Story
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong><em>Training Update 3: Four Points For a Refusal!!</em></strong></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Things are moving on apace – my latest show jumping lesson was challenging. I did manage to stay on the horse, but as the height of the jumps increased he refused to go over them – through them or a dead stop wasn’t a problem for him. So my trainer got on instead and wound up Hogan to jump each one with ease – showing my lack of experience. We swapped again and I had two clear rounds of jumps then gave up while the going was good. One week to go!!</span></p>
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<p><strong><span style="color: #000080;"><em>UPDATE AT 12 September:</em></span></strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Although time is running out for me – in terms of preparation (October 2): I was in the saddle at the weekend for an intensive lesson of show jumping with Hogan. All was going well until a combination of three jumps with a sharp turn – he was foot perfect but I dropped a stirrup, lost my balance and fell off – bounced off the wall of the indoor school and ended up under my horse. I hung on the reins (very important for those non-riders) and was faced with a very confused horse looking down at me as though to say: “What the xxx are you doing down there!?!”</span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Nothing bruised but my ego, after a couple of minutes we attempted it again and this time managed two circuits of the three jumps and decided to call it a day. I think I need a few more sessions but we’re doing ok, the galloping is coming on a treat though!</span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><em>Less than a year ago I had never been on the back of a horse </em>- in a month I am undertaking a sponsored ride around Hatfield House (built by Queen Elizabeth I as a hunting lodge). The course involves an eight mile open country route and includes <strong>4 sets of jumps</strong>!</p>
<p>My companion for the event is Hogan, he stands 17 hands high and is a 14 year old ex-show hunter. <em>At least he knows what he's doing out in the fields </em>- so my faith and trust are in him on the day.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="color: #000000;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Things are moving on apace – my latest show jumping lesson was challenging. I did manage to stay on the horse, but as the height of the jumps increased he refused to go over them – through them or a dead stop wasn’t a problem for him. So my trainer got on instead and wound up Hogan to jump each one with ease – showing my lack of experience. We swapped again and I had two clear rounds of jumps then gave up while the going was good. One week to go!!</span></span></span></p>
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