AEBC Intensive - Day 3

A massive day for poor young Jedi with two ridden lessons after a big couple of days being pushed fairly hard. When I think about the changes we have made to his way of going, the straightening, the forward-ness, the transitions, the roundness, it's been a really big ask for him at such an early stage in his training. He's not very strong or fit yet so I think he must be finding this all a bit challenging!

Nonetheless, today we did some more really good stuff. Manu had us doing a very interesting exercise with circles off the wall in today's lesson. We need more power through the entirety of our circles as he tends to stall coming off a turn. So, each circle was broken down into turns followed by whip taps and then heel taps. The idea was to train a slight acceleration off a turn which, when I watched it happening in other lessons, simply translates into no loss of tempo or speed during the circle. It also creates a forward, supple horse throughout the circle.

Manu also had us trying for some lengthen, not Jedi's forte by any means! Basically, we established a nice trot and started giving him whip taps on his belly. He started just going faster and faster with more whip taps. Then he just maxed out his speed and started going longer. It was seriously uncomfortable and felt ridiculous but it worked to give him a fairly good idea of what was being asked for. Once he produced a step of longer the whip taps ceased. One to practice at home. A bit less running would be nice!

Canter still needs a bit of work, especially the transitions in and out. But keeping him straight and making him wait before doing anything once my outside leg goes back were big themes. We tried a bit if lateral work at the canter, just indirect turns on and off the wall and he was really very good. Some solid tries.

I had a jumping lesson with Andrew in the afternoon with one other person.  She was on a far more experienced mare who would throw in some wicked stops. I worked mainly on a grid in between watching her and Andrew work with this mare. Jedi was really great. He approaches jumping with a lot of confidence for an inexperienced horse, no doubt a product of his two weeks with James Arkins.

He's got some serious pop and seemed to find the grid relatively easy. I am enjoying riding a horse that doesn't freak out with his jumping and that genuinely seems to enjoy it.

He did find the sand arena uncomfortable on his feet though, which I was pretty surprised about. He was very short and choppy. He copes well on the indoor surface but that is deeper and has rubber chips. Overall, his feet are coming along well, though we still have a long way to go.

One more day to go and we all went out for dinner with the whole crew, including Andrew and Manu. I found out Andrew keeps pigeons that tumble in the air and has done since he was 8. He also believes he can hyperventilate his way to passing breath tests.

It was quite amusing following Andrew and Manu driving home with two Dutch students in the car at 11o'clock at night. On the country road leading to AEBC the brake lights of the car some 200m ahead suddenly went on, followed by the reverse lights. I thought they were drunk until I passed the spot they'd been and saw a big wombat on the side of the road. Okay, I thought, they were avoiding the wombat. Then the brakes went on again and the car slowly swerved on to the wrong side of the road, headlights illuminating a kangaroo. Not avoiding it, I thought.....so, what?

It was only when the car swerved towards another wombat and parked for a few seconds, lights illuminating the wombat that I realised it was Andrew driving and he was showing the two Dutchies some choice aussie wildlife! Lucky I saw them too or it could have been a bit messy...

Last day tomorrow. It's been a big week but a cracker. The people have been so fun and some of the horses are