Take It 2 The Top won both his Novice tests yesterday, outdoors at Allens Hill. He was also 3rd at Hartpury today, although I was disappointed as he spooked, went tense, tucked his nose in tight and I couldn't get him to take the contact in the indoor arena.
Amazing Mika's winning ways continue when he won his test at Hartpury today, he went like a dream, he was also 2nd in the other test. He is a very exciting grassroots horse for next year and he is not even 5 yet.
Riders I coach also went well with Louise 2nd and Sarah 4th, a nice finish to the season before the Xmas break.
Fed up with the rain, but Ant re water proofed my boots last night, so I have lovely dry feet as I paddle around the fields!
Saturday 22 December 2012
Monday 17 December 2012
Talland is Fantastic
Another Talland Lesson
I can't believe it Pammy Hutton was pleased with me and no crying this week. We also had a heart to heart chat and chuckle about my "Tears at Talland" blog.
At home after last weeks lesson I rode Take It 2 The Top for 2 days with no reins. I taught him to walk, trot, canter and halt and turn just by using the weight in my stirrups. He transformed into a relaxed horse with a more correct outline and when I eventually took the contact he remained relaxed.
My friend Bernice kindly videoed the lesson, which we have just watched back and Take It 2 The Top looks amazing. Pammy taught him her half pass for baby horses and also went over some exercises from the previous two weeks.
We are now (according to Pammy) ready for a BD Novice test. I have entered and I am to email Pammy the results.
Excellent Online Saddlery Company
This year I have bought some lovely equine items from www.equestrianclearance.com I have found their service really excellent and fast delivery. I am competing in Saddle Cloths and Mark Todd Breeches purchased from them. Also I bought a really nice bridle from them but sadly after a few months a tiny crack appeared in the leather, I returned it and today they have refunded in full with no fuss.
I can't believe it Pammy Hutton was pleased with me and no crying this week. We also had a heart to heart chat and chuckle about my "Tears at Talland" blog.
At home after last weeks lesson I rode Take It 2 The Top for 2 days with no reins. I taught him to walk, trot, canter and halt and turn just by using the weight in my stirrups. He transformed into a relaxed horse with a more correct outline and when I eventually took the contact he remained relaxed.
My friend Bernice kindly videoed the lesson, which we have just watched back and Take It 2 The Top looks amazing. Pammy taught him her half pass for baby horses and also went over some exercises from the previous two weeks.
We are now (according to Pammy) ready for a BD Novice test. I have entered and I am to email Pammy the results.
Excellent Online Saddlery Company
This year I have bought some lovely equine items from www.equestrianclearance.com I have found their service really excellent and fast delivery. I am competing in Saddle Cloths and Mark Todd Breeches purchased from them. Also I bought a really nice bridle from them but sadly after a few months a tiny crack appeared in the leather, I returned it and today they have refunded in full with no fuss.
Tuesday 11 December 2012
Tears at Talland with Pammy Hutton
Pammy made me cry today, I am far too sensitive. I was frustrated in the lesson with Take It 2 The Top, I had worked really hard on last weeks exercises at home. Yet today in Tallands indoor school he began spooky and not taking the contact again. I was so looking forward to impressing Pammy with how hard I had worked, instead it took ages to get us working well into a good contact, even then I was using far too much hand. Eventually Pammy swapped my bit and even resorted to getting us to pop a jump.
She got an amazing canter out of us with her turn on the forehand, walk to canter exercise, although I was very slow understanding the exercise. Which meant I was confused and Pammy was exasperated!
At the end of the lesson Pammy said if I bring another horse on the lorry I can work it in Talland after my lesson and she will be able to keep a quiet eye on me while she is teaching someone else.... now thats a kind and fabulous offer.
She also told me a couple of home truths
1. Take It 2 The Top is good enough to be a 4* horse.
2. I had better stop being proud of doing so well with so few lessons and come more often.
It was the 2nd point that made me tearful, good job it was the end of the lesson as by the time I was in the lorry untacking I was sobbing my heart out, I cried all the way home, its hard driving a lorry and crying at the same time.
Not sure why this upset me, maybe because it was a miserable foggy day or more like it hit a nerve.
I felt like I had been told to stop being proud of my entire personality. I know Pammy didn't mean it quite like that, so I had better toughen up.
I am going back to Talland soon and I am determined Dressage God Pammy will be impressed with me one day.
She got an amazing canter out of us with her turn on the forehand, walk to canter exercise, although I was very slow understanding the exercise. Which meant I was confused and Pammy was exasperated!
At the end of the lesson Pammy said if I bring another horse on the lorry I can work it in Talland after my lesson and she will be able to keep a quiet eye on me while she is teaching someone else.... now thats a kind and fabulous offer.
She also told me a couple of home truths
1. Take It 2 The Top is good enough to be a 4* horse.
2. I had better stop being proud of doing so well with so few lessons and come more often.
It was the 2nd point that made me tearful, good job it was the end of the lesson as by the time I was in the lorry untacking I was sobbing my heart out, I cried all the way home, its hard driving a lorry and crying at the same time.
Not sure why this upset me, maybe because it was a miserable foggy day or more like it hit a nerve.
I felt like I had been told to stop being proud of my entire personality. I know Pammy didn't mean it quite like that, so I had better toughen up.
I am going back to Talland soon and I am determined Dressage God Pammy will be impressed with me one day.
Monday 3 December 2012
Nightmares At Talland Turn Out Fabulous
I decided at long last to have some dressage lessons on my lovely 5 year old Take It 2 The Top.
I was looking forward to it until 2 days prior I dreamt I arrived at Talland and couldn't find my gloves, whip or spurs. In my nightmare the inside of my Lorry turned into a jumble sale pile and I was searching for said items under piles and piles of clothes. Eventually I was 20 minutes late for the lesson and woke up in a state of panic.
Then last night I dreamt I drove all the way to Talland, arrived, got out of vehicle and then realised to my horror I had driven down in my car and not in my Lorry and had no horse to ride!!!!
The real life lesson was fabulous, I went in early as everyone was at lunch and began working Monty in. As I quietly concentrated I heard a voice say loudly "that's a nice horse". I checked that (a) I was riding the only horse in the school and (b) it was Pammy Hutton's voice. A huge compliment from a dressage God, I felt like I had won a gold medal. Pammy loved him and make big inroads into getting him to stop hiding behind the contact. Pammy is a genius. I have loads of homework to get him more off the leg and to work in a more correct outline.
Can't wait to ride him tomorrow to practise everything.
Other News
3 year old Twilight competed in his first ODE yesterday, finishing in 3rd place, he adored the XC.
4 year old Mika won the 90 cm class, both went like superstars. We had a fab day with lots of my pupils having a go at their 1st ODE, they all jumped really well with lots of clear rounds and not one refusal or elimination.
Also I have a new horse which is me being completely crazy as I have too many already. He is called William, is still very green, piebald (going grey and white so Skewbald really) , 16.1 hh, 4 years and will be evented at the lower levels next year. More about him in a later Blog.
I was looking forward to it until 2 days prior I dreamt I arrived at Talland and couldn't find my gloves, whip or spurs. In my nightmare the inside of my Lorry turned into a jumble sale pile and I was searching for said items under piles and piles of clothes. Eventually I was 20 minutes late for the lesson and woke up in a state of panic.
Then last night I dreamt I drove all the way to Talland, arrived, got out of vehicle and then realised to my horror I had driven down in my car and not in my Lorry and had no horse to ride!!!!
The real life lesson was fabulous, I went in early as everyone was at lunch and began working Monty in. As I quietly concentrated I heard a voice say loudly "that's a nice horse". I checked that (a) I was riding the only horse in the school and (b) it was Pammy Hutton's voice. A huge compliment from a dressage God, I felt like I had won a gold medal. Pammy loved him and make big inroads into getting him to stop hiding behind the contact. Pammy is a genius. I have loads of homework to get him more off the leg and to work in a more correct outline.
Can't wait to ride him tomorrow to practise everything.
Other News
3 year old Twilight competed in his first ODE yesterday, finishing in 3rd place, he adored the XC.
4 year old Mika won the 90 cm class, both went like superstars. We had a fab day with lots of my pupils having a go at their 1st ODE, they all jumped really well with lots of clear rounds and not one refusal or elimination.
Also I have a new horse which is me being completely crazy as I have too many already. He is called William, is still very green, piebald (going grey and white so Skewbald really) , 16.1 hh, 4 years and will be evented at the lower levels next year. More about him in a later Blog.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)