Week 3 at Equine College!

Monday 23rd September

I rode Sprockett, a 16.3hh thoroughbred cross, gelding, he was such a nice ride, now I understand why my friends were raving about him before! In the lesson we worked mainly in trot, riding 20 metre circles - ensuring it was actually a circle rather than the all too common square! As well as getting the horses to bend, round the turns. Sprockett is quite the schoolmaster at dressage and has evented in the past, so gave me quite a good idea of what I should be looking to achieve with the more novice horse.

Sprockett

Tuesday 24th September

I rode Storm a chestnut gelding for this ride session, we continued to focus on riding circles in trot; this time more on accuracy too. The instructor set up blocks that gradually grew narrower at 'A' and 'X'. Storm didn't seem too phased by this, until they were as narrow as possible, when he did a few little hops over the blocks at 'X', rather than lift his knees higher. However after a few goes I think he improved, as I rode him in a more forward and positive way.

Wednesday 25th September - The Day I Died - Joking!!

Wednesday started with an oh-so-glorious strength and conditioning session in the weights room! (Trust me if it wasn't compulsory for academy members it would be the last place I would be!!) However as we do have to do it, I'm taking it seriously in the hope it will have an effect on my riding especially after how much I've been aching since  as I have been feeling the 'benefit' since!

After strength and conditioning I had a riding session, this time on Vita, a 16.2hh grey mare. She was slightly excitable to say the least! I continued to ride her forward, despite how nerve-wracking it seemed she messed about less and I enjoyed it! We continued to work on accuracy and started to get a feel for the horses in canter, which was slightly amusing when Vita decided it was more fun to go sideways...

Needless to say my legs are now killing me! (but I'm looking forward to riding Vita again!)  

Friday 27th September - Showjumping Academy Training

Today once again we went to Brampton Stables for the showjumping academy training. This time I rode Finley, a cob-type coloured gelding. 

Finley

We started by getting to know the horses while working them in on the flat, while trying to soften the contact and asking them to round themselves more. The jumping exercise we followed this with was a cross pole, with a placing pole, approached from trot. Then on landing we were required to ride straight while doing a simple change (canter-trot-canter transition) this meant as riders we had to think ahead - as we would when jumping a course. Finley was a nice ride; I found he required a bit of encouragement to prevent him falling out of the trot or canter - different to what I'm used to, but no less enjoyable!

For more photos of Finley & I at academy training look on my Facebook page.

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Show Jumping Academy

On Friday I went to the first showjumping academy training session, which I am participating in alongside my Level 3 Horse Management qualification, in order to get further training and the opportunity to compete. 

For the first session at the external yard (where the training takes place,) I rode a coloured gelding called Nike. He was about 14.1hh (bearing in mind I'm 5'8" !) so he was just a bit of a change from the 16hh horses I'm used to! Nevertheless he was very cute, and his paces improved after a short canter on the right rein when warming up.

We did an introduction/assessment session, focusing mainly on how, as riders our light seat and jumping position should be. Trotting round the school in a light seat also showed how strong the lower leg needs to be in order to maintain the position without compromise to jumping performance.

As part of the academy I also have to do weekly strength and conditioning sessions, which I'm not looking forward to so much!

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It All Starts Now!

Ok, so the title of this post is a bit weird...

I have just finished my first week at college, and there have been lots of funny and interesting things, but today I'm just going to write about the riding!

We have ridden twice this week (from next week I'll be riding four times a week). 

On Wednesday I rode India a little chestnut who is about 14.2hh, for a quick riding assessment in walk and trot. She was very cute and 'pony-like', even if she didn't like keeping her head straight (resulting in a horrible face from her as I tried to keep her straight!)

Today I rode Winnie, a grey 17hh dutch warmblood, for another riding assessment-type-thing with my course tutor watching this time, ahead of the first showjumping academy session next Friday. She was such a nice but very sensitive horse to ride - if I used my hands, legs or seat the tiniest bit too much she let me know! However by the end I would like to think I understood her a bit better! 

Winnie

Now I am so excited for the showjumping academy training next week!

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Moving On...

If you follow my facebook or twitter pages, then you may know that I am going to study for a Level 3 Extended Diploma in Horse Management (Riding &a Coaching) - just a bit of a mouthful! - at college for the next 2 years. As I am going to be residential at college I have had to leave my shared horses behind.  I have had the best 2 years with them & the people I have met, however it does feel the right time to move on. 

I am hoping to keep this blog updated (as I've only just started it!) so please follow my progress. As in the next 2 years I have numerous goals and aspirations, the first being to buy my own horse! 

So watch this space!

As I say in this video....

...This is only the beginning.

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VIDEO: "I am a champion" | Show jumping (August 2013)

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Post by Alice Cherry - Young Rider.