26th, 27th and 28th June The Luso Show

Friday the 26th was a bit of a rush.  I had a chiro appointment at 10.15 and the lorry was meant to be delivered after 11 and then I had to go back to Oxford to get its tax disk.  Around this I had to pack all Xaile's and my stuff.  The aim was to leave the yard at around 3, in the end we were only an hour late and left around 4.  My father came with me, and my friend Claire who came to groom for us.

I got Edward to load Xaile as I had a feeling he might leap on and I was reluctant to jar my back any more than was necessary.  In the end he was a good boy and only bounced a little.

(Checking my list!!)

He was so quiet on the drive over Claire had to go back to check he was ok- he was- just happily eating his haynet.

When we got there I found a place to park near my friends' lorries and right by the stables.  Again I was a little nervous that he might fly off so I put his cavesson on for a little more control.  I was right, he jumped right from the top to the bottom, but as I thought this might happen I let the lead reins run through my hand so no problem for either of us.

He walked very happily to his new stable and settled very quickly, tucking into his supper as if he was at home.  He really was remarkably calm, whenever we went to check on him he was peacefully eating his hay.

We set our alarm for 5.30 to get up in time to give him his breakfast before getting started on the plaiting.  I was a bit worried about the plaiting as I didn't have Ali to do it for me.  Claire on the other hand had done a great job of practising on her share horse.  She did the near side and I thought I'd have a go on the off side and was puzzled to find that I could do it.  This was a relief for now and the future.  We spent a good while getting Xaile a sparkling as possible, and Claire did a very fine job on his filthy white socks that I couldn't reach because of my sore back.

I was quite worried about how sore my back was so I asked Kim, from Bluehorse, to warm him up for me.  He was a little unsettled at first, but so much better than at any show yet and quickly settled to working, but was very wiggly.  Kim suggested that in this situation it's worth playing him at his own game, ie if he wants to go sideways, make him go sideways, but the other way.

Then we had rather a long wait for our class which was running late, eventually it was time to tack up, get dressed and go.  I didn't spend much time warming up as by then it was getting very hot and I didn't want to tire him, but I just quickly checked I could cope with walk trot and canter, and was relieved that while canter was a bit jarring they were all bearable.

Then came another great long wait in the hot hot collecting ring, firstly waiting for the judge, then for 2 remaining competitors.  Then into the international arena.  I'd been so nervous about this, but Xaile took it all in his stride and walked happily in taking everything in.  Then came an even worse wait.  We walked round and round and round and round the ring waiting for the 2 competitors, it felt like hours, but was probably more like 20 mins.  The good news was that by then Xaile was even more settled, but the bad news was that I was getting very sore and also rather nervous.

I was very proud of him in the line up as he actually started by standing still, but there was a dun horse that clearly wouldn't and he was ridden backwards and forwards behind the line up which wound Xaile up rather, and by the end he was back doing Jambette and digging for Australia!

The Individual show started really well- he went off in one of the best trots I've had out of him.  I was so thrilled by this I didn't really concentrate on the canter transition and for some reason felt that he was on the wrong leg so brought him back to trot and then off again, unfortunately this rather unsettled him. Also, I was wrong about the leg, no idea what I was thinking, but I suppose it was nerves.  The canter on the other leg was good though.

There were some lovely horses in the class and we weren't placed, I was a bit disappointed as I felt he'd gone nicely apart from my mistake, but he is immature looking so that might have been why.

We left his plaits in between the two classes to give him curls for the parade class, and apart from a good bath to cool him down and some fresh water and carrots we left him alone to relax for a few hours before tacking up for the parade class.

Again I didn't spend long warming up to save him and my back, just checked I could do it all in my Portuguese saddle.  I'd taken rather alot of pain killers by then and found it didn't hurt at all.  My father had very kindly come to watch the class and so took some pics of me warming up.

Frustratingly the Parade Class started with yet another wait, this time even worse.  We had to parade around in the heat while Sylvia Loch was interviewed.  Xaile didn't seem to mind the heat and was having a ball, but I was turning liquid in my velvet costume.  None the less it was great fun and such a thrill to be there.

By the time I had watched the dressage to music, which I had withdrawn from, it was very late, but my friends Patrick and Tetua had been so funny with their 'Battle of Wriggly Snake'  it didn't matter.  

Our class on Sunday (Novice Riding Horse) was the second one so I decided that it would be unlikely to start before 10 and following all yesterday's waiting around I also decided that it probably wouldn't be necessary to get up before 7.  In the end I woke up a bit before that, rather stiff and sore.  

I managed to plait both sides of his mane this time while Claire did a fantastic job on his tail.  When we got down to the warm up ring it was already hot and people were all very lethargic, just standing round watching the other classes.  We had a brief walk trot and canter and he was going beautifully and my back was sore so there was no point in doing more.

There were 19 in the class and the judge (the same one as a Windsor) had us walk round a little then halt and then have us individually trot to the back of the class, it was like being back in a riding school.  I was terribly nervous, and while Xaile gave me a beautiful forwards trot, I didn't manage to keep him very straight, my fault really, I was so nervous I didn't concentrate and our turn was so quickly over.  Then he had us walk and trot round together on each rein and I was absolutely thrilled with him.  He actually began to lengthen his strides and felt absolutely amazing and even quite straight.  So I was really quite disappointed when the judge didn't put us through to the next round.   He was nice though and explained what he was looking for- a well balanced horse that would be a pleasure to get on and ride.  I suppose Xaile isn't terribly balanced yet, but still I felt he went beautifully.  The horse that won was ridden in Portuguese tack and only a curb bit which I have to say irritated me a bit as that is far from novice, but there we go.

Then it was time to pack up.  Hugo came to join us to sit with me driving the lorry home.  Xaile loaded beautifully, we said good bye to Claire and set off to go.  I put the key in the ignition and nothing happened- I couldn't even turn it.  Everybody had a go a turning it, we tried every key on the ring and nothing worked.  Eventually we gave up and called the NFU rescue out.  It turns out that something had broken in the barrel of the lock and he had to break it off!!! How unlucky.  Meanwhile Xaile stood beautifully calmly in the lorry being fed carrots by Hugo and periodically soaking me in water when I offered him a drink.  It was the coolest place to leave him as there was a good breeze through the box.  

Again he travelled very calmly and peacefully.  Ali unloaded him when we got home and insisted he walked calmly off, which he did.  He was very happy to be home in his own stable and rolled and rolled.

23rd June I'm BACK!!

Hello everyone!!!

I had a lovely holiday in France and Spain and Xaile had a lovely holiday in his field!  

I've been really really busy since then so no time for updates.

When I got back on Xaile after my holiday, last Monday, I was a bit upset.  He seemed to have gone back to going exactly how he did when I first got him.  But then I stopped and thought and realised that I wasn't helping, I wasn't sitting very square and I think I had been rushing.  We then did about 10 mins of much better work.

Tuesday was much better- really relaxed and long and low in walk and trot.  Great transitions between halt walk and trot.  The canter wasn't great.  I think he's finding balancing in his new way of going a bit difficult so we did a lot of trot canter trot transitions and I did't ask him to keep cantering for too long.

He had Wednesday off as I started my LGV cat C training and I was truly exhausted.  But I did go over for a cuddle and to give him an apple.

Thursday was simillar to Tuesday but better in the canter.  

Friday off again, due to the LGV training- truly the most difficult thing I have ever done.  When I went to give him his cuddle and apple I took these two photos as he was looking so well and handsome.  

Saturday- I had a friend staying to help make my costume for the fancy dress dressage to music at the Luso show.  She also videoed me and Xaile.  I hope you'll see an improvement since the last video.

Sunday- I was bucked off Clover and landed rather heavily so didn't ride Xaile.

Monday and today- my back is really rather sore after Sunday so I've been having Xaile lunged, lots and lots of canter transitions I hope.

I had my LGV test today and failed.  I'd like to use my back as an excuse but it doesn't hurt too much when driving, though getting into the lorry is properly sore!! It was my own stupid fault.  The drive went brilliantly except for one minute!!! I was doing a hill start and it rolled back.  I assumed that I must have forgotten to knock it over into the low range when I stopped so I checked, it was in the low range so I had another go and it rolled back again. So I checked again and it went forwards, thank goodness, what I hadn't noticed was that in that time a car had started to over take me.  So two serious faults.  He later told me that I had simply forgotten to put it into gear the first two times, I have absolutely no idea how I could have done something so stupid.  But I did.  The consolation is that when telling me what I had done wrong he kept on saying how well I had driven the rest and how he'd love to let me pass because the rest was so good, but having done it twice was just too bad!!!  The worst bit is that it means I have no transport for the Luso show as I have just sold my little lorry :-(.

Thursday 4th June Music

A couple of days ago the yard owner had someone helping her fit music for a dressage test.  I asked if she could tell me when she was next going to be there and the she rang this morning to say she could fit me in.

She had me warm Xaile up as normal, and I have to say he was going fantastically, his head was so straight.  Then she videoed a minute of each of walk trot and canter.  Then we planned what would work for the test- she had some really good ideas and I think we came up with quite an interesting test.  Xaile however thought having an audience was just way too exciting and got sillier and sillier.  The problem is I just can't help finding it funny.  For example we've got a bit where we canter a 20m circle then cross the short diagonal in canter and trot on the other side, well Xaile got very excited when we came to the diagonal in canter and insisted on trying to change legs and generally behaved very wildly and badly, but the thing is he was having such fun and was so happy.  I felt really mean for correcting him and making him be boring and serious.  I sometimes wonder if I'm cut out for dressage, I think I enjoy the bad bits too much.

Anyway having run through our ideas a few times she then videoed it, and while bits were rather wild he did manage to be serious occasionally and when he is serious he's beginning to go really nicely.

After that we went and listened to all sorts of bits of music and chose what would go well with him, but I'm not telling you what it is till we actually use it.

Wednesday 3rd June Another Marcia Lesson

Yet more tools added to the box.  Marcia taught us two particularly useful things today.  

The first was to help with straightness, a real problem for me and my eel.  She had us do a 15m circle at one end of the school and when he was balanced and submissive we then went down the 3/4 to the other end of the school where we worked on the 15m circle till again he was balanced then back down the 3/4 line, 15m circle then across the diagonal.  All the time thinking of keeping an even weight in both hands.  

The second was a good way of getting him to take a contact rather than suck back.  As you know he tilts his nose to the right, well now most of the time I can straighten his head by taking a bit more contact on the left rein.  However sometimes I can't get anything in my left hand and he sucks right back if I try.  I have been trying to correct this by pushing him forwards till he takes it.  This works well in trot but not so much in walk.  Marcia suggested that I follow his head back keeping up a firm contact and pushing him on and on with my legs.  We did this first in walk and I pushed and pushed him forwards, till he was on the verge of trotting and he was still sucking back and she said to continue like that (firm contact and lots of leg) until he felt like he wanted to take the contact forwards.  I thought it was never going to happen and was tempted to give with the reins to see if he'd take the contact anyway but just then he pushed his head forwards and took a lovely contact.  This lasted for a couple of strides and then he sucked back again so I repeated it and a little quicker he took the contact and it lasted a bit longer.  It only took a few repetitions to get him relatively consistent and much straighter in the head.  We also did it in trot, but the sucking back isn't nearly such an issue in trot and he's much happier to take the contact, so it was much easier.

By the end of the lesson he was as straight as he's ever been.  He was a little bit more compact through the body and neck than might be ideal, but she will help me using similar techniques to get him longer next time.  So another excellent and fascinating session that both Xaile and I enjoyed.

Tuesday 2nd June Trot Halt Trot

Just a short session today as I had to ride in the middle of the day so it was terribly hot, and though Xaile seems to be relishing the weather I find about 1/2 hours work in it just about finishes me off.

I asked Edward about my concerns with Xaile's halt transitions and he suggested that I try trot halt trot transitions as the extra impulsion would help.  Well he was spot on, we did a normal trot then collected a bit for a few strides then halt.  They were still wobbly and hollow for the first few.  We had a little argument about his desire to do half pass instead of halt but having got the message through they got better and better.  Bizarrely they were much better (actually genuinely quite good) on one side of the school and still with a desire to half pass on the other side of the school even if I didn't actually let him do it.  I found that if I asked for a flexion to the inside before asking for the halt then he was less inclined to wobble.  The upwards transitions got so much better by the end, real power from his back and quarters and much less inclination to fling his front end in the air!!  It also improved the quality of the trot which had much more impuslion and was as a result easier to keep straight.

I just love learning about all these things- it never occurred to me that it would be easier from trot- I'd been trying from slower and slower walks- but now I think about it it's so obvious.

Monday 1st June An Evening Hack

It was such a hot day that we left riding till late in the evening.  A friend came over and rode Clover and we went for a beautiful hack.  I took Xaile out in a snaffle for the first time, which I knew might be a bit exciting because I don't think he feels very secure in it, he's certainly very spooky in it, and isn't spooky in the pelham.

The flies were very bad down the bridle path, but it was still very pretty.

We then had a lovely canter, and I was pleased to discover that he was very easy to hold behind Clover even in the snaffle, and thank goodness both of them were very good when lots of rabbits jumped out from underneath their feet.

Looking back at the field we cantered through:

And onwards:

Then we came to a little problem, the grass on our normal path is getting very deep and there is a large tree stump half way down, and a nasty rusty barbed wire fence on one side and a huge ditch on the other side.  Clover decided that there was no way he was going near the scary tree stump, after all it did look very much like a rhinoceros, and shot back past us towards the barbed wire stopping just touching it.  We decided that it wasn't the time or place for and argument so I hopped off and lead Xaile past and Clover (all 16.3hh Irish hunter of him) followed quivering!!  Anyway I haven't got a small enough girth so the saddle is a little too loose to get on from the ground so I thought I'd find a nice gate to get on off.  That was a little optimistic- I simply couldn't find one!!! Eventually we came to another yard where a kind woman held the other stirrup for me to get on.

We then trotted up some hills with Xaile using his back beautifully and came to this lovely view to the Ridgeway, we had planned to go up there today, but it was getting a bit late so we decided to leave it for another day.

We had another little canter, very collected this time as the ground was a little uneven and I was so pleased that I kept Xaile very slow and steady while still on a loose rein, what a good boy.  We then had to stop to sniff the roses:

Back through the galloping field but at walk:

When we got home I quickly took Xaile into the school as my friend hasn't seen him work and she very kindly took some photos:  (VERY unflattering top, but I'm trying to get rid of a ghastly tan line I developed last week!!)

We also had fun pretending that she was a bull:

And she wanted to see Spanish walk so for the first time I attempted a little jambette from on board without outside assistance:  (I was very impressed that she managed to capture these as my little camera has a very irritating shutter lag so timing is very difficult)

I do so love my little horse:

Sunday 31st May Play time!!!!!!!!!!!

Wohooooo!!!!!!!!

We had friends staying who very kindly came to meet Xaile so I put on his Portuguese tack to show them how wonderful he is and he didn't let me down.

All that boring work we've been doing is beginning to pay off.  I've not ridden in the Portuguese stuff since Winsdor and the change was amazing.  He felt so strong and powerful.  He loves playing around and pretending there are bulls and so do I.  We had some fantastic walk to canter transitions and then canter 10m circles and figures of 8.  He then did the most amazingly powerful (and beautifully 2 time) rein back to canter.  And the best bit was that I managed to ride him one handed for the first time.  In the past I haven't been able to steer him one handed but we managed a canter figure of 8 with a lovely change. I grinned all the way home, and when I left him he was grinning too. 

I enjoy all the basic schooling we've been doing, but I know he finds it a bit dull and so it was lovely to be able to play like this and great that all the basic stuff we've been doing is having such a tangible effect.