Amateur Equestrian Antics
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Welcome to Amateur Equestrian Antics

I set up this blog up back in 2014 to share stories of my equestrian trials and tribulations. I had just started to event for the first time ever after a 10 year break from horses and wanted to document my journey for friends and family. 

​In that time I have achieved so much but still have so much further to go. 

I have been supported and sponsored by some fantastic friends, trainers and businesses in this time and I have a new dedicated section of the site to tell you more about them all. 

Find out more

Training with Nicola Wilson

31/1/2015

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Friday night was spent at the lovely Rockrose Equestrian – they are building at an incredible rate and there is something new each time we visit. This visit was without Corky for a change, we were attending the Nicola Wilson demo which was wonderful. Nicola brought three horses (two advanced and one about to step up to novice). She covered each phase with a different horse but took the same approach in each – breaking it into three phases – warm up, work and warm down. I have started to do this in my own schooling. The dressage was beautiful to watch and I was surprised about how much leg she was using to encourage her horse to work actively from behind – something I am lacking in. The XC phase with the younger horse was also interesting as she had some similar issue to mine – her horse (Tommy) was very keen and locked onto any jump he saw. He also rushed into the jumps when he got more excited. Nicola said it was all about controlling the rhythm, keeping it even and not fighting. The whole demo left me feeling very inspired so I ended up taking a last minute slot in one of her lessons the next morning where she put us through our paces.

The lesson was very useful – she commented on our contact issues and said they were easily dealt with by using far more inside leg to push him into the outside contact from behind. She also suggested more leg yield, shoulder in and flexing his head to the outside, then straight and then inside to loosen up the neck. These are all things we have started to introduce via Aimee so I know we are on the right track. For out jumping she said, like her younger horse at the demo, to concentrate on keeping the rhythm the same, not to chase and to allow for an extra stride before the jump. She said to sit up more towards the jump to slow the pace rather than using the rein which causes a fight. We had our session recorded using the fantastic video facilities at Rockrose which worked via sensor in a wristband we each wore. I’ll upload the footage when I get it.

Feeling very prepared, we then headed off to the BS amateur show at SNEC to put everything into practice. It turns out that sitting up isn’t quite enough to slow C down within a competition environment so we had two poles in our 85 class. The second half of the round felt more relaxed though so that’s a positive. Our 95 round started well, nice and relaxed but then rider error occurred – I missed a jump out so that was that! Maybe I tried to do too much in one weekend. C didn’t know though and seemed pleased with himself – especially after being rewarded with some mints in the lorry.
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Making progress

11/1/2015

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Dressage this weekend for Corky - two prelims at Blueridge. We had our dressage lesson on Monday night and schooled Wed and Fri practicing lots of transitions and me using both legs in canter to keep the straightness!

Our warm up went well but I choked a bit when I went into the ring as the judge also happened to be our instructor Karen! I definitely felt the pressure and didn't ride as confidently as I could have. I relaxed as the test went on thankfully and ended up coming joint 4th with a great score. After a quick pep talk about riding more positively from the start of the test we headed in for our second test (different judge). I was really pleased with the test as Corky was much rounder and not against my hands but what was missing was a bit of forward energy! I chickened out of putting on more leg as he was behaving so well I didn't want to spoil it! I was still pleased with a 60.6% leaving us 7th so just out of the frillies but in a field on 30 combinations I wasn't complaining! 

I've ordered a few jpegs from Sinclair Photography so will pop them on when they arrive.

Lucas and I were back to Luffness for more schooling today - no refusals in sight and more importantly, I didn't conduct any more ground inspections this week managing to stay on-board! We concentrated on the the canter rhythm over small courses which helped build our confidence. Feeling brave after a successful session I have entered a BS club show next Sunday @ Rockrose. Only 60 and 70cms but as it's been two years since our last jumping competition it feels like starting super small is the best thing to do just now. Fingers crossed for no ground inspections in front of an audience!
Picture
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First comp of 2015 - a game of two halves!

11/1/2015

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We decided to battle through the horrific winds and sleet to attend out first competition of 2015. It was unaffiliated dressage at a new local venue called Rockrose Equestrian. It was a 45 min drive and we arrived to find a wonderful new indoor school. Just what was called for on such a horrible day. As C hasn’t been out much in the last few months he was a bit spooky which is unusual but he warmed up well once he got use to his new surroundings.

I had decided to ride 2 prelims (1 and 4) as our canter work had been improving at home. Our transitions still need lots of work but once we are in canter, it’s now more even and I don’t have to deal with C’s blaze in my face!

The warm up was at one end of the indoor school with the arena marked out at the other. Things went well in our first test – a little spooky at the judges and photographer but I was generally happy. Our score was 62.11% which is generally standard for us just now.

I therefore had high hopes for the second test, thinking he would be more relaxed and less spooky second time round. How wrong could I be!

He warmed up super, nice and relaxed and moving forward well (we struggle at times with lack of activity in our trot). Unfortunately another competitor started to lunge their horse next to the arena which set him off. I’m not sure why but it really upset him. The trot was very backwards, loss of contact and things only got worse when we got into the canter section. I decided to just bring him back to trot, lots of pats to try to settle him. Needless to say we received our worse mark to date. I’m going to draw a line under it though as he was not really misbehaving, he was upset. I know he should not get spooked so easily but as it was so out of character I’m not going to worry about it.

Positive of the day where we have a lovely new local venue with a lovely indoor school and super friendly and helpful owners/staff. I was pleased with our first test and although our second was a disaster – the judge did say C was an attractive horse :-)

We also met a lovely photographer called Jim Hunter who took some nice shots of us which I have added below.

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    Louise Doherty

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