The Wednesday before camp saw Mark and I returning from our holiday in Malta where we had a fantastic time, however getting back a mere two days before we were supposed to be travelling to Yorkshire for camp was cutting it a bit fine.
Once back it was all systems go to get things ready and organised to enable us to leave for camp on time. Surprisingly enough everything went to plan and we arrived at camp with plenty of time.
Upon arrival Mark and I went into typical organise mode. Mark set up the tent whilst I bedded Ceaser down for the night. Before long we were done and sitting down to have dinner - which for me was a Pot Noodle as I'm fussy….but I won't say anymore on that!
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Saturday morning started with a Neue Schule talk which I was quite interested in listening to. I have Ceaser in a Hanging cheek Team Up bit which I have always found to be okay but I still have the feeling I cannot pick him up and collect him like I can in the pelham or double bridle.
The talk was really insightful and gave a good introduction and explanation into the science of Neue Schule and why they really are such fantastic products on the market. Company founder, Heather Hyde was on hand to answer any questions and give us some feedback about the current bit we were using and her recommendations. If we wanted her to have a closer look at our horse then we were given the chance to book afternoon one-to-one appointments with her, which I took full advantage of! But more on that later.
Before long it was time to tack up and head to my first lesson of the weekend with Jo Swain, a regular BYRDS trainer.
To start with Jo watched me doing simple movements through walk, trot and canter to enable her to assess what our strengths and weaknesses were. Within seconds she noticed my weak left hand which has a tendency to stray and go flat. Instantly she said I wouldn't be able to get the uphill feeling I desired so much if I allowed my hand to stay flat as it was blocking Ceaser's left rein and causing him to lean on me.Jo also noticed Ceaser wasn't as sharp as he could be, so we spent a lot of time working on getting him sharper throughout all the transitions. She asked what marks I usually got for my trot to walk transitions and we discussed how I could go from a 6/7 to an 8 or 9 and made it my goal for the test riding that afternoon.
Jo also felt I ride Ceaser far too long and need to pick up my reins to help pick him up. So we spent a lot of time working on getting that connection through the reins and keeping him connected through my hand and leg - which in turn just instantly gave us a lovely uphill look. Which made it seem easy!
I came away from the lesson having felt like I had not only learnt a great deal in just 45 minutes but I also had lots of homework. The improvement I felt from beginning to end was huge and looking back at the videos the difference is noticeable in Ceaser's way of going. Jo explained everything in an easy to understand way and not once made me feel like I couldn't do it. She was very complementary of Ceaser and said he could go further if we just tweaked and fine tuned some areas, which of course made me a very happy Sian!
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After lunch it was time for my test riding. Initially I had chosen to ride an Elementary test but after a few discussions with my instructor we decided it would be better to ride the test I would be riding at the regionals just two days after camp, so I rode Prelim 17. I was really pleased with how my test went but a little mad at myself for some rider errors, like a last minute wobble on the centre line. However for what I think is the first time we got an 8 for our downward transition. Result! We finished on 68% and were 4th overall through all the campers tests from the whole day. I was very pleased and really felt that Jo's help and advice in the morning had helped.Once back from our test riding it was time to have a one-to-one meeting with a saddle fitter from Sue Carson saddles. I knew exactly what she was going to say and unfortunately she said it. Ceaser's saddle isn't right for him. Ideally he needs a 16.5" medium/wide, not a 17" medium/wide. So, there and then I started my Christmas wish list from Mark. A specially fitted Sue Carson saddle. Much to Mark's amusement!
Next was the Neue Schule bitting advice. Heather was fantastic and gave me some really great feedback about Ceaser's mouth and how its built, however she felt he was also in the wrong bit. Poor Mark was contemplating doing a runner at this point as my Christmas list was growing by the second. Anyway she felt that he would better off in a Verbindend hanging cheek or loose ring snaffle.
By Saturday evening I was ready to be in bed by 6pm but Sarah the RDO had organised a Dressage to Music demonstration which was open to all members. My instructor travelled over which was nice and the demonstration was fantastic. The evening finished off with a demo from Lottie Fry - which was just outstanding!
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Sunday morning I was determined to go into my lesson feeling positive after the success of the previous day but ready to further what we had achieved and learnt.
Jo was over the moon with our score in the test riding and it gave me such a confidence boost to have some positive feedback about everything. If you're an avid follower of this blog then you will know I suffer with my self belief and I often feel I don't deserve to be in the warm up ring etc.After we had got the walk and trot the previous day Jo said she wanted to spend some time focussing on just lifting Ceaser's canter a little more and gave me some exercises to do in the walk and trot which would get him moving off my leg a little more and feeling that bit lighter. By the time it came to canter we instantly got what we wanted and I really was in complete awe of how Jo had managed to get us to do it so quickly. Once we had then established the canter she told me to imagine riding Ceaser's knees that bit higher, so I wanted to gain the feeling that I could see his knees coming up further off the floor, whilst still looking ahead. She also said although my position is absolutely fine, I do have a tendency to look down and collapse - which I need to stop doing if we want to maintain the uphill feeling we need.
So, we spent some time doing lots of transitions from trot to canter to trot and when in the canter instead of squeezing with both legs, taking it turns and doing left leg, then right, then left, then right and so on, so Ceaser could differentiate his legs to get them to come up that bit more in order to create that uphill look we wanted.
I honestly could have squealed and cried all in one. The videos Mark captured to me look like a complete different partnership and I honestly could not believe the difference in Ceaser's way of going. It sounds all so cliche but when you try for so long to get something and one person comes along and changes something so small and then you get it - it really is just fantastic!
Jo was brilliant and gave me lots of homework to go with, but most of all the confidence to continue to the regionals and go and ride a good test. She even said to find her on Facebook and let her know how we had done which I thought was so lovely of her.
Once my lesson was over it was time for Ceaser to go on the dreaded weighbridge as Spillers were there weighing ponies and condition scoring them. Over dinner the previous night we had all joked that Ceaser should become Marks pony for the weigh in and I could hide so I didn't have to admit to how many treats he gets and just how fat he is!
Thankfully, as if Ceaser was sticking two hooves up to all who said he was fat and carrying too much weight, he only weighed in at just under 400kg - the correct weight for a pony of his breeding and size! No diet for CP then - just Mark…..In all seriousness, the lady said he was carrying a few extra fatty pockets but it was to be expected if I had just been on holiday for a week and he had spent the majority of the week in his field. The joke of it all really was that Ceaser seemed a little reluctant to go on the weigh bridge until the lovely lady pulled out a treat and on jumped Ceaser Pony. That boy really will do anything for food! She also gave me some great advice on what supplements I could feed to give Ceaser more energy if I wanted it.
Sunday afternoon then saw my test riding with Sue Carson judging. Everyone was in a major flap that Sue was judging and everyone panicked over whether or not she would like their horse and if they were wearing enough "matchy matchy" to impress. Needless to say with it all going over my head I rode into the arena on my coloured cob having gone for the smart option of white jods and white numnahs and bandages etc! I'm a little slow on the "matchy matchy" front, but don't worry it'll all be added to that Christmas list.
Overall my test felt 100% and I don't know what all the worry was about, Sue was lovely and one of the most encouraging people I've met! I think my head grew about ten times bigger as she told me Ceaser is a 70% pony providing I ride correctly. She thinks there is no excuses for us not to be getting 70% in both prelims and novices but gave me a big slap on the wrist for not using my corners enough - still! I didn't mention this bit to Amy as she has shouted at me several times for this and I thought I was using them enough now, but nope, still not! So for one corner I got a 6.0 and another movement a 6.5 so we ended up just below 70% overall again but I was pleased and most importantly everything felt much more connected and uphill.
After I had untacked I offered to write for Sue for half an hour which again gave me an incredible insight into what the judge wanted from the riders and where I thought riders should be getting 7's, Sue showed me what knocked them down to a 6.0. For anyone thinking of doing some writing for a judge I would highly recommend it.**
And so that was the end of another fantastic camp hosted by the Northern Region and the three of us; Mark, Ceaser and I, had a fantastic time and were made to feel extremely welcome once again. Honestly, if you're thinking of joining in on a camp next year then don't hesitate to, you won't regret it!
Part 2 coming soon….Ceaser realises he can climb.
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