Neo pics

Also took Neo down to the arena, ended up just doing a short ride on him to do some combinations. We've still got a bit of work to do there and will be heading back to do some sessions with placement poles. He's been so obliging though - happy to pop over anything I put in front of him and give it his best shot.

Neo warmup fence, and big barrels:

I still need to work on getting him to stretch and bascule over the fences more, but he's certainly not leaping forwards and making a 'triangle' towards the sky over them like he first did. He's starting to be more aware of himself and using himself a bit more (and also jumping very confidently out of a canter stride now, which has been a really big thing for us!).

Tussock jumping

Took little Tussock the kai down to the arena today to try some showjumps (after popping her over some logs at home earlier in the week). She was really great! Her flatwork is improving and she's listening a lot more - after being a little confused by the crossbars she got into the swing of it and I think she was really enjoying it.

Approaching the first, and getting the hang of these crossrails:

Then we did some work on combinations, which didn't bother her in the slightest -so after that it was off to try some of the 'big kids' jumps with fillers. She was a bit more wary of these, but again just took some time to get her head around the idea and then was sweet. A pretty good effort for her second time jumping. Really stoked with how she's coming along.

Barrells and picket fence:

It will be really great to see Tussock in a few weeks when she's jumping with the young girl who rides her! (instead of me squishing her!).

Tussock the Kaimanawa

Last night a friend dropped her Kaimanawa pony (all 13hh of her) around at my place for a few weeks to get some jumping education. Had my first ride on her today and she was quite good. The boys are in love with her too (they were missing having a mare around).

Getting ready to go:


Getting to know each other:


We did some water crossings and jumped a few logs and things - no big issues yet!

Shopping

Scuba just wants everyone to know he got a nice new bridle.

Silvi sold

Well, Silvi has sold. I'm going to miss her so much! She was always the horse that got the short end of the stick (short warmup, or no warmup!) when I was riding a few as I knew she could handle it. And she always came through to look after me as well. But she's found a wonderful new home with a girl called Kate. Kate just adores Silvi, and they are a neat team together.

Silvi had her vet check in Otaki yesterday, and then on to the Majestic depot to begin her journey to Kate. I can't wait to hear how they're doing together - as for a trial Kate came down and rode at the Battle Hill XC practise day and jumped half of the Open course!

I've added Silvi to the 'sold' page now... so it must be time to find another mare to keep my paddock of boys under control!

Neo at BH

This was Neo's first outing in the truck where he hasn't been out jumping. I thought it would be good for him to just do something chilled out. He had a good look around when we arrived, but was quite settled and certainly didn't seem to mind just doing flatwork for the day.

Neo's trot work is getting much better - he's getting softer in the mouth and through the neck. He's also improving at moving off my leg. I'm really happy with the way his trots are progressing:

Canters are still taking some effort, with a bit of a run into most transitions. But I'm now able to 'sit' to the canters more (where previously any weight on his back and he'd immediately transition back to a trot). So I think he's building up the muscle and confidence to do what is being asked of him... just a bit more time before it's all perfect:

From where I was riding you can see the top of the farm that joins my place. Right at the top of the hills in the distance (in the first pic below, and please excuse Neo's messy bum) is as far as I can get from my place without opening any gates. One day I will organise myself and find out how to ride from my place all the way to Battle Hill - should be quite an enjoyable wee trek for the horses.

Scoobs at BH

Took the little boys down to Battle Hill today, as Dan is a bit footsore (no shoes on the poor boy) so it wasn't worthwhile heading up to Solway for the dressage day. So I thought I'd take them to Battle Hill and do some flatwork just for an outing anyway.

Still working on settling Scuba on the flat, trying to encourage him to stretch. A long way to go - but we are starting to make some progress - he's relaxing more through his back and neck. The first trot picture is from early in our ride, and the second one is after a good warmup:

Scoob's canter is still really fantastic for a young horse - he's so balanced and does nice tidy transitions. Canter pics:

We didn't do a long ride, just enough for him to have an outing and do some work. He doesn't seem worried at all about travelling or being in new places. He also stood perfectly by the truck while I was out on Neo. Now have to sort out when Scuba's first show will be (seems like it's forever being postponed!). Last few pics:

Scuba learns to jump

So Scuba came along to the arena today too, to introduce him to jumps! He travelled really well, and didn't freak out at the donkey (yay). He was most interested in everything around the outsides of the arena while we were warming up, but as soon as we got on task he was really great - he didn't even seem to notice any of the filler.

I started him with the little baby crossbars. He was happy to go over, but trotted over the first bunch of times till he started to work out where front & back legs should go. After that there was no looking back. Pics of warming up, and his first ever jump:

Once he was happy jumping he seemed to just sort a lot out by himself in his head. He was cantering to the fences nice and balanced without changing pace at all, and not fretting if we didn't meet a fence perfectly - he still popped over happily. He did drums and flowers and all sorts of fill that I could find to try and scare him with. He's lovely and tidy with his knees naturally - I think he'll enjoy some little showhunter classes:

He actually did quite a lot of work - but seemed to enjoy himself and certainly learns very quickly. Will now plan to do some hillwork on him and get his fitness up and get him out to a few shows.

Gray's road arena

Took Dan & Scuba out to the arena at Grays road today to do some jumping. Dan hasn't jumped since Battle Hill ODE (which was his first time seeing coloured poles), so I just wanted to pop him over a few little things and see if his improved balance on the flat is making much impact on his jumping yet.

I started him with some crossbars (I don't think he even saw the first little one! look at the pic - he towers over it haha):

He felt like he was much more confident in his striding than before, but certainly wants some shoes on before playing too much more. I was really pleased that his improved canter and generally being lighter in front had carried through to the jumping (made it easy to guide his big tall self between fences).

I popped him over a few barrels and things like that, got a few nice lead changes out of him.

Pretty stoked really. Last time I tried showjumping him we had to trot everything and I think he even walked over a few as he was so confused about the showjumps!

XC practise at BH

Neo headed out to Battle Hill to do some XC schooling on Friday. He's still working on his fitness (so not a naturally fit horse!), so we didn't do heaps - but pottered around a few different types of jumps for him to have a look. Another girl was riding Silvi and he kept calling out to her (can't wait for him to grow out of that habit - even if it is kinda cute).

He went straight into the water, hopped up the staircase, did several skinny fences and generally was just happy to be out there jumping. I was stoked with how well he did - especially the skinny fences as we haven't done any sort of schooling for them. I got back to the truck and Nick & Brad had turned up - so I quickly got them to come nab a few shots (poor Neo, dragged back to the XC again).

Sailing over the training ramp, and hopping up the little bank:


Dropping straight into the water, and over the open fish jump (even while getting unintentionally hooked in the mouth - what a good boy he is to me):


Very pleased with his attitude, and can't wait to get a few more competitions under his belt. Roll on 2008!

Those damn trees

Got rid of some of those damn trees (old vs new):

SuperScuba

So yeah, as below, Dan was an angel - but Scuba was pretty good for a baby horse too. He blew a few times and just wasn't sure of everything going on (including the chopper bike convention that turned up). He was quite interested in everything going on while we trotted about:

However his canters were fantastic! No arguements with transitions and he was really quite relaxed and focused. I was impressed with him:

Then I took him for a walk around to look at the spooky jumps and goats and noisy grass flapping in the wind. He was great though - even walked over the footbridge without protest!:

SuperDan

Took Dan and Scuba over to Battle Hill so they could have a look around somewhere different, and also (mostly) so they could have some flat land to do some work on. Dan loaded well (once I held a handful of food out for him) and travelled like an angel.

Dan has had about 6 weeks down at a friends place eating grass and having a break. I got him back earlier in the week and today was his second ride since coming back. I was absolutely wrapped with him! He was so much stronger and more balanced, and even good when some kids on ponies hooned past bareback (that's what he's staring at in the pic below):

His canter work was like riding a different horse, much more balanced. I mean, it wasn't perfect - but it was about 20 steps in the right direction. He wasn't dragging me around on the forehand and his transitions were really clean too:

Overall I'm just so pleased with him. He seems to be enjoying the work too:

I'm really looking forward to taking him to some competitions now!!