Well, today I took Belvedere to Aston Le Walls to do some Intermediate XC schooling with tuition from Ann Taylor. Unfortunately Belvedere wasn't in the mood, and was backing off fences and messing about and being rather silly. So we didn't do anything really over novice as it would have been irresponsible. It would appear that he is not very keen on xc schooling, as he's been like this whenever we have taken him (two or three times). He seems to prefer the atmosphere and excitement of a competition when his blood is up!
So although we didn't achieve any Intermediate practise, and it was a long way to go for him to not be in the mood, I learnt a lot from Ann. Ann, who is American, was talking to me about how the English have this pre-occupation with looking very neat and tidy. For example, we are always taught at pony club to have our toes facing forwards and not sticking out, and she pointed out, that if your feet are facing straight forwards you cannot use your lower leg effectively, and you cannot get your calf onto the horses side. When we fixed this, it helped greatly with keeping him moving forwards and in front of the leg.
Ann also helped me with the position of my hands on his neck. She made me shorten my reins and have my hands much further forwards up his neck. This meant that while I was galloping, or when I was approaching a fence, I could very very easily make him sit up back on his haunches and make him gallop uphill. It made him lift his head, instead of lowering it and leaning on me. Once again, this was very easy to do (even if I had to think about it) and it worked a treat! He was much lighter and more uphill.
Finally what I found very useful was because when Belvedere gets upset about something and scared, he stops in his tracks and spins around. (For example, with his fear of running water). What I used to do, was have a very strong contact with his mouth, however Ann was telling me how he uses that against me. He uses that contact to spin himself around/rear/leap about. So what she said, was to lock my lower legs on like a vice (using them properly as stated above^^) and to have a very light contact with his mouth. And also to open my reins out either side of his neck. This meant that whatever his head was doing, his neck was also doing, and that I had lots of control, but a very light contact with his mouth, so he couldn't take advantage of me! I basically had control of him at my fingertips, and my legs drove him into the fence/running water, and didn't allow him to evade me/take advantage and spin around. It worked a treat!
No photos or videos unfortunately, and a disappointing day, in that we didn't achieve what we set out to achieve, however I learnt a lot of very useful information/techniques, and it is always useful to have tuition when it's going badly. If it's all going well then tuition isn't really necessary! We finished on a good note though, doing turns to skinny's and a double of corners on a turn. (2 strides between the corners)
Just one photo of him in the lorry on the way home!!!
