showpony
Well-Known Member
Well following on from my Hunter Trials post & jumping my Mare over some XC Jumps for the first time Ive just sat down & taken everything in this evening. Jeepers have come along way in a couple of weeks!!! Which shows a bit of bloody confidence goes a LONG way.
Its been a bloody hectic week, still getting used to riding two horses , both very different & my muscles are aching... have had great lessons & sessions by myself.
We also decided to go to a local Jumping Venue yesterday for schooling, took both horses with me riding my new boy & an experienced friend to take my Mare around... What a fab fab session - new boy can be " looky " at lots of things & we only had ONE spook the entire time - at the buzzing vending machine in the spectators area right by the arena.... We got straight into it with me & my new boy jumping smaller fences whilst my mare jumped much bigger ( she really has NO respect for under 90cms/1m lol - she is the type that needs to be challenged )
So couldn't have been happier newboy was really really good - did lots of work on rhythm & line & getting the " right canter" he does need to be pushed on couple of last strides into a fence otherwise he starts to look at " spooky fillers" & put in a short stride at the last minute so had to ride really positively - so gradually added the fences in & by end we were doing really well, was so much more in balance with him, knew when to push & when not to.... so from not jumping at all to jumping a full course of SJ jumps including, Oxers, spreads, rustics, a wall, related distances in a reasonable fashion I am very happy as for a change not ONCE did I back out of doing any jump I was asked to do lol...
My mare as always was a star & ........ yep I hoped up at end & jumped her around a few aswell.. so FURTHER confidence developments on her for me... AND I wasn't nervous lol... I felt great...
Onto today , got in a last minute jumping session by myself at yard on newboy - was really good... Felt today he REALLY listented to me & his transitions were much sharper, we are defo getting more of a feel for each other and feeling like a partnership....
On top of the busy week for me lol, Mini Me has been working hard... have done a good bit with her this week & she had a lesson with my instructor aswell as her usual Sat lesson with appart from her best yard buddy who is eight with all the older kids - they all went up to back fields for some XC practice.... Mini Me & her yard buddy put the rest to shame lol,,,, they were enjoying all the jumps including tyres, logs, banks, water, etc and some of the older kids ( like 4-6 yrs older than them ) were not in the mood for jumping.... So at end Mini Me & pal were rewarded by allowed to go for a good gallop ... of course they had a blast...
So tomorrow is another BIG day for us all - Am taking Mini Me & Newboy showjumping then a well deserved day of rest on Monday! Couple of pics of the gang below... PHEW!!!!
Life is busy & wouldnt have it any other way!
Vid of Mini Me out " show jumping earlier in summer - we are back to same venue tomorrow for two " bigger courses"
Just click on link, should be able to see vid!
Its been a bloody hectic week, still getting used to riding two horses , both very different & my muscles are aching... have had great lessons & sessions by myself.
We also decided to go to a local Jumping Venue yesterday for schooling, took both horses with me riding my new boy & an experienced friend to take my Mare around... What a fab fab session - new boy can be " looky " at lots of things & we only had ONE spook the entire time - at the buzzing vending machine in the spectators area right by the arena.... We got straight into it with me & my new boy jumping smaller fences whilst my mare jumped much bigger ( she really has NO respect for under 90cms/1m lol - she is the type that needs to be challenged )
So couldn't have been happier newboy was really really good - did lots of work on rhythm & line & getting the " right canter" he does need to be pushed on couple of last strides into a fence otherwise he starts to look at " spooky fillers" & put in a short stride at the last minute so had to ride really positively - so gradually added the fences in & by end we were doing really well, was so much more in balance with him, knew when to push & when not to.... so from not jumping at all to jumping a full course of SJ jumps including, Oxers, spreads, rustics, a wall, related distances in a reasonable fashion I am very happy as for a change not ONCE did I back out of doing any jump I was asked to do lol...
My mare as always was a star & ........ yep I hoped up at end & jumped her around a few aswell.. so FURTHER confidence developments on her for me... AND I wasn't nervous lol... I felt great...
Onto today , got in a last minute jumping session by myself at yard on newboy - was really good... Felt today he REALLY listented to me & his transitions were much sharper, we are defo getting more of a feel for each other and feeling like a partnership....
On top of the busy week for me lol, Mini Me has been working hard... have done a good bit with her this week & she had a lesson with my instructor aswell as her usual Sat lesson with appart from her best yard buddy who is eight with all the older kids - they all went up to back fields for some XC practice.... Mini Me & her yard buddy put the rest to shame lol,,,, they were enjoying all the jumps including tyres, logs, banks, water, etc and some of the older kids ( like 4-6 yrs older than them ) were not in the mood for jumping.... So at end Mini Me & pal were rewarded by allowed to go for a good gallop ... of course they had a blast...
So tomorrow is another BIG day for us all - Am taking Mini Me & Newboy showjumping then a well deserved day of rest on Monday! Couple of pics of the gang below... PHEW!!!!
Life is busy & wouldnt have it any other way!
Vid of Mini Me out " show jumping earlier in summer - we are back to same venue tomorrow for two " bigger courses"
Just click on link, should be able to see vid!
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