Wordless Wednesday: Catch-up

Show Pony wins ribbons!

So we finally went to our first show. Yea ok like almost 2 weeks ago... I may be a bit behind lol.

 It was a little local show and we totally just did the baby division, but I really couldn't be happier. Like seriously grinning because my mare was AMAZING and it was a really positive first real show experience for me.

1.Walk-Trot Hunters - 3rd
2.Walk-Trot Equitation - ...?
3.Poles Hunters Junior/Adult Amateur - ...?
4.Poles Equitation - ...?          (I don't remember but there's a 4th 
5.Poles Hunters Open - 1st   and 5th place somewhere in these classes)
6.Hunters X’s - 1st

I did classes 1-5 and J (WS) did #6, I think trainer was ready to bounce, and didn't want to worry about me mucking something up. Holly jumped the little baby X's with beautiful rhythm and even pulled her knees up like she was going over something worth the effort, and easily won the blue.

So, like I said, it was baby stuff but now that I know she can behave herself like an old veteran, its on!

Of course to me that means 2'3"-2'6" at shows. Now trainer is saying she'd be a good 3-3'6" horse. Eek. Good for her, but not with me yet lol.

...And just so you don't think me a total weenie, pics of me jumping the 2'3"ish jumps on Friday when we schooled.

Last week was hacking because trainer was at show with L, so not a lot else to write :)

Magical Rides

Ok, so maybe nothing magical happened, but I did ride Magic Tuesday night. I just was feeling kinda lacking in my already rather empty confidence department, and figured riding a schoolie might help. Magic is a grumpy bastard, but once you start his motor, and learn how to keep it running, he will pack you around anything under 3' with little need of your input.

This meant I used a LOT of leg muscle, but I was able to not worry about the jump or changes, just me, my position etc.

This also meant my trainer could throw really weird patterns at me in a rather small area because he's a handy little 15.2 guy. 

If you couldn't figure it from my beautiful artwork lol, there were angled lines, and roll back type stuff that I could really get to liking :) 

I also jumped at 2'3" and 2'6" which for me is really good. He feels great at that height other than his ability to suck back to a crawl before a jump if your legs not on... or a cat decides to cross under the jump as you approach (see video lol).

It was windy and kinda crowded so I got to work on calling out heads up, and planning how to go around people (aka backup landing plan). 

There was very little naughtiness and drama, and it was nice. Finished up and watched L jump Ramonasaurus around then took treats to my princess who barely acknowledged my presence.

Wednesday am brought about lots of fun things I unfortunately don't have much evidence of. Lets justs suffice to say jumping is far more interesting when there are people practicing carrying flags and ropes in the arena with you. I am glad our outdoor is huge, because we used all of it between the three of us.

Warm up was uneventful other than Holly princess needing lots of leg to find her frame, somthing I didn't have a lot of to work with. When will I finally be in shape? 

She spooked at the Evil Man charming snakes (worker watering trees) right before our first jump, so we had to do some canter laps by him until we were no longer interested.

Jumped the little vertical as a warm up (which is all I have video of). The first jump she notices the Evil Man charming snakes again and chips in, crunches my...um proper-ladies-don't-speak-of-them parts... and then I catch her mouth and she throws a fit. Then we settled down, mostly, and got to work. 

After lame video jumps, I actually did variations of a single back to the single in a line. It was again 2'6" and although i'm pretty sure I didn't breathe, it actually felt good. She tucked up so much nicer, and if I listened to my trainer and got her motor going early, we got great distances. We did circle once as she was overly concerned over horses being eaten by flags very closeby, but after a couple circles, she came back to me. I love that, if I stay calm, she gets over stuff fast.

I'll deny it at the barn but I think I could get used to jumping bigger. Not like the rest of you big, but like 2'6" without panic attacks. Now to be able to do a course by the next show, I'm not so sure, that still gives me panic attacks, lol.

Sweating the Small Stuff

I haven't been the greatest blogger lately. Our ride Saturday (as in over a whole week ago) was decent. We did little courses, but with like 5 of us jumping at once, you had breathing time in between runs.

I had a near perfect round except for the last lead change after the last fence, boo. I HATE lead changes. I know I need to pull the big girl panties up and deal, but they are bouncy and awkward, and if I am nervous, I occasionally don't even notice that I missed one (she likes to swap back, half way through). 

It's pretty much 90% me, and I hate that. 

Love this pic

Then Tuesday night (it was still 90 degrees out) and I was down to doing one lone, low crossrail, which was harder work then a course.

She was doing the I'm a slug- rush last 5 strides- beast after routine. Nothing horrible, just annoying and darn heavy on my arms and back. She's really harder over the smaller jumps than the bigger.


The bad side is I should have her jumping anything with the same rhythm and energy. The good side is it makes bigger jumps less scary and more comfortable....kinda..

There's video, but hubby is editing Ferrari picks, so I've been bumped lol.

\Wednesday was more of the same but we did another little 3 jump course and it was lots of rough changes and dragging mom to the jump. In retrospect, it doesn't look that bad.

We did lots of stop before jump, stop if just not swapping leads in a timely manner. Stop if not half-halting. Lots. Of. Stopping.

Didn't make Saturday lesson as I had to work OT to pay for princess. Hopefully this week will be cooler, smoother, better.

Good lesson tonight, but I'll save that not so exciting tale for another day ;)

Blog Hop: Continuation School

Why do I keep riding? Beats me. Its the one sport I can stick with, the one thing that raises my pulse uncomfortably that I still enjoy (I don't do roller coasters). It's my addiction, my drug, my release.

Pirate- half blind, all sweetheart

It all started really when my mom took me on a trail ride at about 9 or 10 years old. The love for horses seeped under my skin, into my veins, and settled into my heart.

I started volunteering and ultimately working at the riding stables from that time on through the summer after I graduated HS. I briefly owned an older QH, (who was more awesome than  I realized at the time). I only rode western (and endurance) and thought things like jumping were for crazy people (other than jumping the odd log on trail).




Then there was the 10 year dry spell.




Yep 10-ish years with only a handful of trail rides on friends horses or rent strings full of barn-soured horses.

Then I started hanging with Karley. She kept badgering me (in a friendly way) to come ride with her trainer. Me, english?! Jumping?! Heck no... ok, well maybe.... and so it began. Again.

Buster- such a good boy!

My hubby and I had been going to car shows, etc and certainly keeping busy but life just felt lonely without horses. I didn't realize how much I missed it until I was back on a horse, smelling that sweet manure and sweat smell, and loving it.

I lessoned, I leased, and now I own.

I keep at it, because despite the turning stomach as I first mount, the palpitations at the thought of showing, I really love it. It wards off depression, and keeps me social and outside. Despite the expense, I want my son around horses, and dirt and barns. And hubby has settled in, he enjoys taking photos around the barn and of people riding, and even has warmed up to Holly quite a bit.

Love my Holly