First Jumping Lesson!!!
Had my first jumping lesson yesterday since June. It was awesome. Obviously we weren't going to do too much. Just a grid of 2 small bounces and then a single vertical on the quarter line.
Bodie warmed up all cool and chillaxed and then just went to work and just popped over everything. He was so matter of fact about everything it was crazy. We are both totally out of practice though and it really shows. He was setting up for the fences really good but our timing wasn't very good. I kept trying to stay out of his way and would end up jumping ahead or hitting his back in the air (luckily I give tons of release so that wasn't bad) and he would lose pace randomly and had to organize his legs quickly sometimes to get out of an awkward spot. BUT we know he jumps, it's great that he can jump happily and quietly (for a change!). Last year after several months off from jumping, he was a complete MANIAC, bucking and leaping and bolting and jumping everything like it was 3 feet. So yeah... maturity is awesome!
Rode Steph's mare Lucy before the lesson as Stephy got in a car accident on Friday and banged herself up pretty good so she has sore ribs. Lucy can also be pretty hot so I was a bit concerned when I brought her in and there were a million horses in the arena careening (actually careening) around at the canter (which by the way, is completely unusual and usually only happens on rare occasions). She was a bit nervous but settled right away and then was awesome. She's such a fantastic moving horse and she just goes. You feel like you're riding on air, she just floats.
So all in all a great night, now everyone has left me here, updating my LJ. I guess I should go home too.
Bodie warmed up all cool and chillaxed and then just went to work and just popped over everything. He was so matter of fact about everything it was crazy. We are both totally out of practice though and it really shows. He was setting up for the fences really good but our timing wasn't very good. I kept trying to stay out of his way and would end up jumping ahead or hitting his back in the air (luckily I give tons of release so that wasn't bad) and he would lose pace randomly and had to organize his legs quickly sometimes to get out of an awkward spot. BUT we know he jumps, it's great that he can jump happily and quietly (for a change!). Last year after several months off from jumping, he was a complete MANIAC, bucking and leaping and bolting and jumping everything like it was 3 feet. So yeah... maturity is awesome!
Rode Steph's mare Lucy before the lesson as Stephy got in a car accident on Friday and banged herself up pretty good so she has sore ribs. Lucy can also be pretty hot so I was a bit concerned when I brought her in and there were a million horses in the arena careening (actually careening) around at the canter (which by the way, is completely unusual and usually only happens on rare occasions). She was a bit nervous but settled right away and then was awesome. She's such a fantastic moving horse and she just goes. You feel like you're riding on air, she just floats.
So all in all a great night, now everyone has left me here, updating my LJ. I guess I should go home too.