Wairarapa Showjumping Recycled Ribbon Day

So it was an absolutely stunning and mild day for the showjumping which is good. I was a bit unprofessional in that I was out late and up out of bed late, which I would never do when I have a client, but the first class took over an hr so I still spent ages cooling my heels. Charlie was up first in the 60cm class and the warm-up was something of a whirling dervish. He started out like he was going to be a bit naughty but I had had a bit to much wine the night before hand and I wasn't in the mood. I haven't really gotten up him before but he rolled over and was a really good boy. He really is a very brave pony, he doesn't look at any fillers. He rolls along like a good pony, jumped out of his rhythm though he is a bit of a minimalist when it comes to effort in the air so its hard to know how scopey he is. He does pull left in the air a little bit but he is improving. He does seem to quite enjoy it, because he trucks around.

I have to say I need to get my canter organised a little sooner and I'm a bit tentative starting out which isn't that strange on the lack of ring time and the fact I haven't jumped either of the horses over proper courses for a long time. Still the eye for a take off still works, and I am picking up my issues and correcting them myself so I'm not so bad as I thought. Charlie then cruised around the 70cm really nicely. As a small horse I gave him a good shot into the four stride line and he made the four strides pretty easily which is very good. To be honest it was unbelievable how good he was.

Pictures of Tsar for those that are interested are numbers 2447-2452 near the bottom of the page on this link

Tsar was in the eighty and he warmed up a little behind the leg because he is a bit lazy and to the practice fence I had a couple of shockers, and then he got into the ring and he was pretty wild. But that was mostly my fault. He gets into the ring and he turns into a very forward version of himself. I didn't really trust him either and definitely overrode and wasn't smooth about things. Hes a bit of a sports car, you really want to go easy on the accelerator and not jam it on. What is quite nice is that last year he was a bit short striding and this year he is getting down his lines more easily so the flatwork has paid off but he was so frantic.  That was in the 80cm class and then I was entered in the 90cm but the headache was catching up on me and I really wanted to get home so I just redid the 80cm and focused on sitting really quietly, just softening the hand to make up distance and not using the leg, except to support and at the base of the fence. He wanted to take me there so I just needed to let him. He was pretty brave because he is traditionally pretty spooky and he seems to have stopped that some, I didn't need to poke with the leg, just add a cluck.

With the softer ride he was much smoother, though still very enthusiastic and having the best time. And he got into the air really nicely, in fact the only place he was a little hesitant was into the combination so need to practice those. To the blogger who commented and asked what the best way to get used to her bigger horse I have one piece of advice, just ride as much as you can.

Courage the Cowardly Dog

Right so we are on the lead up to the my first jumping show (its a local level no pressure recycled ribbon day starting at 40cm so show is overstating it) since November and I gotta say I have jumped a couple of times and I'm feeling decidedly ordinary. What happened!! And yea the muscle strength is missing, an the eye is rusty with a capital R. But where the hell is the courage!! Honestly, its little aggravating when I used to have the look of eagles. And I used to  jump big an now a 2'6" oxer is looking a little monstrous. I didn't think I would lose it that quickly.

The picture above shows not much in the way of position but for a maxed out 1.30m oxer from a longish distance, look at the commitment. Man that horse tried for me, because she was not scopey, Anyway, I started this yesterday and I really cant remember what my point was going to be but look pictures of me doing jumpies on different horses!!

 I guess the premise is even though I'm only entered up to 90cm I'm pretty much freaking out. Awesome!

Wairarapa Dressage Ribbon Day

So neither of the horses I'm riding had been out since the new year and it that sort of a situation you never really know what you are going to get except that I knew that Tsar would be naughty. Because he just is. The last time I rode at a dressage day would have been around 10 years ago and I remember being totally bewildered by the marking, in that the test when my horse was electric and tense he marked a lot better than when he was relaxed and workmanlike. Obviously, I have improved in my riding in general since then because the marking was still a little bewildering but in a much better way. Charlie was in level 0 and Tsar in level 1.

It started poorly when Charlie stood halfway in the float and dug his toes in and we had a twenty minute stand off while I waited for reinforcements, then he got bored and walked on which was good. I need to spend a day on this, because Tsar basically self loads. Charlie is used to an angle load and not so comfortable in the straight load. Then I landed chasing my tail so that I only got on Charlie just as the rider before me was starting. He had no warm-up and so was quite tense but it was only a walk trot test so it wasn't too bad. By the last corner he had relaxed some and did a lovely halt.

I then had an hour to get Tsar up and by the time he had a lunge and I got on and went down to the arenas I had about 7 minutes warming up time, he was quite tense and we bronced across the warm up at one point. I  had put a drop noseband on him so I had more control and it made him stiller in his head carriage but more inclined to buck and not go forward in protest. Still he did a relatively good test, though my expectations weren't that high. I was happy though that he gave me a few moments that felt really good, when I could really sit into his canter and just be soft and I knew he would stay with me. For a horse that can be a bit smart, that hadn't been out in public since November, and who didnt get enough warm up he was spectacular. So the morning results were a 54% for Charlie which was more than expected and a 60% for Tsar (about 6th place) which I was really surprised by, but then he is a bit of a swanky dude.

Then I had to wait for like four days (that is 2 1/2 hours) until the afternoon tests. Tsar had a decent warm up and was happier in is standard caversson noseband and I could put a spur on. He was awesome, warmed up really nicely, though was a little unsteady in the contact which was my fault because I got tense, trying to not upset him when he felt so good, instead of actually riding. And I forgot to give the rein for 3-5 strides in one movement, but he has a good free walk which always helps. I was thnking he would score similar to the morning and he did under one judge, but was 68% under the second judge, so I ended up with 64% and second place!! OMG at dressage! Go Tsar you little beauty! He even got a seven for paces, and a nine for his centerline! Loving it. Did I mention it absolutely poured in our warm up and we were both absolutely soaked to the skin? Good pony!

Charlie was the last ride and got on with about twenty minutes to warm in and he disgraced himself in the warm up, shying, reefing and bucking so I put him to work until a mother came over and told me to go away while her kid did her test because she was nervous and only ten. Cue walking for seven minutes which actually helped him relax some and I figured out it was the loud speaker freaking him out, causing the tucked tail scoot and buck. Once he got into the arena and had a job he was much better, he was late in both his canter transitions but started to show some work of the quality I get at home from him so thats good. His owner was rapt with some of the work he did, despite his warm-up. He scored a 58% and ended up 6th so I culdn't be happier because at the end of the day both horses gave me moments of good feeling and they both improved and you cant get better than that

Still Alive

Charlie horse

Sorry for the huge length of time since I last updated this. So much has happened since last time, mostly personally because actually nothing else has changed. I am finally starting to get back my will to ride. Helped by the return of Charlie who showed up for a while last Winter. And seeing as I'm down there working him with financial incentives, my own horse is getting ridden as well. I was pretty convinced I was going to sell him, but then I start riding Tsar and I remember that he is a really nice horse and he can really operate and then I'm in two minds again. There is a lot of unregistered lower level dressage and showjumping this Winter just down the road, and Charlie is on the market and needs exposure. That should help with some goal setting. 

Kimmy riding Tsar

So the first thing coming up is Dressage, Charlie can do a training test and one level 1 test and Tsar can do both the level 1 tests. I see that as a local rider I have to provide some man power which always niggles me a bit. I'm not affiliated with the group at all and I feel that to be forced into helping is a little offputting. I understand that these days run on volunterrs and blah blah blah but at least let me get a taste for it before putting me to work?? I'm so bad at dressage anyway, I get in the ring and ride like a monkey. 

So much fail in this video?!!! Blah, what are my hands doing. Shorten your reins Bex for the love of jeebers, Cocked  wrists low hands, round shoulders, its all pretty unattractive, but then I haven't had a lesson since last Winter. At least my back and seat are still quite supple. How cute is Tsar!? He feels so good now the drought has broken and some of the sting has gone out of the ground. Pretty excited/nervous to do some jumping again. Now that the financial pressure has eased some we should be able to have a really good time this Winter. So yea I'm back, and I'll blog more.

Doing the bare minimum

Jumping like a boss for a long time! I'm not sure how old I am here, but that pony is only 13.3hh and he looks huge, so I'm guessing I'm pretty tiny. That was basically the greatest pony ever. 

As for whats been happening, I am at least working my horse, and I'm wondering if I  sell him for something more laidback and versatile. I want something I can hack about the place and that isnt always on the hunt for dragons, and so difficult once he finds them, whereas Kate is an old spook nut at least she stays rideable. He likes arenas and jumping and not the outdoors. He even has a cover on so he is feeling pretty fancy. Though, I could just make him do all the things and being a versatile pony, but I just remember Butch who would hunt, event and showjump and I know Tsar doesnt thrive on hunting, but he will maybe event?? Worth a crack I  guess, take him xc schooling anyway.

In saying that I have my first jump since like November, and while I was a bit rusty and made one bad decision which ended with me a mile off it, he felt really good. I have someone maybe trying him on the weekend, but maybe I do keep him. The little bugger can really jump. If she doesnt want him I wont be going out of my way to get him sold, I'll look at doing some winter series things. Maybe even some dressage. I really need to get a full time job, so I can pay for everything and also I think I'd like to buy a house.So that one day I can buy a farm, or something. I have a big holiday in Merica and Canada later this year, in September so that's exciting. I'd like to get a glimpse of the horsey scene while I'm over there. 

So if you dont jump for  long time, Be prepared for the revival of all your bad habits, you will slouch, and collapse in front of the fence, and lean over your hands, and take one terrible distance where you are miles off of the base because you rode up instead of letting him stay in his rhythm and get to the base. He gets round though and feels great off of the ground, sometimes he even gets loose behind and feels like there is going to be a fancy back end in there. I didn't do too much, one upright got up to 90cm but the ground is so hard I need to not do much. Once I have a the float I can get a bit more mobile which will help, because I'll travel him to arenas and save his legs. So yea dunno

Am I scared to jump?!

I am at least riding a bit more now, my little horse is making god progress with his flat work though he is unbelievably fat, especially considering how long it took me to get him up to weight after buying him. Its incredibly dry here now, and the ground is very hard. I guess I'm turning into a bit of an arena baby, because I feel mean working him on hard ground, even though he lives on it anyway, and when there weren't so many arenas around I worked them on hard ground all Summer without any issues. I don't think its such a problem providing their legs are harden off, with hacking and low intensity work. That being said, I wouldn't jump on this ground. I have even been at my old bosses riding the odd horse here and there, which is good because my balance and fitness have suffered some.

He is a funny horse to work, he always wants to travel kinked slightly to the right, so he is quite blocked in all his lateral work to the right, so that's a good little issue for me to continue working on, that and getting him in front of my leg. He is so lazy, its hard to believe he ever won money on the track. He hates hacking but I make him go. Once the third horse is picked up from the grazing I might just ride Kate the old boot and take him out on the lead, in the hopes he will enjoy himself more. He just lacks confidence and gets quite shut down and then on the way home he is very naughty. Never had a horse who doesn't look around just keeps his head straight in front of him and then looks for dragons. Very strange.

What is also strange is my lack of desire to jump. Also driven by my lack of transport though, but yea definitely feel like I cant jump a horse anymore. It's been so long Im sure my eye wont exist anymore. I have never been a brave rider, and maybe I'll never jump again. I sort of want to try other things, maybe go on a trek (even though I say this and then when I go trekking I absolutely hate I because its boring). I'd like to dabble in some dressage, maybe even get a few lessons when I have some money to spare. Or I'll suck it up and take him for a jump, because he is a super promising jumper. Damn it. How can a sport I lived and breathed for 14 years suddenly seem both daunting and not so important.
There is currently a huge amount of trouble within the NZ jumping board and there has been restructuring and rule changes that have really turned me off the sport as well. I'm not inclined to give them my hard earnt money when they are all being a pack of petty unorganised jerks.

Maybe I'll find something local to go play at. Sigh, life.

Updates are a long time coming

 Castlepoint Beach on the stunning Erl

While life isn't peachy keen and I'm struggling to make my income fit my expenditure (I need to alter my standard of living- definitely eating out/drinking too much) I still really dont want a 9-5 job. Part of it is I love the variety my life has now, and I have the freedom to block out days as I please for adventures that I cant really afford. It's just a bit hard in the lean times, when work isn't coming in. I should really get a third job :/  Still last week my old boss and I had a day blocked out to go for a hoon at the beach. It's the prettiest spot in the world I think, and was always the beach I went to for holidays as a child. It was a stunning day.

Erl wasn't that convinced it was safe, but you can bully Erl into doing things easily enough so we had quite a good paddle in the ocean and a couple of really good canters. That is the greatest feeling in the world isn't it?? The sheer raw power of sitting on a powerful horse, racing down the sand forever, it's magic, it makes the blood sing in your veins. That would be my most exciting horsey adventure for a long time.

 Tsar is looking and feeling fantastic. He is making leaps and bounds on being more in front of the leg and travelling straighter and falling in and out less on his turns. I really want to start getting him out and about more though hacking wise. I am still finding my motivation to jump pretty low. He went to the CHB A and P show and he jumped the 90cm clean the first day, though was fairly erratic between the fences, inconsistent in speed and had a few bucks. He gets so forward in the ring and he is so lazy at home, that it means I'm not training the whoa enough at home for it to be consistent and smooth. I am working really hard on schooling him hot. The next day the winds were really high and he was pretty frantic, jumped clean but wasnt getting up into the air as much, then fences 9 and 10 blew down as well at the jump crews gazebo so I retired, especially as he had jumped quieter and softer over 7 and 8.

Its quite cool that he is such a cool friendly pony that I really enjoy but that has some real potential. Though the National jumping federation are being a bunch of dickheads so I'm loathe to register him and start competing. Might do a local sports day this weekend if the weather is ok. He is a pretty special pony and he may have turned up in my life just when I needed him. I am prety nervous to jump though, I need to do more training.

Crossing the cows at work! Who wouldn't want this job, and the crews are work with are so much fun, so we will soldier on and hopefully shit gets a bit easier. I'm not sure how much the below pic applies but it cracks me up :)