Terrible schooling sessions, lots of fast work and prelim 14

Decided last minute to take Magic to do prelim 14 which left me a week to get his schooling back to where it had been before the bad weather. Whenever he's had a break from regular schooling, even if it's just a week or so, he tends to have a really really bad day. Monday was no exception. He's hanging on the left rein terribly so is constantly looking to the right when he's supposed to be bending left. He also ignores my left leg which makes any attempt to bend him around it impossible.

Decided to give up on the schooling for that week so lunged him once and worked him long and low. He seemed to enjoy himself and was very active and stretched nicely. I knew I was in for an interesting week when his breathing was normal after 20 minutes of mostly trot and canter.

After that we've just hacked out and I've made sure he always gets to canter so he can get rid of some excess energy and burn off his winter tummy. He surprised me with how fit he seems to be, we did a fair bit of fast work and he seemed to find it easy. Took things slightly easier on Saturday and Magic got to play in the ford to wash off his legs and tail since he still doesn't really like the hose and paddling in the ford is much more fun.

I was very proud of Magic on Sunday. He loaded straight away into a lorry he'd never been in before and didn't turn and get back off again. He travelled well and hardly sweated up on the way there. Got him off the lorry and he stood while I tacked him up and then calmly walked to the warm up area. He had a good look about and was strong to canter at first but after a while he settled and worked in an outline for a short while, had a couple of nice canters and then it was time for our test. We walked over to the indoor with a friend and her horse and waited outside while she did her test. Magic was a bit fidgety at first but didn't do anything bad. Went in for our turn and he was a little on edge but didn't show any signs of doing anything nasty like bucking. Didn't spook at the judges in the box or horses walking past the area at head height, the only thing he did was nap a little by the area gate as he could see his friend but he only did it once. His test of a little too fast but he did everything I asked including getting the right canter leads even though he was obviously nervous. Even his circles were quite accurate. To my surprise we came 4th out of 6 and got some helpful comments from the judges.



Since then we've just been having more fun hacking. Magic has been enjoying himself a bit too much and has been very strong and wanting to canter everywhere. I think we are getting spring grass early.

It feels like forever since I've done any proper schooling (where he suddenly perfected rein back) with Magic but I'll have to fit some in between the rain we keep having as we're hopefully off to do two dressage tests on the 23rd. A walk and trot and prelim 14. I can't remember either of them and I've got just over a week to learn them. Should be fun.

I've lunged Magic once since my last update I think, had one very short session in the school and before that he's only been on a short hack. I'm hoping to bring him back into full work this week weather etc. permitting. I want to concentrate on his fitness as well as how he holds himself while ridden.

He still isn't straight while ridden or lunged. On a loose rein while hacking it's hardly noticeable but as soon as he's asked to work properly he hangs to the left quite badly although he did manage some nice long and low work in trot briefly.