Cool bananas!
It’s come to our attention that Harry is obviously not as thick as he likes to make out….he has become a master at untying ropes and escaping. Four times in the last two weeks to be precise (you’d think I would have caught on huh?!) Last Wednesday I was getting ready to go out for a lesson. One minute I am grooming a hind leg, the next I am chasing him past the stables and down the path, and I finally catch up with him in a nearby paddock looking very pleased with himself, doing ‘Harry does Riverdance’ on his leadrope. Monkey!
I have been worried that both Sally and Char would think he’d gone backwards since last seeing him in November. A rather inauspicious start to his jumping lesson, “hmmm…..he appears to be jumping by brail today”, but rose to the dizzy heights of “he looks like a different horse”. Wey hey – that’s the physio, flatwork and jump trainers all thinking he’s going better; just me to convince! I think the bit of hunting we managed, followed by our enforced break has actually done him the world of good.
He has been entered for Tweseldown and Munstead 90s. We’re into Tweseldown, and waiting to see if we escape the ballot for Munstead. It occurred to me after entering that I haven’t jumped a course of fences on him yet (minor point!) so yesterday we dragged ourselves to Duckhurst. He was a very good boy. He’s only been indoors once before and took it all very calmly. Bit of rider error forced a pole to the floor in the first round, but a lovely clear round for our second attempt. Really pleased with the way he jumped. Polos for Harry!
The pictures on facebook of us schooling at Munstead have caused quite a lot of comment. Everyone seems to be quite amazed at Kate Lawson’s little legs! What they don’t realise is that it’s not her horse, he very rarely jumps, and Kate has only ridden about six times in the last ten months – top effort!
There’s a new boy for me to play with at home. He comes with a reputation of being a bit of a rebel, and the plan is for me to jump him occasionally to give him something different to think about. Now that I have, his owner Donna might just find Grumpy Boy in her stable and Otto in mine – he’s a natural and I look forward to playing with him more.
Lily dude, Lily dude, rah rah rah! On day three of being ridden we had our first canter, and on day four we went for a hack around the corn field – Cool Bananas!
Unfortunately the weather has put pay to our plans of schooling at Littleton Manor tomorrow. We have our hooves, paws and fingers crossed that we’ll still be able to go to a pre-season combined training at Munstead next weekend. I’m rather hoping to ride a dressage test and jump on grass before our first event – I’ll let you know! 
Warts and all
First of all, let’s talk Lily. I am so pleased with her progress over the last two weeks. She’s been quite sensitive to the bit and is very ticklish so I was expecting quite a reaction to being long reined. Wrong! On just her third time on the long reins she was out on her own, trotting and changing the rein like a pro. Fantastic effort, particularly considering the cack-handed fool that was behind her. Go Lily dude!
Having agreed last year to do a lecture demonstration at Chelsfield Equestrian Centre, I now have to think about what we will do and with which horses. Suddenly it’s only a month away and it’s not like I have a string to choose from. It will certainly be a ‘warts and all’ demo, we’re not exactly talking Mary King here! I have this recurring vision of Harry knocking down every single fence he’s pointed at. Crikey, I need to get a grip! And breathe……..
Talking of Harry, he continues to look like a tortoise; all big body with no neck and a head. This Weightwatchers thing doesn’t seem to be working, could he be cheating?! I’m starting to wonder if Lexie, a permanent size zero, is passing it over at night….something just doesn’t add up, he’s as fat as a house!
The horses all had their six monthly back checks this week with Chris Caden-Parker. Chris said that Harry had never looked so good which was great news. He’s really a much stronger chap now. I also just wanted to check that everything is OK with Lily before we plug on with the ridden work.
Dead chuffed with Harry’s efforts on Friday. Char came for a lesson and thought he was much more forward, and also more willing in the brain department. Hurrah!
And then yesterday we went to Munstead for our first XC school. The big boy did me proud. He was a bit unruly to begin with but very bold and brave. The highlight for me though was seeing one of our Pony Club members, Hannah Bartholomew, on her new horse jumping round the 90 course. Hannah is only twelve and has had her new horse for only three months. It was great to see them to do so well and look so pleased.
Decision made. I’ll be entering our first 90s after I’ve updated this. Yikes!
About
Janine is a British Dressage Recognised Coach and Group 3 Rider based in Kent. She has trained and competed from Prelim to PSG but with a background in the training of young event horses she is also very popular for show-jump instruction and cross-country schooling. She is a UKCC qualified coach, is on the BHS Register of Instructors, is a Centre10 Advanced Coach (Applied Psychology for Equestrian Coaches) and a Pony Club B+ Test Assessor and instructor.
She has always had a broad range of clients with numerous wins in British Dressage including the all important qualifications to the Regionals and National Winter Championships. She has lots of British Eventing clients with qualification to the much sought after Badminton Grassroots Regionals. On the showing side there has been a National Side-Saddle Working Hunter Champion, and riders at HOYS in the Search For A Star classes. With a very diverse bunch of clients nothing gives her more pleasure than to receive a text with the day’s results. However she is happy teaching all levels, so long as you want to improve.
Janine is based at Carmen Court near Tonbridge (owned by one of her sponsors Louisa Day Photography) but also teaches from home in Swanley Village. Most of her teaching is in Kent and the local Sussex area but she can travel further by arrangement.
There are very popular show-jumping clinics at Carmen Court from April to August each year, and clinics through the winter under cover at Four Elms Farm. Janine is always happy to do clinics at other venues in the South East.
She has been very successful with rider confidence problems and helping with the psychology of training and competing. As coach, Janine is often very much part of the team as required.
Janine and Martin are sponsored by Simple System Horse Feeds and are Product Ambassadors for Equilibrium Products. They can be found on Facebook under the name Team Lamy Wright.
click here to find them.
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