Well they weren't actually that high, 2'9" at the most, but I was some what concerned that Kokanne would not be able to jump that high. I'm not sure why I thought that, likely because I haven't jumped that high in a while..probably because of the people I ride with (not be mean, I'm just saying we aren't at the same level). Anyway, he actually did really well!!
My friend N, who I haven't ridden with since September was surprised that he's such a pretty jumper, to bad I hadn't brought my camera to see myself. My last video it's hard to tell since the jumps are small and the video is blurry. And the other girl in the lesson has ridden him before saying she couldn't ride Kokanne to save her life. Nothing like an ego boost is there? But talking to K, it seems there's not a lot of people who like him, which is weird because he's a big sweety and a lot of fun. Probably he's weird gaits.
As for the actually jumping, he did beautifully over the first two 2'9" jumps he did beautifully, the triple combination was okay and when we came back to the same jumps from the start, well, he kind of plowed through the yellow, but got over the white one well enough.
He hasn't done a lot of combinations before so it was a bit harder for him. But he came 'round as we went through.
Our second time through the course, same really good first two jumps, but in the combination we just didn't have enough momentum, so he crashed down on the middle jump and I lost my stirrup but he kept going to the third and that one was fine, well as fine as it could be.
K was surprised he kept going because I hadn't really told him too, but I also hadn't told him to stop. He really tried though and that was what was impressive, he could have run out on the second jump, but he kept going. I've clearly under estimated what he's capable of.
We re-did the combination and it was much better and our last two jumps were beautiful. Really happy with him and hoping that K will raise the jumps at the end of my lessons with other people so me and Kokanne can continue to jump a bit higher.
We've been doing 2'3" at the highest lately, and last weekend the girl I ride with commented that she thought the one jump that was 2'3" looked a bit high. So it was lowered. Lame. Whatever, I suppose there's good technical stuff to be learned there.
Showing posts with label Advanced Jumpers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Advanced Jumpers. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Friday, August 26, 2011
Stupid Blogger.. and riding of corse
Stupid blogger will not let me comment on my own blog even though my email is a google account.
Right, so terrible news first: Gross, bad rider girl is now riding Pony too. Turns out Pony doesn't test her dressage riders the same way she does the jumping ones, which kind of sucks because apperantly this girl really likes her. Damn.
If it was someone who wasn't horrible, I'd be sooo happy that someone was doing lots of dressage work with her, it would get her back in shape faster and would be so helpful for jumping. But no such luck. Fingers crossed the other horse gets better quick.
Last Thursday we had a decent lesson, we were inside because it rained again. It was a pretty simple coarse that was designed with her some what lower fitness level in mind and she did quite well once we go going.
We have a reoccuring problem when coming to jumps off the rail, she knows they're coming and will cut of the end of the arena and start to turn to soon and no matter what you change she will keep doing it! It's super frustrating and there's only so much you can do to get her back to the wall and turn straight before you get to the jump, so I'll have to find a way to deal with that on free rides.
We had a couple run outs and then I fell off on one, Pony still ran away, but this time she just walked instead of doing the whole canter and buck around the arena. Once we got on real coarse pace she did great, as she usaully does. I don't get why it's taken so long for this "think sports car" to properly sink in. But I think it finally has.
On Tuesday we were back outside and doing a longer coarse and it was really hot, thank god for the wind or I might have passed out.
It's a bit lame but the jumps we are doing now are about 2'6"-2'9" and that's what we were warming up over in June and July but we haven't done 2'9" in a while so they seem so much scarier, pathetic. This coarse had two oxers; one was the red fan jump and the other was a yellow plank/yellow pole parallel oxer. I thought we would have more trouble with the oxer but that's just me, Pony didn't care at all.
The one she did care about was the lattice jump, she was fine going to the left but when we were on coarse going to the right, she just freaked out and wasn't pleased to go near it. Again we had the same problem with her turning on her own and to soon, even though we came at it off a circle but she knew she was jumping.
She did run out at the brown and white jump we had problems with last week but the second time we came at it, she felt a bit backed off and was looking at it, so I "yelled" at her and she jumped it, if a bit close.
She was good on the lines, didn't care about the oxers, she did run out at the fan, but we didn't have a distance so it wasn't her fault.
But she's starting to use her back end a bit more so thats really helping.
The green verticle she ran out on in the second coarse, we just didn't have a good approach I think was the reason, but we came back to it, stopped again. Came a third time and she was so determinded to get over it that she caught me a bit of guard and we missed the short turn to the next jump and had to take the long way. But she jumped it fine.
The last line was seven pony stirdes and she took off so far from the lattice jump, my friend said her horse could have fit into the extra distance and her horse is HUGE! It was kind of like hitting a turbo button, she had this nice canter heading into the jump and then wham! she took off super long and then was off like a shot to the second jump. It was actually kind of funny, but my friend was like "aren't you terrified?". No, she has done scarier things than that, and Tommy liked his longs so I'm a bit used to them. Did not catcher her in the mouth which is great!
My usual release is grab mane 1/4 up her neck and then full realese with the left hand, which has got us into to trouble before, but now that I'm actually aware of it, I've been able to work on it and now most of the time I can give her the full realese (grab mane with both hands!) and not catcher her and that's also helped a lot.
We have a show on Saturday, just a tiny one but hopefully it won't get rained out like every other show this season.
On Thursday, we had a pretty good lesson, the jumps were pretty small and she did well even over the scary looking ones so hopefully she'll have some confidence going into the show on Saturday.
Right, so terrible news first: Gross, bad rider girl is now riding Pony too. Turns out Pony doesn't test her dressage riders the same way she does the jumping ones, which kind of sucks because apperantly this girl really likes her. Damn.
If it was someone who wasn't horrible, I'd be sooo happy that someone was doing lots of dressage work with her, it would get her back in shape faster and would be so helpful for jumping. But no such luck. Fingers crossed the other horse gets better quick.
Last Thursday we had a decent lesson, we were inside because it rained again. It was a pretty simple coarse that was designed with her some what lower fitness level in mind and she did quite well once we go going.
We have a reoccuring problem when coming to jumps off the rail, she knows they're coming and will cut of the end of the arena and start to turn to soon and no matter what you change she will keep doing it! It's super frustrating and there's only so much you can do to get her back to the wall and turn straight before you get to the jump, so I'll have to find a way to deal with that on free rides.
We had a couple run outs and then I fell off on one, Pony still ran away, but this time she just walked instead of doing the whole canter and buck around the arena. Once we got on real coarse pace she did great, as she usaully does. I don't get why it's taken so long for this "think sports car" to properly sink in. But I think it finally has.
On Tuesday we were back outside and doing a longer coarse and it was really hot, thank god for the wind or I might have passed out.
It's a bit lame but the jumps we are doing now are about 2'6"-2'9" and that's what we were warming up over in June and July but we haven't done 2'9" in a while so they seem so much scarier, pathetic. This coarse had two oxers; one was the red fan jump and the other was a yellow plank/yellow pole parallel oxer. I thought we would have more trouble with the oxer but that's just me, Pony didn't care at all.
The one she did care about was the lattice jump, she was fine going to the left but when we were on coarse going to the right, she just freaked out and wasn't pleased to go near it. Again we had the same problem with her turning on her own and to soon, even though we came at it off a circle but she knew she was jumping.
She did run out at the brown and white jump we had problems with last week but the second time we came at it, she felt a bit backed off and was looking at it, so I "yelled" at her and she jumped it, if a bit close.
She was good on the lines, didn't care about the oxers, she did run out at the fan, but we didn't have a distance so it wasn't her fault.
But she's starting to use her back end a bit more so thats really helping.
The green verticle she ran out on in the second coarse, we just didn't have a good approach I think was the reason, but we came back to it, stopped again. Came a third time and she was so determinded to get over it that she caught me a bit of guard and we missed the short turn to the next jump and had to take the long way. But she jumped it fine.
The last line was seven pony stirdes and she took off so far from the lattice jump, my friend said her horse could have fit into the extra distance and her horse is HUGE! It was kind of like hitting a turbo button, she had this nice canter heading into the jump and then wham! she took off super long and then was off like a shot to the second jump. It was actually kind of funny, but my friend was like "aren't you terrified?". No, she has done scarier things than that, and Tommy liked his longs so I'm a bit used to them. Did not catcher her in the mouth which is great!
My usual release is grab mane 1/4 up her neck and then full realese with the left hand, which has got us into to trouble before, but now that I'm actually aware of it, I've been able to work on it and now most of the time I can give her the full realese (grab mane with both hands!) and not catcher her and that's also helped a lot.
We have a show on Saturday, just a tiny one but hopefully it won't get rained out like every other show this season.
On Thursday, we had a pretty good lesson, the jumps were pretty small and she did well even over the scary looking ones so hopefully she'll have some confidence going into the show on Saturday.
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
This Week
My computer had to spend some time at Staples having virus's removed this last week, so I haven't bothered blogging.
Pony's done well so far. We had a lease ride on Monday, and it was our first ride in the outdoor ring!! She did better than I thought, she was only super quick to the left, but over all she was really well behaved.
Tuesday, we did our warm up hack outside and again she was pretty good. We're working on bending to the outside, while cantering and eventually we'll be learning to counter canter. Sounds exciting. My friend L got booted from the lesson though because she was late AGAIN! She is always, always, always late. I've never had a lesson with her where she's been on time. So she was pissed, understandably, but it's her own damn fault, so I have no sympathy for her right now.
We jumped inside, and had some trouble with the triple combination. The first two jumps were one stride apart and then three strides, but we had some trouble with the three because I kept leaning at her and she was like "umm no?", but once I sat up, we got the line done perfectly. She didn't even give the Swedish oxer a second look! Good mare! =) Ah, she's so awesome!
Tomorrow is our second jumping lesson and then next week (weather permitting) we get to start jumping outside!
Pony's done well so far. We had a lease ride on Monday, and it was our first ride in the outdoor ring!! She did better than I thought, she was only super quick to the left, but over all she was really well behaved.
Tuesday, we did our warm up hack outside and again she was pretty good. We're working on bending to the outside, while cantering and eventually we'll be learning to counter canter. Sounds exciting. My friend L got booted from the lesson though because she was late AGAIN! She is always, always, always late. I've never had a lesson with her where she's been on time. So she was pissed, understandably, but it's her own damn fault, so I have no sympathy for her right now.
We jumped inside, and had some trouble with the triple combination. The first two jumps were one stride apart and then three strides, but we had some trouble with the three because I kept leaning at her and she was like "umm no?", but once I sat up, we got the line done perfectly. She didn't even give the Swedish oxer a second look! Good mare! =) Ah, she's so awesome!
Tomorrow is our second jumping lesson and then next week (weather permitting) we get to start jumping outside!
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Tuesday and What I Remeber From Last Week.
Whoops, waited to long to write about last week.
All I remember was on Thursday I was thinking to much during the course rather than letting it flow and then watching some of the jumps as we approached rather than watching over the jump. It wasn't to bad, the only sucky jump (I remember) she took off to long at the pink vertical (3'3") and I lost my stirrup but still made the wide left turn to the next jump and got my stirrup left. But by the time we got straight to the jump we were aimed to far to the right and probably would have knocked the standard or run out to the right.
So yeah, other than that I think it was okay. I don't remember so it can't have been to horrible.
I went to SuperTramp on Sunday so missed my lease ride that day and went on Monday. It was kind of chilly so there wasn't to many bugs out thank god. We did lots of circles, leg yielding and haults. We tried half halts but they weren't very successful. At the canter we did some more circles and simple changes over the diagonal.
Tuesday, was not a treat.
The course would have been fun if it weren't for all the run outs and refusals.
At first she was really good, the first jump had a box under it and she kicked up some dirt on the land and that scared her out to the left so we didn't make it down the line, then that happened a second time. Third time we did make it! Yay!
She had no problem with the second jump in the line, the yellow vertical, or the Swedish oxer. The "give blood" jump (which was made for the R4R show, which is a fun show to raise awarncess about the need for blood donor's and the Canadian Blood Society) we had a run out (i think), but I can understand why, some how I'd let the reins get to short and Pony HATES that so she started flipping her head around. Wait I lied, we went over the give blood but cause she wasn't paying attention we missed the oxer.
Although, it appears she can jump from a stand still. Almost. She was sooo slow through some parts of the coarse. We were doing the coarse and came up to the yellow vertical and we had no momentum, I grabbed mane when she didn't speed up like I asked, thinking we'd be stopping. But nope, we went over, it wasn't all the comfortable but she made it.
The other jump we had a lot of trouble with was the ascending oxer with blue and orange boxes under. It was on a slight angle but we got to it straight each time. A couple times we ran out and then we made it over and it was great. The second last time we were again going sooo slow, so I tried to turn her away so we could circle and come back to it, and Pony was like fuck that we're doing this jump. And we did. I'll post the picture tomorrow but we were super close to the right side I'm surprised I didn't hit my knee on the standard. I lost my left stirrup and in the picture its up by her ear, on the land I sat back in the saddle but got bounced on to her shoulders when she kept cantering. Didn't fall off though!
I'm kind of annoyed my dad didn't get any pictures of that part, that's half the fun (when no one is injured anyway).
So yeah, it was a frustrating lesson. I don't know why she was so slow and floppy, it wasn't hot out at all and there was cool breeze too, no bugs. Unless she was tired from Monday, but we didn't do very much. So hoping Thursday goes better, especially since I'm supposed to ride my friends mare after Oswell. She has a show this weekend but its just flat stuff, and she got a minor concussion the other day after 'an incident with a filing cabinet". So I'm taking her lesson Thursday too and then going to math tutoring, fun stuff.
All I remember was on Thursday I was thinking to much during the course rather than letting it flow and then watching some of the jumps as we approached rather than watching over the jump. It wasn't to bad, the only sucky jump (I remember) she took off to long at the pink vertical (3'3") and I lost my stirrup but still made the wide left turn to the next jump and got my stirrup left. But by the time we got straight to the jump we were aimed to far to the right and probably would have knocked the standard or run out to the right.
So yeah, other than that I think it was okay. I don't remember so it can't have been to horrible.
I went to SuperTramp on Sunday so missed my lease ride that day and went on Monday. It was kind of chilly so there wasn't to many bugs out thank god. We did lots of circles, leg yielding and haults. We tried half halts but they weren't very successful. At the canter we did some more circles and simple changes over the diagonal.
Tuesday, was not a treat.
The course would have been fun if it weren't for all the run outs and refusals.
At first she was really good, the first jump had a box under it and she kicked up some dirt on the land and that scared her out to the left so we didn't make it down the line, then that happened a second time. Third time we did make it! Yay!
She had no problem with the second jump in the line, the yellow vertical, or the Swedish oxer. The "give blood" jump (which was made for the R4R show, which is a fun show to raise awarncess about the need for blood donor's and the Canadian Blood Society) we had a run out (i think), but I can understand why, some how I'd let the reins get to short and Pony HATES that so she started flipping her head around. Wait I lied, we went over the give blood but cause she wasn't paying attention we missed the oxer.
Although, it appears she can jump from a stand still. Almost. She was sooo slow through some parts of the coarse. We were doing the coarse and came up to the yellow vertical and we had no momentum, I grabbed mane when she didn't speed up like I asked, thinking we'd be stopping. But nope, we went over, it wasn't all the comfortable but she made it.
The other jump we had a lot of trouble with was the ascending oxer with blue and orange boxes under. It was on a slight angle but we got to it straight each time. A couple times we ran out and then we made it over and it was great. The second last time we were again going sooo slow, so I tried to turn her away so we could circle and come back to it, and Pony was like fuck that we're doing this jump. And we did. I'll post the picture tomorrow but we were super close to the right side I'm surprised I didn't hit my knee on the standard. I lost my left stirrup and in the picture its up by her ear, on the land I sat back in the saddle but got bounced on to her shoulders when she kept cantering. Didn't fall off though!
I'm kind of annoyed my dad didn't get any pictures of that part, that's half the fun (when no one is injured anyway).
So yeah, it was a frustrating lesson. I don't know why she was so slow and floppy, it wasn't hot out at all and there was cool breeze too, no bugs. Unless she was tired from Monday, but we didn't do very much. So hoping Thursday goes better, especially since I'm supposed to ride my friends mare after Oswell. She has a show this weekend but its just flat stuff, and she got a minor concussion the other day after 'an incident with a filing cabinet". So I'm taking her lesson Thursday too and then going to math tutoring, fun stuff.
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Thursday/Weekend & Work
Yay! I have a job at the stable!!
Thursday we did our warm up outside and it was nice...except for all the mosquito's. That was gross, but once we got going it wasn't to bad. Pony gets a bit crazy at the canter outside, but over all she did pretty good, the more time we spend out there, the sooner she'll (hopefully) relax.
For the jumping part of the lesson, she was really good, except at once cross pole, the same one that I fell off at last time, but I didn't fall off the second time! Hooray for grippy ass full seat breeches! One of the jumps was HUGE (for a pony), around 3', fan jump. The first time I held her back a bit to much, she still did it, but it wasn't as easy as it should have been. The second time around I just grabbed mane half way up her neck and let her have her head and we did great!
Still have lots of work to do with getting her to bend to the left easier, she's really good to the right so sometimes she over bends. But once we get the left bend more easily, circles and jump courses should get a bit easier.
Sunday, Pony was away at a dressage show with K, sounds like they did well and Pony was well behaved, but she doesn't like goats.
I got to ride Kokanne today! He's so cute and ridiculously friendly!
His saddle feels so weird! Pony's has a really low cantle and pommel, but his doesn't and it's the weirdest feeling ever. It shouldn't be because that was the same saddle I used with both Diesel and Tommy, but whatever.
When you try to get him to trot he drifts away from the wall and just doesn't want to trot until you cluck at him and really press for it. He has a decent trot once you get going though. He does a similar thing at the canter, but seems more willing to do that. I can't remember which lead it is, but I think it was the right lead, was soo smooth and balanced it felt like riding a big red cloud and it was trippy because it almost felt like slow motion.
But his other lead was really...not. It wasn't horribly anything, but not quiet as fun as his other lead.
I was talking to K after and she was like "What?! You found his canter smooth? You're the only one that's ever said that!" Haha, so maybe I'm just crazy =P.
It was a nice change, but it was weird, the height and how much longer his neck is compared to Pony, but I like him.
As for work, it was pretty decent, just feeding the horses today. Didn't have to move any of the horses except for the two that needed to come in. I was going to clean some of the tack just for something extra to do, but I have a cold and so decided not to this time...slacking..
I should get to work next weekend to because K has another show, so that's exciting and Pony isn't going so I can ride too! Yay!
I have some pictures of me and her, but they're on the other computer so I'll post them later.
Thursday we did our warm up outside and it was nice...except for all the mosquito's. That was gross, but once we got going it wasn't to bad. Pony gets a bit crazy at the canter outside, but over all she did pretty good, the more time we spend out there, the sooner she'll (hopefully) relax.
For the jumping part of the lesson, she was really good, except at once cross pole, the same one that I fell off at last time, but I didn't fall off the second time! Hooray for grippy ass full seat breeches! One of the jumps was HUGE (for a pony), around 3', fan jump. The first time I held her back a bit to much, she still did it, but it wasn't as easy as it should have been. The second time around I just grabbed mane half way up her neck and let her have her head and we did great!
Still have lots of work to do with getting her to bend to the left easier, she's really good to the right so sometimes she over bends. But once we get the left bend more easily, circles and jump courses should get a bit easier.
Sunday, Pony was away at a dressage show with K, sounds like they did well and Pony was well behaved, but she doesn't like goats.
I got to ride Kokanne today! He's so cute and ridiculously friendly!
His saddle feels so weird! Pony's has a really low cantle and pommel, but his doesn't and it's the weirdest feeling ever. It shouldn't be because that was the same saddle I used with both Diesel and Tommy, but whatever.
When you try to get him to trot he drifts away from the wall and just doesn't want to trot until you cluck at him and really press for it. He has a decent trot once you get going though. He does a similar thing at the canter, but seems more willing to do that. I can't remember which lead it is, but I think it was the right lead, was soo smooth and balanced it felt like riding a big red cloud and it was trippy because it almost felt like slow motion.
But his other lead was really...not. It wasn't horribly anything, but not quiet as fun as his other lead.
I was talking to K after and she was like "What?! You found his canter smooth? You're the only one that's ever said that!" Haha, so maybe I'm just crazy =P.
It was a nice change, but it was weird, the height and how much longer his neck is compared to Pony, but I like him.
As for work, it was pretty decent, just feeding the horses today. Didn't have to move any of the horses except for the two that needed to come in. I was going to clean some of the tack just for something extra to do, but I have a cold and so decided not to this time...slacking..
I should get to work next weekend to because K has another show, so that's exciting and Pony isn't going so I can ride too! Yay!
I have some pictures of me and her, but they're on the other computer so I'll post them later.
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Thursday and Sunday. Show Schedule?
Holy mother of hell Thursday was a scary day!
Both me and N where kind of bored at 2'6" so we asked K if we could jump higher today and she said yes. So we did.
It was one of those days where everything seems harder than it is. It was also a "think sports car" day for Pony. The jumps were about 2'9" but I think the Swedish Oxer was around 3. That was a TERRIFYING jump. It's practically at eye level for Pony and me (not actually, but that's what it seems like). The first time we either knocked the whole thing down or just one rail and the second time we did the opposite of the first. The third time we just did the line, a one stride to the three stride with the oxer, and made it over! Yay! Pony's such a good girl, my little sports car!
Today I went riding with L, although it's nice to have a riding buddy, its really annoying when they keep you trapped on the rail and want to warm up and do all the things you need to work on when she doesn't want to get out of your way. Especially when you don't want to offend them or be rude so you can't really get away to work.
She was a bit spooky at the wind and the jumps against the arena wall, but still good. I reallly want the wind to die down because central Alberta seems to be trying to steal Chicago's title of "the Windy City".
I almost got to ride alone today, but the only way to have done that would have been to go to the show with L today. Actually it was all planned out and was probably going to be fun. She was going to get up before 6, come get me at 6 and then we'd go to Timmys, then get her horse and groomer up. Her mum would be there with the trailer and take us to the show, my dad would come get me at three so I could go riding and workout. Probably would have been a decent day. But this was good too.
So excited! L has a load of old show stuff that doesn't fit or she doesn't want so I can potentially buy them for cheap! Including a realllly nice hunt coat 'cause mine isn't comfortable. I'm not totally sure whats wrong with it, but something is. It just doesn't fit quite right, and she was a nice show shirt she wants to get ride off, which is good, because a couple of the shows we're planning on going to require the really nice stuff. Damn hunters. That's whats great about jumpers, polo shirts are totally fine, but nooo hunters and dressage have to be special. Haha, oh well, hopefully all will go well.
Possible Show Schedule! =)
June 18th- SM open show
-Jumpers start at probably 2'6" and possibly 2'9" have to wait for K's thoughts on that.
- English equitation and pleasure. Not sure about these two yet.
June 19th- WW Dressage Bronze Show
- L thinks we should do a dressage show before AM, so we might do this one, but it's also the day after the SM show, so we'll see about this one
July 9th- R4R
- Jumpers, same height as SM or even 3', we can do it at home, but not sure if we should bother at
a show
July 15th-17th- Hunter/Jumper Novice AM
- Shows at AM are SCARY and I've never been there, but it's one of the nicest barns in the area
and their shows are serious competition ones and that's kind of scary, so we'll have to see about
this, but I want to do at least on AM show this year and I think this is the one N is going too and
it would be awesome to have a show buddy for this terrifying experience.
August 14th- Hunter/Jumper KF
- This one I can do either hunters or jumpers, but jumpers don't start until 2'6". But I can
compete in both classes at the same time because the arenas are right next to each other
and the hunter classes usually run way behind schedule anyway.
August 20th- SM open show
-same as the first one in June
August 21st- WW Dressage Bronze Show
-same as the one in June, but if I go to the SM one in June and not WW, I might go to this
one instead of the one on the 20th
August 27th- R4R
- Pretty much the same as the last R4R show
September 11th- Hunter/Jumper KF
- Same as last KF show
September 30th- October 2nd- Hunter/Jumper/Dressage AM Harvest Show -Bronze
-Haha another scary AM show
AM shows are insane, at least that's what everyone who's been there tells me. This is were all the circuit bitches and crazy horse people show up. The ones with the imported warmbloods and think they are soooo much better than everyone so instead of unloading in the parking lot like everyone else they unload in front of the barn blocking everyone elses way to the the lot. Leave their shit everywhere and get in your way ALL the time because they think they are sooooo much better. Ahh circuit bitches, such a treat!
Both me and N where kind of bored at 2'6" so we asked K if we could jump higher today and she said yes. So we did.
It was one of those days where everything seems harder than it is. It was also a "think sports car" day for Pony. The jumps were about 2'9" but I think the Swedish Oxer was around 3. That was a TERRIFYING jump. It's practically at eye level for Pony and me (not actually, but that's what it seems like). The first time we either knocked the whole thing down or just one rail and the second time we did the opposite of the first. The third time we just did the line, a one stride to the three stride with the oxer, and made it over! Yay! Pony's such a good girl, my little sports car!
Today I went riding with L, although it's nice to have a riding buddy, its really annoying when they keep you trapped on the rail and want to warm up and do all the things you need to work on when she doesn't want to get out of your way. Especially when you don't want to offend them or be rude so you can't really get away to work.
She was a bit spooky at the wind and the jumps against the arena wall, but still good. I reallly want the wind to die down because central Alberta seems to be trying to steal Chicago's title of "the Windy City".
I almost got to ride alone today, but the only way to have done that would have been to go to the show with L today. Actually it was all planned out and was probably going to be fun. She was going to get up before 6, come get me at 6 and then we'd go to Timmys, then get her horse and groomer up. Her mum would be there with the trailer and take us to the show, my dad would come get me at three so I could go riding and workout. Probably would have been a decent day. But this was good too.
So excited! L has a load of old show stuff that doesn't fit or she doesn't want so I can potentially buy them for cheap! Including a realllly nice hunt coat 'cause mine isn't comfortable. I'm not totally sure whats wrong with it, but something is. It just doesn't fit quite right, and she was a nice show shirt she wants to get ride off, which is good, because a couple of the shows we're planning on going to require the really nice stuff. Damn hunters. That's whats great about jumpers, polo shirts are totally fine, but nooo hunters and dressage have to be special. Haha, oh well, hopefully all will go well.
Possible Show Schedule! =)
June 18th- SM open show
-Jumpers start at probably 2'6" and possibly 2'9" have to wait for K's thoughts on that.
- English equitation and pleasure. Not sure about these two yet.
June 19th- WW Dressage Bronze Show
- L thinks we should do a dressage show before AM, so we might do this one, but it's also the day after the SM show, so we'll see about this one
July 9th- R4R
- Jumpers, same height as SM or even 3', we can do it at home, but not sure if we should bother at
a show
July 15th-17th- Hunter/Jumper Novice AM
- Shows at AM are SCARY and I've never been there, but it's one of the nicest barns in the area
and their shows are serious competition ones and that's kind of scary, so we'll have to see about
this, but I want to do at least on AM show this year and I think this is the one N is going too and
it would be awesome to have a show buddy for this terrifying experience.
August 14th- Hunter/Jumper KF
- This one I can do either hunters or jumpers, but jumpers don't start until 2'6". But I can
compete in both classes at the same time because the arenas are right next to each other
and the hunter classes usually run way behind schedule anyway.
August 20th- SM open show
-same as the first one in June
August 21st- WW Dressage Bronze Show
-same as the one in June, but if I go to the SM one in June and not WW, I might go to this
one instead of the one on the 20th
August 27th- R4R
- Pretty much the same as the last R4R show
September 11th- Hunter/Jumper KF
- Same as last KF show
September 30th- October 2nd- Hunter/Jumper/Dressage AM Harvest Show -Bronze
-Haha another scary AM show
AM shows are insane, at least that's what everyone who's been there tells me. This is were all the circuit bitches and crazy horse people show up. The ones with the imported warmbloods and think they are soooo much better than everyone so instead of unloading in the parking lot like everyone else they unload in front of the barn blocking everyone elses way to the the lot. Leave their shit everywhere and get in your way ALL the time because they think they are sooooo much better. Ahh circuit bitches, such a treat!
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Tuesday & Thursday (& Random Stuff)
Sorry. I guess I lied about writing right after a ride.
Pony has this stupid and horribly annoying habit of stopping at the first jump we do at least once. That must change.
Thursday, not very different from Tuesday but we did better on lines and stuff since I knew what needed to be done. The oxer was still ugly and she had one weird attempt at it, we didn't have enough speed so she put in an extra stride I wasn't expecting. But other than that it was good.
Some extra irrelevance: I'm dying part of my hair blue! Bright blue! I'm very excited, I started bleaching it this afternoon. I had one bottle but had to apply it about six times. The first time, the roots turned a really lovely blond, but the rest of it is varying shades of dark yellow and copper. I'm putting in the toner tomorrow and hoping that helps. Thank god for Aussie 3 minute miracle deep conditioner or my hair would feel like straw. So, with any luck this time tomorrow I'll have lovely turquoise hair! Punky Colour, is the brand I'm using this time. It's about a buck more than Manic Panic, but I'm trying this one first. Haha, so we'll see how it goes.
Do incompetent people bother you? 'Cause they piss me off.
I have stretched ears right, and it's a 'dangrous' thing to do. You have to be careful because if you move to fast or skip to many sizes you risk infections and blow outs. Blow outs are disgusting and painful and usually mean you have to start over again. What happened was: Months ago I bought a set of tapers from Culture Craze months ago. I asked for 16g (one size up from what your ears are usually pierced with). Now, this is also sort of my fault because I didn't notice this) but the chick gave me 12g. That is a HUGE leap up and not very safe. Luckily nothing happened, it just hurt like a bitch. The only reason I even figured this out was because I went back on Monday thinking I had 14g in (I noticed later it looked like it was the same size as my industrial which is a 14g). I asked for 12 and the girl (diff one this time) asked to measure what I had into make sure I wasn't buying what I already had. Turns out I had 12's all along.
At 10g now. They're so cute! One is black with white marbling and the other is white with black. These didn't hurt at all! Hoping to move to 8g in a couple weeks or so.
Anyway. Tuesday was decent. Harder coarse and a very unappealing oxer (that didn't faze Pony at all).
The lines were not a lot of fun because most were bending, but sharp bending ones. So that sucks, but we got them done. I wasn't counting to start with so that caused some problems, but once I stared counting things went much better. She didn't care at all about the oxer, which was great.
Pony has this stupid and horribly annoying habit of stopping at the first jump we do at least once. That must change.
Thursday, not very different from Tuesday but we did better on lines and stuff since I knew what needed to be done. The oxer was still ugly and she had one weird attempt at it, we didn't have enough speed so she put in an extra stride I wasn't expecting. But other than that it was good.
Some extra irrelevance: I'm dying part of my hair blue! Bright blue! I'm very excited, I started bleaching it this afternoon. I had one bottle but had to apply it about six times. The first time, the roots turned a really lovely blond, but the rest of it is varying shades of dark yellow and copper. I'm putting in the toner tomorrow and hoping that helps. Thank god for Aussie 3 minute miracle deep conditioner or my hair would feel like straw. So, with any luck this time tomorrow I'll have lovely turquoise hair! Punky Colour, is the brand I'm using this time. It's about a buck more than Manic Panic, but I'm trying this one first. Haha, so we'll see how it goes.
Do incompetent people bother you? 'Cause they piss me off.
I have stretched ears right, and it's a 'dangrous' thing to do. You have to be careful because if you move to fast or skip to many sizes you risk infections and blow outs. Blow outs are disgusting and painful and usually mean you have to start over again. What happened was: Months ago I bought a set of tapers from Culture Craze months ago. I asked for 16g (one size up from what your ears are usually pierced with). Now, this is also sort of my fault because I didn't notice this) but the chick gave me 12g. That is a HUGE leap up and not very safe. Luckily nothing happened, it just hurt like a bitch. The only reason I even figured this out was because I went back on Monday thinking I had 14g in (I noticed later it looked like it was the same size as my industrial which is a 14g). I asked for 12 and the girl (diff one this time) asked to measure what I had into make sure I wasn't buying what I already had. Turns out I had 12's all along.
At 10g now. They're so cute! One is black with white marbling and the other is white with black. These didn't hurt at all! Hoping to move to 8g in a couple weeks or so.
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Damn
One of the blogs I follow belongs to a riding instructor in the UK, I was reading a post a while ago, that said something about making sure you're barn has a system where you can move up in levels.
I've been at the same barn for 6 years now, and it feels the same as when I started. I think this may be because I'm in the 'advanced' level, but the jumps are rarely above 2' right now.
One reason is because we are doing a lot of base work, that will help in the long run, and the second, my coach took a kick to the head last week and understandably doesn't want to do a lot.
However, you see other people who have been riding for the same amount of time, yet they jump 4'. It's hard not be jealous and wonder how much we're really doing. There are very few stables I would go to if I left where I am. In fact, there's only one.
It's lovely! They have a similar leasing program, a beautiful facility, and outdoor board is only $300 a month. They also have a set up where you can move up in levels and what not.
The horrible draw back of this facility? It's one hour away from my house, and 50 minutes away from my Grandmas'. Which is where I'll hopefully be living next year while I'm in uni.
I understand that lots of people give up riding while at university, but I fear I can not do that. There is a stable in the middle of the city, very close to her house. Unfortunately they don't have the same leasing set up, and it's very expensive. Using one of their horses, is $50. That is the single most expensive lesson I've ever come across.
I'm looking forward to spring break though! One of my friends at the stable has asked me to ride her horse for her because she's gone. This isn't the friend I complain about, although she's gone too.... Haha, so I don't know yet if she wants me to take him in lessons or just do flat work on our own. Either way I'm excited, new horse, new experience regardless of what we do. Her horse is beautiful, a giant compared to mind, and seems quite fiery and a bit of challenge. A new one of course.
Tommy did okay on Thursday, he's got his bouncy canter and trot back which is a good sign. Missing the big jumps though. A good thing about the spring/summer, we'll be back outside in the huge outdoor arena! So big jumps again!! Need to find some exercises to improve flat work though. Both of us are getting bored I think.
I've been at the same barn for 6 years now, and it feels the same as when I started. I think this may be because I'm in the 'advanced' level, but the jumps are rarely above 2' right now.
One reason is because we are doing a lot of base work, that will help in the long run, and the second, my coach took a kick to the head last week and understandably doesn't want to do a lot.
However, you see other people who have been riding for the same amount of time, yet they jump 4'. It's hard not be jealous and wonder how much we're really doing. There are very few stables I would go to if I left where I am. In fact, there's only one.
It's lovely! They have a similar leasing program, a beautiful facility, and outdoor board is only $300 a month. They also have a set up where you can move up in levels and what not.
The horrible draw back of this facility? It's one hour away from my house, and 50 minutes away from my Grandmas'. Which is where I'll hopefully be living next year while I'm in uni.
I understand that lots of people give up riding while at university, but I fear I can not do that. There is a stable in the middle of the city, very close to her house. Unfortunately they don't have the same leasing set up, and it's very expensive. Using one of their horses, is $50. That is the single most expensive lesson I've ever come across.
I'm looking forward to spring break though! One of my friends at the stable has asked me to ride her horse for her because she's gone. This isn't the friend I complain about, although she's gone too.... Haha, so I don't know yet if she wants me to take him in lessons or just do flat work on our own. Either way I'm excited, new horse, new experience regardless of what we do. Her horse is beautiful, a giant compared to mind, and seems quite fiery and a bit of challenge. A new one of course.
Tommy did okay on Thursday, he's got his bouncy canter and trot back which is a good sign. Missing the big jumps though. A good thing about the spring/summer, we'll be back outside in the huge outdoor arena! So big jumps again!! Need to find some exercises to improve flat work though. Both of us are getting bored I think.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
So Much For That.
So I talked to my trainer and she said I can pick up some extra free rides on the weekends, so I'll just have to double check if I'm paying for them or not.
Apparently there is no way that I have any hope of a career in show jumping or any other equestrian sport for that matter. Unless I win the lottery or something.
I've been wanting to do a lot more showing, and getting more advanced, but when I merely suggested to my dad that we get a bigger lease on Tommy, he completely shot it down. Which is really upsetting and completely unreasonable. My sister plays basketball 2-4 times a week and if she makes the school team, it will be more. Fuck, that's so not fair and I don't see the difference both are expensive and it's not like mines anymore expensive, or that I'm even asking for my own horse.
Apparently there is no way that I have any hope of a career in show jumping or any other equestrian sport for that matter. Unless I win the lottery or something.
I've been wanting to do a lot more showing, and getting more advanced, but when I merely suggested to my dad that we get a bigger lease on Tommy, he completely shot it down. Which is really upsetting and completely unreasonable. My sister plays basketball 2-4 times a week and if she makes the school team, it will be more. Fuck, that's so not fair and I don't see the difference both are expensive and it's not like mines anymore expensive, or that I'm even asking for my own horse.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Moving Up
So, me and Tommy are moving up this year! Into the Advanced Jumper class! This is very exciting, because I've been working towards this for the past 5+ years.
We also have our last, and second, show of the season. Hopefully we will do as well as last time in the first class and better than last time in the second class.
However, there's something I never mentioned before. Tommy is not my horse. He belongs to my trainer, and I lease him from her. I love Tom to bits, but I really want my own horse. The problem is that I'll be going to University next year, and the other problem is I don't have the money for one right now.
It's very depressing. But I still have Tommy for now. I don't know how people can give up things that they are so passoniate about when they go to school, if everything works out, I should have a crappy car next year so I can still ride at my current stable, otherwise I may have to start taking lessons at the show barn in the city, by my grandmas house, which is also pretty close to the university.
We also have our last, and second, show of the season. Hopefully we will do as well as last time in the first class and better than last time in the second class.
However, there's something I never mentioned before. Tommy is not my horse. He belongs to my trainer, and I lease him from her. I love Tom to bits, but I really want my own horse. The problem is that I'll be going to University next year, and the other problem is I don't have the money for one right now.
It's very depressing. But I still have Tommy for now. I don't know how people can give up things that they are so passoniate about when they go to school, if everything works out, I should have a crappy car next year so I can still ride at my current stable, otherwise I may have to start taking lessons at the show barn in the city, by my grandmas house, which is also pretty close to the university.
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