Visiting My Hometown

"I know, it's been almost a year since you rode him last!"

Since I came to visit family and friends this week, I figured that included the four-legged kind as well! Connie was nice enough to let me hop on Sully.

I had a little bit of trouble at first- the only horse I have been able to ride since I moved was, well, Ruby. Sully is massive compared to her, and going from little pony strides to big horse power trot is was a bit of a challenge. Ruby has no bounce to her, so I am a tad shocked I didn't somehow post myself right off Sully's back. His canter motion was also different, and it took a few laps around before I figured out/remembered his rhythm.

When it came to jumping, I was even less prepared. Instead of my little pony hunter jumps, I got massive movement with Sully. I stayed with him pretty well coming up to and over the jump, but the landing was definitely different- it's as if all of his weight and force comes crashing down. If I didn't know where the ground was before, I did now! It bounced me a little bit and I started snapping up out of two-point too quickly, but hey. It's been a long time since I've felt anything other than Ruby.

Connie also has a new, super adorable ottb named Lady. For whatever reason, I have always seemed to do better with the mares, so I was pretty excited to be able to try her out! What a nice horse! Super balanced (especially for a greenie/baby) and she floated around the ring. I could sit that trot all day! Lady is definitely going to have to be a hunter horse. Ignore my goofiness in the photo- I was explaining to Connie how Lady felt like a priss; I talk with my hands.

Had fun riding. It is nice to know then even as rusty as I am with riding other horses, I can still get by on them.

Thanks to Dan for coming out to take pictures!

Loops and Turns

"Look where you are going!"

This week was another super star pony week! Debi had us do something similar to last week's lesson: grid and a course. The theme of this lesson seemed to be "Loops."

We started with the line as we did before: poles, raised the first jump, raised the second jump, raised the last jump. As we progressed, Debi raised the last jump in the gymnastic line, just to see how ruby would handle it.

This is the final course we did for the day- and it was tough! Up 1 going north, loop and lead change going down to 2, to 3, lead change and loop to 4, lead and direction change through 7 and 8 to get to 5 on a diagonal jump, follow around to 6,7,8 one stride line, lead and direction change to 9 and follow the south curve to 10.

Ruby has gotten pretty good with her lead changes- if she has issues, it is usually that she swaps in the front and lags in the back. You should be 'resetting' your horse (slowing down and getting the pace controlled) after each jump, but it is even more important when this happens- slow down to let the back end 'catch up.'

Here is a photo down (most) of the line: I believe that is the first of the three jumps, going in the opposite direction as in the course above.

For Ruby, I really have to get her going strong at the first jump. If we do not have enough power, she will do this awful chip stride and manage to cram 2 strides into the 1 stride- not fun! When this happens, I tend to get up her neck and it really is not pretty.

The photo above is my favorite from the lesson. Go pony go! To the right is the last jump in the grid, going the same way as the course above. As I mentioned, Debi kept raising this one up as we went along. Maybe 2'9" ish? It is always hard for me to tell. Remember that Ruby is only 14.2hh; she looks like a horse when she jumps and sucks in her pony belly!



Special thanks to Erin McMahon for coming all the way out to the other side of town to snap these shots for me!!!

Super Star Pony!

"I think this is the best lesson y'all have had."

Yup. Pony was a super star today! I have been working on dealing with my riding anxiety (control freak here) and telling my self to just get out of Ruby's way and deal with whatever happens. Seems all of the practice has finally started to pay off.

We started the lesson with the gymnastic line (trot in, canter out) with just the first jump up and the others left as poles. These were one strides. The first time through was a bit awkward (it usually is), but Debi tightened the stride for Miss Pony, and we went through super well (with me adding some leg). We continued going through until all three jumps were raised.

Debi had me do a few variations of the course, and we singled out a few elements at a time to practice. If you look at diagram B, there is a non-numbered jump between 4 and 5- not gonna lie, that jump stumped me. Ruby was a champ, and let me goof up a few times before I finally figured out the approach. The bending line from 7 to 8 was also a little interesting at first...I don't think I have had to do a bending line since I rode with Connie!

Diagram A is the course we started with; B is the course we finished with. Course A was absolutely excellent if I say so myself! For B, we had one run-out at jump 4: I came out of jump 1 with way too much speed and instead of paying attention to lining up my next jump, I was half-halting my ass off. We came to 2 a bit too far to the left- I felt her wiggle at 3 and was able to correct but she darted left at me on 4. Totally my fault; I am actually surprised we even made it over 3! Second time around was MUCH better.

Very proud of Ruby today. I am hoping we are back on the path to trusting each other again :)