Winter Show Jumping

Well; I actually managed to get to another Winter show jumping outing at the WEC...this year managed the first and last days only - so much for planning to do all four!

80cm - Started at a very low height as its my first SJ round since I fell off in May. Willie went double clear and placed 3rd, and I didnt feel too terrified, so that's good.

90cm - Apart from a VERY lazy rail at number one, he flew around. Got a little long in spots, but I just left him to it. No stops, which is what really matters right now for my confidence. Felt good and confident.

Didnt continue on to the meter, as it was simply AGES before the meter was up, and thought it best to finish full of confidence. We have four weeks till Taupo training trials, and a further three weeks after that to get up to the required 1.05 for Te Rapa.

(Not looking like pics will be coming from the SJ :( )

Practice XC WEC

Well, today was an open XC practice day at WEC.

I went alone, and was amazed at how unmotivated one can be when unaccompanied. Generally there is someone on the ground instructing, and telling you to jump this that or the other. Or else you are with friends also riding and you bouy each other up, and just have fun jumping all sorts.
I jumped a few jumps (which Willie of course did well) but found I was lacking motivation to do an awful lot - almost like "oh well, I've jumped a few jumps: what now?"

Was however very pleased with comments I received on how Willie was looking. One saying she couldnt get over how well he looked, and that he looked like a warmblood and hard to believe he was a TB.

Let us hope he keeps on looking so well!

Always rewarding to get positive comments about our horses.

Spring Omnibus out!

OK now that the Spring Omnibus is out, it is time to set my tentative calendar for the Spring (all things going well).
Not sure if committing it to black and white will mean I am less likely to drift, but we will see (injuries permitting).
Of course there is still the wee problem of the show jumping phobia to be overcome - this was supposed to have been achieved over Winter, but weather etc has basically meant no real inroads have been made.

So here is my calendar:
14.09.08 Taupo training trials
04.10.08 Te Rapa HT - pre novice
01.11.08 Riverdale HT - pre novice
14.11.08 Taupo HT - pre novice
21.11.08 Puhinui HT - pre novice
11.12.08 Richfeilds HT - pre novice

There: it's in writing - no backing out now!

Final Kaurilands Dressage Day

Surprisingly, given the weather forecasts warning of yet more heavy rain, the day was mostly fine, and even sunny at times.

Even more surprisingly, due to the fact that Willie has not been ridden since last weekends XC clinic, and has been on green grass since, he was very well behaved. None of the expected bucks, and indeed he even managed a 5th in his 2.6 test, and won his 3.4 on 61% (with 7's for all his canter work).

Perhaps the secret to dressage is simply not to do any!

I do wonder if I usually try to hard, and/or get very tense and determined to 'show them what he can do' and that results in a score somewhat lower than he is capable of?
He works so nicely at home, and does all the movements well (apart from medium trot which we still struggle with - I just dont think a good medium trot is in his reportoir) and then I go out to compete determined to do well, and he gets tense and reacts to me. Today I expected him to buck, and basically go badly, but he did all the movements well including walk to canter, simple changes, canter serpentines, travers.

nb. Whoever forgot to remind me to take the pillows out from under my jacket is fired! (how flattering - NOT!)