Unfortunately jack pulled a shoe off at the start of the week so we have been limited to light schooling…… boring! We will be back to training next week!

 

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

 

 

Wow i cant begin to express how much jack and i have both improved thanks to Janes training.

the flat work is becoming smaller and more compressed which is in turn helping the jumping to become more controlled which is also helping with my confidence. Having trialled out a couple of bits on him i think we have finally found the one for him. Hopefully we will know for sure in a few more training sessions time. We have spent a lot of time on the flat work using poles to help keep him calm and to adjust the canter before and after the pole. Using the poles also helps to find the right moments in the approach and after the pole where i can just check him and adjust the canter without affecting the pole and eventually the jump.

Being part of the academy we are also fortunate enough to get training with a BE accredited coach Micheal Pavely. This was an opportunity i missed out on last year having Dragon with me who is a dressage horse. His teaching really makes you think as a rider how can i influence my horse and pushes your boundaries without the horse being pushed. Like training with Jane we focused on pole work and adjusting the strides between the poles making them either add an extra stride or take away a stride. This was invaluable for jack as he needs to become more adjustable in his canter whilst staying rhythmical and balanced.

Another amazing benefit of being part of the academy is all the support we get from other para-professionals. We where all lucky enough to get a free feed consultation from Briony who is a lecturer at Writtle and nutrition expert! She came and spoke to us all about feeding performance horses and how we can help ensure they are getting a balanced diet and enough energy from their feed to support what we ask them to do. She then came round and spoke to us all individually about our own feeding regimes. She was pleased with Jacks diet but still had a few recommendations to help improve it which i am slowly working in over the course of the next few weeks.

Furthermore, Jack was also seen by Claire who gave him a Chiropractic adjustment treatment on his pelvis and shoulders and the difference it has made was unbelievable. He feels so much lighter in his frame which in the long run will hopefully help the frame to shorten with more training.

I feel so lucky to be allowed to use all the facilities and help we get given as part of the academy package!

I look forward to the rest of the year

Jack and i have both settled in well to uni life. I look forward to start getting into a regular training programme with Jane and start identifying the areas we need to work on.

Having filled out some self evaluation forms for Jane to help identify the areas we need to work on, i concluded that overall jack and i both need to work on our anxiety when it comes to showjumping. He tends to get very stressed and uses speed and power to rush his fences. I have always struggled with nerves the most in showjumping and had lost a bit of confidence last winter when we both took a break from jumping. Whilst my confidence is growing there is still a long way to go.

I also identified that jack needs to become much shorter in his frame when exercising. If we can find some ways of encouraging him to shorten his frame in the flat work it will help improve his jumping as well!

Wow what a crazy summer it has been. The horses have certainly kept me on my toes with a busy competition season with Jack and doing Dragons rehabilitation plan as well as trying to produce my young horse PZ ready to enter the big wide world of dressage!

All of the horses have been amazing all summer and i can’t wait to get back into training with Jane in a few weeks. This year i will be bringing Jack back with me and i would like to focus on getting our confidence up in the showjumping arena again.

Jack is not the easiest of horses and it has taken a long time to understand how his brain works. He often overrides his rational thoughts with moments of fear and panic and get a ‘bee in his bonnet’ so its been a long journey to get where we are now.

Jack has now finished his event season on a high coming 9th at Goring Heath Horse Trails so were ready to get working hard again to start placing again next year!

We look forward to returning to uni soon

 

After a busy year at uni it was great to get some of my horses at home back out and competing. Jack (Dreamland C) is a 11 year old KWPN who we bought as a project horse for me and my dad to produce on. Jack had previously show jumped at a 5 year old but hadn’t done much until we got him. We have had jack 2 years now and things are finally starting to click with his eventing. Jack and I did our first ODE the other year in over a year since he through a splint and i couldn’t have be more proud of him! We got out best dressage mark to date and there was still plenty more to come, a few issues showjumping where both of our rustyness showed which led to 2 stops but no poles down and then he flew round the cross country clear inside the time! Without the show jump issues we would have placed 4th.

We have come away to spend the rest of the month doing some showjumping and continue cross country schooling in preparation for our next event at the beginning of July.

Here are a few images from his cross country schooling last week

Wow where do i begin to start?! The equine academy has become my family and home for the past year and what an amazing experience it has been. It has taken to while to settle back in at home after an incredible year training hard to achieve the goals i set myself at the start of the year. None of this could be achieved without the hard work of our extremely supportive coach Jane! I’m very excited to see what the future has in store for us.

Whilst my revision is slowly increasing Dragon is still on his rehabilitation programme of controlled hand walking. At the point in time i need to make sure that i keep the balance between doing work and spending time with the horses, this requires strict discipline and self control to not spend all my time at the horses! I have decided to send Dragon home a week early whilst i am sitting my exams so i do not need to worry about time constraints and carrying out his rehab.

I can’t believe the year is nearly over already! The training we have received from the academy have provided me with the basic groundwork we need for the summer ahead. Once these exams are over we can get on with the busy summer that is planned ahead!!

Unfortunately Dragon has strained his Check Ligament and is needing some time off! He will be on walking work for 4 weeks then we can slowly add trot 5 minutes at a time for another 4/5 weeks where we can then start to introduce canter work. This is a very annoying set back but whilst he is recovering i will be making the most of the facilitates available at Writtle to kick start his rehabilitation before going home for summer in 3 weeks.

Time has flown by this year on the academy and i am so grateful for all the opportunities that have been given to me. I am looking forward to getting back to training with Jane to see what other goals we could achieve!

Firstly i would like to thank Jane and the academy with all her help with running through my tests with me and helping to perfect the movements from marker to marker!! After a nice early start our trip down to Hartpury begun, however, it did not go to plan as our lorry broke down 10 minutes into the journey, but i was in luck and a friend offered to take us. This set back didn’t leave much time on the other side and after finding out my arena it was time to tack up and get on. Dragon warmed up beautifully and we where ready to go in! The atmosphere was amazing! and i felt honoured to be able to compete there! I was so happy with how Dragon went however a mistake dropped our mark down. The aim for the day was to just go and have fun whatever the result and we definitely did that!! I cant wait to get him out again and aim to return next year!