Feeling tip-top now and Gracie has responded really well to a breathing supplement (Naf Respirator Boost) so her cough has virtually gone, last night I had booked into a small 90-minute XC clinic, as it has been six months since Gracie and I popped a "natural" fence. I was a little nervous and the first half an hour was actually spent in the school, practising position, steering and brakes! Gracie felt fab, but it soon became apparent how compromised my lungs still are. Cantering one circuit of the 60 x 40 school left me gasping for breath, but luckily it was the kind of clinic where you did your bit and then waited for everyone else to do theirs....so I had time to re-oxygenate! Haha. Also, the instructor isn't just a fellow livery, she has the two stables next to J&G so she knows I've been poorly.
Anyhoo...when we got out into the field, Gracie was fantastic...she did get a bit excited a couple of times, but now that I know her so well this just adds to the fun I have with her.
Last year, having overcome my jumping fear, I was very much a "point and shoot" kinda gal, but last night we worked on control and position and even though she still wanted to just run hell-for-leather at everything, Gracie did check, listen and respond. She also leapt everything as if it was a foot higher....
..., but I'm now learning to see when I have her striding wrong and to be able to sit better when she goes long, etc.
We trotted through the water...
...and walked over ditches initially ...
Last year, I was terrified of this log and could never imagine being brave enough to jump that high, but Gracie now makes mincemeat of it!!
Fave pic of the day is a lovely uphill canter, when we were actually heading downhill
She slipped half a dozen times on the grass....shoes with stud holes next???
Anyhoo...when we got out into the field, Gracie was fantastic...she did get a bit excited a couple of times, but now that I know her so well this just adds to the fun I have with her.
Last year, having overcome my jumping fear, I was very much a "point and shoot" kinda gal, but last night we worked on control and position and even though she still wanted to just run hell-for-leather at everything, Gracie did check, listen and respond. She also leapt everything as if it was a foot higher....
..., but I'm now learning to see when I have her striding wrong and to be able to sit better when she goes long, etc.
We trotted through the water...
...and walked over ditches initially ...
Last year, I was terrified of this log and could never imagine being brave enough to jump that high, but Gracie now makes mincemeat of it!!
Fave pic of the day is a lovely uphill canter, when we were actually heading downhill
She slipped half a dozen times on the grass....shoes with stud holes next???
