the emphasis on relaxation and suppleness, then added the impulsion. We then progressed onto developing his collection in trot and canter. I had always felt his collected canter was fairly good, but June managed to get us to increase the jump far more than I've ever felt before, all the time working on keeping him soft and engaged. The trot is always more difficult to collect *properly* and we only asked for a few strides at a time of real, bouncy, hindleg collected trot, before allowing him on again. He felt happy and loose throughout, no resistance whatsoever. I think the key is knowing when and how much to ask and how long to sustain. He then stretched off nicely, still into the rein and swinging over the back. What more can you ask for?! If he continues to improve at this rate I will be a very lucky girl indeed, but horses being horses it is always best not to get too excited...

Risby then had some chill out time whilst I used him for some teaching. He loves his lunging sessions with nice, relaxed side reins and not having to exert himself too much! Condition wise he is looking fab on his forage based diet and I have recently taken off his back shoes which has not bothered him one bit. We are both enjoying our time at Pine Ridge with the team and I am excited to be organising some dressage clinics there. Please see http://www.pineridgeequestriancentre.co.uk/

Such a good boy for all riders
 

His stunning new bridle that was put together especially for him arrived from Wolds Exclusive Bling, and I also treated him to a new fluffy Mattes saddlepad and girthsleeve as he is a sensitive chap.

Poor Charmeur had to put up with a very soggy schooling session. He had some time off after getting his back and saddle looked at and now I'm keen to pick up the tempo again and aim for his first competition. I have been working on the canter, often warming up in canter sooner, as I find the trot then becomes straighter and more naturally energetic once his back starts to swing more with the trot-canter-trot transitions. Initially he can be quite mouthy with the bit, but once he's warmed up he really is super in the contact and soft in the mouth.




A good pony despite the awful weather

 

Still smiling in the rain!

Canter not there yet but getting better

 

Using the corner to add some extra hind leg...

 

... which seems to have worked

 

I was really happy that one of my clients and her new horse got placed in their first ever dressage together. I think its so nice to get that first one under your belt as no matter how much preparation you do at home you just cannot tell how things will go in the arena. I'm a great one for preparing and preparing and waiting until things are "just right" until I get my entries off, I think I need to just get on with it sometimes! I'm lucky I have intentionally maintained my Group 7 rider status so can start Charmeur at prelim although I might take him to some local unaffiliated competitions first so he can have a look at different arenas.

I'm also really pleased that my good friend Tracey has got a job working for dressage rider Hayley Beresford, wow what a great opportunity! There's a part of me that still would like to go and train long term in Germany but I also love running my business here and working with my clients. So I guess one month at a time will have to do for now, but who knows...