27th April
We managed to go along to a show jumping competition at a place called Crofton Manor yesterday.
Ninja went along and Warren took a lovely young horse to jump also. We started with a 1.10 m competition and jumped in 3 classes finishing at 1.25m. Pretty good form all round really. Certainly much improved from the squad clinic. A big consideration is that we are very rusty after quarantine for 30 days at home so we need to get out to jump courses.
Jo Brady has arrived to help with the flatwork. We have established that I haven't broken anything and may even have done some good in her absence. What a relief. We just finished a very productive session in the morning and then this afternoon we are cross country schooling at Boomerang where Russ Hardy has set up some obstacles similar to a few of the Badminton jumps (although a lot smaller).
29th April
Well, it's all getting very close now. Badminton is this week. We head over to the competition on Wednesday morning to settle in and official business begins on Thursday.
Ninja is feeling very well. We did a light cross country school 2 days ago, dressage every day and this afternoon I will give him a gallop to refresh him.
He has a view of paddocks 3 kilometres away from his stable and there were cattle out this morning which adrenalised Ninja. He has been going so well that in a way it was good to be reminded that he is a horse and not a machine. I never really got his concentration but it did give us an opportunity to put him under some behavioural pressure which, given he will be prancing around in front of stadiums full of people, was actually positive. It is the sort of situation where you could think the world just fell apart, or take it as a positive training experience. I am sure the latter was the case.
Until next time,
Murray.
