Cruise Being Ferrel

Let Cruise a run in the sun today!!

Little Valley Farm

On Monday I went up to Little Valley Farm in Ohaupo for a good jumping session with Cruise. I schooled around in the big indoor dressage arena for a start to warm up - Its pretty flash.

Then out into the Show Jumping arena and to the cross country. He jumped everything I asked him to! Couldn't have asked for more from him - He was a star.

Managed to get one photo from the day of Cruise jumping the water jump. =]

Cruise is BACK

Over 3 months since Cruise's crash and burn at schools show jumping.

But now he's back in full action! Jumped him for the first time today - Hoping he hadn't lost any confidence from his last frightful jumping attempt, I kept the jump nice and low. He loved it!

Someone was feeling happy!

Kaurilands Dressage Series

Quite proud of Cruise - Dressage doesn't come very naturally to him (Hes rather down hill and struggles to carry himself a bit) But he tried so hard.
I entered him in the Secondary category (Novice tests) and he went well. It was good competition.
He managed 58% in 2.3 and 60% in 2.4 - Scoring around the middle out of everyone. not bad for his 2nd attempt and Novice.
We have things to work on too - our Medium trot was under par and he goes a crooked at times and get the wrong bend slightly. but overall I'm impressed with him. He pulled off 10cm circles in trot and canter, Counter canter, And simple canter changes through the trot. A big improvement from when I got him.
Hopefully I can go the the next one.
Unfortunatly no photos this time though. :(

Cruise being snuggly

I was outside with my camera (trying to take a photo of a fantail - Which that photo is in my other blog) but the camera shutter got Cruise's attention. hes Rather photogenic, I couldn't resist a photo. he looks as snug as a big in a winter rug.

Cruise is back in action!

So Cruise was turned out for 6 weeks due to back treatments. But he's back now!

But now he's very unfit and back to basics. First 2 weeks of just walking and trotting and canter on the 3rd week.

Hoping to enter Kaurilands next month and do a couple of novice tests on him. Aiming for a elementary test toward the end of winter.

There's still no way I can afford an Isabell saddle, so I'm doing dressage in a jumping saddle! not ideal but its alright.

North Island Seconadary Schools Dressage

Was Great. Joanne came and watched Cruises tests. Thankfully she also brought a saddle (Wintec Isabell) that fitted him (Turns out his dressage saddle wasn't fitting him, though it wasn't cause of his back problem, it wasn't helping either)

our first test was 2.2 (in the sand arena) - Totally screwed it up. Cruise was very tense and excited, I partially bullshitted my way through it - I had to lengthen and leg yield. but Cruise struggled with leg yield due to his back still being not 100% .

I thought I had come dead last for sure in this test.

Cruises Prelim 1.4 (grass arena), test went a lot better. he was much calmer and did everything perfectly. in fact the only thing we got marked down on was his bend on one rein (Purely due to his back) so once his backs done hes gonna be on fire!
Results surprised me a bit - I came 9th in 2.2 out of 25 (I was impressed!) and i managed a 2nd place in 1.4! I was stoked. First thing Ive won on Cruise. So this has now convinced me to do dressage winter series =] Though first of all i need to save up for a Isabell saddle.