Highlights From The Past 3 Weeks?!

Monday 7th October

Prior to an unaffiliated dressage competition the following week, I have been riding Mac,(the horse I rode for the competition) in ride sessions in the run up to the competition. 
We spent our ride session on Monday riding centre lines, first in walk, then in trot. This may sound exceptionally easy, however in practice I realised how much as riders we can cause the horse to drift one way, from something so simple as not looking or sitting straight. We then followed this exercise with getting the horses to go forward into a soft, natural outline.

Friday 11th October

We went on a trip to HOYS for the day to watch the competitions and do some all important shopping. I had such a great time watching the classes (especially the show jumping) and will never pass up the opportunity to watch people competing at such a high level! I obviously squeezed in some shopping while there! As well as meeting GB show jumper Tina Fletcher?!

When I met Tina Fletcher!

William Funnell & Billy Mexico

Saturday 12th October & Sunday 13th October 

I spent this weekend helping the course builder at a British Showjumping progressive show held at college.
On Saturday I helped set up the jumps, then on Sunday I assisted the course builder during and between the classes. It was interesting to see how the colour, style and location of the fence affects both horses and riders - I took note for my next show!

Monday 14th October

I was on yard duties from Monday 14th October. While on duties I was responsible for 3 of the horses on the college yard - Hannah, Storm & India. This involved being at the yard from 7:15am for duties before college then staying at the yard till 6pm afterwards - not too bad, except I was on duties the week in which it rained the most so far..

Thursday 17th October

I competed in an unaffiliated dressage competition, for which I have written a separate blog post...

Dressage Blog Post: http://bit.ly/1dcmT9g 

Sunday 20th October

As part of our duties week we help with any competitions scheduled at the weekend. I helped with a British Dressage competition, that went from Preliminary through to Medium level. I found it quite interesting (for someone that usually dislikes watching dressage, unless its at international freestyle level!)

Monday 21st October

In our ride session on Monday I rode Rylea, a young coloured. I previously rode him in my first week at college when I went to watch his owner ride. He is still quite green, especially in the indoor arena, where there are some spooky sights and sounds for him. Nevertheless he has settled I found he went quite well for me, allowing me to split my concentration between him and my own position which the lesson was focusing on.

Last time I rode Rylea

Tuesday 22nd October

On Tuesday I rode Joey, a 16.3hh thoroughbred, who was quite fresh first thing in the morning! We worked in walk, trot and canter without stirrups. He was a challenge as I had to ensure he was bending and working correctly, while concentrating on my own position. However I really enjoyed my ride on him - his canter was like a rocking horse. Also, my seat and lower leg position are definitely improving!

Joey having a snooze!

Friday 24th October

My last ride before study week was at jumping academy training, on a chestnut called Tom. After the previous session in which we rode away from a fence in a controlled manor, this time we were riding a distance in the form of a dog leg line - off the left rein, cross pole to upright, then ride right away from the fence. I walked the distance correctly on foot, before warming up and jumping it on the horse; however as I found, despite his size, if not asked to work through his back end enough Tom can jump a 4 stride distance in 6 strides! This was majority rider error, as I didn't push him on enough, however as the instructor said, this would not cause fault if done in most competitive situations, it is just not ideal.

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