Yard work done, lorry loaded with three horses for me to ride, plus Colin and Rosie and on the road for 9.30am heading for Coombelands Cross Country Course. A good training venue with gallops, sandschool and an impressive variety of jumps fairly spread out so that the younger horses learn to move on to the next fence.

Flight  the five year old was first to ride, he has been xc schooling once before and hasnt totally understood the concept of ditches, today he came off the lorry and was slightly 'wide eyed & wild' but I reassured him, trotted him round very positively for 15 minutes and he soon relaxed. I would even go as far as saying he became Mister chilled out, had one brief look at the first ditch and then took everything in his stride. In and out the water, over lots of different ditches and felt much braver and less worried. A pleasing schooling session for Flight.

Christian amazed me, he came off the lorry , took 30second dislike to the snake, (hose reel) that was gong to eat him alive, warmed up, started jumping, and the fences proved no problem at all. admittedly he gave the first ditch we jumped approximately 40ft clearance but he felt fab. He does make everything seem very small. We did laugh as he tentatively took a step into the water, splashed his belly, bunny hopped, stood stock still and bunny hopped again, the more he splashed the stiller he stood before hopping again! Didnt take long for Christian to get the hang of it and was soon trotting in and out, jumping the log before it, quietly and confidently! 

Wesley worked well, other than a tiny blip at the beginning when I jumped the brush to skinny, expecting it to be five strides and it was four! He jumped everything well and we asked a few more questions from him and he answered them perfectly. A definite improvemet from him in both his jumping and his attitude.

Colin who does 'proper showing' came with his owner Rosie for a xc play and to assist with 'nannying duties' and they had a fab time, for Colin, the cross country course is just an extra big working hunter arena.

Pleased with today, horses all felt like they had come on and we have gone home feeling very positive.