On 9/20 my trainer, Liz Morgan, held a clinic I attended. She did beginners dressage and then dressage for jumpers, which I entered. The other riders in the class were significantly below my level, so I didnt get to practice any height, but man did she set up a tough little pattern for me!! She set up a three stride line, only about 2' high, but then put a fence half way up that but about two strides over. I had to jump the first fence and roll back to the off set fence, and roll back to the last fence of the line. Having the offset fence set straight, just like the line, without any sort of angle to help with the roll back was quite difficult! Also doing it in a 3' line was tough too. Basically I went over the first fence and did a circle, which included a jump in it, before heading to the last fence. A roughly 15m circle maybe?? Not very big. We had a tough time at first. It really took some tries to get the pattern down smoothly. The fences were low but the test of the riding and Sophie needing to work under herself was hard. I was letting my leg and hand slip and it was only because my horse is nice that we made it over the fence some of the tries! She turned well but its very hard for her to work in that tight a space. After she worked off some of her steam (man was she flooring it that day!) and we were able to go in a calmer manner I was able to slow my thinking and really get myself prepared and we had several beautiful rounds through the fences. This is a course that we will definitely be practicing in the future! After that tough set we did a simple 4 stride line of two skinnies ending on a 3' skinny coop. She did it so nicely and didnt even have to really use herself at all over that fence! We will be throwing in height in our upcoming rides and some low, yet difficult, mixes all into the same course. We will become more versatile! As of now the plan is Elysian Hills trials in mid October and then Penmerryl to finish in November at hopefully Novice level. Ill see how much control I have at Elysian before I make the move up.
I did wtc with Leo the other day. His canter was awkward, he is growing, but he was so relaxed! We havent cantered since Spring and he really doesnt get worked often at all. Im so impressed with how relaxed he was. We even went over our first "jump" too. It was a little cross rail, about a foot high, and he went up and really rocked back and got his front end up. He fell apart of landing and had no momentum at all, but at least he went up and rocked back to it. Better than how Sophie started! lol. I really need to focus on him some more and get him going. He should be going to shows next ye