We had some fun today. Another 54% score, but actually a big improvment from last time. He is suddenly going right into his corners. I put that down to not having any trouble with his hocks, as it is a very sudden change. Likewise, perhaps for the same reason, today he could hold a collected canter which was really slow and very supple. We only had one 7 this time, which means that overall the test was more consistent and I was pleased. He tried very hard and found the heat sapping, so he did not have quite the energy of last time.
The 7 was for the movement that he finds hardest, so I had been practising it, but he did it far better in the ring than he has done in any practice or in the warm-up. It is a collected canter 10m half circle right to x, simple change over x to 10m half circle left. It's a very tough movement and he did it beautifully.
I keep wondering if we should do elementary and get higher scores and some more points, but there are two problems with that
- we both like mediums better
- there is no point doing elementary unless we try for points. That means we need to practice them all week. But we want to practice medium stuff during the week, not elementary. So it would mess up the stuff we are enjoying doing at home.
I think I'll stick with low scores at medium. Sooner or later we'll crack 60% and get some points.
Ace was a BAAAAD boy today. He was bucking in walk. I got off, took off the saddle and found a tiny piece of something on the wool of the numnah. He was better after that but still kicked out in trot. About the third time he did it he hit a stone wall and dislodged two coping stones and was unsound for several strides. That taught him a big lesson and he never kicked out again.
If he was another horse I would wallop him and get after him, but it just does not feel right to do that with Ace. He was naughty, even allowing for whatever was on the numnah, but I think from his nature that getting cross would only make him nervy and upset. I deal with it by mostly ignoring it, and sending him on to make him keep working. He finished on some good trot, a lot of really nice canter, and some very good walk shoulder-in, so I think I made the right decision.
Let's see how he behaves tomorrow in his lesson!
I wouldn't consider 54 a bad score when still fairly new to med...in fact I would say that considering you have worked this boy from scratch and the 'issues' ;-) you have had to work through...its a bloody good score.
ReplyDeleteI think both you and Jazz are better off doing the more difficult exercises in competition than boring yourselves with the easier work. He needs the mental challenge, and you need to entertain yourself. As long as points don't matter, stick with the stuff that's fun. A 54% is really not that bad. "Adequate...."
ReplyDeleteBad Ace. I'll be interested to hear what happens in the lesson. He is certainly not afraid to express his opinion.