Annagain
Well-Known Member
to fall off your horse in a way that makes you love him even more!
My friend and I went to a riding club clinic. She was in the (bigger) group before me so each of us was going to wait for the other but when we got there, it was chucking it down and someone had dropped out of her group so she and the other person in the group persuaded me to join them, both they and the trainer promised they'd keep the fences smaller for me and put them up for them. Bear in mind that at the start of the lesson, I hadn't show jumped more than 60cm (I might have done a few bigger ones on a fun ride following someone), hadn't jumped a filler, hadn't jumped a spread and had only had one show jumping lesson. As you all know I had a rough two years with Charlie and my confidence was on the floor 3 months ago when I bought Wiggy.
By the end, not one fence had been kept small for me. We jumped a full 80cm course of fillers and planks, including that skinny arrowhead type fence that Jump for Joy do. Both the others in the lesson stopped or ran out at it but Wiggy bless him popped it first time - no ballooning (like Charlie would have done) or stops (like Archie would have) just trotted into it calmy and popped it. The final fence was a spread, and unfortunately, on our very last go when it had just gone up (again!) he clipped the back rail and frightened himself. He was genuinely upset, to the point where I think he was expecting a walloping for hitting the fence (which breaks my heart). He shot off and I wasn't quite back in balance, I nearly fell off to the left, saved myself and then Wiggy turned round the corner and I plopped off on the right! The poor thing looked terrified. We had a bit of cuddle then I got back on and popped it without the back rail with no problems. The one time I came off Charlie (which was entirely my fault) I had a real wobble and didn't want to get back on, let alone jump a tiny fence. Wth Wiggy, I wasn't even worried about jumping again, I just wanted to restore his confidence.
The good news is my air jacket works. The was the first time I fell off in it and I don't have any of that usual whiplash stiffness today. The bad news is it doesn't cover my backside. That is sore!
If you'd told me 3 months ago I'd be jumping again and loving it, I wouldn't have believed you. If you'd told me a month ago (hell, even 25 hours ago) I'd ever jump 80cm again I'd have laughed in your face. Now I'm considering doing the new BRC 70cm Horse Trials teams next year and maybe more. I just need him not to worry about hitting a fence first, which is quite a difficult thing to train!
It's a bit of a rubbish photo as it's taken from a video (but I'm very grateful to my friend for videoing it as I always forget!)
My friend and I went to a riding club clinic. She was in the (bigger) group before me so each of us was going to wait for the other but when we got there, it was chucking it down and someone had dropped out of her group so she and the other person in the group persuaded me to join them, both they and the trainer promised they'd keep the fences smaller for me and put them up for them. Bear in mind that at the start of the lesson, I hadn't show jumped more than 60cm (I might have done a few bigger ones on a fun ride following someone), hadn't jumped a filler, hadn't jumped a spread and had only had one show jumping lesson. As you all know I had a rough two years with Charlie and my confidence was on the floor 3 months ago when I bought Wiggy.
By the end, not one fence had been kept small for me. We jumped a full 80cm course of fillers and planks, including that skinny arrowhead type fence that Jump for Joy do. Both the others in the lesson stopped or ran out at it but Wiggy bless him popped it first time - no ballooning (like Charlie would have done) or stops (like Archie would have) just trotted into it calmy and popped it. The final fence was a spread, and unfortunately, on our very last go when it had just gone up (again!) he clipped the back rail and frightened himself. He was genuinely upset, to the point where I think he was expecting a walloping for hitting the fence (which breaks my heart). He shot off and I wasn't quite back in balance, I nearly fell off to the left, saved myself and then Wiggy turned round the corner and I plopped off on the right! The poor thing looked terrified. We had a bit of cuddle then I got back on and popped it without the back rail with no problems. The one time I came off Charlie (which was entirely my fault) I had a real wobble and didn't want to get back on, let alone jump a tiny fence. Wth Wiggy, I wasn't even worried about jumping again, I just wanted to restore his confidence.
The good news is my air jacket works. The was the first time I fell off in it and I don't have any of that usual whiplash stiffness today. The bad news is it doesn't cover my backside. That is sore!
If you'd told me 3 months ago I'd be jumping again and loving it, I wouldn't have believed you. If you'd told me a month ago (hell, even 25 hours ago) I'd ever jump 80cm again I'd have laughed in your face. Now I'm considering doing the new BRC 70cm Horse Trials teams next year and maybe more. I just need him not to worry about hitting a fence first, which is quite a difficult thing to train!
It's a bit of a rubbish photo as it's taken from a video (but I'm very grateful to my friend for videoing it as I always forget!)
