joandlad
Apprentice Poo Picker
My beautiful boy!
Posts: 473
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Post by joandlad on Feb 5, 2010 13:47:48 GMT
Taking Murph to his first clear round showjumping on Sunday. Soooooo glad we can finally do something other than dressage. I really do HATE dressage - mainly because I can never remember the tests. Don't seen to have the same trouble remembering jumping courses. Well I hope not anway! ;D
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Post by fimacg on Feb 5, 2010 15:13:22 GMT
Good luck on Sunday can we have pics?
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Post by fleabitten on Feb 5, 2010 21:28:25 GMT
good luck
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Post by duckles on Feb 6, 2010 17:01:51 GMT
Good luck and looking forward to hearing all (plus photos)
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joandlad
Apprentice Poo Picker
My beautiful boy!
Posts: 473
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Post by joandlad on Feb 8, 2010 12:27:47 GMT
Well................ Smurphy Murphy was a complete star. Got there early hoping it would be quieter and the organisers said that being as it was his first course we could go in and have a trial run for free before it started. ;D Trotted up to the first jump and Murph ground to a halt. He'd never seen a plank or filler before and I think he just wasn't sure that the same rules applied and he was supposed to jump it. Brought him round again and he flew over it. Did the first 3 jumps and then clicked and treated him. Did the next 3 fine. Had a run out at 2nd part of double, but then he'd never done a double before. Got over rest of course fine. Very pleased for our first attempt. Let a few others have a go and then went in for "proper" round. All done at trot with a few wobbles steering wise but........ he went clear. No stops - no poles down. What a good boy!!!!! Anyway, more importantly here is the link to some piccies. I feel the need to apologise for my rather rubbish riding but hoping style will come later when I'm not having to "ride" him quite so much at a jump and can trust him not to leap 6ft high. Plus my Fhoenix isn't really the best saddle to jump in. s459.photobucket.com/albums/qq317/joandlad/Murph%20Jumping%20Feb%2010/
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Post by solomon on Feb 8, 2010 12:59:58 GMT
Well done! What a good boy, bet you can't stop smiling.
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Post by brigadier on Feb 8, 2010 13:43:13 GMT
Well done- he has a big jump.
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Post by racaille on Feb 8, 2010 13:53:51 GMT
Good for both of you!
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Post by fimacg on Feb 8, 2010 14:13:18 GMT
Well done, he is not going to have a problem coping with a bigger course when he becomes more experienced
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ceej
Administrator
im back.... :)
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Post by ceej on Feb 8, 2010 20:07:35 GMT
OH my god Im like the proud aunt - nearly got me tears out!!! (can only see pics in small though). BLESS HIM. Love to you Murphster MWAHHH xxx
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joandlad
Apprentice Poo Picker
My beautiful boy!
Posts: 473
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Post by joandlad on Feb 9, 2010 12:40:49 GMT
OH my god Im like the proud aunt - nearly got me tears out!!! (can only see pics in small though). BLESS HIM. Love to you Murphster MWAHHH xxx You are allowed to feel proud. You gave him such a brilliant start in life. Will try to post the actual pictures in larger size. Here goes!
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Post by spotti on Feb 9, 2010 18:50:26 GMT
Aww bless him!
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Post by fimacg on Feb 9, 2010 19:05:45 GMT
the last one he could have cleared if it was 2' higher
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joandlad
Apprentice Poo Picker
My beautiful boy!
Posts: 473
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Post by joandlad on Feb 10, 2010 9:13:09 GMT
He hasn't yet worked out that he only needs to jump the height of the actual jump! It will come with experience. It's a bit hairy sitting on top though not knowing if he's going to jump 2ft or 4ft.
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Post by brigadier on Feb 10, 2010 18:46:26 GMT
Looking at these you need to do plenty of work with poles into the jump so he is confident where to place his feet, thats why you are unsure how big he will jump beforehand as he has no clue where he is going to take off, it will help him tidy up. You may feel more confident if you shorten your stirrups and allow your hands to go up his neck more, I know how hard it is with babies to do this but he will gain in confidence if he knows you can follow the movement. He is a bonny boy - very pretty.
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joandlad
Apprentice Poo Picker
My beautiful boy!
Posts: 473
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Post by joandlad on Feb 11, 2010 10:36:50 GMT
We've done about a year of pole work. Problem is that sooner or later you have to move from poles to jumps. Lifting legs over poles (including small x-poles that they can still just lift their legs higher in trot over) isn't the same as jumping. This is where Murph is at the moment. Just starting to jump as opposed to going over a pole. We've been working at home with placing poles for the past couple of months but I am more than aware that I need to work much more at home before evening thinking of a proper jumping round. But this was our local riding club clear round morning. A very relaxed affair. I did it at trot, 3 jumps at a time. Clicking and stopping in between. It was really just another training session for us. I may have pushed him probably a little sooner than I would have liked into jumping without a placing pole but you give it a go and see how it goes. Now I know that we need to keep up with the placing poles for a while longer. ;D Re the stirrups - My saddle isn't designed for jumping. It's a Fhoenix. It's got set back stirrup bars so if I put the stirrups up it would throw me even further forward. I'm saving pennies for the new Vogue model which is more designed for jumping. No excuses for hands - they're just awful!
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Post by brigadier on Feb 11, 2010 12:20:32 GMT
Sorry Jo, not being critical, just trying to be helpful!
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joandlad
Apprentice Poo Picker
My beautiful boy!
Posts: 473
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Post by joandlad on Feb 11, 2010 14:48:31 GMT
I know you were giving constructive criticism and it's very welcome. I just wanted to explain that we are very much a work in progress and give the background to where we are. Hopefully future pictures will show progress.
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ceej
Administrator
im back.... :)
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Post by ceej on Feb 13, 2010 22:08:56 GMT
How big is he now Jo? I take it he's stopped growing?
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joandlad
Apprentice Poo Picker
My beautiful boy!
Posts: 473
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Post by joandlad on Feb 15, 2010 10:05:11 GMT
He's just a tad over 16.1hh. He's gone a bit bum high in the last couple of weeks so I think he will probably come up to 16.2hh when his front end catches up. He's so deceiving though. He's got such a little pony face that he seems really small until you stand next to him. ;D
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Post by florence on Feb 22, 2010 20:09:31 GMT
Well done!! Looks like he's got the scope to go much higher!!!
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