Ruby (Kanga)Roo Bounces round Boomerang!

[LeannePip]

In an attempt to show Ruby that there is more to XC than rustic logs and scary blue boats we headed to Boomerang for a play!

Having only got slightly lost and having to ask directions from the stud next door we met up with a couple of friends after lunch. She was pretty sharp when i first got on so we started off by just wandering round the big field seeing what jumps were on offer and putting together a plan of action. We started pretty simple over the tires, then incorporated the second set, then joined that onto the little log after the ditch, then added in the log/bank before the tires. It was brilliant being able to string things together from the off as i'm still struggling with a bit of control, i've currently got her in a waterford which has been brilliant for stopping her running off afterwards but its a bit too much for setting up and between fences, it brings her back too much and we end up hopping on the spot, any suggestions greatly welcomed! We then started with the bank on a curving line to a little wall which she rode really nicely.

https://www.facebook.com/leanne.mccabe1/videos/10206523409267497/?l=5744242465003691413

We then moved onto the smaller water and some steps and strung a few fences together there. I'm so pleased Ruby loves water as having had a horse who wasn't great with water its a huge relief!

https://www.facebook.com/leanne.mccabe1/videos/10206523408787485/?l=751285836145821507

The some little barrels;
https://www.facebook.com/leanne.mccabe1/videos/10206523408387475/?l=865933968779246235

Then the trakehner . . . not anything she's seen before but she's not very ditchy so we watched some one else go over the line, and had a go for ourselves. Slightly interesting but i feel like it shows an improvement in my seat which is something i've been working on as i used to just get launched skywards and try and land with the horse. And although it wasn't pretty it didn't feel like a near miss either!

https://www.facebook.com/leanne.mccabe1/videos/10206522945775910/?l=3782327864674125073

Much more comfortable on second attempt;
https://www.facebook.com/leanne.mccabe1/videos/10206523407787460/?l=3839373196607585567

We then moved onto a rail with a built up tray underneath, i knew she'd have a look so to keep control and try to avoid another kangaroo bounce i wanted to put her in deep to give her enough time to see and asses rather than launching, and she popped it really sweetly;
https://www.facebook.com/leanne.mccabe1/videos/10206523408107468/?l=7740563903445811066

Then wandered back over to the big water to practice popping in and out, first time she's done either so we did the first step down with a lead and she did it sweetly so we went solo and she got braver each time. I was carefully trying to keep a lid on so as to save an exuberant launch in which did the trick, but by this point she was so sharp to the aids i was really struggling to come at a suitable pace without getting bunny hops and bounces so something else to work on!
https://www.facebook.com/leanne.mccabe1/videos/10206523407587455/?l=3012697718951432056
https://www.facebook.com/leanne.mccabe1/videos/10206523407227446/?l=4233257626813472542

Lastly we finished up with a couple of combinations over the ditch and then the bank/curve to some brightly coloured lego and she was again bold and brave each time;
https://www.facebook.com/leanne.mccabe1/videos/10206523406907438/?l=1680615839858745804
https://www.facebook.com/leanne.mccabe1/videos/10206523406427426/?l=2600419170975601950

So pleased with her, she's trying so hard at the moment and i hope i'm trying just as hard to keep up with her, you just cannot fault her enthusiasm!


Saturday we also had a play at a friends working hunter course which was also excellent fun and a good test for her too, she's got a fairly quiet week this week, then a flatwork lesson Fri and Bovington ODE Sunday before a quiet few weeks and hopefully some dressage too.
https://www.facebook.com/leanne.mccabe1/videos/10206509442118327/?l=1619591848115533080
https://www.facebook.com/leanne.mccabe1/videos/10206509441958323/?l=6658860131925950881

 

[star]

Blimey. That's some jump she's got! Definitely looking more secure. Well done!

 

[silv]

That's quite an athletic manoeuvre over the trakehner, well sat.

 

[monte1]

looking good, she has a HUGE jump on her. well sat !

 

[Bernster]

Ooh you're both looking good there. If I remember right, she's been doing some spectacular leaps in the past? She's looking so much more confident now, which is lovely. And yes, def well sat there. My boy didn't do anything nearly as big as Ruby, and I pinged right off when I did xc last Friday, so am v impressed. Only been to Boomerang once, as it's a bit far for me, but it's a great course.

 

[Lanky Loll]

Ooh she looks like fun

 

[Christmas Crumpet]

I am jump judging on Sunday so will keep an eye out for you!

 

[LeannePip]

Blimey. That's some jump she's got! Definitely looking more secure. Well done!

That's quite an athletic manoeuvre over the trakehner, well sat.

looking good, she has a HUGE jump on her. well sat !

Thanks all! She has a huge jump, she just doesn't know quite how to use it yet! Its a work in progress sitting and staying on her and its not always successful but on the whole I feel more confident that'll stay on!

Ooh you're both looking good there. If I remember right, she's been doing some spectacular leaps in the past? She's looking so much more confident now, which is lovely. And yes, def well sat there. My boy didn't do anything nearly as big as Ruby, and I pinged right off when I did xc last Friday, so am v impressed. Only been to Boomerang once, as it's a bit far for me, but it's a great course.

Yes she does have form for doing this and it used to catch me out a lot and it was pot luck whether we landed together or not! but thankfully its much more irregular now and shes generally much more confident jumping things in a normal fashion the first time around, so i think we are moving in the right direction!

Boomerang was great, its about an hour and a half for us so we wont do it regularly, but it was a nice day out!

Ooh she looks like fun

Despite this she is acctually brilliant fun . . . if you like bouncing and pouncing all over the place!

 

[Girlracer]

Love your posts about her - she's cracking. Looking good - good luck at your ODE!

 

[JennBags]

Looking super, I can't see the fb photos though. She's really getting it now, just need to keep chipping away at getting her confidence up, and you're doing a great job of that.

 

[LeannePip]

Love your posts about her - she's cracking. Looking good - good luck at your ODE!

Thanks! Really looking forward to it!

Looking super, I can't see the fb photos though. She's really getting it now, just need to keep chipping away at getting her confidence up, and you're doing a great job of that.

Thank you! Shame you can't see the videos for a bit of light entertainment, i thought the link should work regardless of other settings! She's really making progress so we're just taking it each step at a time and trying to build on each session, she's really blossoming at the moment so i'm really pleased

 

[Horsemad12]

WOW she has come on so much and you are riding her really well. Good luck for the ODE.

As for the bit, I have recently tried a copper roller which my instructor recommended, I really didn't want to try it, but it really helped my boy who can run a bit after the fence without being too much on the approach, perhaps worth a try.

 

[LeannePip]

WOW she has come on so much and you are riding her really well. Good luck for the ODE.

As for the bit, I have recently tried a copper roller which my instructor recommended, I really didn't want to try it, but it really helped my boy who can run a bit after the fence without being too much on the approach, perhaps worth a try.

Thank you

Can you show me what bit you are taking about? she came in a d ring with copper rollers but i changed it almost straight away as its not dressage legal so was no point continuing in it at that point.