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So in my attempts to get Jensen going forward XC, I advertised on Facebook for someone with a bold, forward thinking horse to give me a lead on a fun ride. My friend B stepped up (MillbrookSong for those of you who have been around a while!) and offered to accompany me on her 17hh chestnut ex-NH racing, ex-P2Ping and now intermediate team chasing TB. Then one of the grooms on my yard asked if he could come, on his 17hh TB type eventer.... and there was me on my 15.3hh piebald cob type 
Bit of a inauspicious start - Jensen was being quite buzzy which was great news, we got to the first fence.....and B's horse skidded to a halt in front of the fence! I had to turn away to avoid crashing into her, 3rd horse jumped nicely. B went to try again, I followed her over..... and Jensen jumped massively to the left to avoid the fence, nearly smashed me into the adjacent tree, and I came off! Hmmmm. Got back on, carried on.
Then things started to get better - and honestly, if you are a nervous type, never follow a bold horse on a fun ride! I jumped things today I would never have dreamed of jumping in 'real life' - a lot of hedges, a lot of tiger traps (some of which were used in the Courtfield Cup), rails, more hedges..... it was amazing
One of the biggest I jumped was approx 3'6", most were around 3' - 3'3", which was quite unnerving when we are aiming for 80cm BE (what's what, 2'9"?) Jensen learned over time that to take a stride out was not a good idea (thankfully!) and I learned that although there was always a gate, there was no way Jensen was going to wait and go through the gate when the other two were ahead of him jumping!
So a great positive experience for both of us, I am absolutely shattered now and feel far too old for this stuff, but OMG what a buzz Hoping to get some pics from head cam footage soon
Bit of a inauspicious start - Jensen was being quite buzzy which was great news, we got to the first fence.....and B's horse skidded to a halt in front of the fence! I had to turn away to avoid crashing into her, 3rd horse jumped nicely. B went to try again, I followed her over..... and Jensen jumped massively to the left to avoid the fence, nearly smashed me into the adjacent tree, and I came off! Hmmmm. Got back on, carried on.
Then things started to get better - and honestly, if you are a nervous type, never follow a bold horse on a fun ride! I jumped things today I would never have dreamed of jumping in 'real life' - a lot of hedges, a lot of tiger traps (some of which were used in the Courtfield Cup), rails, more hedges..... it was amazing
One of the biggest I jumped was approx 3'6", most were around 3' - 3'3", which was quite unnerving when we are aiming for 80cm BE (what's what, 2'9"?) Jensen learned over time that to take a stride out was not a good idea (thankfully!) and I learned that although there was always a gate, there was no way Jensen was going to wait and go through the gate when the other two were ahead of him jumping!So a great positive experience for both of us, I am absolutely shattered now and feel far too old for this stuff, but OMG what a buzz
Hoping to get some pics from head cam footage soon 
