Rain, rain and more rain

Well its still raining, and so far I don't seem to be able to get to an event. hoping to do the novice regional final this weekend on Bob (Jays Gransun) at Tweseldown but if it keeps raining...its not looking good for the event to run...but maybe it will be sunny over next few days!!

So thinking positively I went jumping today with Robert Stevens...Really nice guy Robert and he has been very helpful as eyes on the ground, as well as Cressy Clague-Reading. Every rider needs eyes on the ground, even more so for jumping I feel, as there is no sheet of feedback in the show jumping arena. Going clear help us know we are doing well, but it does not help us identify how to get even better, or how to know when to move up or where the little details are just keeping us out of the ribbons.

"Jumping canter" is required for successful clear rounds, energy become even more important as the height of the fences goes up. Get a good enough canter and balanced rhythmic approach and your horse can jump anything! the more bounce and if in the canter, the more engaged the horse, the more it will be able to jump from any stride, and if you have rhythm a good stride will be easier to see. the best old fashioned method of counting strides between fences still works as a way to help a rider hear their rhythm and to learn to create a regular stride pattern , that will enable the rider to shorten or lengthen it when required.

So many students ask me, "how do I see a stride?" it is seriously the most commonly asked question in jump lessons, and the answer is always the same, firstly truly seeing a stride is a matter of time and practice, but don't worry too much about it because until you get into the seriously big stuff over 1.20m for eg., as long as your horse is balanced and has a jumping canter and a rhythmic approach he can manage to jump even if he is late or early to jump. Remember also that the horse can really only be half a stride wrong, and as long as he has his hocks under him he can jump well even from a slightly wrong stride.

The top riders seem to always get the stride right, or do they? is it possibly that as their horses are well educated on the flat and well ridden in a good jumping canter that when they get it wrong you hardly notice? Well there is some food for thought.

Now lets see if it rains this weekend after all. ;-)

My Horses pre 2006

Hana and Holly

Hana came to me as a client several years ago, then took a break of a few years from riding but last autumn she finally purchased her own horses, one of which you see here, Holly. Holly is now regrettably for sale as Hana doesn't really have time for her, and Holly likes to do lots of work. Holly is 16hh, 10 years old, tb/wb cross, and has 2 BE horse trials points, 6 clears at novice xc, clean jumper, with nice paces and great to hunt. Holly is currently in Fernhurst, Surrey at livery, where she is open to any trial. Plesase call Lisa on 07786911567 for more information.

Hana and Holly

South of England horse trials

Bob was not quite on his usual form today, he was overly lethargic and needed kicking over every show jump. He was better in the xc but we fell foul of the bogey fence! there was a corner on a hard right hand turn immediately after the water jump, ( a recent addition to the course, they already had one water, this is the second one). I have grown to trust bob with corners since our past issues with them, so when I walked the line, I was not unduly worried about this fence...as usual I should have considered whenever im complacent to double the effort....for when I actually rode through the water and made the right handed turn to the corner, Bob was surprised to see a corner in front of him , i had not given him time to observe what he had to do, and he stopped dead, leaving me sulkily turning him for a second attempt. As it was clearly not Bobs day, he stopped again, very out of character for him, and although I blame myself for the first stop, Bob get the blame for the second, he was being rather resistant to stop again....we made it over on our final attempt, and completed the rest of the course without mishap. Yet again the lesson is never ever think something is easy, always look at all the possibilities and walk the line....I didnt not walk through the water to walk the real line to the corner, thats why it came up faster than I anticipated, so remember alwaya take your wellies and walk through the water, particularly if theres an awkward line to take!!!!

Due to Bobs lethargy at South of England horse trials, we have had him blood tested and his heart and lungs checked out, apart from a little wheeze in his left lung, he was fine, some ventiplulmin was administered, and it is assumed that the problem is due to the high temperatures and dust with pollen so early in the season.

We are going to get Bob superfit now, so that he can combat his lethargy by being full of energy, and we have added more oil to his diet to fuel him!

No events for a month, next outing Mattingley horse trials, near Basingstoke in Hampshire with Bob at Novice, Hera at Intro, and Rosa at Pre novice, should be a fun three days! See you there.

Ridewell Training

Classical Training of Horse and Rider

Learn to ride or have your horse professionally schooled by Lisa Hamilton of Ridewell Training based in Hindhead, Surrey.

Need help schooling your horse?

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