Nervous energy

I think I was still a bundle of post riding nervous energy when I posted last night.

Thing is, Monty was really charging it towards the end as we neared the jumps.....what I would call the the 'oh dear god, don't let him change his mind whatever happens' approach to the jump.

It was only a cross pole, really not too high, and we were taking turns at twice around each.The first time he would be barely into a canter as we rounded the corner, we would have a nice sensible approach and a good jump, landing well. He would be great on the way around keeping a nice steady pace all the until he rounded the corner towards the jump for the second time and then absolutely tear at it, not at all collected, completely in the driving seat.....'hello Monty, outside rein here, can you feel me?'

It all worked out fine seeing as he jumped (and to be fair its not like him to refuse) but the wrong pace of approach is just the sort of thing which tips the balance of probability.

Not the kind of pace you would slide off gently at either.

More half halts on the way around might be worth a try next time, or back into a trot until the corner, maybe......just so long as it doesn't wind the lovely big boy up.

The Lovely Monty, Hazelden

Riding night....jump the stress away.

Like most arty types, I have a 'day job' which involves intermittent bursts of creativity, interspersed with a lot what the rest of us know as an 'office job' writing reports and the like.

"When I grow up, I'd like to work in an office Mummy" I harped as a child...no of course I didn't, I said "I want to work in a stables" and "I want to be an artist"

Anyway, life is all about getting the balance right, so a Thursday night riding lesson is the perfect ante dote to the working weeks stresses, as lucky old me, I don't work on a Friday.

I few rounds of jumping on the speedy Monty and there is not a chance that there is even the faintest hint of work related thoughts drifting around in your head, the adrenaline instantly neutralises them.

Hooray for Thursday night riding lessons!

Jumping today

Today was a riding day, as I nicked up to the stables for a half hour private lesson, and had a small course set up in the school to work on jumping.

I coped with the 3 jump sequence so my instructor suggested I up it to 7 and to choose in advance which order and direction to the jumps in. Complete pandemonium ensued as I had not the faintest clue what I had decided on...it is amazing how quickly your horse can sense uncertainty in your seat and we had a good lurching moment where my Pablo, sensing hesitation said "well if you cant make up your mind, I will"

Finished exhausted and had great fun, though, I just with I was 20 years younger, was utterly fearless and had a reasonable working short term memory! I might be getting a bit long in the tooth to master jumping courses to a good standard, but wont stop me trying. I just need lots more practise.

Oh, and perhaps a new memory....if anyone knows where I can get one of them