Lisa Trowse said Fast Track Day 5 - What a week and I can't believe week one is over already. It has been an absolute roller coaster but one that I do not want to get off! This place tests you mentally, emotionally and physically and I have truly found it amazing so far. From having to push outside my comfort zone dealing with Jack and his extreme behaviour, to feeling battered and bruised from my injury, but still doing hard physical 12 hour days, to trying to mix with new people, learn new things, being assessed and knowing I was not doing well, to missing my home and family. It has made me realise something about myself, that I have more stamina and willpower than I believed, that I can be a better leader for my horse I just need to learn the techniques, that I can be put under pressure and even though it went badly, come out the other side still smiling with more sheer determination to do it better next time. Wow!
We had specific workshops that we could choose today, and I worked on my figure 8 and my yoyo. My figure 8 is still not that good, and it didn't really get better. My yoyo on the other hand is fantastic. I decided to push out and go onto the 45ft. I hadn't before as jack had been difficult but that can not remain an excuse. We continued where we left off yesterday on the 22 and I tasked myself to get a straight back up all the way to the cone with impulsion to the end of the 45. First time we did it it was crooked and I probably overdid my phase 4 as he went off like a rocket when he lost his confidence. Good learning curve, as I tried to read and give him more time to keep him with me, and I go it. Fantastic. Phase one and backed up all the way :0)
After lunch we had a classroom session and then had a one to one session with our coach to set a plan to work on for the next week to give us strategies and focus. I chose with my online to maintain gait in circling particularly in canter as jack gets distracted. I want my porcupine to be soft and light and zero brace and with freestyle we are going to tackle the figure 8 with just using focus, and that demon follow the rail, where jack argues with me. Of course we will work on other things too, but that is my plan.
It was great to talk to the coach about how you feel, where you are going and so on. I had a lump in my throat when Jarno said I had a very challenging horse. I don't why, but it really meant something. I often feel inadequate because I know I lack the leadership he needs and it helps to know that he isn't an easy horse and actually I do ok. He went on to say that they had kept an eye on me, but I had managed to handle him in difficult circumstances and done well. I couldn't help but make a joke about how I had learnt an early lesson with my accident....but sometimes you need a bang to make you wake up and realise you need to do things differently.
We then had some down time. Jack is really bonding with me. And I mean really bonding. Just in these few days. The watering programme is great and I would like to try and continue it when I get home when he is kept in. We already have a great partnership but he is looking to me now more than ever and is leaving the herd to come with me.
We also had all our assessment results. I did well at my theory and my liberty. My online was just ok. I only did one of the ten riding assessments so of course that was minimal. Although I scored low I was actually really pleased. Jack had been all over the place, I had been all over the place, and so to get any score was a bonus and I sat in the low middle of the field.
The weekend will be slower paced but I have things I want to practice. Also have some study to do, and get some things down properly of where I need to improve....and there are so many. But for now a load of us are going to the bar for our first drink and unwind :0)
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