XC Clinic, Rosehill, 22nd Nov 2008
Sat, 22 November 2008
Yet again there I was at 6.30am, picking up the horse box from my mums’ home, in the freeeeezing cold, so I could go to a XC lesson! I had four layers of clothing on. One of which was thermals and that didn’t include the body protector. No-one to help me on this outing, my groom had abandoned me. Kelly, my sister, decided that glossing the woodwork in her living and dining room was more fun that assisting me with my fidget of a horse, Toby. As Toby didn’t have his best mate Hector with him, he was reluctant to stay in the box whilst I tried to close the partition. After much pushing and shoving I managed to keep him in!
Tacked up extremely quickly, I think that was due to cold. Liza arrived so we started off with some sensible trot and canter circles on undulating terrain to get us all warmed up! All in a controlled manner at a speed I wish to go at and not Toby’s, i.e. no extended trot uphill nor the same downhill! We all popped over a log a few times with Liza correcting our position – no need to fold so far over a 1ft log! You’d have thought we were jumping 5ft the way we were all folding. Shorten my reins and ride straight after the jump – this should be ingrained in my brain after several lessons. Liza must have the patience of a saint.
Once all warmed up Liza put a line of jumps together for us and straight away we are looking for excuses, oh there are some big puddles in front of those ones! Off we headed downhill in a controlled straight line, few strides away from the fence I decided I didn’t like puddle so jumped at an angle. Slightly down hill jump so remembered to keep shoulders back and head up and heels down. Toby jumped confidently and that gave me a confidence boost. Up the hill, round the clump of trees, over the log and then round the trees again, downhill to the hanging log, another puddle, another angle and he jumped lovely. Toby could now see the rest of the group so thought come on let’s go flat out! Steadied him up, jumped the 3 logs upright and back to group with puffing lungs and rosy cheeks. All good and I enjoyed it. Now it was time for the ditch, walk first, then trot, finally canter. All good over that one too. Sunken road - I like this one. Shoulders back, look up, allow with the reins and Toby gently dropped off the step, couple of short strides and popped up the other step. Turned around and did it in reverse but this time we popped the jump back into the field. Good boy and a big pat on the shoulder plus a few sugar free polo’s. Finally the water complex, walked straight in, through and out, then a bouncy jog. We went away with renewed confidence and yes we can do this! Thank you Liza.