So this week has seen me finally crack what canter lead I'm on on landing, pass my LGV theory test and Corky manage his first flying change!
Canter leads - so after riding for almost 30 years I have finally cracked it. It was quite embarrassing to admit I have no idea what canter lead I'm on while jumping half the time (if not more!). I brought it up with David at my show jumping lesson this week, he had me cantering round with my eyes shut to make sure I could 'feel' what leg I was on - which I could thankfully. He then had me jumping a small jump, closing my eyes on landing and the turning right or left depending on what leg I felt I was on. I would say I got it 80% of the time. It wasn't helped by Corky always wanting to turn right no matter what leg he was on! David then hopped on to see what he thought - straight away he said it was really easy to feel which leg he was on, but if I still needed a little help, just to look at the two buckles of the breastplate and see which one was further forward. Then just to make me feel even worse, he cantered over the school, asked and got a flying change. Kerry and I spent Saturday teaching changes to Corky but could only get him to do it over a pole. Turns out you just need to ask him correctly and he knows how to do it! We ended the lesson jumping some sizable jumps (for me), all over a meter. David said it was the best be had seen us jump but that we needed to make sure we came for regular lessons as I needed the practice!
At the weekend we went along to the unaffiliated jumping at Rockrose to practice our canter leads. I decided to drop down a class so I could concentrate on the lead leg and not the jump height. It was good fun jumping a smaller course and lead legs were better but still not 100%. Lots of work still to do.
We are off to the BE at Kirriemuir next weekend so are heading over to Luffness for a lesson with Aimee to put Corky through his paces. I have just had my jump saddle flaired which is taking Corky a little getting use to so I'm hoping he will have settled down after our lesson.
Not any photos but do have a wee video of the class on Sunday.
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