Onwards & Upwards into 2014!

It's started an up and down year, but finally everything seems to be on track!

My Personal Highlights of 2013:

I have been very lucky to have fulfilled one of my long term ambitions this year - a cold and foggy beach ride taking place in Shoeburyness, Essex in January.

While competition-wise I achieved my first affiliated placing show jumping, as well as jumping round my first British Novice class (without dying).

However without a doubt the achievement I am most proud of is taking the first step in pursuing a career within the equine industry, and now I'm not afraid to say that I want to compete in showjumping to a high level. 

Obviously everything is subject to change when it comes to horses, but for now these are my aims (and new years resolutions) for the next year and a bit - my thinking is if I write them down I have to do them!

• Continue riding for other people, to gain the experience riding a variety of horses.
• I also intend to buy my own horse, that I will get to know throughout the summer, before competing in blue chip qualifiers during the indoor season, with the 'ultimate aim' of jumping a 1.10m/newcomers first round in the Summer of 2015.
• Take up any opportunity that may provide me with experience for the future.
• And finally, to update my blog at least once every week and my Facebook page as much as possible!

I hope you've all had a enjoyable Christmas and have a happy New Year!

See you in 2014!

x

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Lunging, Jumping & Your Horse Live!

Monday 4th November

In our first 'proper' jumping lesson I will admit it was 'one of those days' where I know that I didn't ride my best - but I tried! I rode Sadie again, who was more off the leg than the previous time I rode her (possibly because I was able to wrap my leg round her sides more, keeping her slightly more motivated), but nevertheless next time I ride her I will try even harder, so that I am pleased with the way I get her to work.

Tuesday 5th November

On Tuesday, I rode Rhubarb on the flat, in this particular session we continued to ride straight lines, corners and circles with and without stirrups. I found him to be quite

pony-like in his way of going, which really helped me to feel & achieve clean transitions between paces.

Lunging

I lunged and rode Harry on Wednesday, in our normal lunge session.

On Friday, I was asked to lunge for a friend, while she rode as part of her Showjumping Academy training.

The aim of this was for me to coach her; improving her light seat and jumping position, while riding without reins. She improved significantly during the session, and I too benefited from the lunging and coaching experience.

Saturday 9th November

On Wednesday evening after college I was asked if I would like to go to Your Horse Live to help on the college stand there, obviously I said yes! Before I knew it on Saturday morning me & one of my friends were on route to Stoneleigh Park in Warwickshire.

We had such a good day looking round possibly the biggest shopping village ever! Before going off to meet Olympic gold dressage rider Charlotte Dujardin! 

Us & Charlotte Dujardin!

Signed by Charlotte!

 Later we went to another signing, this time with show jumper, Geoff Billington and evener, Oliver Townend. I saw their 'Edge of Glory Tour' last Christmas, so knew how funny they are!

When I met Oliver Townend & Geoff Billington

We then rushed off to watch a demo with the Eilberg family, which for someone who doesn't normally watch dressage, I quite enjoyed! It was interesting to see that even highly schooled horses have their quirks. Also the progression from a warm up through to a complex dressage movement, including techniques for training a horse throughout - especially as one of the horses had previously jumped round fox hunter classes prior to it's dressage career.

It was honestly such a nice surprise to be asked to go and we did spend some time on the college stand… Honest!

Sunday 10th November

I spent my Sunday once again helping the course builder at a British Showjumping progressive competition held at college. It was a busy day, with classes running from British Novice through to Newcomers/1.10m open; so there was every type of competitor, from unregistered amateurs through to professional producers and riders. Tim Stockdale even made an appearance, training some young riders that competed in the later classes! If I don't have the opportunity to compete I like to help out at shows, as I find it interesting to see how each type of fence should be ridden (which should hopefully help me at my own competitions.)

x

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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.

x

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