Izzy and I had another lesson today. It was fabulous. (Sorry. I'm out of school, out of work, and the weather is nice outside. My life is fabulous.)
We did our first little tiny jumping course over trot poles, cross rails, and a fun little vertical (that was on a related distance to one of the crossrails!) Big stuff for us. My jumping position and confidence is a bit better because I got my old girl out yesterday and jumped a few little things. That was super fun.
Izzy trotted over everything like it was nothing. I just had to focus on keeping the rhythm and keeping her straight while staying out of her way. She came in to the cross rail on the line, landed cantering, and headed for the next jump. I went, "Oh crap she's never cantered a jump before she can't do this" and gave a big half halt. We had a rub on the tony vertical. Cathy pointed out that it was my fault. I should have just let her canter and keep the rhythm and she would have been fine.
Whoops. Minus 1 point for messing up my poor horse.
I kept thinking about what Jimmy said. "If you want your horse to jump like a pony hunter, you need to ride like a child." That means stay out of their way and go with them. Don't try to fix stuff. Just hang on.
And magically, when I can do that, it goes really well.
this man really is the G. Morris of Jumpers :)
ReplyDeleteI kept thinking about what Jimmy said. "If you want your horse to jump like a pony hunter, you need to ride like a child." That means stay out of their way and go with them. Don't try to fix stuff. Just hang on.
ReplyDeleteAnd magically, when I can do that, it goes really well.
My biggest riding fault is overthinking everything. When I concentrate on this- that part goes to hell. When I fix that and focus on getting that right- something else comes apart.
If I clear my mind, ride just for the sake of the fun in riding (which is WHY we all do it!) and let everything go, it all falls into place and just happens. Funny how it works that way.
Where jumping is concerned, you have to find your trust in the horse. That is part of staying out of their way in the approach and over the fence.
Cut-N-Jump, I TOTALLY agree! I wish I could just forget and ride. Sigh...
ReplyDeleteSounds like a good ride regardless! I haven't looked around your blog. I think you mentioned somewhere you owned an TB at one point?
oooh I really like that quote! I am always trying to figure out how to stop micro managing over fences. I get all ants in my pants and can no longer wait for the fences to come to me. Nerves?
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