Eric Smiley, Dressage and Good Bye Aragon

The last week has been hectic as the horses' work is stepped up in preparation for eventing season which is now only weeks away. Firstly Fling and Millie did a show jumping clinic with Eric Smiley last Thursday. I love Eric's simple, but effective teaching style which focuses on the premis that it is the rider's job to present the horse to the fence correctly; ie straight with a good canter between leg and hand and it it the horse's job to jump the fence. In particular his idea that the rider should have a constant comverstion with the horses at all times helped me get my leg on Fling who is quite fiery to jump. I actually rode her in a hackamore as the dentist had found her lower bars slightly sore a few days before. Although she was a little strong and opinionated during the pole work she did settle when the jumps went a little higher and ended up jumpinmg a few fences with no fighting at all and waiting for the fence with my leg on and so I was very pleased. Millie behaved impeccably in her lesson although the fences stayed quite small. I concentrated  in keeping constantly in front of the leg, but not running on her fore hand and also in getting the right leg on landing.

This was followed by unaffiliated dressage on Saturday where I had Archie, Fling and Millie entered. I started on Archie going early as he can be rather difficult warming up with other horses by spooking and bucking if anyone dares to approach him! A quick warm up with only a couple of horses and straight in, he did an accurate and obedient test with only one tense moment when he slightly spooked at a horse walking up the track alongside the arena. To be critical he didn't quite have enough connection form my leg and was a little stiff to the left, but I was pleased for a first attempt of the year which in the past has incorporated airs above the ground! Nevertheless I was surprised to find we won the class on 69%, let just hope we can repeat this at the events on grass when it is all much more exciting.

Next was Fling. When I entered the warm up it was quiet and I was amazed she felt relaxed, soft and obedient. Unfortunately as the warm up got busier,she got very worried about horses coming too close and I had to abandon any work. The wind was bitter as we waited for our turn and it was a very cold horse and rider that finally went in to do their test. As soon as she spied the white boards the penny dropped that this was a competition and I literally felt her heart beat increase! With this her back and quarters tensed up and she lost the softness and straightness I had earlier. On the plus side we got through the test without any major mistakes for a score of 63.5%, but there is potentila for much more if I can keep her relaxed. She is a very athletic horse capable of lovely work, but the challenge is going to be to get her brain on side.

Fling just before she started her test.

Finally it was Millie's turn and as the arena was running late and I had no intention of getting that cold again waiting I left it a bit late before taking her up. As a result  just had a rather rushed 5 minute warm up and she went in to trot round the boards spooking violently at invisible monsters lurking omn the other side of the fence. She settled to to an accurate and forward test, but just did bear down on her forehand slightly which was a pity as this has been improving so much in out schooling sessions. She scored 65% to finish 5th which both Fiona and I were pleased with. Video of dressage test here

After the dressage finished it was time to say good bye to Aragon as his new owner Pauline Parker came to pick him up. Pauline was the first person to come and view him the weekend before and decided he was the right one straight away. He is such a joy to ride being so genuine and easy going, as well as has incredible potential in both dressage and jumping. I would have loved to have kept him a bit longer and taken him eventing again, but it wasn't to be and I wish Pauline every success with him in the future. I will miss him.

However with 3 new horses in over the next few days there was no time for tears. More on them next time!