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We had a jump lesson on Saturday morning. As per his usual, Cuna was awesome and I got myself sorted out. We worked on cantering up to oxers (bigger than I would like) and staying balanced together, which is something Steph's told me I need to work on, but um... hello, those jumps are giant.
The specific exercise was to have a pole two strides out. Then we moved it to three strides out. I had to make any and all changes before getting to the pole and then just ride steady and let him do his job. The overall goal was to begin teaching my eye what three strides looks like while encouraging him to get to the base of the fence.
On top of that, there was a cavaletti set after the fence to encourage him to place down and jump round instead of just flatten out and go for it.
Sound confusing? Good news!! I have video.
And...
I was nervous--the rounds on video are over 3' oxers and we were getting close to them, eek! That said, Cuna was super and the fact that I did not at any point feeling like dying is excellent news.
I did make it a point to keep my hands up and together, and in the first video, you can see a lovely downward transition to trot. :D
That oxer looks absolutely massive to me, but the progress you've made over the last year gives me hope that maybe someday that won't make me pee my pants with fear.
ReplyDelete:) You two look great! You make the giant jumps look like a piece of cake.
ReplyDeleteWow! Very impressive. You should proud of you two! Also, might I add, that your outdoor arena looks super huge when you're cantering around it. I wish I had that kind of space!
ReplyDeleteVery nice! Great job and your progress in just the past six months has been phenomanal! So awesome!
ReplyDeleteWow! You guys look great.
ReplyDeleteMy trainer use to say. "The last three strides belong to the horse," meaning at that point you should have already made all your adjustments and you should just leave the horse alone. Good advice!
ReplyDeleteYikes! Better you than me LOL! I'm so glad you have your confidence back! Go girl!
ReplyDeleteLook at you! Our lovely David O. is another one that firmly insists that the last 3 strides are the horse's, not yours. If you haven't fixed it by then, you better let go and put your leg on or else you are screwed. Sigh, I so miss lessons. I often think longingly of where Encore and I would be if we were in a daily program. But someone's got to pay the mortgage and sugar daddy has way too many medical bills of his own so I will just have to keep, er, training creatively.
ReplyDeleteLove it! I will be sharing this excercise with my trainer. Loved the "wait, wait...or not." Sounds like something that I hear in my lessons all the time. I am the High Empress of Micromanagement down to a fence. My absolute goal in life if to one day be able to ride like one of those hunter people that don't look like they've moved the whole round.
ReplyDeleteDANG GIRL! :)
ReplyDeleteThat canter is really looking great!
ReplyDeleteVery interesting exercise - thanks for sharing. And holy moly your lower leg is freaking awesome.
ReplyDeleteYou guys make it look so easy. Like you've been doing it for years.
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