We did it!

I’m not sure I even have the words to describe today. I contemplated just not saying anything, because what do you say when you cross the finish line with tears in your eyes, blurring your vision, and all you want to do is hold onto that feeling forever more. I don’t want this feeling to end. I want to bottle it up and keep it.

2 years ago I had this stupid idea I wanted to event Ziggy. God knows why because I’m not brave AT ALL! So to test the waters I entered the 70cm ODE at Eland Lodge. He did an almighty dressage to leave him in the top 5, then went onto to have 4 down in the SJ, and XC....? We were eliminated at the first fence, then the second, then the third, THEN zig realised his job and went on to finish the rest of the course clear. 

Massively in doubts over whether he’d make me an eventer and if he was brave enough to take me over the fences I sat there like a lemon over. One of us needed to be brave! So I left it. We did one more ODE at a small local equestrian centre which was 55cms. And I put my focus back onto dressage. 

Until, on a boring day back in December 2017, I declared I was bored of BD and I signed up to the wobbleberry challenge. Stupid really, given that I’d almost decided to give up jumping after suddenly developing this habit of not breathing over fences and making myself puke. True story..... the humiliating video is still floating on fb somewhere (thanks mum and Fiona 💁🏼‍♀️). 

Anyway, I’m waffling. SO! I found my brave knickers, I found two instructors that could sort me out and well, they kind of have. To the point where a few weeks ago I declared I was by now almost definitely bored of BD and I wanted a challenge. So I looked at BE events and decided which one I would set my heart on. One instructor said “please do an unaffiliated first, so you don’t set yourself back.” 

And that’s how I ended up at Keysoe today. But I almost didn’t end up there because the forecast rain and wind was awful and after deliberating ALL night (I’m not even kidding, I learnt my dressage test at 3am this morning I couldn’t sleep that bad). I woke up to my alarm at 5am this morning. Um’d and ahh’d and then just as my other half was nodding back off I declared “nope were off, come on get up, we’re late!”. 

So we set off to Keysoe to do the 70 class. On the way the wind and rain was horrific but no changing my mind now. 

Zig warmed up beautifully for dressage. I literally did 10 mins. Leg yielding and tapping that hind leg like Tracey had said to. Dropped the whip to go in and oh my life he became lazy AND spooky. Must admit to mumbling “not this again zig, they’re dressage letter boards” as I literally pulled my outside rein and kicked with inside leg whilst smiling like I was Charlotte on valegro! Thankfully judge didn’t notice too much and gave us a whopping 31, the second highest score out of the entire 2 70 sections! Wahoo!!

Onto showjumping. It was raining SO SO heavy now, and sideways. “I’m not doing this” I said to my other half. To which he told me to man up and get in. Tried to jump a practice fence, zig flew the brakes on whilst the steward screamed “LEGGGGGGG” at me. Ok, leg and we flew. Must remember to ride!!!! Told other half if we had trouble SJ’ing I’d retire from XC.

It was piddling it down now to a point i can’t describe but it was our turn. Bell went and Jesus he flew #1, almost pulled my arms out over 2, an upright, then to 3 an oxer, over 4, and then we hit 5. Right by the tables... he stopped, lept it, then carried on over the double, over the upright, then back over the big oxer to finish with 0 time penalties. Okay, he made nothing of them! Fist pump into the air. Oh shoot, clear meant I HAD to do XC now!

Quick change of clothes and over to XC. Still raining cats and dogs and sideways. Zig refused the first warm up fence. Gave him blooming big kick, told him to man up and he flew. Then they were calling my number. 

Over to the start box. God I love this bit. 10 seconds.... and we were off! Tapped for the first fence to wake him up, he flew, and over the 2nd a feeder, over the 3rd, and then round to the 4th a blooming big step up, he took an almighty leap, tripped a bit but carried on, thank god! Over the house, the log pile. He FLEW the coffin (see photo!). He hadn’t looked at a thing up until now. Aside from whinny the whole way round. Silly pony! Up to the water and could kick myself for this. I didn’t realise you could just dip your toes, so I literally flew into the water, zig tripped again - it was deep and we went through it all. Cost us some time, but clear so far so couple of taps on his bum and woke him up again, flew the fence coming out, and we were onto the home stretch! A simple log, slight angled fence, and then I could see the last one... growled at him, tap tap and he flew the big house to storm to the finish line!

We’d only blooming gone DOUBLE CLEAR!!!!

Knew we’d had time penalties and could’ve kicked myself when I saw we were winning had we not had XC time penalties! However, double blooming clear! Crossing that finish line I couldn’t hold back the tears! I honestly can’t believe how far we’ve come. Think back to 4 years ago, when this boy was unrideable, the spooks, how tricky he is at home - BUT he comes out on a day less than ideal weather wise and jumps blooming double clear!! Thrilled to say we finished 4th and highest dressage! 

I’m sorry for the long post, but goodness I love this little lion heart horse! ❤️🐴 MASSIVE confidence boost!! 

THANK YOU to everyone that’s helped me, my instructors; Kate and Sophie who have literally kicked my bum lately, followers, those that believe in us. I definitely think I’m hooked - BD doesn’t give the feeling coming out the start box and crossing those final flags does.... WE DID IT

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HOYS - Day 1 roundup

Day one of Horse of the Year show 2017 got off to a flying start in the Horseware Bronze League Championship and Silver League Championship. Emma Sargeant from Staffordshire turned back the clock as she claimed a superb victory in the Silver League Championship on Fool's Business, winning two years after her sister Katie triumphed with the same horse. A jump-off time of 32.51 seconds meant Emma did enough to beat defending champion Rachel Walker, riding Bo Gi, into second spot, with Vicky Burns and Denzel II third.

The Horseware Bronze League Championship went to Bedfordshire's Abbi Jackson in emphatic fashion. Drawn first to go from 13 starters, she delivered a stylish first round performance on Christopher Robbin IV, then clocked 31.62 seconds in their jump-off to win by almost four seconds. Angela Mills and Quids In were best of the rest, taking the runners-up spot, with Southerly Roberts and Tinx finishing third.

The Connolly’s RED MILLS Senior Newcomers Championship was a tough fought competition with just two riders jumping clear and making it through to the jump-off. Sussex-based Nicole Pavitt continued her recent domination with a stylish performance to take the win aboard her mother Sandra's HC Cornet, leaving Adam Botham in second with Jerome Du Luot.

In the Talent Seekers inc 7 Year Old Championship, Chloe Winchester described her opening day win at HOYS as "what dreams are made of" as she took the Talent Seekers title with her 10-year-old bay mare Sportsfield Our Clare. Louise Saywell riding Mac Uwe finished in second place and landed the 7 Year Old Champion title.

In showing, prolific HOYS winner Jayne Ross began the 2017 event in trademark fashion as she guided 10-year-old bay mare Time 2 Reflect to an impressive win in the Ladies Side Saddle Horse of the Year Championship.

Beware Chalk Pit was on top form and took the SEIB Racehorse to Riding Horse of the Year Championship. There were tears of joy as Ann Leftley’s 13-year-old ex racehorse Beware Chalk Pit took the honours. ‘Pete’, as he is known at home, won more than £9,500 over his seven year racing career, trained by Jonathan Geake. He ran his last race just two years ago.

In the Brineton Colne Mountain & Moorland Mini Pony of the Year Championship, a round of applause roared around the TopSpec Arena in appreciation of one fantastic pony, Thistledown Van-Der-Vaart,  who was crowned Brineton Colne Mountain & Moorland Mini Pony of the Year for the third year running.

The Price family’s superstar pony - and reigning Supreme Pony of the Year - Litton Enterprise made a stylish comeback to the TopSpec Arena on the first day of HOYS with a win in the Equissage Pulse Ridden Partbred Pony of the Year Championship. 

It was fourth time lucky for Mirv and the Purebred Arab of the Year title. Clare Fitch punched the air in delight as her ride, Mirv, was called forward to take the Simon Constable Equine Vets and Mr & Mrs Roberts Ridden Purebred Arab of the Year Championship. 

The Cuddy Working Hunter displayed a beautifully designed course by David Cole, although it proved tricky for many. It was not enough to deter Daniel Brian Carroll aboard Red Why Salute who answered all the questions asked and to take the win.  When Daniel Brian Carroll bought a five-year-old gelding with “no job to do” straight from the field, he had an inkling success was in the pipeline.

The evening performance was made extra-special with the 2017 Equestrian of the Year presentation which was awarded to Team GB Para-dressage rider Sophie Wells.  Fresh from her time on the podium at the Para-European Dressage Championships in August, Sophie was presented the award under the Andrews Bowen International Arena spotlight.

The bar has certainly been set high for what will undoubtedly be a promising week of talent on display at Horse of the Year Show, NEC Birmingham.

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When a BD rider decides to change the D to an E!

Way back when I used to love jumping, I'd often be found in the workers ring on my little 12.2h Welsh Section B Sara (who should get more mentions than she does), flying round the course. She was - and still is - a machine. We'd always go clear as she never knocked a fence, and always jumped what was in front of her if she felt you were with her enough.

We were workers champions three consecutive years, rode at Moorgreen County Show where we did a nice clear round in the 75cm class and were always coming home with red ribbons.

Then, one odd day in July, some 14 years ago now (oh my life I'm officially old!!), when jumping in the field at home I cantered towards a rather huge jacobs ladder, with my friend cheering me on and BAM. Sara refused, realising her small size would struggle to get over and instead I was safely deposited over the jump alone. Only for her then to realise it's okay, mum's done it and jump it swiftly after me, crashing into my face.

I can't honestly remember much else, apart from limping down the field, onto the yard and absolutely sobbing with a very funny looking arm, bruised face and cut lip. Someone shouted for my dad, who was off walking the dog somewhere and all I remember is breaking my arm.

Fast forward 6 weeks, having begged my parents to an inch of their life to get back on, my cast was taken off, I was given the all clear and my friend and I stupidly thought I should attempt the jump AGAIN, at the SAME height. My twenty-something-self is currently cursing my teenage self at her stupidity, but hey. I'm sure you know whats coming....

We cantered as fast as we could into the jump, and once again I was deposited the other side and this time Sara thought better of joining me and stayed where she was.

Anyway, another trip to hospital occurred, non-horsey mum was livid, shouted at dad that she was taking me on holiday in 2 weeks and now i'd have to go with an arm in a sling. Thankfully not broken, but badly sprained and ordered to be in a sling for 3 weeks. Not sure I took much notice of that though.

So, since that day my confidence jumping took a bit of a knock. We returned to workers, but didn't really attempt bigger than 80cm from that day on and I always avoided any kind of spread in any form. The sight of jacobs ladders made me want to throw up a tiny bit and you'd be surprised how many times I heaved my way around a show jumping, finished and almost threw up afterwards. Dad called it an embarrassment, I said I could'nt help it.

Anyway, not long after my love for dressage began and all things show jumping was put on a back burner. I outgrew Sara and never found a pony I really enjoyed jumping again.

During university I joined the equestrian team, and jumped for them. It was during th
ese three years that I found my love for jumping once more, but still lacked the pony that had the courage to take me round bigger and more challenging tracks. I was keen to get back into it, but just didn't have the horse!

....and then, as if by magic. Some say we were meant for one another and just waiting for each other to come along. Ziggy arrived! When he arrived we had no idea what he jumped like, but soon enough after we managed to get him going it was evident he jumped like a stag! Then the rest they say is history.

We're here. Ziggy is bold, brave - everything I'd hoped. Aside from being a little spooky, he'll jump anything I put him at. and me? I sit there and hope to God we get over safely, and slowly I'm trying to put my big girl pants on and go Eventing. My hopes of making him a dressage pony are far dashed as people have told me he's too talented to prance about all day.


So, here it is! Our challenge is a BE80. We've accomplished various One Day Events and all sorts, that Eventing is really what I want to do with him now.

However, I just need to cross a tiny bridge. And that tiny bridge seems to be the fact I now throw up when I'm competing over a course of jumps and several people are watching....

Anyway, follow our journey - it might be an interesting one!

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Admitting there's a problem is half way to solving it...

I always said when I started this blog that I’d be nothing but honest and true to my word, so when it dawned on me yesterday just exactly how I’d been feeling of late, I wanted to share it with my readers, but felt apprehensive to finally put pen to paper (fingers to keys) and admit what’s going round my head. However, I was soon stopped in my tracks and in more ways than one. 

When I admitted to my good friend and instructor how I’d been feeling she simply said “I can tell.”. and then I told a livery and she said “It’s winter, we’re all feeling the same.”. Then finally I shared a small update on my Facebook page and suddenly I was inundated with messages of support and people telling me they’ve been feeling the same. 

Without realising, I breathed a sigh of relief. Not because people were feeling the same, but because I’d just admitted something I wasn’t immensely proud of and it’d been accepted by those close to me like it was nothing. In real life it’s not much to admit, and to my non-horsey friends it means nothing, but to others it’ll be a pretty big deal - or so I thought. 

I’ll try keep this short, I promise. 

As you all know, roughly 18-months ago I purchased a pony, Ziggy. He was unrideable and would do nothing but stand on his hind legs and bolt every time you got your foot in the stirrup. When it came to managing to get on him, he couldn’t comprehend the fact you had to sit up and be taller than him - he was a nervous wreck and so many times I wondered why the heck I’d agreed to buy a pony with so many problems when I had so little time. But I did. I took that chance and slowly, but surely, he began to come round. 

Fast forward a year and we’d achieved some fantastic unaffiliated dressage results, been XC schooling, show jumping and even hunting. He was a gem in every way and always aimed to please. BUT. There’s always a but. He's complex. He’s spooky, he’s sharp, he’s quirky and I can never quite work out what he’s thinking. But he’s talented, and that’s always what had stopped me from selling him.

Before I left for America we were getting somewhere. We were hunting twice a week, jumping the biggest we’d ever jumped and finally I felt like it was all clicking into place. Then I left for a month and by the time I arrived home the dark nights were upon us and the mornings weren’t much better. 

Slowly, without realising it much at first, Ziggy’s spooking got worse. Considerably worse. It wasn’t constant, it wasn’t always expected and it was at the most silliest of things; from a butterfly, to a pole on the ground he’d previously trotted around for 10 minutes. At first I brushed it off and just put it down to him being fresh, but over the next 2 months it got much worse. 

In the meantime I met someone who rode him for me and who proved he is talented at jumping - with a gutsy rider on top. 

Without realising, I started to favour riding Ceaser again and where previously I’d split my time equally between the two I started to notice Ziggy was being left in his stable more and I’d brush off riding him. However, when I did get on him I enjoyed it 75% of the time. I enjoy nothing more than the feeling he gives me when he learns something new like his walk to canters. In fact just last month he did his first flying change and as I fist pumped (don’t try this at home kids) the air in happiness, I finally felt like we were achieving something. But days like that were marred with the constant spooking, the constant nervousness and him being on edge whilst being ridden. At the same time though, he’s the first horse since Sara I’ve felt confident enough to push myself on when jumping. He’s the first horse that’s managed to gain my confidence back jumping after my fall, and so… in reality, I couldn’t put my finger on what I was feeling. I just knew I wasn’t enjoying him like I should be. 

I wrote this on my Facebook update, but I want to delve deeper into it. Ziggy isn’t Ceaser. He doesn’t give me that comfortable, arm-chair feeling Ceaser gives me. When I say arm-chair, I don’t mean comfy, I mean he doesn’t give me that comfortable, knowing feeling you get when you sink into YOUR chair. He doesn’t give me the feeling you get when you put on your pair of favourite shoes you’ve had since forever! He feels like those new pair of shoes you’ve bought that are comfy but just aren’t quite your old pair. He gives me the feeling of the sofa that’s next to your comfy chair, but you can’t sit there but someones in it. 

Don’t get me wrong, there’s so many feelings he does give me and when we’re having a good day I feel like the world is our Oyster and we can achieve the unthinkable. I shouldn’t compare him to Ceaser, I know it’s unfair, but it’s also hard. 

I’ve tried several things to stop the spooking; from ignoring it, to not making a big deal out of it but letting him know it’s wrong, to patting and reassuring him it’s okay, to telling him off. No strategy has worked and lately I’ve been thinking it’s me. As I watch the “gutsy rider” ride him, I see nothing but a well-behaved, talented young pony that could do so much. As I ride, I feel like I’m on a 3-year-old that’s just been backed. 

I flick through Facebook at night and I see my friends 5-year-olds jumping round courses and competing at Novice and Elementary dressage and I wonder where I went wrong. Is it something I did to Ziggy that has put us so far behind? Did I not push him enough, did I push him too much, did I not ride enough, did I ride him too much? The list of questions I’ve asked myself is endless. Why is he so spooky? He knows me by now, he knows our arena, he knows our routine, but still a mere butterfly or pole on the ground can cause him to drop his shoulder a considerable amount and bolt. 

As I’m writing this and I read back through it, I feel like I sound like I don’t enjoy him. I love this boy to bits. He’s probably one of the most affectionate horses I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting. He wont hurt a fly and loves nothing more than cuddles and to be groomed. Several times when we’ve been jumping he's gotten me out of a few tricky situations where I’ve failed to see a stride or have gotten my line wrong. Out hunting he behaved like he’d lived with hounds all his life. When we’re competing he acts like he’s been competing all his life. He looks to me for support and if I say it's fine he trusts my instinct and goes. If I say no, he'll wait. He's the type that would be everyones dream. But for some reason, we can’t crack the spooking at home. 

In the last two weeks it had made me more and more miserable. I had plans to hunt this winter with him and I wanted to get him out doing some affiliated dressage as soon as possible, but we just weren’t getting anywhere. The excuses about dark nights and it being cold started to come out and I’d ride when I felt like it. I declared I was giving up, selling him and buying something more reliable that didn’t require as much work. My work schedule means that sometimes I can be away from home for unto 4/5 days a week and sometimes if I’ve got an early start of late finish I don’t have the time to ride. Ceaser slotted into my routine perfectly, but Ziggy was struggling and I had doubts this was all going to work. Would he be better off in a home that could give him more? Would I be better off with a horse that little bit older that didn’t require as much bringing on?

Then last week, I messaged my good friend and instructor Fiona and asked her to come and give me a jumping lesson on him because I needed some help. To prove what he’d been doing he tripped on a bit of rubber, which consequently hit the arena fence, which caused him to violently drop his shoulder and then spook; throwing me off balance once again and nearly resulting in me hitting the deck. Thankfully I’m becoming used to the art of staying on and as I got my stirrup back I shouted to Fiona this was getting ridiculous. 

So, we went back to basics, trotting around the arena, doing lots of transitions and circles, changes of rein and so on - all in trot. Guess what, he didn’t spook once. Then I began to relax and the next time we trotted around the poles on the ground he once again violently dropped his shoulder, shot to the side and tried to run. With that I stopped, waited for Fiona to join us and before I knew it I was admitting I’d lost my confidence - not to ride him, not to get on, but in myself and my ability to deal with this. Before I could even think about it the words were out my mouth but I felt a sense of relief that I’d finally admitted what was wrong. 

Fiona asked me one question. She asked if I’d relaxed, and when I said yes she said she knew. I asked her how she knew and she told me she’d watched me stop riding and then Ziggy spook. As soon as I took my leg off and stopped concentrating he spooked almost immediately. I guess I’d done it without realising, but it didn’t help the fact I didn’t think I was capable and I was heavily doubting my ability to take this pony any further. 

After a pep talk (and arse-kicking), Fiona sent me on my way and we worked on popping a course of fences in a controlled manner. Soon enough, the hour was over and Ziggy hadn’t spooked once. In fact we had a fantastic time and I found myself smiling over the fences - something which doesn’t happen often. 

So I guess, somewhere in the middle of all this I lost my confidence in myself and my ability….and Ziggy followed. Now it's time to get it back, not just for me but for him too. 

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The 12 days of Christmas...2014 memories. The 7th day of Christmas

When thinking of what I could do for this years "12 days of Christmas" theme on my blog, Mark and I came up with several ideas for what you guys as readers would enjoy reading and what would seem dull.

In previous years I've focused on products that I would recommend using on your equine and canine friends, and the posts have always been well received. However, this year it's safe to say my blog has taken a very different approach. Ceaser's fan base has gotten considerably larger in comparison to previous years, and with the new addition, Ziggy, people seem to be coming to me to find out just how that loveable grey is getting on. Add this to the surprise Mark and I have coming up for you on the 13th December and we decided why not do a post every other day where I pick a favourite photo that means something to me and reflect on the memories I gained from it.

On the seventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me: "Light at the end of the tunnel!"

Ziggy jumping up the bank at Cross-Country. The beginning of Summer.

This photo means a heck of a lot to me. For some reason I had turned dare devil overnight and decided to take Ziggy out somewhere for the first time. Without much thought we decided to take him to a cross-country course, because that's where everyone takes their baby horses the first ever time they leave the yard. Right?

I was really looking forward to taking him out and showing him off but at the same time so nervous about how he would react in different surroundings and if it would all just upset him again. As we pulled him off the lorry he just stood like a little lamb that had been doing things like this all his life! Although the plan hadn't been to get on straight away, Ziggy was showing no signs of nervousness so I hopped on and off we went around the course!

Ziggy was an angel throughout the whole morning, he trotted through the water jump, popped small logs and even cantered up and down this bank quite happily. He quite literally took everything in his stride and I couldn't have been prouder of him.

Just remember, if things seems difficult or way out of your reach today, it doesn't mean they will be like that tomorrow or next week. Take a step back and a big deep breath, then plan how you're going to master your demons and make everything how you want it to be. Ziggy came to me a frightened pony that you couldn't get on, let alone sit on. He's now happily walk, trot and cantering under saddle and loves popping fences. I've done nothing more than keep reminding myself that it's all hard work and perseverance that has got us this far.

Just because you didn't achieve something this summer it doesn't mean you can't or won't be able to next summer. Make small changes to help you achieve your goals, it might only need to be something small but it can make a huge difference.

I never thought that after rescuing Ziggy in March we would be achieving something like this so soon, but it really does reiterate for me what a fabulous pony I have.

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Lesson with Ceaser and Ziggy 22/11

It absolutely threw it down for my lesson on Sunday. I don't just mean it rained a little....it rained buckets. Then it rained some more. I don't think I have ever been so chilled to the bone! But, commitment isn't shown by just riding in the fair weather. I'm in this for the long haul and I believe that if you want to succeed you have to take whatever life throws at you. (Including soggy underwear from sitting on a saddle that resembles a puddle!)

Anyway, moving on swiftly from the topic of my underwear.... 

I was looking forward to this lesson. We were beginning to actually get somewhere with Ceaser and I had seen a huge improvement in Ziggy from the previous week, so upon waking up I had a spring in my step. Which probably also had something to do with getting 12 hours sleep the night before, but you never know! 

As usual we started with Ceaser. The plan was to work on walk to canter transitions this week now that we had started to get some clean trot to canter transitions that we're getting us 7.5's in our tests (BOOM!). 

To start with we worked on some nice long and low steps to help warm him up, whilst gradually picking him up and asking him to bend more through. The left rein is always a particular struggle for Ceaser so we tried something different this week. We worked him on a circle at B and slowly asked him to work into the contact, by lifting my inside rein for a few steps and then dropping back down, then lifting, then dropping back down. It really seemed to work much better than instantly asking for the bend, and in asking in stages we didn't have any tantrums from him to show that he was struggling - so that's good, i'm going to keep using this when working at home and warming up at competitions. 

For the trot work we asked for some shoulder fore to begin with. This is really good to help the suppleness of a young or stiff horse, and seems to work well for Ceaser when warming up. Since adding this into my warm up plan I've noticed a huge difference in him when it comes to the later work. 

Anyway, as before we flip between riding shoulder-fore and shoulder-in. We'll ride shoulder-fore along the short side and shoulder-in down the short side. Not only does this help to get everything supple with Ceaser, but I really feel it helps get the connection and him listening to my aids. Especially when we then add a bit of change and go across the short diagonal, then across the next short diagonal with some leg-yield. Sometimes when I come out I find him to be quite stuffy and resistant to my aids, so this exercise wakes him up and gets him thinking whilst connecting the hind legs to the front so to speak! 

We've been working a lot on slowing the trot down, but opening and speeding up the canter. I'm not sure if you remember me saying but my instructor described our canter in my first lesson as always collected. We've been working on opening this up, moving forward and creating more lift from the front to create that impulsion and uphill look. 

In all honesty the canter has felt much better since I've allowed Ceaser to go forward more. To help get some clean transitions we've found that if I just open my inside hand and rein slightly then he canters much easier and without dropping the poll, which we were getting a lot previously. Once cantering my instructor told me to move the canter forward immediately, and change between the counter and correct bend, just to get him moving around a little. Once we did that we added some counter-canter and then came across the diagonal again onto the correct lead, and then trotted, straight away focusing on getting the same rhythm in the trot we had previous to cantering. 

Once we had warmed up it was time to start and ask for the harder work; the walk to canters. My instructor told me to focus on 10metre circles off the track and then upon hitting the track ask for a canter immediately. The first time not a lot happened in the first three strides, but we still had the forwardness which was good and he did pick up canter afterwards. She noticed I tend to flop into the canter and 'give everything away', so told me to sit up more, help Ceaser's balance with my rein, leg and seat and try again. This time he popped into canter immediately like a doll and did some fantastic transitions. I liked that because she didn't know which is our worst rein for walk to canter transitions she just picked a rein and told me to try it. It just so happens it was my worst rein which I struggle with, but it just goes to show that actually when I put my mind to it, it can happen on both reins despite me thinking it can't.

After doing this on both reins we both felt we had possibly the strongest trot we'd had in all the few weeks I had been having lessons there, so decided to be brave and ask for some medium trot work. Again, after watching some videos of my previous tests, my instructor thinks I have a tendency to get into the medium work, throw the reins at Ceaser and expect him to do some fantastic medium strides - which as we all know isn't going to happen. So to begin with we started with my shortening my reins and creating the feeling I had him between my legs, hands and seat perfectly. Afterwards we gently asked for a few medium strides, then collected him back and then along the long side asked for more. At first I did what I always seem to do and threw the reins at him whilst expecting him to do all the work. Immediately I realised where I had been going wrong all this time now it was explained and focused on keeping him balanced whilst asking for the medium trot down the long side.

Honestly, I think my face said it all at that moment - I couldn't believe what I was feeling. We had power!!! At last! I'll upload the photo Mark took during the trot work, but it doesn't show what we felt, nor what we had. Fingers crossed I can keep that feeling in my test on Friday. So, that was it for Ceaser - he had been a complete star as usual!

*

Next up was Ziggy, that had been an angel all week, up until the previous night when I decided to ride with some kids from the yard and once again we had a spooky pony.

We started by changing his bit into a Neue Schule loose ring snaffle to see if he relaxed more into the contact and stopped the constant chomping. Without jinxing it, he seems to be going much better for now which is good.

At the moment I'm getting really hung up on getting Ziggy into a constant contact and because he can be such a star, it's hard to remember he's only 4 at the end of the day. This week we focused on keeping my hands wide to offer a foundation for the contact and to ensure I had him at the end of my rein all the time, but without pulling him in the mouth. It's so different to how we're now expecting Ceaser to work, so to come off one pony where you're trying to do the complete polar opposite and then get on one you need to its quite confusing.

My instructor told me to focus a lot on my position and keeping ziggy moving forward, forgetting the contact and how pretty everything looked, as well as his spooking - if there was any!

From the beginning he was much easier as he had been the previous week and felt a lot more willing, with much less spooks. Whilst before I've been making an issue of spooks, my instructor wanted me to just ride forward and positive - even if we had spooks. It's really difficult for me not to get hung up on the spooks as I feel like we're never getting over the monsters outside the arena and so on, but actually when I make less fuss of a spook, he doesn't bother again - so maybe it doesn't have something to do with trying it on? Who knows.

It is safe to say I was considerably exhausted after both lessons but am really looking forward to putting all we worked on into practice! I'm enjoying varying Ziggy's work to ensure he doesn't become stuffy, but it's scary just how big he can jump!

 

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Lesson on both boys

I want to start this post by saying I hope you all enjoyed the Ziggy post. It's so much easier having everything out in the open about him as I'm sure it'll make him easier to understand when it comes to me blogging about our time together. 

As the days and weeks go on I find myself falling more and more in love with him and hoping he takes as far as Ceaser has and is continuing to. The aim has always been and still is medium level with Ceaser. Whether we get there is a different matter but Andrew Fletcher told me last year at camp to follow my dreams because there's no reason Ceaser can't make me achieve them - so I'm forever holding hope that by the end of 2015 we would have completed a medium. Anyway, let's see! For now we're in the here and now and at the moment we're having a bloody good journey. 

I'll start with Ceasers lesson as you can probably guess this went the best. I haven't got round to updating my blog and writing about the Arena UK Area Festival yet so you'll have to bear with me. Anyway - this was my first lesson since the Area Festival. We'd done a nice positive test with some obvious improvements and one judge absolutely loved us - giving us 7.0's and even some 7.5's for most things. We even got a 7.5 for the canter transitions which has never happened so I was pleased with that! 

My instructor began as she always seems to; by watching my video from competing and reading my test sheet. Some things she agreed with, some she said "what do they expect from a novice level test", but we know by now that some judges love us and some hate us - it's all taken on the chin. 

She felt we Still needed to work on slowing down. It was coming, we were definitely slower, but still not enough. And in becoming slower we didn't want him to get the coiled spring neck action again and become overbent which we had seen glimpses of in the Area Festival test. So, we spent a lot Of focus on asking him to slow but keeping that frame nice and stretched, whilst using those pesky hind legs a little more! He may be 19, but there's no reason to say his hinds can't work like a 9 year olds - they just take some warming up! 

So, after warming up it was time to drop my stirrups. It was something I had thought about and my instructor had mentioned. We needed to stop my legs riding up, but because I'm "all leg", it's difficult - so we tried dropping just one hole and wow what a difference it made! It no longer felt like that I couldn't sit up and use the tummy muscles!! And my leg finally were able to wrap around him so I could use my lower leg more effectively! It's amazing the difference a slight change can make! 

Anyway, once we had done that we focused a lot on getting the left bend as its Ceasers most difficult rein. My instructor wanted to eventually move up to getting a smooth transition into canter and a new way of doing so, without the tantrum and reluctance to go forward. So for a while we spent a lot of focus on doing more shoulder fore work and shoulder in down the long sides, then changing the rein and visa versa. I love this exercise as it really helps me to get Ceaser working from behind and those hind legs stepping under him more. 

Once we had done that we moved onto a circle at E and focused on slowing the pace and then lengthening. My instructor wanted me to slow the pace to almost a walk, but keep it a trot - so with lots of core muscle and a slight flick from the whip behind my leg, then gently push on to eventually a working trot again. At first I rushed the trot from slow to working, but what she wanted was me to slow, a few slow paces whilst still engaging those hinds and then one step at a time lengthen the stride and pace back out. It took us two attempts but we soon got it and I found it a really useful tool to slow around corners and on short sides, then lengthen on long sides. 

After this it was back on the circle to do the same, but this time whilst sitting trot, gently encourage a more left bend and then ask for canter. And Pop....he'd cantered obedianetly without the bucking! I couldn't believe it....with such minimal changes! Following this we did the same on the other rein and eventually came to cantering large. 

The canter felt bigger, more connected and in the mirrors looked such a different cAnter to what I'm used to from him! My instructor said it was definitely the best work she had seen from Ceaser since meeting him and I think the pictures prove this!

Thrilled to bits with this weeks lesson on him and am now looking forward to next weeks, and then competing the Friday after! 

Now...Ziggy.

Where do I start? Ziggy hadn't been ridden for 5 days prior to my lesson; because he was so difficult the Sunday before I had spent the week lunging him getting him to understand poles and blocks aren't scary! Don't ask.... I'll explain!

The Sunday before, I had just got back from competing Ceaser and the dark night was coming in. I knew I needed to ride Ziggy and quickly got him in from the field and set about tacking him up. He was ridiculously jumpy, which was annoying because I thought we were over this. He jumped at someone walking behind him and he had a tantrum about me picking his feet up. Maybe this should have been my sign not to ride? 

Anyway, I got on and he was difficult from the moment my bum touched the saddle. He was spooky, and every slightest noise around him made him fly 10 feet in the air. A livery came into the arena to ride with me and when her mum started to move jump blocks and poles around he was flinching at every movement - I honestly thought we were over this. I didn't want them to stop as he's got to get used to it, but after 15 minutes of flying backwards and forwards I realised we weren't getting anywhere and so got off and took him in. Que... A week of lunging with blocks and poles scattered in the arena!! 

Anyway, back to my lesson. I got on and at the beginning it was going well. He was responsive, coming down onto the bit nicely at times and seemed much less spooky than the previous time we had taken him there. Until....

Mark was sat at the gate and the instructor’s dog joined him. Ziggy took this opportunity to develop a sudden phobia of dogs and shot sideways.....into the plastic mounting block which had been sat there all along!! So basically he freaked himself out twice and ran off...twice!

I just gave my instructor 'the look', that this is what I'd had to deal with all week, so she told me to hop off, she was getting on!

I was quite excited at the prospect of someone else getting on. He had only had some of the kids at the yard sit on him and apart from that, me! He'd never had someone better on and someone that was actually good. 

My instructor said that he just seemed to be a bit green and not really sure of what he's doing. The basics are there and as soon as he's going forward he pops into the outline nicely by himself - so the main work is there, we now just need to develop it. When she asked for canter he popped in two flying changes which she said was good as it shows he has basic understanding of more, and we can utilise that when it comes to asking for the more difficult dressage moves.

She had him going lovely. He looked much better than what I had ever seen him go which was reassuring. And when he tried to back off she didn't make a fuss but simply nudged him on - which she told me to do now if he spooks. 

I think it's partly him having found his feet and testing me because he was fabulous for her, and although green showed more than he's ever done. I was so proud of him! 

She also said I couldn't expect him to be perfect after having a few days off and I need to be more consistent in his work. So slapped wrist for me and him....and this week were both going to try harder!

As we were finishing off my instructor’s saddler arrived and asked who Ziggy was and his history. She said he looked much bigger than what he actually was and she liked him. She also felt the saddle I have him in, which is Ceasers dressage saddle, might be restricting his shoulder a little. So, it looks like I'm finally getting a new saddle! 

Anyway that's all from me now - I've got another lesson on Sunday and so far *touch wood* Ziggy is behaving this week! 

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Dressage, training and general hectic times!

Blimey, I hadn't realised it had been that long since I blogged. Things have been hectic here and time seems to pass me by so quickly that before long it's been a month and I haven't posted on here. I'll try to fill you in with everything that has happened, but to be quite honest its so much I may miss some things out!

Before I start, I want introduce you to my summer project who comes in the form of a dapple grey Connemara cross called Ziggy. Ziggy is about 4-years-old and 14.3hh. He has a lot of filling out to do and I can't wait to see what he looks like once he's muscled up and has had some feed down him! He's very nervous of people and came to us petrified of mounting blocks and people standing next to him. He is very wary of what your hands are doing and it is suspected he has been hit somewhere down the line of his short life. When you sit on him he is fine but then all of a sudden panics. Already, in just 2 weeks of owning him he has come on leaps and bounds. I can now sit on him - without moving - and he isn't scared of mounting blocks anymore, nor me jumping on and off them! The future for this boy looks really bright and I'm sure you'll agree he has the kindest eyes.

Next up is the Ceaser news. I made the decision to take him to do a Novice and Elementary test at unaffiliated a couple of weeks ago. It would be our first unaffiliated test for a while as I simply wanted to see what our scores would be like. The warm up went brilliant and he was doing everything I asked, however as before at this venue, as soon as we went in to do our test he tensed up, rushed, I kicked on too much and everything just went rather too quickly! With two scores in the region of 65-67% I was pleased but a little confused as we've gotten higher than this at affiliated several times. The judge kindly gave me some feedback afterwards and said I need to slow down to allow his hind legs to come underneath him to work correctly. Feedback in my head, I went home and practiced like my life depended on it for the week. I concentrated on slowing everything down and allowing him to work from behind more, ready for going to Elms Farm to do two Novices at affiliated again the following week.

The warm up was great and he was really switched on. Felt slightly he was enjoying showing off as two young girls had declared their love for him before it was our turn to go and do our test. Lots of pats, scratches and comments like "he is gorgeous, can I have him?" later, he was well and truly in the 'I know I'm handsome' frame of mind. I'm seriously sure he knows when he has an audience! Anyway, first Novice went really well. Everything felt much calmer and change of venue helped, which is odd and he used to not go so well at this venue, but now seems to prefer it to all the rest. He pulled out a lovely 67% test with same judge as the previous week so really thrilled she saw an improvement. I think it was the final score we needed in order to qualify for Regionals and Novice level, so I am over the moon and hoping these calculations are correct! Second test went just as well and I am so sure now he prefers the long arena tests, with much more to focus on and more movements. Change of judge and we got just short of 66% which was great AND an 8 for our halt! Now that has never happened before.

What was even better is we WON both our tests! Definitely a happy Mummy that day!

We have quite a lot coming up now and for the next couple of weeks the plan is to drop back down to Prelim to try and qualify for Regionals at that level too. At the beginning of May I have a BYRDS squad training day and then senior camp the following week which I am really looking forward to! Especially as one of the instructors for the weekend is my instructor from university! It will be great to see her. I'm not too sure if we'll qualify for Regionals in prelim or not as he seems to be getting higher scores for Novices at the moment. We shall see!

Things have been hectic at the yard since becoming a Pony Club Centre. We've had in-house dressage competitions, the rallies and lots more. I've got a really good feeling about 2014 and I just can't wait to see what else it holds.

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