+ videos of Figs jumping debut!

[nikkimariet]

Don't get too excited....the jumps were TINY!!!!

Well. I'm alive. Fig is alive. And we are both smiling!! So, I'd consider our latest venture a success (Aside from the camera being a major spanner, so all I have are videos and stills!)

Changed his bit to a waterford loose ring snaffle, added a neck strap, some sexy bit rings and cranked my stirrups up 2 holes (poor poor ankles). Can I just say it's *really* difficult jumping in a saddle designed to keep you glued in and boots designed to keep your ankles straight?!

Started off with a weeny (no, really, I've jumped bigger on Toby the Shetland!) crosspole, moved to an upright and then to a spread. He's very brave, wasn't fazed at all Never once felt like he was going to stop :dances: Absolutely clouted the back pole off a spread once, mainly because he tried to jump the striding pole AND the fence in one go..... Once a hurdler, always a hurdler He's a proper neat little chap otherwise! He's also very genuine, given I haven't jumped 'properly' in a good year (and even then, not on my own horse), and I did insist on chucking my hands somewhere near his ears

Stills:

(deffo a dressage horse!)

Vids/vroom vroom:
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10152282145535195&set=vb.534925194&type=3
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10152282169360195&set=vb.534925194&type=3
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10152282187210195&set=vb.534925194&type=3
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10152282203260195&set=vb.534925194&type=3

My face:

Hopefully the use of all the jumps will get him out of his fear of the Corner of Doom (aka the corner with all the poles/wings/fillers in)

PS quote of the day 'Oh my god!!! You could do combined training.... YOU COULD DO ARENA EVENTING!!!' not in my lifetime, I shed my balls of steel many moons ago fankkkkk oooooo

Love my pony. Really love him. He has been fantastic this week, given me 4 brilliant rides. Shiny clever boy

 

[AbFab]

Aww look at him go! Looks a lot neater than I expected. LOVE that photo of his engine at full revs too

 

[Roasted Chestnuts]

Sounds like a good day

Great pics

 

[dafthoss]

Theres an event pony in there

Would be a shame to let that dressage go to waste just doing BD, when are you going xc schooling?

 

[Cazzah]

I love him! Look at him go and how happy does he look too?! Fab to see! I think your face was more than you suggest



BE next year????????

 

[whizzer]

Mine adores jumping but never loses his suspicion of our corner of doom!(And this was the ssme at out old yard as well!) Mind you he will spook while trotting past jumps with fillers but never bats an eyelid when pointed at them! Fig looking lovely.

 

[FfionWinnie]

You so need a jump saddle for this latest venture. He looks brill!

 

[TableDancer]

YAAAYYYY go Fig!!! He's a natural - and I'd beg to differ re dressage horse shot, actually shows what a good engine he has, all the better to leave the ground

Joking aside, he really does look super, I'd have him on my yard any time! He just does have the most fabulous "can do" attitude, doesn't he? Shows how much he trusts you, too

 

[kirstyhen]

Good luck with the corner of doom, Mally will jump ANYTHING but ask her to trot AROUND a jump and she can do wonderful spooks!
He definitely looks keen!!

 

[seabsicuit2]

That is an event pony!! He looks super. Sounds like he would be v brave on XC as well.
I say event pony, but his back end in the dressage horse photo is amazing!

 

[Lolo]

He is a keen bean! You need a jumping saddle

My old horse was a tit about spooking at fences when going past them... One video shows us jumping a fence with pig fillers and then turning back on ourselves round the same fence. Which he spooks at so violently I nearly fell off.

 

[nikkimariet]

Aww look at him go! Looks a lot neater than I expected. LOVE that photo of his engine at full revs too

He was a lot neater than *I* expected too lol!!

Theres an event pony in there

Would be a shame to let that dressage go to waste just doing BD, when are you going xc schooling?

First, I totes need a brown jump saddle, brown rolled bridle, fluffy 5 point breastplate, one of them ecogold saddle pads you eventers go on about, a variety of boots and a mushroom hat!!

Would be worried about brake failure in open spaces! Need to relearn how to see a stride methinks

I love him! Look at him go and how happy does he look too?! Fab to see! I think your face was more than you suggest



BE next year????????

He seemed very at ease with it all - I was smiling by the end, but more than a bit nervous at first

You so need a jump saddle for this latest venture. He looks brill!

I do!! I need to rob a bank first though!! :crossesfingersforgoodbonusandpromisedpayrise:

YAAAYYYY go Fig!!! He's a natural - and I'd beg to differ re dressage horse shot, actually shows what a good engine he has, all the better to leave the ground

Joking aside, he really does look super, I'd have him on my yard any time! He just does have the most fabulous "can do" attitude, doesn't he? Shows how much he trusts you, too

Previous owners/trainers weren't lying when they said he had a neat jump on him

He is such an easy character; he was charming the metaphorical pants off our trimmer today.

I hadn't thought of it like that

Good luck with the corner of doom, Mally will jump ANYTHING but ask her to trot AROUND a jump and she can do wonderful spooks!
He definitely looks keen!!

Silly bay buggers!

Can't wait to have a go again!

That is an event pony!! He looks super. Sounds like he would be v brave on XC as well.
I say event pony, but his back end in the dressage horse photo is amazing!

But not an event rider I deffo wouldn't be brave on the XC

He was super duper bouncy today!

He is a keen bean! You need a jumping saddle

My old horse was a tit about spooking at fences when going past them... One video shows us jumping a fence with pig fillers and then turning back on ourselves round the same fence. Which he spooks at so violently I nearly fell off.

I am really glad I didn't fall off today Either from him spooking or my lack of agility!

 

[georgiegirl]

He LOVES it! Put some brave pants on girl and get on with it

Kudos for jumping in the dressage saddle though - ouchie!!

 

[dafthoss]

First, I totes need a brown jump saddle, brown rolled bridle, fluffy 5 point breastplate, one of them ecogold saddle pads you eventers go on about, a variety of boots and a mushroom hat!!

Sounds like the perfect spending spree for your ROR winnings

You and fig would match the YP then, he has a new rolled bridle that I'm not letting him wear until he does a nice test, which could be some time . Some nice boots with air vents in and some tape to keep your hat silk on and you will be proper eventers .

Oh and jumps you go past are very scarey!!

 

[1Lucie]

Awww! That doesnt look overly comfortable for u in that dressage saddle tho

 

[FfionWinnie]

A cheap synthetic GP or jump meanwhile would be miles better than the dressage saddle. I think out are really brave to jump in it, no way would I want to! One of the pics looked painful for you

Do we need to start a campaign to get you eventing then???

 

[glamourpuss]

What a lovely neat little jump he's got on him & his face is an absolute picture....it's a real 'Yippee this is great fun!' face.

You know you can go arena eventing & jumping & the jumps don't have to be massive

You could join my 'cacking myself but still having a go' gang

 

[nikicb]

What fun he is having!!!!

 

[Laafet]

Such a shame that BD dropped combined training! He would blitz that!

 

[nikkimariet]

He LOVES it! Put some brave pants on girl and get on with it

Kudos for jumping in the dressage saddle though - ouchie!!

Thanks - haha it wasn't too bad, the worst was not being able to get my stirrups short enough, knee blocks in wrong place! And the cantel kept booting me up the ass!

Sounds like the perfect spending spree for your ROR winnings

You and fig would match the YP then, he has a new rolled bridle that I'm not letting him wear until he does a nice test, which could be some time . Some nice boots with air vents in and some tape to keep your hat silk on and you will be proper eventers .

Oh and jumps you go past are very scarey!!

Won't be long till he debuts his new bridle then

I don't want to be a proper eventer, eventing = (more) expensive, mud, early (er) mornings.....

Awww! That doesnt look overly comfortable for u in that dressage saddle tho

Wasn't too bad, I'll have to see what Santa brings

A cheap synthetic GP or jump meanwhile would be miles better than the dressage saddle. I think out are really brave to jump in it, no way would I want to! One of the pics looked painful for you

Do we need to start a campaign to get you eventing then???

Not against the idea of a synthetic jump, but not GP! I do have a bruise on the inside of my knee, but that's about it

*snort* what, and get my shiny boots dirty?!

What a lovely neat little jump he's got on him & his face is an absolute picture....it's a real 'Yippee this is great fun!' face.

You know you can go arena eventing & jumping & the jumps don't have to be massive

You could join my 'cacking myself but still having a go' gang

He has surprised me with how neat he is, can't wait to have another go!

What fun he is having!!!!

I know, glad I changed his bit

Such a shame that BD dropped combined training! He would blitz that!

We might get lots of time penalties for running off in passage though

 

[Worried1]

Flying dressage pony!!!!!

 

[FfionWinnie]

Buy another pair of boots to get dirty as well then . Also I was more thinking about being launched out it than the pain no pain no gain...

 

[AusRider]

Hi OP, I've read some of your posts before, and I just want to say how great those jumping pics were of you and Fig. As one of the others posters mentioned, a synthetic all purpose would be much better than a dressage saddle. I think that cross training your dressage horse to do a little jumping may not be such a bad thing, as it tends to really get that engine revving, which will do your dressage wonders. Even if its only some small gymnastic exercises every 2-3 weeks. And he really seems to love it.....

As far as the 'Corner of Doom' goes, I suspect that you are going to have to up your determination to ride into that Corner of Doom, to over-ride his determination to spook out of (or whatever it is he does) that corner. I remember when our stables moved to a new property, and we had a 'Corner of Doom' as well. My old 1* eventer was doing the same thing, trying to avoid that corner. Well, he got one chance to have a good look at the stuff in it, then it was "leg, Leg, LEG. Yes, you WILL go into that corner". If he's not actually frightened of it, then he's just taking the pee.

Hope this helps.

 

[j1ffy]

He looks like he's really enjoying himself! Great to see another ex-racer dressage horse having a go at jumping, I did the same last week under Ryan Crumley's watchful eye and it was good fun

 

[Kokopelli]

Hate to say it nm but the corner of doom is still terrifying even once they jump. Andy won't stop at the scariest thing sj but can I get him near the corner of doom? Mounting blocks are also terrifying which makes getting on a blast.

 

[ArcticFox]

awesome! he looks zoomy! I think he would event!

 

[measles]

Looking forward to following the eventing adventures in '13

 

[nikkimariet]

Flying dressage pony!!!!!

Felt like we were at times

Buy another pair of boots to get dirty as well then . Also I was more thinking about being launched out it than the pain no pain no gain...

I'll just dig out the old boots and gaiters! It's more the opposite, I'm far too glued in in the dressage saddle!

Hi OP, I've read some of your posts before, and I just want to say how great those jumping pics were of you and Fig. As one of the others posters mentioned, a synthetic all purpose would be much better than a dressage saddle. I think that cross training your dressage horse to do a little jumping may not be such a bad thing, as it tends to really get that engine revving, which will do your dressage wonders. Even if its only some small gymnastic exercises every 2-3 weeks. And he really seems to love it.....

As far as the 'Corner of Doom' goes, I suspect that you are going to have to up your determination to ride into that Corner of Doom, to over-ride his determination to spook out of (or whatever it is he does) that corner. I remember when our stables moved to a new property, and we had a 'Corner of Doom' as well. My old 1* eventer was doing the same thing, trying to avoid that corner. Well, he got one chance to have a good look at the stuff in it, then it was "leg, Leg, LEG. Yes, you WILL go into that corner". If he's not actually frightened of it, then he's just taking the pee.

Hope this helps.

I'll only get him jumping regularly as long as it doesn't affect his ability to come out and school sensibly Just don't have the funds for any sort of extra saddle as am buying a new dressage saddle - which is far more important than a jump saddle that will be used once every other week for pint sized fences!

He doesn't spook; he just looks, sets his upper neck and comes up off the contact slightly. I just ignore him when he reacts, but reward him with a pat when he behaves. If he is looking, I ask him to come slightly shoulder fore round that corner so I can control the neck bend more and prevent him from setting on me.

He looks like he's really enjoying himself! Great to see another ex-racer dressage horse having a go at jumping, I did the same last week under Ryan Crumley's watchful eye and it was good fun

Def enjoyed himself!

Hate to say it nm but the corner of doom is still terrifying even once they jump. Andy won't stop at the scariest thing sj but can I get him near the corner of doom? Mounting blocks are also terrifying which makes getting on a blast.

Fig is pretty good at coping with my arthritic self clawing my way up from a crate/block/fence/bucket

awesome! he looks zoomy! I think he would event!

Very zoomy!!! He would event....I wouldn't

Looking forward to following the eventing adventures in '13

Steady on

 

[WeeBrown]

Looks as good as ever, even in a dressage saddle jumping an ex racer for the first time! Get yourself XC schooling, he looks like he'd love it. I love Fig, he's so gorgeous, a fab advert for ex racers everywhere.

 

[nikkimariet]

Looks as good as ever, even in a dressage saddle jumping an ex racer for the first time! Get yourself XC schooling, he looks like he'd love it. I love Fig, he's so gorgeous, a fab advert for ex racers everywhere.

I think I need to install some brakes first

I'd love for him to be chill enough that we could do that.... Hopefully going to hire Aylesford for a SJ course in a little while