Preperation For Stafford

In final prep for Stafford we started off with some local Hunt dressage (Didnt go quite to plan!) We took mums mare as well as mum was jumping her so he squealed like a girl and didnt settle at all - did some great bits and got some 8's but did also get some 3's and 4's! To top it off he lost a shoe and then managed to loose another the next day waiting for the farrier!!

Shoes back on we did some Xc schooling which was very good - straight in the water and jumped everything very well - he had a look at a few things but there were puddles on all the take off and landings so i think i can let him off!

Then our final lesson the Wednesday before! He was very good but after only jumping a few warm up jumps and one grid lost another shoe! Jumped the grid again and called it a day - lovely farrier came the next morning so schooled him and pack for Stafford!

BSJA

Today was Busters 1st BSJA show at summerhouse! Took him for the clear round 1st and if that went ok we were going to do the British Novice! Well it went ok (2 down and babyish!) so did the BN as we had a free ticket from Horse a few weeks ago. After i had come out of the CR i had said i was going to try and ride more forwards in to the fences as i think thats what let us down at barbury and he jumps better if he take you in to the fence. Went in and rode positively and he was very good. rolled a pole at 3 as it was a simple upright with no fillers just 3 poles and then the last part of the last double - he jumped in so well even though it was a longish distance made up alot of ground so rolled that as well. Im very pleased with how he coped today - he was for the CR a lot more chilled than at Barbury just a little excited before the BN - think he had woken up and realised he was at a show - this was cue me holding on to the neck strap a few times! Any tips on keeping my toes in??

Clear Round

British Novice

Barbury BYEH

Being Busters 1st proper outing today (and only 2nd ever!) i wasnt holding out much hope the only aim was not to come last!!Hes been working well the last few weeks and the dressage and jumping are both showing promise so was quite excited actually!Left home a little late so was a bit rushed when we got there but that was probably the best thing for both of us. Got on with 30mins to warm up (perfect!) and he was rather excited couldnt get him to trot so had to canter for a while to try and settle him! That didnt work too well so gave him a jump and that did the trick! After jumping a few he was very chilled and started to work nicely but looked a bit out of place as all the others looked more like 6/7 YOs!Went and and did a lovely test with 2 added flying changes but over all very sweet and everything in the right places.On to the jumping - he been jumping out of his skin in lessons but think he was a bit shell shock toady and it is only his 2nd round of SJ on grass/ever! He jumped nicely if a little backwards to start having 2 down but then woke up jumped the next 4 lovely, came round to the double had a look and had the 1st part down so over all pleased with how he went but disappointed as i knew we could do a whole lot betterThen conformation - he stood up well but think i stood him up wrong - i stood him up like we do for owners racing so you can see every leg - looking back i should have had him square. Walked well and trotted well so all i could ask of him!Was rather shocked when i went to see the score board - 30/35 for dressage! Overall at the end of the class we had the equal 2nd best mark! But then had 23/40 for jumping and only 7/15 for conformationAll in all a very informative and educational day for both of us so cant wait for Stafford PAVO and then Gatcombe BYEH!!

2nd jump lesson

Well i think we are progressing! His jumping at home is, i think, good so we started off with the grid again and then moved on to jump a few courses in preparation for Barbury. He jumped very well over most thing just starting off uniquely as he does and he was very excited for some reason so very bouncy as well though out - hope that means hes having fun!!

Dressage Diva

Last week was my first dressage lesson in almost a year and it showed!!

Buster was very willing through out the session with Sally Newcombe and by the end was a proper dressage diva!

We started off by trying to stop him flicking his head all the time by me taking a more even contact all of the time. within a few minutes he had stopped doing this so we moved on to trying to get him rounder. Sally suggested i try riding him more forward as he would more likely accept my hand which he did. We did lot of practicing downward transitions as these are his weakest. From canter to trot all i have to do is think trot and he "fall" back in to trot very sweetly and then i have to ride him forward in to that trot as he has a tendency to fall in a heap!!

All in all a very good lesson, Sally likes him so onwards and upwards!!!

Pingy Pony

Well a few weeks ago now i had a great jumping lesson on Buster with Chris - he was just getting it on the flat but is getting better and better over a fence. We sterted off by doing some grids which he was jumping very nicley and quite big by the end then jumped a few different courses and again jumped them alot better and more grown up than i thought he would!!