The training begins ...

A quiet weekend training at home for Picnic and she is looking and feeling great at the moment, the extra time meant we could spend time on some gymnastic work which is invaluable to keep her supple. Socks also was put through her paces down the grid and seems to be getting stronger behind starting to really sit and push but gets tired very quickly so keeping sessions short so she stays keen!

Picnic feeling well and looking good

Earlier this week I visited the TTT in Surrey to watch Herwig Radnetter teach who is one of the most senior riders at the Spanish Riding School in Vienna.  There was a good selection of horses and riders of all standards and Herwig makes the training sessions very informative and progressive.  I now have lots of inspiration to try out some of his methods on my clients so watch out!  My horses have already been subjected to being guinea pigs and I have to say Picnic was almost enjoying her flatwork and turning into a dressage shire showing off half pass and changes.  Including this work in my training sessions is really helping loosen her back and the canter is benefitting becoming much more powerful and connected - we will be out jumping Puissance classes at this rate!  (But we'll settle for consistent double clears).

Socks posing!
(Photo courtesy of Fiona Crawford
www.fionacrawford.co.uk)

As promised here are some pictures from Socks' weekend away training at Stockland Lovell earlier in October.  She slept for two days afterwards - being a well behaved model 4 year old takes a lot apparently!


Thats the way to do it!
(Photo courtesy of Fiona Crawford
www.fionacrawford.co.uk)

 

ShowjumpingShire on Animalife Sponsorship, back to school and time out at the pub!

Exciting news I have received an e-mail from Animalife accepting us onto the sponsorship programme not sure what it will consist of yet but very pleased to be working with them and will keep checking my e-mails for further updates.

More news on the mail front is that my course coaching pack arrived on my doormat for my top up course to gain my UKCC2.  Being a freelance instructor I decided I wanted to add to my BHS qualifications with the aim of eventually becoming a BS accredited trainer so first step was to get onto the UK Coaching Certificate path and work towards entry for next September onto the UKCC3 showjumping specific award in coaching.  Having gained my BHSAI many years ago it is going to be a shock to the system 'going back to school' and preparing for exams and building portfolios but I am really looking forward to it as all the hard work and studying will be worth it in the end! 

After all the excitement a well deserved ride in the sunshine was on the cards and of course we had to celebrate with a drink, it would be rude not to!!!

Showjumping shire wondering where the cider is

Summerhouse SJ - the ShowjumpingShire is back!!!

Video from the weekend at Summerhouse

Showjumpingshire enjoys being back out competing

It was a foggy day on Sunday so much so that you could only see half the arena at summerhouse and  horses disappeared for part of the course!  Slowly the sun made an appearance and the conditions improved by the time our classes were up, we took two horses but unfortunately Amber looked out of sorts in the warm up so we withdrew her so hopefully just something minor and nothing a few days rest won't sort out.

Picnic was on top form in the warm up and very keen to be back out as she was taking great delight over-jumping every fence just checking I had a secure seat!  She didn't take too long to settle and in the Discovery jumped a fantastic round only tipping the penultimate fence to finish on 4 faults but other than that I was impressed with her attitude and we had no fighting or snatching and jumped all combinations spot on.  In the 1.05m we were first to go and she jumped a great round coping with the  additional height in the second half brilliantly so relief over we can get back out jumping newcomers, the showjumpingshire is back :)

 

Socks had a very successful outing at Stockland Lovell last weekend, as a 4 year old I am very excited about her for next year as she is showing amazing scope over a fence.  The weekend consisted of a flatwork session, a grid, a course and a xc session but unfortunately the weather had been so awful that the course was too wet to get out there so we will have to wait to find out what she thinks of the great outdoors!  She behaved impecably on day one working beautifully on the flat and then in the gridwork she was foot perfect taking everything in her stride with no hesitation and putting 110% in, very proud!!!  I think a little brain overload and feeling rather full of herself the next morning I had to ensure I had my sticky bum jods on as she was a little full of it but still able to produce a great shape over a fence even if the bits in between were a bit hairy.  By the afternoon she had settled and had a super session jumping a course even managing to throw in some changes! Photos to follow :)

ShowjumpingShire back in action and ready to go!

Apologies for lack of posts but Picnic has been out of action and enjoying life as a field pet for a little while.  Now fully recovered and back in a fitness regime which has been eventful as she is in very high spirits being back in work!  Slowly settling down and getting over the initial excitement of jumping again where brakes and control were a big issue, we are soon to be back out and ready for the winter season and qualifiers :)

Having some time off has given me a chance to spend time refreshing my knowledge and brushing up my skills as I have decided to train towards my UKCC3 next year showjumping specific.  I have attended lecture and demos from various trainers and also taken the opportunity to take my youngster away for intensive training sessions at AM Dressage with Matt Frost in the hopes to really give her the best start and make sure all the basics are in place before we get carried away jumping, my time there also included my attempt at being a dressage rider on one of their schoolmasters that is trained to Grand Prix.  I didn't do too bad for a showjumper and yes I have to admit I thoroughly enjoyed playing with piaffe and passage round the arena!!!  However I have not been coverted yet but it did my riding wonders and I can really notice a difference back home riding my horses with a stronger position (also made me realise I need to do more pilates to strenthen my core as my stomach muscles ached for two days after)

Next stop is weekend away with Socks showjumping and cross country schooling - watch this space to see how we get on....




Socks 4 year old - intensive training day one!




Socks - first time jumping away from home



My attempt at dressage - I do have those stomach muscles somewhere...