things we have been up to

oh dear I have been BAD. Not posting since March !!!

Anyway

In early May we went to a training day. Last year we went to the same place and had lots of fun but got to the water splash late in the day when Rosie was quite tired, so only played on the edges and didn't make it in to the water.

This year I was determined we would end up in the water. It was a rainy blowy day and there were a mix of ponies, from very experienced to youngster in hand. We did some pole work and small jumps, and then went to play with the cross-country jumps. Rosie and I stuck to the very small fences (logs on the ground) - not so much for her sake as mine ! Anyway, at the end of the session we got to the water splash. Rosie wasn't keen and the instructor tried to get one of the others to give us a lead. Rosie really doesn't get the idea of being given a lead. Needless to say we didn't get further than all four feet planted on the edge. So when the others went away, I stayed on to work on it. A bit of persistance and (yes it was raining)



I was really pleased with her as it became clear that she was actually very concerned about going in to the water and tried her heart out - she was actually shaking the first time she tried it for me. She gained in confidence and showed she was prepared to trust me !

Then a week or so later, Rosie and I went for a walk with big sis and a friend up the hill on big sis's farm.



Then we also had a jumping lesson - which was rather a shock to Rosie, and ultimately to me, as she had to *canter* in to the jumps AND canter in between them and keep going :o

I haven't jumped for ages and have been sticking to trot so as not to "mess up" with Rosie. But she went nicely.

We went along to the summer breed show and did the inhand, then young handler and Lead rein (the only entry). And THEN - I had been planning to do the clear round jumping after the performance class but the jumps really weren't too awful so I took a deep breath.... and away we went. The jumps were all rustic and the only one she really took a look at was the plank jump, which she pretty much did from a stand still. But we went clear ! :D Height was a mere 18" with the final jump at 21". But even so ... it was only the second time we have done a course.

This Saturday we went off to do a walk and trot test (Intro A) and she kept going the whole test. A year ago her first Walk and Trot got 46%. Then in November we got 56%. And this test was 61%. So a steady improvement.