This guy!

Saturday morning Coolie and I were off cross country training at the State Equestrian Centre with a group of our usual buddies. We were hoping that there would be lots of the portables left out from last weekend so we could train over the lines set for competition because a few of us are planning to upgrade at our next events.

We warmed up in our usual way, then headed out to the course. We started with lower fences to get the rhythm and build up to the bigger fences in my case. Coolie was feeling fresh, despite getting worked hard the night before. He had his listening ears on though, and was very adjustable.

Same jump as last week, still just as easy

The first few fences we did were in our course last weekend. Coolie really settled into the rhythm and we were able to show our coach how much we have improved. I was especially happy with how adjustable he was after a long gallop stretch. We strung a few fences together to start building a course, starting with an upright log of about 90cm, then a table off a right turn, then a long gallop stretch to another log then back to the log and the table. Coolie had no troubles at all, he was feeling super bold, confident and flowing. Once everyone was successful with that we moved out the back to work on ditches.

They are doing a lot of upgrades to the course so there were only 2 ditches we could use, the 65 one, and the 105 one. Coolie and I started by leading the group over the ditch, then the others went though the 65 coffin. Our coach had Coolie and I go through the 65 coffin, then loop around to the 105 coffin. This fence was made more challenging by the terrain, the first upright being down hill into the shady trees, the ditch in the shade and then uphill to the second upright which had to be jumped on a angle. I made sure we had a nice bouncy medium canter and picked a tree on the far side to stare at to keep us straight. Coolie jumped the first fence with no drama but the ditch in the shadows backed him off. I kept my leg on, he popped it and then out over the third element, like it was as easy as 1, 2, 3!

Next we jumped a decent sized log, then did a big sweeping turn to the leaf bowl, a log in the shadows with a drop landing, then up the hill to a wall. Honestly, once we had the right canter this horse would have jumped anything. He felt so cool and confident, and we nailed everything. I know I usually say how great he it, but he was particularly awesome today. We have worked so hard on rhythm and control, literally years and now we have it it's the BEST feeling!

Decent log

We finished off at the water. I wanter to drop Coolie straight in since it's been so long since we have jumped into water in competition. The others walked and trotted through a few times then Coolie and I jumped in off a small bank, then turned right a jumped out over a 95 log. He didn't hesitate at all, dropped in confident and cruised through.

Next we jumped the other way over the log, through the water, back down the drop then out over the same log. The log the opposite was it trickier because its a very narrow fence, and your coming from a wide open space rather than having the water funnel you to it. Once again Coolie was super cool and breezed though like it was no big deal.

Water

We finished up, and it was a really great confidence building session before our competition next weekend. It's so incredible to go out and know your horse has your back, that he will jump anything if you set him up, and that now we finally have the rhythm we have worked SO HARD for, I trust him.

Table

These days we have a constant dialogue with each other, it's a discussion about what we are doing and how we are going to do it rather than an argument. Coolie gives me such an amazing feeling. I'm so proud of him!

Leaf Bowl

We have a busy week this week. Tomorrow Sir gets an easy day and a clip and Henry gets a harder day because I am taking him up to my coaches place to use the arena. Then Monday and Tuesday we have a dressage clinic with Manu McLean that I am super excited about!

I hope everyone else has a wonderful weekend, and everyone has perfect horse weather!