Our lesson today! Flatwork and Jumping (grid work)

[beks the artist]

Hello,


Got there a little late, had farrier this morning, bad weather when loading and me just being stupid and forgetting the time!

Anyway, it was in an indoor school not too far away from us. Apologises about the awful photos!!

Got in, joint lesson with three others. Taran started off really well. Working nicely off the leg, responsive, listening to my aids in walk and trot with some nice transitions.



We moved onto some grid work, trotting poles, excellent but as they were turned into 'x' poles he reverted back to 'backing off the leg' and not cantering when asked?!



My instructor said that he seems very green and thought he was a 4/5 year old! Well I supose mentally he is -for those of you who do not know Taran is 15 but spent his life used as a stallion and working at a trekking centre, until I bought him 2 years ago. He started jumping 18 months ago.

Taran didn't really know where to put his feet.

The grid was pole, stride, small 'x' pole, stride, large 'x'. This changed throughout the lesson to spreads and fillers.







The instructor thought that he has no confidence working when not at home so I have booked some private lessons at home with her to see how he is before the next clinic. But she said he is very honest and my position isn't as bad as I think it is - although she is worried about my hands tend to go awol when I am concentrating on get him more forward going! And NOT napping to go and say hello to three mares!

All finished!


Ready to go home!


Any advice to get more impulsion in grid work and working in a joint lesson?

Will let you know how the private lessons go!

Thanks for reading!

Beks and Taran xx

[Poppy and Harmony]

Aww bless him!
Sounds like you got alot out of it

[Loony]

Aww I bet that was really beneficial! It doesn't seem like he has no impulsion when you jump him at home, so I would just put it down to him being nervy in a new situation. I'm sure the more you get out and about, the less weird it will be for him. Well done!!

[ness]

Good for you for having a lesson, Beks! they had better watch out at the shows next summer!

[piccolo]

I love gridwork! You look great too!

[gem]

Aw you both look so happy!! Looks like a very good experience. You look like you've lost quite a lot of weight too missy!

[Bek B]

The confidence thing is probably just a matter of time.

Myself and Ollie have been going through similar. In his first two WT dressage tests he was distracted and daydreamy meaning he was slow of the leg and difficult to bend.

We did out 3rd attempt two weeks ago and the difference was noticable. Still faults, but he was off the leg and his attention on me more of the time. We actually got the correct bend on some circles rather than him gawping at something that took his eye!

You're both doing fab!

[My Crazy Clan]

Your doing really well with him.