The Daffy Diaries

We did three dressage tests yesterday - Intro A, P1 and P10.

Daffy was significantly easier to ride this week, although still needs an awful lot of work to get him up off his forehand and balanced before we can start introducing the level of impulsion that the judges are asking for. I'd managed to get out on the lane weds/thurs and just did lots of transitions, and again in the warmup yesterday to get him more off the leg. I've now ditched the spurs as Daffy seems to be completely over his napping, touch wood.

We did well in the walk and trot, getting 62% and coming third, then we were consistant in the prelims getting 53% in each and "special" rosettes.

The best part - we had some nice canter! In the third warmup (I only did 5 mins between tests to work on our canter on the rubber surface, Daffy spent the rest of the time grazing) he was more forward than the others, and we managed a few reasonably balanced strides on each rein.

I though that the tests got progressively better, although the results don't reflect that so much, but we managed a circle on the right rein in P1 and all the canter (two long sides, two circles and across two diagonals) in P10, if it was a little rushed. We got 5's for our canter in P10 - better than before!

Nothing on now until March when we might get over to Manor Grange and we're on the list for team dressage on the 22nd. Despite the fact that his work has been really limited lately he still seems to be improving (particularly out hacking, he regularly works through his back now of his own accord) so I can't wait to crack on when the school is finished.

Just to add in - we got 52.91% (why can't they just round up?!) in P14 last week - nothing if not consistant! A word of advice too - if you use an A4 envelope but only put a small stamp on, you'll get caught for £1 on top of the 6p short because you didn't use a large stamp.

We had a naughty hack on Saturday, during which I experienced brake failure in all three paces, a gallop from the pony which doesn't gallop, a "whoooppeeee!!!" buck and canter leg yield - nothing wrong with that pony! Ignoring the fact that I hate it when he tanks off in canter (we were at the back of the ride, behind a young & green freisian - I did not want to crash!), he felt the best he has felt in a long time, right from the start of the ride. Really striding out and happy to be there. We led the ride for most of it, we were out for about an hour and a quarter.

Things to work on - standing for mounting from the ground and manners in company - he's fine with both on his own, but we have this gymkana coming up.

It made me worry a bit about our dressage yesterday - was it going to be like the show in November where he was completely out of control?

Actually, although he tried to tank off with me a few times, he was pretty much dead to the leg - nothing to worry about there!

I went with 3 aims;
1. Stay inside the arena
2. Complete both tests without a memory failure
3. Get over 50% in both tests

Well we met 1 & 2, and got 55% in P10, don't know on P14 yet.

Comments were generally that he needs to move more off the leg (agreed), we got 4's and a 5 for our canter - we got some (hurrah!) but he couldn't maintain it long, and I didn't push the issue. We had a few bits of nice work too. I came out feeling absolutely knackered - it'll be transitions, transitions, transitions when the school is done.

I felt P14 went better, it certainly rode better. Got a much better trot in parts, same issue with the canter, but he maintained it for slightly longer on the circles. I'm hoping the comments reflect all that!

We're riding P10 again next weekend, at a different venue, but hoping we can go back to Manor Grange at some point, it was lovely and calm, until Daffy didn't want to come home and towed OH across the field!

I hate this weather!!!

Ok, Daffy really feels well when it's cold and not so damp, but how are you supposed to do anything with all the snow/ice? We're so lucky to be on a yard where he can go out everyday - at least I know he's getting a leg stretch. I find myself completely dependent on the school now - we spent two years without a school to speak of, just hacking at weekends. I suppose the difference is that the regular little bits of work weren't quite so important then.

I managed to get a couple of photos on Saturday, think he's looking well!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v315/Daffydilly/DSCF1864.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v315/Daffydilly/DSCF1867.jpg

Spent half of yesterday up at Bishop Burton with the SJ team - the new arena is stunning! I'm 99% decided that we'll be going to camp there in summer (all the usual caveats - money, transport and soundness!), can't wait to ride in it!

In the mean time we've entered P10 and P14 on the 15th - that is going to be interesting! If I can get to the yard tonight I need to try and get his mane sort of clean, it feels really greasy, then plait it onto the right side.