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It’s Finally beginning to feel like things are starting to warm up and get ready for the upcoming season!

Flash is in more regular work now, creating the base level of fitness, so that when I am home during the Easter Holidays we can go straight into some long distance work. I am very lucky to have help with the fattening process. My riding instructor who has recently returned from Florida with her small breeding herd of Dales Ponies, is now training and teaching young ponies for clients. She is using Flash as calming influence on the roads, which is mutually beneficial to both of us. He is the perfect lead pony, and doesn’t question going round and round the village- I have decided that he either thinks we are looking for a very well hidden ticket in the village, or that we have finally lost it! I think if he could roll his eyes he would.

I have been home from school most weekends, and with regular coaching we have been focusing on encouraging Flash to push more into an outside rein contact. This will allow him to work in a more elevated outline, and hopefully will encourage more suspension throughout his paces. Hand position is something I have always struggled with, and I am having to really concentrate to provide him the consistency he needs to feel confident enough to work into the contact and really engage from behind. He has been finding it quite challenging, and makes lots of groans and grunts, but the aim is to strengthen him up so that his collected canter in the MA will be stronger and there will be less chance of him breaking pace.

I have been meeting Mum and Flash halfway between home and Liverpool at Osbaldeston Riding School to hire out the show jumping course. I have been focusing on landing on the correct leg, and getting his strides accurate through doubles. This will be invaluable for when we start doing cross country outside, as the more confident I am in Flash’s stride the more confident we will be as a pair over bigger obstacles and fences.

Aside from working with Flash, and attempting to keep my head above water with Uni work, I have been away competing in the University Polo Winter Nationals. Polo couldn’t be further removed from TREC, and I love the chance to ride new ponies, and compete in a faster paced and exhilarating sport. The skill is very much focused on stick and ball skills, and the ability to move the horse underneath you to where you need is a given and has to be done without thinking. I have never been a natural at hand eye coordination, but I am making baby steps! I am looking forward to the upcoming months, and the better weather to allow us to get out and do more!

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