BSJA 20th April & Riding and Road Safety & XC schooling 21st April

So was rather sad to get a text last Wednesday that Bovington was cancelled. I was a bit disappointed not to get a run, but to be honest, I don't find Bovington the most inspiring event, so I decided to put the weekend to good use! I quickly regestered us BSJA and went to Hartbury College on Saturday.
I havn't been before and one of the longest treks I have made for SJ but it was a lovely venue and an easy drive so will certainly be back! We went to jump to 1.05m and newcomers.

Typical me style, got there and decided the discovery looked plenty big enough thank you very much so was quaking a bit when I did my entries! Luckily I think the lower arena made it a bit deceptive as although the 1.05m looked a fair size, it was jumpable enough.

He went in and jumped a super double clear. I did 1 turn in the j/o but as it was fairly big I decided to keep it steady but we still wangled a 4th and some money I was pleased with my riding, I didn't miss once and he was in a lovely rhythm.






I took him back to the lorry quickly after for a drink as it was quite hot, walked the newcomers which didn't actually look too bad after the 1.05m although there was a fairly large yellow oxer to finish.

By the time I got him back to the warm up I only had 3 to go before me so it was a very hasty warm up and with only my mum with me, no one to do fences (she is terrified of warm ups) so poor pony had to go and jump 1.15m fences straight away for his warm up :s

but he was super in the ring again. (and warming up) Got our lovely rhythm. I got slightly (and I mean slightly, which is a big thing for me) close to a couple of fences, including the first part of the treble which he rubbed and had down, but I am majorly pleased. I didn't 'freeze' up, even on a couple of related distances where I suddenly had no idea what stride I was on, but just rode forwards instead.

So just 4 faults which being an eventer, I am more than happy with, it was a lovely confidence giving round - just what I needed! Also secretly quite pleased as it was a seperate jump off and I didn't fancy going into a NC jump off without it being two phase!










So very pleased with my super boy.


Then Sunday was a busy day as I had my riding and road safety exam. I wasn't looking forward to it to be honest, I hate exams! I need to do it though to continue with my BHS exams to become a BHSAI.


I arrived and was rather shot down by the owner when she asked what training I had done and I said none besides read the books. Anyway to cut a long story short, the theory was easy, the simulated road test seemed complicated and there wasn't enough room really to do all the checks you need to do, but I got through. The actual road bit was easy too! I rode a rather sweet little horse, albiet a bit lazy, but I'd rather have that in an exam so I can concentrate. Luckily I passed so that was a tick!


Then Monday afternoon we headed to Larkhill on a schooling day.
I wanted to prep for our step up to Novice at Borde Hill at the end of May so decided to jump round the novice track as a course.

After our successful SJ outing I wasn't HUGELY nervous, just a bit worried about the bank bounce rail as I walked it and just saw us having a rotational fall there

Sadly they had changed a couple of jumps, probs cos there was a hunter trial there not long ago, so the novice corner was gone and the big novice rail on top of the hill was gone. The first part of the combo at the second to last had been replaced by a little log, but I was still able to ride the same line to the big skinny brush which was the second part. Given corners are our strong point, I didn't really mind.

So anyway, I trotted down and warmed him up as I normally would. Then counted myself down from 10 and off I went

happily over the first


No more photos until near the end but I'll talk you through it as it was AWESOME ahah. Fence 2 was a house, where I got a bit nervous and held for a short one where I should of kicked for a good one but we made it. Got over the funky little weird log thing at the top of the hill nicely.

Next was a palisade thing which wanted jumping on an angle if you wanted to save time so I thought I would and it was fine. Next was 2 roll tops with bullfinch on top with 3 strides, had to jump the first on an angle though I could of taken a dog leg...but I went for the angle.

He was superb, understood it and away he went Then got close to a rolltop which was quite big - should of kicked! Jumped the BE100 corner beautifully, far better than at the event where he was so busy looking at the fence judge he turned his whole head to the right until about a stride out...and given he hasn't got a left eye that was quite hairy as he literially did not see it!

Then down the hill to the chair, I finally got my act together and rode forwards so had a lovely jump. Back up the hill and round the turn to the upright rail where I had to jump the BE100 one, as novice had turned into 2 foot 3, which he did beautifully. (Another 10cm wouldn't of made a difference there )

then it was the dreaded step, bounce, upright. I havn't jumped a bounce before xc and I think it was the biggest fence coming out of a bounce I'd done on him. But I rode it well if I may say so, I shortened him and got him bouncy, popped up the step and easily over the rail. I swear it felt so easy it was like I was watching a hat cam vid

Then we got a little onward bound and I started kicking when I should of been holding which resulted in a stride out at the box oxer thing with chalk on top. Sunken road was the one hairy moment, he was never gonna stop but it was a bit messy. I rode into the bottom of the first part, wiggled down the drop and back up the step so had to take a hard pull right to actually aim at the fence but he jumped it.

Jumped beautifully in the water - given last year he was always a bit spooky through water, the fact I hardly had to kick was awesome! and jumped out over the angled log/brush.


I kicked on and proceeded to take a whopping stride out at a rather large picnic table


and still cleared it with miles to spare


next was a brush with a ditch infront - I hate this kind of fence, never happened to me but I always worry I'll miss and they'll fall in the ditch but he's never worried about ditches and jumped it beautifully.


then the final combo. I was so proud of him here as with the brush on top it was a big old fence, it was angled so he was coming at it on his blind side (infact all the angles on this course were blind side) but he was as straight as a die, knew what I wanted and performed


didn't even touch the brush! An easy jump over the last and we were home and clear!!

I am SO proud of him. I swear he finished and said "I want them bigger next time!" I know Larkhill isn't the biggest novice but I felt there were a couple of questions. And the main thing is it gives me tonnes of confidence for when we do do a novice as I know we can get round one clear!

So a busy busy week which doesn't end there as tomorrow we're off to Cricklands in Wales for an unaffiliated SJ championship. I qualified in the winter and thought it would be fun to do something not so serious. Although I will miss eventing for the next month, I am really looking forward to it.

Our next outing afterwards is Tweseldown on the 19th, (I'm going on holiday in between yay!), then hopefully ram in a BSJA before novice at Borde Hill on the 27th! 

Jumping lesson 14/04/2013

I was having some doubts about my lessons with Warren after last time. I came home feeling really deflated that I could barely seem to ride around a 2 foot course and just feeling a bit low about it. I decided to have another and if I came back feeling crap again I would search around for someone else.

But today was fantastic. A lot of the stuff he was saying clicked today and all made sense with me. I also spoke to him about some seeming contradictions with previous instructors which cleared some things up and helped me peice it together in my head.

The result was a fabulous lesson. We were jumping some little courses with a pole infront of a spread and a triple. First and third parts really small, with a fairly decent and very wide oxer in the middle as well as poles in between the elements. The idea was we were trying to get him to push with his hindleg more as he does tend to go for speed over power a little. We were also using the poles to get him a bit deeper to a fence instead of standing off so much, and to make his shape over a jump more equal. He tends to land very close to a fence with his back legs.

I really felt we were improving even throughout the session which was excellent!

However sadly its the last one for a while as have a manic few weeks coming up. I'm packed with work at the moment as bringing on a little thoroughbred for a client so that means going up there almost daily to work with him, and next weekend we're at Bovington on Saturday and I have my riding and road safety exam on Sunday, then the Thursday after we're off to Wales for a SJ championship. 10 days after that (with Badminton in the middle!) I'm off on Holiday woop!

Hopefully will be able to do something in those 10 days though. Squirrel does not get a holiday when I'm away. He's off to the event yard where I used to work for a spot of bootcamp! I'll hopefully be able to have a lesson when I drop him off and pick him up. I love the way Gubby Leech (my old boss) teaches, it really clicks with me. However at over 30 miles away its a bit far to travel regularily for lessons, especially when Warren is only 10 minutes away in the box.

Anyway I'm feeling pretty pleased, he's been great this week on the flat too and I practised jumping some angles..I want to do well at this championships; although only unaffiliated and you only need a D/C to qualify, it would mean a lot to do well there as I went for years with my mares and never did.

So I decided to see just what I can get away with in the jump off. The answer is, just about anything. He will jump off an extremely acute angle, clears it by miles and will jump from a stride out. He's also naturally quite fast so I'm getting excited. Also impressed how angled he will jump from his blind side too! He's a wonder horse.

No pictures I'm afraid but nevermind. Mum was feeling lazy.

Larkhill Horse trials 06/04/2013

Was seriously worried if we had a bad day as I couldn't think of an suitable bad words beginning with L! But no such worries :D

We had a terrible couple of weeks prep for Larkhill. Back around the 20th of March, on the first day of my week off, Squirrel felt very odd when I schooled him. Almost lame but when I got off and trotted him up he was fine, lunging on the hard, he was fine. Went home very worried, imagining all sorts of horrors and promptly called the vet. Who did a lameness workup and he was absolutely fine -rolls eyes- but when poking him we realised he was very very sore in his back.

The saddle fitter was coming out the next day anyway as he was getting a rub under his saddle, and luckily physio was already booked for the following Tuesday. Turned out saddle needed reflocking as its relatively new and the flocking had compacted so that went to saddle hospital and Squirrel had a lovely week off waiting for physio, then a further 3 days off to let it settle!

So got back on board 10 days later to a mega fresh horse so hacked him both weekend days, with a lovely long one on the Sunday. Only then the girth straps had rubbed him on my long hack (still quite new stiff leather and he is SO sensitive this time of year) which meant I couldn't put a saddle on for a couple of days. Then I schooled him, came home and promptly started being sick. Which didn't ease until Friday so my boyfriend kept him ticking over and I managed a very short pretty pointless sit on him Friday night.

But the forecast was good, the ground was good, I had civilised times - no way was I withdrawing! Luckily I woke up on Saturday feeling a million times better, although did have to have a few rest stops when walking the course!

Warming up for the dressage I felt pretty tired and did actually wonder whether it was sensible to compete, but I cracked on and after a bit I felt fine. He didn't feel as good as usual - he really is a horse who needs regular schooling in order to stay nice and supple so he felt a bit stiff and a bit 'stuffy', not really moving off my leg and a bit more on the forehand in canter than he has been.

I wasn't disappointed with my test. It didn't feel amazing, lots of room for improvement (he wasn't as soft on the 10m loops as ideal and my first give and retake in canter felt hideous [although I have a pretty good picture??]) IMO, but given the lack of prep I was pretty happy.


Sorry lots of dressage pictures! So pleased as A. OH is finally learning how to take flatwork photos, and B. Squirrel has improved so much on the flat over the winter :D I estimated 37 but was gobsmacked to find a 28.5 on the scoreboard!! 2 consecutive tests in the 20s! Which is very new to me :D


Now on to the show jumping...This was claiming a few prisoners, I saw several falls, several having too many faults to go xc..Only 12 out of 42 in my section went clear! It was twisty and all the distances were built on half strides. I decided I was going to ride forwards, as Squirrel is more inclined to give a big scopey jump if he's a bit long or forwards, whereas if he gets a bit close he's far more likely to have it down.

We had a long break for SJ as they were running 40 minutes late and Squirrel was having a lovely nap. So I went into the warm up with a plan which was get him listening and off my leg. Unfortunately it worked a little too well and he ended up rather strong and excited :o So I was probably quite noisy in the ring telling him to wait for it haha. I used to jump him in a gag which I havn't needed recently, he's a bit of a tank when he wants to be, but otherwise horizontal! Evidently a bit fresh as well...

To cut a long story short, we had the first part of the second double down, unfortunately he just got away from me too much and I didn't get him back in time so we got very close, but I was really pleased anyway. I rode it how I planned for the most part and he jumped his socks off.

Now cross country time! He was a star.
Think the look on our faces says it all!

I thought he might have a spook at 3 which is a new jump and looked a little odd but he was fine, he had a very good oggle at the first of a double of skinny hedges at 5 but did jump it.

The corner at 7 was emotional, as I literially could not get his attention away from the fence judge. No joke, he only looked and actually saw the fence 2 strides out so that was a bit of a scramble (and I was significantly more towards the centre than I wanted) but we were over.

Next couple of fences were easy, then a brush, few strides to a step up, 1 stride to a brush. I rode quite firmly at the first brush as it was quite big and he spooked earlier. No need, he popped it and up over the step and brush like a pro. Next fence was a simple table, where he took matters into his own hands. I hadn't quite decided whether to kick on or hold for another when he just took off and jumped it - felt amazing.

Managed to get him to trot down the first part of the sunken road (we have a tendency to fly off drops) and he went through very sweetly. Lovely through the water. Next was a picnic table which he hit very hard. Not sure why, we had a decent shot but nevermind.

Then a brush with a fair ditch infront which was lovely, a final combination of skinnies, I angled my log just like I intended and he jumped beautifully, over the last to finish.

I was rather amazed to find we were 1 second off getting too fast pen. I could of gone faster and this was the horse I had to push to get inside the time last year! He must just be jumping out of much more of a rhythm which is super.



I had a great ride on him in both sj and xc, and althouh the dressage didn't thrill me this time, the judge obviously liked it! We ended up 4th which I was super pleased with, and had a nice cheque. Which means this season to date he's already won me £100 :D So pleased with him, I love him to bits, he's so special.