Biggles and Quest have now been at Cathies indoor for 23 days and the horses progression is going well. Horses are getting fitter and it is time to start jumping. People ask about my plans for the year and I can never really answer as this is such a strange year.
Last year Quest came into my life in March as a 'lease, project, fun horse' for me to play on at 'Entry level' eventing for a few years. I have a family, a normal job (nursing), and should just have fun and enjoy riding locally at a low level so I thought that would be perfect. Quest did a clinic at Pre-Entry level in the beginning of April, a clinic at Entry level in the end of April, competed Pre training in May (won the event), competed Training level in June (won it), competed Training level in July (won it), competed Training level in October (came second) and ended up tied for first for the BC Horse Trials Year End Awards for Training level! This horse is truely amazing. I also feel he has great potential to do more. So with that in mind I want to do more but I do not want to push him. I strongly feel that he has the ability to go at least Intermediate level. With this in mind I now have to develop a better understanding of him in competition. I have to get his and my 'Ducks in a row'. Last year we were more or less "Winging it". I had never taken him in any schooling shows or practice rounds and only schooled him cross country a few times - yes - definitely "Winging it." So I do not want to wing it this year. To not wing it I need to (my ducks):
- Jump more show jumps at home
- jump higher show jumps at home
- attend jumper clinics/lessons
- go to jumper shows for practice rounds
- school more cross country
- more cross country clinics
- dressage lessons
- a couple of Pre-training events to get the ball rolling
- a couple of Training events to see if we are not winging it anymore
Biggles is ready to get on a serious program now. He is 5 1/2 years old rising 6 soon. I have (and Gina too) been working on getting a solid base with him and balancing work and rest to coincide with his growing for the last 3 years. He has changed so much in the last 2 months it is unbelievable. Biggles jumps 4'3(1.25m) in a grid with ease, free jumps 1.25m with ease, and so far seems to thrive on activity - the busier and more electric the atmosphere the better Biggles is - now that is a awesome quality - so he is pretty exciting! Biggles ducks are:
- Improve his canter
- Get out to little schooling shows
- clinics
- work on his flying changes
- more exposure
- Jumper shows
- Eventing
- Dressage shows
I want the snow to go away. I am ready to get on with it. Lets go!!!
