First gallop after Twelesdown

Well it has been a little over a week since out first intermediate ate Twelesdown and Ahlerich has been going great! I have been trying to up his conditioning program with a lot more walk and trot sets. My good friend Gemma and her horse Nelly have been joining Ahlerich and I for "hacks". Most people in England consider walking down the road and around the farm as a hack but Gemma and I have changed the meaning of a hack we go out for an hour and half to two hours on the road trotting and walking in stirrups that are so short that we can barely stand once we get off. Our thought is that we can accomplish two things in one, conditioning our selves as well as Ahelrich and Nelly at the same time! I wondering how long it is going to last! Oh well we are at least enjoying it for now! Today Ahlerich and I had our first gallop since Twelesdown and he felt amazing! I am trying to become a faster cross country rider and trying to attack the course more and really working on speed and adjustability. So I can try and save time when bringing al back to jump a fence or combination. I have to say today he felt great and was very rideable. Hopefully we can keep caring this on throughout all of our training and conditioning. Until next time enjoy the nice weather!

Ahlerich and Meaghan

Twelesdown

Well the first event of 2011 is already over and I have to say that I am very excited about the event! Team GB which includes gemma, georgie, steph and my self set off at 7 in the morning on thursday. Our directions led us through some interesting areas but we arrived to the event just in time to get the ball rolling. I was pretty nervous since my first event last year ahlerich would not go down the center line so my first thought was if we get through the test its going to be a good day. Well I tired something new and gave ahlerich a new calmer and I have to say that it worked I got on him and he felt wonderful and went into the test and performed a very civilized test scoring a 44.6 many areas to improve on before the next outing but a good solid start for the season. Next was the show jumping it was a nice flowing course but the weather was a huge factor the wind was blowing so hard that a few fences blew down right after they rang the bell so once they were up again ahlerich jumped a lovely round excited in some areas and needs to be more rideable in others. Sadly I had the last fence down which was totally my fault. I just held him a deep one and never let go of his face very disappointed in myself cause he was trying so hard on such a cold windy day. Next came the XC the course was not a huge course but looked good for the first one of the year ahlerich was very excited. My plan was always to go slow and have a very rideable ride but that plan did not go according to plan. Right out of the box ahlerich leaping and ready to go fence 1 and 2 jumped very well and fence three I could not get him back and I never saw a distance and had a horrible jump at three. This made me ride very backwards up until fence 10 which was a ditch wall which jump very well and out of a good stride. Finally at fence 15 I felt like I was actually communicating with ahlerich and we were in a nice tempo. He jumped the rest of the course perfectly but finished about a minute and a half over time. Ahlerich and I will be going cross country schooling once or twice before our next event at Belton Park so we can be in a tempo right out of the box. I had a great day and it felt so nice to get into the start box again im craving for more!!! I am planning on show jumping on sunday at Hartpury just to have a nice rideable round. Will just be doing the 1.15 and the following weekend we will go to summer house and to the 1.20 as well as a dressage show. Until next time enjoy the sunshine!

Meaghan & Ahlerich