Days Off before the show!

~ Wednesday the 29th ~
Had dressage practice at the Pony Club.  We was going quite well, but we didn't really do all that much at thr practice.

~ Tuesday the 28th ~
Worked on trot to canter transitions - getting better!

~ Monday the 27th ~
He went very well!  His 5m loops are great, got his half circle to half circle (opposite bend) up to standard and then worked on his lengthening which he is starting to get!  We still need quite a bit of work on our trot to canter transitions so I think we will mainly focus on that tomorrow.

~ Sunday the 26th ~
Had dressage practice at the Pony Club.  He was going well, we did canter work - 20m circles, across the diagonal and 15m half circle then back to track.

~ Saturday the 25th ~
Had dressage tryouts at the pony club.  We got in to team 2!  He wasn't behaving that well, he reared once!  It was because Titch was there (who is in-foal to him!)  The dressage tests are Preliminary 1:5 and Novice 2:1.  We had practice that afternoon - 10m trot circles then lengthening the stride (we didn't really get it).  We have practice again tomorrow where I think we'll be practicing serpentines and half 15m canter half circle then back to track (counter canter).

Gave him some time off.

~ Sunday the 19th ~
Decided to go down to the beach.  Was going quite well, tried to pig-jump a couple of times but soon settled down.

~ Saturday the 18th ~
Worked-in well, but was quite sweaty because it was really hot.  Mum videoed me doing some flatwork, and I can't believe how great he looks!  I'm sure we'll do well at the show.  Jumping was horrible!  He was running out/jumping awkwardly, I can't believe this but we didn't make it over the barrels.  Could it be that he was too hot and/or tired?  I'm not sure, but I think we'll take a break from jumping until the next pony club.

~ Friday the 17th ~
Went well, he's let off all his steam, he wasn't pig-jumping or being silly at all.  We practised for the show, what we really need to work on are our transitions.

~ Thursday the 16th ~
He's coming on the bit well, so now he have to build up his neck muscles so he can stay on for longer.  Either tomorrow or Saturday I will get my Mum to video us!  Only 16 days till the Boys and Girls Agricultural Show!

~ Wednesday the 15th ~
Went down the beach.  He is feeling the spring grass!  (It didn't help that he hadn't been ridden for six days.)  He was trying to pig jump (did a couple of times), when we were cantering.  At one time, he was wanting to go sideways, so I asked for canter leg yield, and he was great at it!  I'm not sure if he was crossing or not, as I don't really have that 'feel' yet.

Wet...

~ Wednesday the 8th ~
Was ok in his dressage, was only getting him on the bit around the paddock, no circles or anything.  We then did some jumping.  A 50cm upright, once at trot then at canter to the tyres which we did well, up to the barrels but had been taken away (only two) and ran out a couple of times!  After we had done that we put the 50cm up to 65cm and did that a few times.  First time he knocked it but it stayed up, the second time he got the striding quite wrong (I could tell it was going to be a shocker but I'm not quite seeing the stride yet).  The third time he knocked it down but the fourth time it was perfect!  It was like a different horse, he picked himself up well and jumped in good style.

~ Tuesday the 7th ~
Rode at the beach.  Went for a little canter and jump.

~ Monday the 6th ~
Day Off.

~ Sunday the 5th ~
We started some dressage but then my mum and brother decided to take Titch to the beach, so we went with them.  My brother was being led on Titch but at the beach mum wanted a ride and after a bit my brother wanted to get back on but he couldn't so he rode Red instead!  He is the only other person to ride him.

~ Saturday the 4th ~
Didn't do much as the roung was wet.  Walk, trot and a little bit of canter.  He was going quite well, going on the bit with not much contact.

~ Friday the 3rd ~
Raining!!

~ Thursday the 2nd ~
We did a little bit of dressage, getting Red on the bit.  We don't do much at a time, frequent rests on a long rein.  Did a couple of circles at walk, but the ground was a bit wet so we just trotted and cantered around the fence of the paddock.  We did a little bit of leg yielding at walk.  I put up a 50cm upright and we jumped it twice at trot and once at canter.  Walked down to the beach and did a little bit of trotting.

~ Wednesday the 1st ~
Went down to the beach, did some cantering for a little bit (the tide was mostly in).  Then went for a walk down the road.