40 winks

Someone is very tired after another full on day at camp. In fact, I think it’s safe to say that both of my kids are very tired. I am too. The sudden heat is rather sapping. Still we’ve all had another good day.

In our flat work lesson this morning, I felt so much straighter in my body after yesterday’s treatment and taping. It’s really puts you in the right position that’s for sure. I noticed a change in Buddy too. He had to work differently to adjust for my new posture. I could really feel the difference. He was much straighter too.

The battery seemed to drain though and he felt like he was getting a little stiff. After last year and his injury, I was a bit concerned. He worked really hard yesterday and I foolishly forgot to give him his electrolytes. That wouldn’t help.

I walked him off in the forest and he felt good. So he got a lunch with lots of electrolytes in it to see if that would help.

He popped on the weight bridge after our lesson. I had 630kg in my head. He was 631kg! And a perfect body score. The nutritionist said he had really good muscle tone too. We got a rosette for being perfect! What a lovely touch.

After taking Bert in the forest for a run. And some lunch for me. It was time for our second lesson – jumping related distances. We built on the quality of canter lesson we had yesterday. I’d mentally prepared myself to stop if Buddy wasn’t feeling it. Well he was well up for it! My new position massively helped as did my softer hands (another learning from yesterday). So happy with him!

I know Buddy is a seasoned pro at camps. Bert has taken to it like a duck to water.

Last day tomorrow. Always bittersweet.

Micromanagement

Third day of camp and another two lessons done. Started the day with grids. Now we all know, I bloody love grids! And so does Buddy. He was rather keen to get on with it. So the focus of the lesson was about getting his canter established and listening before we attempted the grid. He flew through it though!!

Then this afternoon, it was another flat work lesson. The focus of this was to try and micromanage Buddy less and help him be softer. Much harder than I seems as I‘m not always a ‘less is more’ kinda rider. Definitely making progress though. So that’s good.

The Spillers weight bridge was back for Buddy’s annual weight in. He scored a perfect body condition and has dropped weight from last year. He’s now 637kg.

Another successful camp day done. We’ll both sleep well tonight.