Canter overexcitement

Rode madam in the rain last night and got some awesome work to start with. Am trying to ride a little less politely - not forcefully but just being firm as she is getting a bit rude about pulling. Did leg yield and shoulder fore in walk, practicing halting, had some lovely work. Up into trot and some lovely work there too. Was in a bit of a rush time wise so moved up into canter, got a good transition right rein :clap: and am trying to really sit deep and up so she can't pull me forwards and just hoon.

As soon as we came back to trot we reverted to sideways crab llamaing in trot like a sewing machine :rolleyes: It does remind me how far she has come but it is so frustrating. I just carry on being quiet and riding how I did before the canter transition but she winds herself up so much. It's not as bad on the left rein but we still get it. Need to get through it as we have to canter in tests and it will be rather interesting if we get that after canter :lol:
Ideas? My thought is just to carry on practicing lots of canter and not just doing it at the end so she doesn't anticipate :dunno:

Pony slobber

Went and sat in madam's stable tonight and chilled. I'm sure people think I'm a nutter, but I love doing that. She is so funny, kept putting her nose to mine and then showed her affection by having a big drink and coming and dribbling it down my leg. Niiiiiice

Rode for first time last night, pleased with her. Having to be firm in contact as she is being rude but got some nice work and some smart canter transitions. Clever Flow. Rode in new hat for first time, a Champion Ventair. Very comfy but didn't make a difference to manky hair! Never mind.

Didn't ride tonight, still feel like a bloody space cadet and not quite of this earth. Wondering if I should go to doctor. But what can they say really...? My own fault, perhaps made it worse as got very drunk on Saturday night as we had our friend staying from uni and I was persuaded to go out. Had a great time until I was very ill in the taxi, in Nick's pocket, on Ben's arm, on Ali's dress.....you get the picture :blush:

Ouch

I dropped the fence on my head whilst putting Flow out last night (only I could do this, I am truly a retard) - they are slip rails. It bounced off my head and onto my arm. I was so embarrassed that I didn't think I might have actually hurt myself, even after 15 minutes of being unable to find my keys, having looked in my hat 3 times there they were, in my hat Drove home. Whoops. Got home and Ali kindly took me to hospital. X rayed arm in between random drunk man telling someone they were dead and a poor girl with glass all her arm chatting to us Had head injury leaflet.Felt very weird all night, not sure how I got to work but once there I could not remember my password and burst into tears for no reason so got told I had to go home so auntie picked me up. Been asleep all afternoon, was meant to be out tonight but cancelled.Have regained power of typeage but feeling fuzzy and ouchy. I must have a thin head.

Adore, adore, adore that little horse

Not having the best time atm with one thing and another, and wondered if I should give riding a miss tonight but felt calm after a while at the yard so got on :)
She was fab, no sign of sewing machine so I can only assume it was jumping excitement. We worked on leg yield and shoulder fore in walk, figures of eight and did leg yield in trot and figures of eight, and changing across the long diagonal asking for a bit extra to go into medium. Also worked on halting, trying to get it really from my seat.

She was fabby :clap: a bit heavier in the contact than I would have liked and not as consistent but we are getting there. Had a few "wow" moments - that feeling where they are really in front of your leg but not rushing and you just really have them where you want them and really have a place to sit.

Canter transitions have gone a bit to pot, the canter when we are in it is much, much better but am wondering if because we have been working on getting her less hyperreactive to the leg, maybe I need to ask a bit more strongly? As she is running and then going, which is not like her at all. I did put my stirrups up a hole for canter work in order to try to really be able to feel stable and ask, if that makes any sense :dunno: Fran - any tips, we have a lesson on Saturday but any ideas for practicing before then?

Finished by trotting figure of eights on the buckle with her having a really good stretch :biggrin:
Let her have a treat and roll in the school before going out as she had worked really hard. She looked very contented and she had massively cheered me up :biggrin:

Sewing machine/new hair

Lunged last night and she was a wild pony! Hung onto her whilst skiing in order to not cause chaos! Eventually settled but she is funny.
Rode tonight after a long day at work, there was a tiny crosspole in the middle so popped that twice to start. Am going to have a shameless well done me moment as I find it scary but I'm doing it :clap:

As for the rest, not well done me! I think jumping at the start of a schooling session may be a bad idea, discussed with Ali tonight and we're thinking either pop a crosspole at the end of schooling or do a proper jumping session as just doing it at the beginning meant she was wondering the whole time if we were jumping again and it was like sitting on a pulling like a train sewing machine :rolleyes: Eventually got some semblance of nice work, but lots of wrong lead and galloping round in canter. :scratchchin: I suppose we are bound to have the odd off day.
Oh, I also have new hair :)

[url="http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=293844&id=667500216&ref=nf#/photo.php?pid=2840235&op=1&o=global&view=global&subj=509702600&id=509702600"]Poser[/url]
Absolutely love it :hail: godlike hairdresser. Had a halo of mauve underneath and dark brown/red/black everywhere else. Look like me again! The blonde was different but not very me!

Jumpies

Madam had a well deserved day off yesterday, had a text from topgroom with a pic of her lying down :wub: she was worn out!

She was rather full of herself to turn out last evening, didn't I know she was an IMPORTANT DRESSAGE PONY?! :rolleyes: Bless her. Even important dressage ponies have to stand quietly I'm afraid, which she learned!

Jumpies tonight, did the same as last time, asked Ali to get on first and was really chuffed that she could feel a big difference in her too :banana: she popped a few crosspoles and then..............I had the compulsion to get on. So I did! And did the 2 little crosspoles a few times :banana: with a massive grin on my face. She was so good! She is very keen but does listen. Clever, clever Flow. Ali then got back on and did 2 bigger crosspoles and a little upright really nicely.
:party: So, so chuffed and happy tonight.

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/photo.php?pid=8158530&id=667500216&ref=nf I look like an actual retard here, special. But look how she is looking after me :wub:
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/photo.php?pid=8158518&id=667500216&ref=nf Clever pony
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/photo.php?pid=8158541&id=667500216&ref=nf Our photography skills need work

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=1905960&id=517007459&ref=mf#/video/video.php?v=248694465216&ref=nf Video!

Stressage

Decided to travel madam tacked up (good idea Suzy) in order to minimise battles with tacking up at other end. My brother loaded her as she is such a good girl and she travelled well. Got off the other end with a distinct air of "aha! I know what THIS is about" about her. Massively chilled. Went and got on straight away, warmed up and someone had nicked my pony! She was SO chilled. I even had to use my legs! Was then a bit flummoxed as we had an hour to warm up, it was really hot and she didn't need chilling out. Plus dressage warm up arenas are scary millions of people trying to run you over.

Anyway, got in there and she did a lovely test, only one bit where her neck went solid and she said no way am I bending/stretching/anything but it lasted about 10 seconds if that. She does feel a bit stiffer again on right rein though, will give her tomorrow off and see how she is on Friday.We got an 8 for our FWLR and a 7 for my riding the judge needs glasses! But was overjoyed, everything else was 6's and only one 5 for the tense moment. We had no rearing, I had a calm pony and I am so, so proud of her.

The lady that said well done for getting on last time was there and commented on how much more chilled she was.Got a lovely poiple rosette and 62.17%! Absolutely overjoyed, that's a 7% increase. I had thought to myself that I wanted to try to get 60% so I am really pleased with that. When she is more consistent in the contact she will be even better too, her trot was lovely and steady today and calm which is a big improvement. to my entourage (and it really was an entourage!) - Suzy for taking us and beautifying her, Ali, Kat, Lorna and my brother for being awesome cheerleaders.

Had fish and chips at yard after :)

Schooling and stressage tomorrow

Really pleased again tonight. That rhythm is here to stay, I hope! Her trot is longer and feels more like a horse rather than a sewing machine. We are still fighting with head/neck but I just need to keep asking and be patient - we had some lovely moments but it is just balance and strength.

Canter is also improving so much, it is so much more rideable and controllable. So proud of her too, J and W were galloping round the field next to the school, I panicked and pulled her up and she did her best "bothered" face. Clever Flow :wub:

Ran through test for tomorrow, we are more accurate :clap: Just need to keep getting her out until it becomes usual and not overly exciting. Looking forwards to it :) We are just doing intro B as they'd changed the date so had to ring up today and get in last minute.

New saddle

:banana: New saddle arrived yesterday, she felt a bit tentative in it yesterday but was fab tonight.

Rhythm is SO much better, she was fighting me tonight in the contact, had some nice moments but not as consistent so just need to keep on. She feels bigger in her new saddle, I think because it allows her shoulders to be freer. Left canter was really good, played with tempo, right canter not as good, struggled with transition and got wrong leg twice so really thought about what I was doing and got two nice transitions :clap: Finished with trotting figure of eights with her on the buckle end :clap: then walked round the yard on our own twice and she was super chilled :)

I bought her a likit for outside her stable when she is tied up as she bites everything, and she was very impressed. So impressed that she managed to figure out how to eat it all :rolleyes:
I have realised that I was really stressed last week and she was grumpier than usual. She is really sensitive and I think she picks up on my mood much more than I realised. Am trying to be happy and chilled around her and it seems to rub off on her.

My brother just suggested a money saving tip - after watching a Fran lesson a few weeks ago he feels that all she does is tell me to "walk around a bit" (apparently in an Irish accent?!) so he has said he will charge me half :heehee: He is a comedy genius.

Fantastic lesson

So pleased with my little Flowpony today :wub:

Need to keep practicing and have her rounder than I think I need her as I throw the contact away. But equally if she gets excited about cantering don't grab hold of her.

Did a bit of medium trot at the end.

Happyhappy :) Just bought her a new black bridle to go with her new black saddle, I don't need to eat, right?! :hail: Fran, we are coming on in leaps and bounds due to her teaching.

Intend (not plan) to do 2 walk and trots at Swallowfield on 12th, then walk and trot and prelim 1 at netherwood on 6th September. Squeeeeeeeeeeeeee!