Recently at home the weather has been terrible and it has always rained on the days I’ve wanted to ride and then been super sunny whilst I was away. Today it was looking pretty miserable too and so I wasn’t optimistic about getting a session in as its now been about three weeks since I rode last. However I went and checked on Jack and he was dry enough despite the light rain and so that was good enough for me!

I was very undecided as to what to do with Jack now that I actually had the chance to ride, I don’t know the latest dressage test and had no one around to film it, and then I didn’t want the added pressure on myself of riding the perfect test to submit. Instead I tried to practice what Katie taught me a couple of weeks ago in terms of making him work hard and become more supple over the back. Half the time I had completely forgotten what Katie had told me and wished she was there to boss me around from the ground! In the end I got him forward which was easy enough, and I gradually tried to focus on little things to make the bend happen. After around half an hour of working him in circles and changing the rein he did begin to show some really nice bend, and I kept pushing him into all the corners and he was working lovely.

I then decided to give Jack a break and allow him to have his head wherever he liked as I focused on myself. I don’t know why I submitted myself to such torture but they say its good for you! I simply just trotted around with no stirrups for 15 minutes or so, trying to keep my legs in position engaging the muscles around the groin area as well as engaging my core. At first it was difficult and I felt pretty sorry for Jack as I was bouncing around on his back, but he kept a nice slow and steady trot for me the whole time – I think I would have come off if he were any faster! We went around on both reins and I managed to feel my muscles warming up and working hard, it was so painful at first I had to take mini breaks and go back to walk.

So now I am home and exhausted and I can’t walk that fast as my thighs hurt too much, but hey if it’s going to gradually improve my position it will all be worth it!