Major Updates

So one of my new years resolutions was to update this blog on a weekly basis, and I haven't posted since then... so time for some updates?!

Intercollege

I competed at two inter college competitions this year, we came overall 2nd in both, in addition to coming 1st in the quiz at the competition held at Oaklands College.

Team 2nd at Brooksby Intercollege

Quiz Team 1st and Overall 2nd at Oaklands Intercollege 

Jumping Academy 

Below are some photos from a few of the jumping academy training sessions and evening clinics held this year, including two cross country sessions this Summer. 

Gridwork at weekly academy training 

An evening jumping clinic

Indoor cross country clinic 

Dermot (the college cob) and I jumping a brush 

Mac and I jumping the final element of a grid

Dermot and I jumping into the outdoor arena

Introducing JJ!

This is JJ (JJS Clover) my 16.1hh 11 year old Irish Sport Horse gelding. He has previously competed up to 1.10/1.20m. I am hoping to get to know him throughout the Summer, before affiliating in Autumn with the aim of progress through British Showjumping so we're jumping Newcomers first rounds at the end of Summer 2015.

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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!

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Unaffiliated Dressage - 18/10/13

Thursday is usually my day off college, however on Thursday 18th October I took part in an unaffiliated evening dressage competition held at college. I was at the yard from 3pm getting ready before my evening yard duties, then I had to quickly go back to prepping myself and Mac (thankfully one if my friends is good at plaiting & was nice enough to plait him up for me!) I did the Intro A class on Mac. We achieved a score of 65.65% putting us in 4th place out of a large class, as well as being the highest place academy student in the class?! Mac went well, I made a few minor errors, such as a not so circular circle, but I am proud of our test, which earned us 6 and 7 throughout, with an 8 for our halt & salute!

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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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