This was a really nice simple clinic to start off the year (and I say simple just because I was riding Roger, who of course made the whole thing feel super easy peasy - I've really missed jumping him during the lockdowns and this was my first jump on him since Oct/Nov 2020!!). We didn't actually do too much jumping, hence why this video is quite short, but what we did do was very good practice for getting the horses to sit up coming around the tight turn into the fence and not letting them rush through the grid. The bounce element is great for getting the horse into a rhythm for the next two upright fences, but it's also quite easy for them to lose impulsion over the bounce element for the next jumps, so it's the rider's job to keep the energy without interfering too much and putting the pony off (not that actually really had to do anything, because Roger quite literally did everything for me and I just got to sit there any enjoy myself!
You will have to excuse some of my dodgy turns at the end of the grid, as poor Roger was finding a couple of gymkhana flags in the corner a little bit scary (to be fair they were really flapping around in the wind) and making it quite difficult for me to get him to the end of the school and out into the corners! He did well considering the string wind and snow though, as the wind was coming straight down thew grid and actually making it quite hard to keep moving forwards at times!
I know I always say it, but I always find it such a treat to ride this pony in jumping clinics & lessons because although he can be cheeky and sometimes take a little bit of riding, for the general level we work at in lessons, he makes it all feel so simple which in turn builds up my jumping confidence :-) Luckily Maverick kept my jumping confidence nice & high over winter while I was loaning him so this jumping clinic wasn't too much of a shock to the system now lessons have started again!
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QOTD: Do you have any clinics or competitions planned?
Ponies/horses:
Roger - 14hh piebald gelding
Helmet Cam: GoPro Hero 6
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⬇️ FAQs ⬇️
🔵 DO YOU OWN THE HORSES & PONIES IN YOUR VIDEOS?
No, all the horses & ponies belong to a lovely riding school, or are working liveries at the same yard.
🔵 WILL YOU EVER GET YOUR OWN HORSE?
I would love to own a pony one day, but for now I am more than happy having weekly lessons on the fantastic riding school horses & ponies.
🔵 WHY DO YOU ALWAYS JUMP THE SAME HEIGHT?
These riding school ponies usually jump more than once a week, and sometimes more than once a day, so we don’t jump ‘big’ except on special occasions to ensure the ponies stay sound and live long, happy lives. Fence height has very little to do with jumping technique or experience.
🔵 HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN RIDING FOR?
I’ve been having weekly lessons in riding schools for 16 years now!
🔵 IF YOU’VE BEEN RIDING FOR SO LONG, WHY DON’T YOU COMPETE?
I have no personal interest in competing or jumping huge tracks. I ride for fun, simple as that!
🔵 WHY ARE THE HORSES ALREADY TACKED UP WHEN YOU APPROACH THEM?
This is a busy riding school & livery yard and so the lesson horses are tacked up by the staff who work there to ensure they are ready to leave the yard on time and have been tacked up correctly.
🔵 DO THE HORSES STAY TACKED UP 24/7?
No. The horses are only tacked up right before their lessons and spend the rest of their time turned out in grass fields.
🔵 WHO IS ROBIN FROM YOUR VIDEOS?
Robin is my mum and she rides with me in my lesson every week. She's 65 and fearless as ever!
