Post by racaille on Jan 4, 2014 7:28:55 GMT
The teenager and I went for a SJ training day yesterday. I really enjoyed it but at the end of three hours in the saddle (not jumping for three hours obviously!) I was fried.
There was a mixed bunch: three competition teenagers, my teenager on R and a miniscule nine-year-old on a speedy pony, who was just brilliant. The other adults ducked out so I was the only oldie!
Initially Paco was a real pain. He took exception to the 'corner of doom' again and there were a few instances of bad behaviour including a stand up and spin incident that I did not appreciate. The arena is bounded on three sides by tall windbreak hedges but where they were gappy he was spooked by anything moving on the other side. So quite a few times when he charged off unexpectedly.
We were mostly working on shortcut options. We all know that the ideal way to approach a jump is straight and in the middle but if you want to shave seconds off your comp time you often have to take a faster line so we were practising jumping at angles. Obviously, an acute angle gives the horse a great chance to run on past and it happened to everyone at least once, including me.
Apart from the kiddie we were working on stuff together so big enough jumps to make Paco really work. I didn't seem to mind the height (which is a big thing for me!) and when a double went up to a bit over 90cm (3ft) I went for it. Paco made a huge effort and cleared it but it was very hard for him as the distance had been arranged for the competition horses and little P with his short stride had to really work hard to sort out his feet. So it wasn't fluid but I was really pleased!
At the end we did a pretend comp at the height we wanted. By this time I was really tired so I disappointed my coach by going down to 75cm. She wanted me to go for 80cm but I was just too tired. I'd really had trouble learning the course (it was designed to give us difficult angles to offer options) and got lost after no4. In the nick of time I remembered 5 but took poor Paco by surprise and he did a huge sheep leap over it and I lost both my stirrups and my way. Cue sack of potatoes moment
. Luckily I was able to turn the 'wrong' way and get back on track without crossing my line (so no faults). The chrono started at no6 and the rest was great - just a bar as I shaved the angle too much.
R had a good day too. After a bit of over-excitement at the beginning he settled down and as the jumps went up he upped his game. There were a couple of 'moments' where he demolished a jump but it was always the teenager's fault for interfering - he needs to do it his way (doesn't he just!) - but generally he was making some really nice shapes.
Later there was a horse swap (no one wanted Paco) and the teenager rode the speedy pony who was great and she grinned al the way round. The other teenagers swapped their competition horses. It was interesting to see the 'highly strung' one went very well and sensibly for the calm rider .......
Afterwards my coach said I was perfectly capable of doing Club 3 comps. Still don't think it's for me though
There was a mixed bunch: three competition teenagers, my teenager on R and a miniscule nine-year-old on a speedy pony, who was just brilliant. The other adults ducked out so I was the only oldie!
Initially Paco was a real pain. He took exception to the 'corner of doom' again and there were a few instances of bad behaviour including a stand up and spin incident that I did not appreciate. The arena is bounded on three sides by tall windbreak hedges but where they were gappy he was spooked by anything moving on the other side. So quite a few times when he charged off unexpectedly.
We were mostly working on shortcut options. We all know that the ideal way to approach a jump is straight and in the middle but if you want to shave seconds off your comp time you often have to take a faster line so we were practising jumping at angles. Obviously, an acute angle gives the horse a great chance to run on past and it happened to everyone at least once, including me.
Apart from the kiddie we were working on stuff together so big enough jumps to make Paco really work. I didn't seem to mind the height (which is a big thing for me!) and when a double went up to a bit over 90cm (3ft) I went for it. Paco made a huge effort and cleared it but it was very hard for him as the distance had been arranged for the competition horses and little P with his short stride had to really work hard to sort out his feet. So it wasn't fluid but I was really pleased!
At the end we did a pretend comp at the height we wanted. By this time I was really tired so I disappointed my coach by going down to 75cm. She wanted me to go for 80cm but I was just too tired. I'd really had trouble learning the course (it was designed to give us difficult angles to offer options) and got lost after no4. In the nick of time I remembered 5 but took poor Paco by surprise and he did a huge sheep leap over it and I lost both my stirrups and my way. Cue sack of potatoes moment
. Luckily I was able to turn the 'wrong' way and get back on track without crossing my line (so no faults). The chrono started at no6 and the rest was great - just a bar as I shaved the angle too much.R had a good day too. After a bit of over-excitement at the beginning he settled down and as the jumps went up he upped his game. There were a couple of 'moments' where he demolished a jump but it was always the teenager's fault for interfering - he needs to do it his way (doesn't he just!) - but generally he was making some really nice shapes.
Later there was a horse swap (no one wanted Paco) and the teenager rode the speedy pony who was great and she grinned al the way round. The other teenagers swapped their competition horses. It was interesting to see the 'highly strung' one went very well and sensibly for the calm rider .......
Afterwards my coach said I was perfectly capable of doing Club 3 comps. Still don't think it's for me though
). I'm intrigued as to who swapped for Racaille? Did anyone have a go on him, and did he behave?
I also think the others would have come unstuck on the pony as it is cheeky, very fast and strong! in fact its little rider is a marvel, especially as she is so tiny. But she's fearless and popped straight back on when the pony dumped her!
for so much hard work we thank ye!!