Taupo Training Trials 13.09.09

SATURDAY

Well we headed down early to take advantage of the practice show jumping on the Saturday, which despite it being a bit drizzly, was a worthwhile exercise.

I had anticipated doing a round at 90, then perhaps one at 1.00.

The bigger ring had a lot of jumps off of turns and corners (one aspect that I generally ride badly), as well as oxers, fillers and a treble, so plenty to think about in addition to the slippery going.

I have been working very hard on keeping my hands up, and my shoulders up, as it is when I tip forward that Willie throws in his stops. Much as he kept daring me to tip forward we jumped around twice with no stops, including the one stride double, and the treble. Then I found out that it was apparently already set at the meter; so quite pleased with that.

SUNDAY

Dressage:
He usually gets very tense at Taupo, so when the opportunity arose to ride twenty minutes ahead of time, I went in, so he had only had a very short warm up.
He remained relaxed and very very obedient, although could have had more pizzazz. Scored 7's & 8's with his walk work letting us down.
62.35% for 9th place

Show Jumping:
As I was almost last to go, the ground was pretty cut up and slippery, so I probably under-rode the corners. However, I managed to keep my hands up, and much as Willie tried a most of the jumps to dare me to drop my hands and tilt forward, I disappointed him. However, this of course meant we got pretty deep to most of them, and I am surprised he only took two rails. Hopefully with time he will begin to just go without thinking about having me on.
8 faults

Cross Country:
He napped going to the start box, which is always a good sign with him.
He literally leapt out and off we went.
For once he didnt spook and play silly buggers, and simply toddled around jumping everything we met.
Jumped the palisade really really well. I was so proud of myself, I just eyed it up and kept legs on and was rewarded with a lovely free jump over it.
He did the bounce really well, and also the corner. Basically he just jumped everything out of his stride.
Didnt push him for time (and did get held up by someone stopping, and then re-presenting while I was waiting to jump the jump!), and I was very pleased with his fitness.
0 jump faults
13.2 time faults (very few went within the time and there were considerable time faults across all classes so mine werent too bad at all)
Finishing in 11th place overall

Aiming at Pre novice at Te Rapa, so the plan is to keep working on the show jumping.

07.09.09 - Megan Jones Lesson

Fabulous lesson!

Megan was so 'normal' and down to earth, that I didnt feel at all intimidated by her.

She was super quick to cotton on to what was going wrong with Willie & I in the show jumping, just from the little I told her. And from word go, we worked on how to fix it, rather than her watching how I rode and waiting for it to turn to custard.

We worked on me keeping my hands up, and carrying them, and encouraging him to keep his head up more, which in turn lightened his front end. I also worked on sitting up and using my ribcage for half halts, in conjunction with hands up.

Megan explained that if his head was up, rather than dragging me forward and down, he couldnt stop (as long as legs were on of course).

Initially we practiced walk to halts, then trot to halts, (by raising my hands, and using my seat and rib case) and then even a forward canter to halt....WOW.... I didnt think it would happen, but it did, and I wasnt 'pulling' at him.

Then onto jumps, again keeping the hands up, the canter forward and under.

He felt totally different (Willie was probably thinking that I felt totally different).

After a warm up jump practicing what we had learnt, we were to jump that jump turn the corner to the related line, face the jump....and HALT two strides from the jump. Then when he was focussed on the jump, into canter, jump and then halt between the two jumps. He then cantered on and really jumped the oxer well, no spooking at the filler, just jumped.

Through the grid (full of spookies) ... he initially tried his spooky stop antics, but it was like I "had" him, and through he went. After that no more even thinking about it. He was jumping superbly.

And to finish we cantered around to a spooky oxer of the corner.

No spooks, no nothing, just a nice clean forward jump.

Yay.

Lots to work on, but then at the same time very little to work on if that makes sense.
Wendy has been helping me to sit up more (and counter the tipping) and along with the hands, it is simply ensuring I continue to remind myself 'hands up, hands up, sit up, sit up" until it is habit.