Off we go

Posted Mon, 03/01/2010 - 13:11 by Michy  Michy
Last week I had my 2 days of training with Jester at the JR foundation, we loved it. It blew my mind a bit and panic struck a little as to how I would remember it all when we got home as didn’t want to ruin all the hard work they had done.
 
I collected him on Saturday and while I was getting him ready for the lorry my friend immediately commented on how different and relaxed he was. He also travelled much better than he ever has and there was a noticeable difference in his behaviour when he went back to his herd. Normally he is very bossy, but instead he teamed up with his field mate Flumpa and just walked away from the rest, normally he will chase the two of them off into a separate group.
 
On Sunday I worked him for the first time un supervised by James and his teams watchful eyes, and we did it…I was so thrilled.  We even nailed a good start on the sideways game which we had struggled with in our training days. All the showjumps are in our school now as well which he will normally spook at, and our school is huge but he followed the rail, no spooking at the jumps and very little correction back to the rail in all paces. 
 
So I guess its onwards on upwards from here refining all the movements and getting a relaxed follow the rail and me making habits of the new way of being round my horse.  Im sure it will be challenging some days but I feel ready for that and I have a plan. If that fails the team at the JR Foundation are at the end of the phone.
 
It was so hard having him gone for 3 weeks, and im so glad to have him home but it was worth it.
 
So far everything makes sense, feels right and I honestly think Jester said thankyou to me yesterday for finally listening to him. Roll on spring, I can see some safe fun hacks on the horizon :-)