Lauren and I with Henry Awesomepants!
The Christmas holiday period was an absolute killer with no horse to ride! Billy Sparklepants was on a five week break, but I was determined to keep my own skills up. No rest for the wicked as they say! Most people thought I was crazy to do a round trip of 4.2 hours for a one hour lesson, but I say it’s dedication and commitment to be the best that you can be. One of my goals for 2013 that Nicole Stewart (Sports Performance Coaching) and I are working on is my position. Why? So I can gain confidence and successfully ride grade 3 and feel secure.
I contacted Lauren Gretgrix from Gretgrix Equestrian in Morang, (near Bendigo in Victoria) and asked her for some lessons. Lauren is an EA Introductory Coach, training for her Level 1 and her fabulous pony Henry, (who I have nicknamed Henry Awesomepants) is a preliminary eventer and L2 show jumper. How awesome is that? ME riding a pony with those credentials! Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought I would ever have that opportunity!
I had three lessons in total with Lauren in a week and a half. I have been reviewing my photos of the past 12 months and am still frustrated that my lower legs are not as stable as I would like them to be. Therefore, the focus of the lessons was on this and on confidence.
Our first lesson was at Laurens’ property where I rode in her show jumping paddock and in her show jumping saddle. Henry is very different from Billy. Firstly, I was able to get on him without a bucket, which was really nice and secondly he’s forward and easy to ride! Don’t get me wrong. I adore Billy but what a difference! I also know that it’s important as a rider to ride as many horses as possible to continue to improve.
My lesson was great. We worked on shortening and lengthening canter strides over poles and then progressed to a grid and then a full course. I also was working on some grade 3 jumps. I was really surprised at how safe and confident I felt on Henry. He’s a super pony to ride!
Merron and I both looking happy
Two days later, in my second lesson, Lauren took me out to the local Pony Club grounds with her sister Merron and we worked on Cross Country. Merron’s horse is half brother to Henry and absolutely gorgeous. This lesson was by far one of the best cross country lessons I’ve ever had and Merron and I fed off each other confidence wise.
Down a drop with Henry
We started with a warm up on the main arena before heading over to the bush. Henry was relaxed and forward. Starting off with a small log we popped over that a few times and then moved on to a combination of logs. I got brave quite quickly and then jumped a grade 3 log and headed up the stairs. The next time around, we jumped the grade 3 log, the stairs and then another grade 3 log, then we rode down the stairs too. I was so excited! Henry was amazing. He’s really point and shoot and as long as you ride him positively he will jump anything. I learned to recognise when he was slowing down it was that I was feeling a bit apprehensive and that was a great trigger for me as a rider, because I became aware of it and rode more determinedly and we didn’t have one stop. I did get a few strides wrong but Henry just adjusted himself and took care of us and was so forgiving!
From there we moved on to some combination fences, which included the ‘dry’ water jump. We worked on trotting into the ‘water’ then out over the roll top and then we added the roll top before the ‘water’ as well so it was a three fence combination.
We jumped some flowerbed fences and a downhill ski ramp as well as the stockyard combination. Most of the fences I was jumping were grade 3. As we headed back towards the start area, we added a brush fence and then I added in another log, which I didn’t realise was a big grade 3 fence but Henry cleared it easily and I think I surprised Lauren when she saw us pop over it!
For our final fence, Lauren walked us over to a Grade 2 and although I was nervous, I felt safe with Henry so off we went and I used my usual nervous coping tactic – breathing in time with the horse’s stride as you approach and we sailed over it. Of course, out came the customary ‘Whoooooo hoooooo!’ as we nailed it. What a thrill. I came away from that lesson feeling like I could do anything. What a confidence boost!
Over some logs
For my final lesson, Lauren and I worked in the round yard. I’d mentioned that I wanted to again concentrate on position and Lauren suggested that part of the lesson could be on the lunge. I loved this idea. This was something I remember doing when I first started riding at the age of five and it was always a favourite. So we worked on walk and trot and standing in the stirrups, as well as working without stirrups. Being careful not to tire Henry, we then moved to the jumping paddock and I rode the grid and then the course with some grade 3 fences, concentrating really hard on my lower leg and what a difference it made! I was more secure and even jumped an upright single blue barrel with a pole on top with no guides! That was a massive highlight and the end of the lesson.
Lauren was incredible. Very understanding and adaptable to what I was looking for. She’s one of the best coaches I’ve trained with. I really got so much out of her lessons and felt that I gained a huge amount of confidence and improved my position. Having the right equipment also made a big difference! A leather jumping saddle put me in the right position and gave me more stability than the synthetic saddle I had been using.
I am very, very excited to announce that Lauren has offered to work in partnership with me and is allowing me to continue to ride Henry and even compete on him around her local area. I will also be able to attend clinics on him too! What an amazing opportunity for me to have! Thank you Gretgrix Equestrian! (https://www.facebook.com/GretgrixEquestrian).
Billy came back into work on the 19th January and it was as if he’d never been on a break. He was relaxed and responsive and happy. I was so pleased. My friend Karen and her Friesian, ‘Bouwie’ and I were going to TTT Showing in Geelong the next day. I figured this was a cruisey way for BSP to come back into work, I mean it’s showing! It’s not that hard. In the afternoon, Nicole Viney and Paul from Vineyard Performance Team came out and plaited both the horses and helped us look amazing.
Sunday began with an early start of 4am but Billy trotted up to me when I called him. I tied him up in the dark and he was stomping both back legs as if he was grumpy. I wasn’t sure why but we removed the tail bag in case it was agitating him. It sounded like he had a loose shoe too, but it seemed to be okay at that point in time. We loaded up and I drove, stopping at the bakery in Yarra Glen for coffee.
We arrived at the showgrounds at 7:30am and checked in and then began preparing the horses. The first class was ‘Best Presented’. Billy looked absolutely gorgeous! In that class we placed seventh and I was really pleased. The next class was led and we didn’t get a look in. The third class was ridden exhibit and after that was mount most suitable and we were called in after riding around in a circle for what seemed like ages. I was getting dizzy! Honestly, showing!
I don't think we will be converting to becoming 'hackies' anytime soon
The jump they had was tiny and Billy was like, ‘are you serious?’ We were one of six called in and when we did our work out I was SO proud. Billy was calm and forward and very responsive. We had to trot to the jump, then change the rein and canter then back over the jump, then trot, halt, dismount and then remount (using a mounting block). Billy stood stock still and only moved off when asked. I was placed third after our work out but the judge moved us down to fifth after the next two horses. I wasn’t sure how this class worked as the horse after us didn’t stand when halted and the rider moved the mounting block to her. I was confused. Showing … Give me eventing any day!
As we were walking back to the float for lunch, I noted Billy’s RH shoe was slipping sideway and decided to call it a day. I was really happy and proud with our work and he was so willing and did some amazing straight lines and transitions. I untacked him, unplaited him and gave him a big drink and a brush and some hay. I spent the rest of the afternoon cheering Karen on and she did really well with two fourths and a fifth.
A great first outing with Billy
Our next event is training with Megan in March (YAY!) and then we’re back into the eventing comps (YAY again!) once we get Billy’s fitness back up to the required standard.
We hope you all had a lovely break and you’re as excited about 2013 as we are!
Until next time, happy riding!
Jenna and Billy Sparklepants xox
