Thursday, March 8, 2012

Sunny with a Chance of Jumping


So sunny!! Laddie (the black one) and Cuna (the cute one) are out in the pasture with no blankets for the first time this year. They were quite happy.

Mr. Cuna and I had a jump lesson today. We worked on cantering over poles at first. We had to develop a rhythm, ride it around the corner, and make a set number of strides between the poles. The advantage to Cuna being like a 2"x4" is that he doesn't bulge out his shoulder. The disadvantage is that he isn't terribly adjustable.

Well, at least not yet for me. We'll get there.

Next we transferred that skill to cantering a line of tiny crossrails with four strides in between. It was a short four, so I had to be willing and able to take a hold of Cuna and MAKE HIM WAIT. He's a big-strided big dude, so three was just easier for him. Plus that pandered to my insecurities--I always had to kick Izzy forward and grab mane and pray that I wouldn't die, so settling to a fence is bizarre to me. Good, but bizarre.

When the jumps went up from tiny crossrails to a 2'6" vertical and a 2' swedish oxer, I was really on the spot. I would ride to the jump, then think we were too deep, lose my mind, and all of a sudden be a stride away from the second jump. Poor Cuna. He is such a good boy--he just kept doing his job and letting me sort myself out. He never stopped and he never ran out. What I really need to do is just jump low stuff like this over and over and over again. I have jumping PTSD basically and I don't really have good habits to fall back on, so when I get scared, I don't know what's happening.

The good news is that Cuna lets me figure it out without being naughty. The only thing he doesn't like is if I'm quick with my upper body, which I'm not. Yay! We have a bit of a speed problem after the last fence in a line, but nothing out of control.


The bestest old man in the world. This picture isn't from today, but he just looks so adorable. I'll ride him tomorrow and work on braking and turning.

Then Saturday we are entered in a little local show. I have no idea how that's going to go, but it should be fun. I can't promise pictures--all my equestrian photographer friends seem to be out of town and I'm saving my bonus points with regular photographers for shows that are not indoors over mediocre jumps.

That's the good news.

After Saturday, Cuna is going home for a while so Izzy can come back to the barn to be sold. My plan is for her to be in and out in a week. Who wants to buy my horse so they can keep reading about the adorable OTTB gelding instead?

10 comments:

  1. Have lots of fun! You guys will be great. Best of luck with Izzy. I'm sure you'll find her a great home quickly!

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  2. Sending good selling vibes your way! :)

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  3. Laddie and Cuna look so happy.
    Good Luck at the show - Cuna sounds like the perfect horse.

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  4. Yay for showing! Good luck selling Izzy. I don't know who will be able to resist her cute mare face.

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  5. I wish we were in a position to take on another horse for Alexis. She is commited to her dressage working student position thru October and then who knows where she will go next...ahhh to be 18 again :)
    Some very lucky person will buy beautiful Izzy!

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  6. What a wonderful lesson! Conquering your demons in a safe way with a good horse - sounds like a really productive ride. Good luck with selling Izzy. ENJOY THE SHOW!!! Totally jealous. BTW If you post Izzy for sale online be sure to share the link so your fans can promote!

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  7. I'm thinkin u need a I luv OTTB Tshirt now :) Cuna face is adorbs. Izzy will find a great home and someone will continue on the love.

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  8. I'm going to miss Izzy. Please keep us updated on her if possible. So are you buying Cuna or is she just going to let you keep borrowing him? I'm looking forward to reading about the show!!

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  9. Hmm... can you trade Izzie to these people? http://www.dreamhorse.com/show_horse.php?form_horse_id=1759449

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  10. Did they seriously list that horse's (the one Bif posted) color as bay??

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