Puhinui 13.03.2010

And the report card reads...... F for Fail

Dressage....yeah; started with a hiss and a roar.... 9 for his entry!
and it was all down hill from there. One of his lowest marks in terms of placement in the field....he was basically resisting coming under from behind by going crooked. Hopefully we will work through that and his marks will get back to where they should be (well, better than before cos he should be then working better)
Then to the show jumping.....DISASTER

Clouted him into #1 and he really flew it, and #2, then everything was right for the next, a white oxer with fill coming off a down hill slope....two strides out, and he's 'gone'.....told him off, and he flies it......next jump with fill.....same again, telling off and away he goes....and so to the next jump with fill.....3rd strike out!!
However, Wendy very kindly asked if we could go back in after the last horse (I was very late in the day) and give him a school. Started at the last jump he stopped at;... of course it was SO terribly scary that he stopped again....but this time he got what for, went to pieces and bounced around.....then turned around and flew it.....onto the BRIGHT coloured double, and although he backed off spooking at it, he went. Strangely enough however, he spooked and backed off it every time I jumped it.....so not sure if he is seeing it a little 'off' or something.

However, Wendy then said to continue round the rest of the course, which he actually jumped beautifully, including the one stride double with an oxer in.

Of course my first reaction when he does his naughty pony thing, is to question myself, and what have I done wrong. However, Wendy tells me that I didn't do anything wrong....I sat up, I had him together, and I had my leg on.....apparently a couple of strides out, he just kind of goes 'blank' and then peters out with insufficient impulsion to get over the jump.

Perhaps I need to get practiced at not only upping my own aggression, but giving him a reminder with Mr Whippy about three strides out from anything he is likely to do the "oooh that's spooky" thing.????

One thing is for sure however: I am NOT giving up on it...I AM going to beat this thing.

Cross country day. I was allowed to ride at the tail end of the class, which in my case meant riding at the very end of the day..... long hot day, and I decided to keep it for Kihikihi....the ground was also like concrete.... in fact, as I drove out, well after 4.00pm, they were still going XC.