After Margaret and I had such a fun time at the fall hunter pace, we opted to go again this spring! This time, while I rode Rejoice again, Margaret rode her horse Jester and had a friend ride Ladyhawke. All Kennebec Morgans!! Jester and Rejoice have the same dam and Jester and Lady share the same sire. Unfortunately instead of a lovely late spring day, we had one of the first intensely hot and humid days of the year. It was definitely a bummer, but the ride was mostly in the shade of the woods and we had a great time! most of the fences were 3' coops but we found a small log and this hay to jump haha Until we didn't. 😑 We brought along a third friend who rode Margaret's older mare, Ladyhawke. She's a good rider but hasn't known Ladyhawke for very long and didn't realize how much of a cranky boss mare she could be at times. She kicked Jester right in the front leg just about halfway through the ride, and while the cut itself ended up not being a big deal in the...
Here are pics from the combined test.
Enter at A. (Beginner Novice Test A)
Dreamy looks fine, but I am such a HUNT SEAT RIDER! I wish my folks had started me back when I was six in dressage instead of hunt seat. With no stirrups. For at least two years. LOL!
Canter not bad, but I need to SIT UP!
Back to the trot.
Right lead canter is weaker. I am sitting up better but what happened to my reins??
Getting ready to trot up the center line.
Walk. Halt. Salute.
Good mare!
Stadium. A slight hesitation before fence 2. I thought is was a vertical, but looks like an oxer to me!
Fence 5.
Good mare! Fourth out of seven!
And this is my mare just 2 seconds after turning her out at home. She simply CANNOT be clean even for a second!
LOL!
Enter at A. (Beginner Novice Test A)
Dreamy looks fine, but I am such a HUNT SEAT RIDER! I wish my folks had started me back when I was six in dressage instead of hunt seat. With no stirrups. For at least two years. LOL!
Canter not bad, but I need to SIT UP!
Back to the trot.
Right lead canter is weaker. I am sitting up better but what happened to my reins??
Getting ready to trot up the center line.
Walk. Halt. Salute.
Good mare!
Stadium. A slight hesitation before fence 2. I thought is was a vertical, but looks like an oxer to me!
Fence 5.
Good mare! Fourth out of seven!
And this is my mare just 2 seconds after turning her out at home. She simply CANNOT be clean even for a second!
LOL!
I love it! All of it! I know you were not thrilled with 4th, but I was for you! Could you imagine last year going out in April, doing a w/t/c test, jumping a course with most of the jumps at 2'3" with combinations and doing well? Yeah, I didn't think so. This is your STARTING point for the year! And I think you are starting at a pretty great place!
ReplyDeleteOTB - I am definitely happy with fourth! And you are SO RIGHT.....last year at this time we did not even HAVE a canter and jumping that high with 2-3 stride combinations would have NOT happened. Sometimes it is easy for me to get down on myself for not "doing better" (whatever THAT is), but when I put things in perspective (thanks for that! LOL) I realize how far we have come! That was the main reason for this blog: to look back and see our progress.
ReplyDeleteIt must have been the stock tie pin AND the bridle charm. I used both of course! Dreamy thought her charm looked great on her bridle...she is DEFINITELY more of a diva than I will ever be. ;-D
Great job! You guys look good! And like OTB said, not a bad way to start the year.
ReplyDelete