Well it has been far too long since i updated my blog so a new season means more updates on life at Lucy Straker Dressage!!!!!

 

Having left the rollercoaster of 2010 behind me i cant wait for what 2011 is going to bring......the yard is bursting at the seams with horses...training is full on and everything is going to plan!!

 

Since the end of the National Championships last september the programme for my winter training changed dramatically to previous years....Having felt that Lionheart (Leo) needed to gain more fitness to perform well at Grand Prix and also get his Va va voom back in the arena we have spent the winter out on the all weather gallops once or twice a week, jumping little fences and generally making the intensive Grand Prix work much more fun!!!! Wow it has made such a difference....he is not only fitter but stronger and has a totally different attitiude to his work.

 Well to see if this new regime had worked we went out 2 weeks ago to do our first Grand Prix of the season. He warmed up brilliantly...everytime he did something well i pushed him on forwards with big pats to continue our little routine that we have at home to make him think he is top dog!!! In the test he felt amazing...really forward and expressive and our piaffe and Passage tour picked up all 7's and 8's. We had a fantastic result and personal best score of 69.5%!!! I was so thrilled with him and it felt like i was riding a different horse.......so all the hard work has been worth it!!!!

Our first Premier League of the season is in two weeks so although the training has increased we are still finding time for him to have fun on the gallops and jump!

 

Lenherr Rocco (Rodger) is going very well and following our winter training he is now working Prix St. George. He has picked up his tempi changes easily and is proving very trainable for all the more advanced movements. We have been out in the last month to do his first couple of Advanced Mediums...although a little green he is feeling stronger all the time and the harder the test the better!! I think we will be ready for our first PSG mid summer so very exciting!!

 

My rising 4 yr old (Maverick)who i have had since he was 2 is now broken and ready for his first competitve season!! I have finally thought of his posh name which is to be London Pride so lets hope he's as good as the Beer!!!!!!!! He is proving to be a very quick learner.....his brain is ticking all the time so has to be kept busy or we all get bucked off!!!! He is so lovely to ride as he is so well put together and my Head Girl Emily and I are sharing his training at the moment. She will be competing him this year in Prelim and Novice classes and i shall do the young horse classes on him. I have decided to leave him turned out 24/7 as he is happier and easier to ride with that routine at the moment.

 

Well that is what 2011 is looking like so far......i shall keep you posted on all our news and results and promise to update my blog more often so check back soon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!