_MizElz_
Well-Known Member
Ellie and I went cross country schooling today. It was the first time we have been 'officially' jumping (i.e. not just popping the odd fence on a fun ride) for 6 years. Since then, I've always asserted the fact that I have lost my nerve...but after today, I dont think I can say that any more....!
There were five of us in the group, and all of us were either coming back to jumping after time out, riding young/inexperienced horses or suffering from a lack of confidence. The course was amazing - although it had changed a lot since my Pony Club days there - and out of all the fences, there were only two that Ellie and I refrained from jumping. We had one proper stop - the second fence on the course, a really narrow hedge - but once she'd had a look and a sniff she came back round and popped it. Strange really, going proper XC for the first time on what is effectively a fifteen year old baby horse!
I dare say our style left a lot to be desired - I am pretty rusty after so many years out of it, but even though I got left behind a couple of times when she put in big green leaps, I made sure I slipped my reins so didnt catch her in the mouth (my pet hate!!!). She was such a star, her little ears were forward all day, and the funniest thing was, she was bouncing around all over the place in between fences, wanting to follow the horses who were jumping! The two fences we left out were a biggish step down into a quarry - I half-heartedly asked her to go down but was so nervous she would leap suddenly and jump me off - and a rail with a big ditch in front of it. In both cases, I just felt it was unfair to her to ask her to jump something I was nervous about - I could just see me dropping her on the last stride and frightening us both, so I decided to leave them for today and try again next time. For there will definitely be a next time!!
On the huge plus side, we were one of only two to jump the trakehner the first time (and I HATE ditches), and I was also told by our instructor that I had a 'very good lower leg position' when we jumped the scary drop fence. That may sound like nothing, but believe me - I hold the record for falling off the most times at that fence (7 in one week, all at the same fence), because my lower leg was so bad....so I have obviously improved with age! Made my day, haha
AND - I was very nervous about the step down into the water, but Ellie happily followed one of the other horses down, leaving me feeling a lot more confident about doing the quarry step next time...
The bottom line is, I am SO pleased with my girl, and I just cannot believe we actually did it I cannot tell you how lovely it is to have not really been nervous all day - so different to the outings I remember from years ago. We both enjoyed every minute, and I'm desperate now to do more schooling! At the moment I dont really have any competitive aspirations...other than that I would love to think we may be able to do a hunter trial at some stage this year
Anyway, I'll stop waffling now I'm going to hopefully put all the pics up in PG (my brother was there, so I made him my official personal photographer!) - here are my favourites:
Scary steps - these were a lot bigger than I remembered, but Ellie positively flew up them! We were asked to go first, and I was a bit scared as I am so aware that I am completely useless as far as technique is concerned....but I neednt have worried! She made it feel easy
Our comical jump (first time!!!) over the trakehner....
There were five of us in the group, and all of us were either coming back to jumping after time out, riding young/inexperienced horses or suffering from a lack of confidence. The course was amazing - although it had changed a lot since my Pony Club days there - and out of all the fences, there were only two that Ellie and I refrained from jumping. We had one proper stop - the second fence on the course, a really narrow hedge - but once she'd had a look and a sniff she came back round and popped it. Strange really, going proper XC for the first time on what is effectively a fifteen year old baby horse!
I dare say our style left a lot to be desired - I am pretty rusty after so many years out of it, but even though I got left behind a couple of times when she put in big green leaps, I made sure I slipped my reins so didnt catch her in the mouth (my pet hate!!!). She was such a star, her little ears were forward all day, and the funniest thing was, she was bouncing around all over the place in between fences, wanting to follow the horses who were jumping! The two fences we left out were a biggish step down into a quarry - I half-heartedly asked her to go down but was so nervous she would leap suddenly and jump me off - and a rail with a big ditch in front of it. In both cases, I just felt it was unfair to her to ask her to jump something I was nervous about - I could just see me dropping her on the last stride and frightening us both, so I decided to leave them for today and try again next time. For there will definitely be a next time!!
On the huge plus side, we were one of only two to jump the trakehner the first time (and I HATE ditches), and I was also told by our instructor that I had a 'very good lower leg position' when we jumped the scary drop fence. That may sound like nothing, but believe me - I hold the record for falling off the most times at that fence (7 in one week, all at the same fence), because my lower leg was so bad....so I have obviously improved with age! Made my day, haha
AND - I was very nervous about the step down into the water, but Ellie happily followed one of the other horses down, leaving me feeling a lot more confident about doing the quarry step next time...The bottom line is, I am SO pleased with my girl, and I just cannot believe we actually did it
I cannot tell you how lovely it is to have not really been nervous all day - so different to the outings I remember from years ago. We both enjoyed every minute, and I'm desperate now to do more schooling! At the moment I dont really have any competitive aspirations...other than that I would love to think we may be able to do a hunter trial at some stage this year Anyway, I'll stop waffling now
I'm going to hopefully put all the pics up in PG (my brother was there, so I made him my official personal photographer!) - here are my favourites:Scary steps - these were a lot bigger than I remembered, but Ellie positively flew up them! We were asked to go first, and I was a bit scared as I am so aware that I am completely useless as far as technique is concerned....but I neednt have worried! She made it feel easy
Our comical jump (first time!!!) over the trakehner....
