So the weather wasn’t quite as kind to us on my 2 day pole & jump clinic on 22nd and 23rd July. In fact, we only actually managed to hold 3 sessions early on Saturday to hard core riders, before the real weather set in. Well done Oliver, Emma and Jess and their very wet horses!
I often deliberate over whether to continue if the weather is very bad. Obviously, if it presents a Health & Safety issue, I always cancel. The arena stood up surprisingly well (we do have good drainage). It just got a little waterlogged by the gate and down one side.
However...
Are we just getting soft by cancelling?
Would it be good experience to practice in poor conditions in case they were replicated at a competition?
Or is it wasting people’s time and money and perhaps resulting in a poor session if horses and their riders are tense as they’re turning into the driving rain?
It would be interesting to hear people’s views on this. Please feel free to say so in the comments below.
I set up quite a different course this time, with more use of related distances on straight and curved lines. Always with the emphasis on keeping a good forward rhythm in control. I feel straightness is paramount on both the approach and away and of being in balance is paramount. If these ‘processes’ can be achieved consistently, we can then play around with heights and widths of fences. I was always taught that it is better to jump 10cm lower for longer. If you get your technique right, you can then go as high as your horse’s scope and/or your want allows.
With all my jump clinics I can always accommodate young or inexperienced horses and riders as we can practice riding good lines over poles. Indeed, this is good practice for any rider. You can play around with the gears in the canter, without having to concentrate on jumping any fences. Ultimately jumping is 90% flatwork anyway!!
One of my best investments to help horse and riders stay straight was my ‘squashy’ blue soft flexi poles. When put as ‘tram lines’ or a ‘tunnel’ before and/or after the fence, I don’t have to worry if the horse stands on them. Also, they’re really good to use for horses who are too cautious about water trays. You can get them stepping over 2 or 3 and then increase to jump over the width of a water tray.
I’m always on the look out too for fence decorations at garden centres or home stores – it gets quite addictive!!
I’m hoping to put on another weekend during the erm… ‘Summer’, but will study the long range forecast a little better. It always seems to change anyway!!
What really pleased me on this very short clinic was seeing the improvement from the 3 riders since my last clinic. This always makes it worthwhile getting jumps and poles out and putting away!
As always with horse and rider ‘Confidence is Key’ and this is what I always aim to promote, in every session.
Here’s to some better weather – I know we needed the rain but, really? It was torrential!
By the way, Ron isn’t at all helpful when I’m writing my blog as he thinks he should appear in it! He has me jumping up and down to let him out, then sits on my knee, trying to distract me!!
He’ll have to do his own soon…
