Bonkers black pony gets his jump on!

BBP

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Following an excellent progress report from his physiotherapist (for a hot spot in his back, precursor to kissing spines type of condition) we got the all clear to bring in some jumping. The pony has done almost none of this in the last year due to various things going against us, so it was great to get him out and about having a play. The game plan was to keep things small so I didn't stress about the height (capable but novice pony and cowardly pilot) and just work on gaining some control between fences. Last jumping experiences involved him charging around getting cocky and then stopping, or bucking after every fence, and me just sitting like a lemon letting him do pretty much whatever he wanted. So now we are working on me being in charge and him coming back to me between fences so that I actually feel confident in putting my leg on in front of a fence, confident that I won't then disappear into next week.

The pony feels like a million dollars and although we are far from perfect he is just being a joy to train and ride at the moment.

On to the piccies!:

The trot last year, looks pretty enough but not convinced we were going anywhere:
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This weekend, I feel like we are gaining some power:
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Show jumping games:
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The boy has scope!
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And some cross country fun:
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Didn't all go to play
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Comments and critisism welcome, I'm trying really really hard to be a better pilot so any extra pointers will be taken on board.
 
I'm not going to give advice because I hardly jump anymore, and I think you both look great! He's a lovely little horse.
 
Fab pictures! What breed is he and how big if you don't mind me asking? You both look great and he has a lovely jump :) Plus, you sat to the refusal well - I always end up loosing my stirrups!
 
I love the first xc pic, it looks like he's checking for monsters on the other side! :D He's beautiful and I'm not really qualified to give criticism :)
 
Hi, yes, he's PRE (Andalusian) with a quarter welsh section B thrown in to make him a midgety 14hh. Utterly gorgeous happy friendly mad as a box of frogs pony. I'm madly in love with how awesome he is, given how mental he was when I backed him. He even hacked past a pig farm on Friday with lots of happy free range pigs charging around without losing his mind completely so he must be growing up!

At this point I should credit my lovely boyfriend for taking all these great photos, the new camera makes him much keener to come out and about with us!
 
Hi, yes, he's PRE (Andalusian) with a quarter welsh section B thrown in to make him a midgety 14hh. Utterly gorgeous happy friendly mad as a box of frogs pony. I'm madly in love with how awesome he is, given how mental he was when I backed him. He even hacked past a pig farm on Friday with lots of happy free range pigs charging around without losing his mind completely so he must be growing up!

At this point I should credit my lovely boyfriend for taking all these great photos, the new camera makes him much keener to come out and about with us!

Thought he had some Welsh in him! I have a Welsh D and he has exactly the same look on his face when deciding he's terrified of a jump ;)
 
Sorry, been out pole dancing! I'd put up a hell of a fight if you tried to half inch him, even though he can drive me to distraction sometimes! He taught himself canter pirouettes the other day trying to touch the end of the garrocha pole I was carrying, how many other ponies could do that??!
 
Credit where credit's due, you look as though you are doing a superb job with him. I can see why he has stolen your heart, he is gorgeous!
 
Both definitely good points. My hands are improving but when I get nervous or lose focus they drop back to bad habits again.

Thanks for the nice comments all, I really did think I'd ruin him, once I brought him home and realised I was well over horsed with a hot panic prone unbacked little pony I'd bought. The first year after backing him I couldn't so much as cough, sneeze, fart or hiccup up there without a rodeo reaction. So it's lovely to see people like him as much as I do. I don't usually say this but I'm pretty proud of myself as well as of him!
 
Thanks! He isn't convinced they are all entirely safe yet so likes to get high enough that he can have a good look between his knees! Anything over 2'3 looks mahoosive to me so think it'll be a while before I put that jump to good use! Not that he'd mind sticking to the diddy ones.
 
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