Intense Dressage Schooling

On March 26th, Cruise has his first dressage competition coming up. It is a Secondary Schools event run at St peters school in Cambridge. Cruise will be doing (or Attempting) a prelim test 1.4 and a Novice one 2.2.

So dressage boot camp has begun.

Cruise needs up his game a bit and learn to leg yeild... properly. and lengthen his trot without going 100mph. Could be a challenge.

Cruise has a real tendancy to go on the forehand - Being slightly down hill this doesnt help him out much.

And he likes to get real heavy and lean on my hands - not ideal.

But he can canter nice-ish when he wants too.

A few laters and hes alot lighter now, and coming off the forehand

But his lengthening still sucks heaps.

Cruise jumps big things

Cruise hasn't jumped over 1.10m i think, but he broke his record easily yesterday.

1.10m

1.20m

1.20m

1.30m

1.30m

Cruise Update

Well his weight gain has slowed gain unfortunately, hes not skinny any more just a tad light, I'm going to look into buying something a lot better for him though, He going into light work over the Christmas holidays and hes getting two weeks off when I got on a family holiday to the south island. But as far as his work is coming along he going great, hes a quick learner and enjoys the jumping and fast works, not so much the dressage though, he find that a little boring.

Dressage: In the beginning he was really heavy and on the forehand, obviously due to being really under muscled and being turned out, but a couple months on hes improved heaps, still has a lot of work to do in the top line department though! but now he a lot lighter and works in a more lighter contact, he isn't so down hill in trot or canter now. although still a tad unbalanced as drifting occurs when he not being held together, so self carriage is a definite goal!

(Nope i cant find a dressage picture either!!)

Show Jumping: Show Jumping is the only discipline he done competitively with me so far. Hes really taken to it as well. hes coped with the step up - Before i got him he was casually popping around 90cm) He has done two Show Jumping shows, both at 1m and 1.05m. going clear at the 2nd show in 1.05m. Next show planned is the Waikato 1* where we will do our first 1.10m start.

Eventing: Hasn't seemed to happen this season yet, i had plans of eventing mainly and that went out the window when i realised hes not very confident with scary jumps. he find Banks, Ditches and Trakehners all quite terrifying, anything simple he will casually jump but if is a bit scary and XCish he will stop at it even if its PT (80cm) level. But schooling around Pio pio pony club grounds and LVF, he was doing quite a few Open (1.05m) obstacles -So theres still hope, just have to focus on getting him over his fears! I plan to next year do a Training HT on him and if that goes well and hes ready i have plans to enter the Kihikhi 3DE (Pre Novice - 1.05m)

A of Couple New Drawings

Gemma and Sydsational

Lizzie Brown and Henton Attorney Genral

Katie McVean and Forest II

Taumaranui Show Jumping trials

Cruise did well today!

Again I did 1m, 1.05m and 1.05m Accumulator.

1m - Had a couple of rails, nothing major.

1.05m - Another couple of rails

1.05m Accumulator - He went clear! So happy. I didn't try the joker though - A single pole at about 1.15m I imagine we would have gone through it!

Lemington SJ - Best photo of the day!

Thanks to Kate! shes so pro

Lemington Show Jumping

Cruise went so super!! baring in mind hes never show jumped over 90.

He went real well in the 1m, Had one stop and the first fence in the double (He hates doubles and i gave him a shit line coming in.) And one rail down.
In the 1.05m he went really good I actually think he was really tired, he had no stops but had a couple or rails. but overall I'm happy with his first 1m and 1.05m attempt.

Cruisy warming up for his first round.

Cruise looking ultra cute

Cruise putting in a big effort over 1.05m

Cruise tankin off!

Last jump over 1.05m

Cruise Jumping 1m - Note the extra height due to lack of abilty to lift feet.

CRUISE!!