.... we went JUMPIES!!!
Our little nearby venue where it is all casual and relaxed. Gracie and I hadn't jumped a thing since July so we started from scratch and opted for poles on the ground- to ease ourselves back into it. Prepping at the yard and driving there I was really overcome with nerves and have realised that since I had pneumonia earlier this year, my nerves now manifest in breathlessness and an inability to breathe! Not nice. I walked the course and staggered back to tack her up, huffing, puffing and feeling shaky but once in the saddle I calmed straight down, got my oxygen back and was overcome with a steely determination! I really don't know why I bothered with poles because as you can see, Gracie just jumped the majority of them anyway!
Sadly I had a brain fart and forgot the course, so we came second....out of two! Haha
The next round was small cross poles. Having definitely memorized the course, I pushed on and we went clear and fastest and WON (out of 4)! Again, I really don't know why I thought she'd jump small!!
Our third round was 45cm and she absolutely stormed round in the fastest time. Unfortunately my lack or practise led to incorrect placing and she had a fence down so those four faults led to a 3rd place (again out of 4)
I felt that that was enough for her so we left it there. Next time I'm going to try 45 and 55cm.
It was a fab day and Gracie was a total superstar and didn't put a hoof wrong. She really seems to enjoy jumping and I'm so proud of her. The saddle was fab, it didn't move and I felt safe and "in" it. G had minimal high jinks going into her first canter but I know she was just very excited and keen.
Now I've got to work on technique and position (those elbows though!!) We're booked into our first jumping clinic next week!!!
Our little nearby venue where it is all casual and relaxed. Gracie and I hadn't jumped a thing since July so we started from scratch and opted for poles on the ground- to ease ourselves back into it. Prepping at the yard and driving there I was really overcome with nerves and have realised that since I had pneumonia earlier this year, my nerves now manifest in breathlessness and an inability to breathe! Not nice. I walked the course and staggered back to tack her up, huffing, puffing and feeling shaky but once in the saddle I calmed straight down, got my oxygen back and was overcome with a steely determination! I really don't know why I bothered with poles because as you can see, Gracie just jumped the majority of them anyway!
Sadly I had a brain fart and forgot the course, so we came second....out of two! Haha
The next round was small cross poles. Having definitely memorized the course, I pushed on and we went clear and fastest and WON (out of 4)! Again, I really don't know why I thought she'd jump small!!
Our third round was 45cm and she absolutely stormed round in the fastest time. Unfortunately my lack or practise led to incorrect placing and she had a fence down so those four faults led to a 3rd place (again out of 4)
I felt that that was enough for her so we left it there. Next time I'm going to try 45 and 55cm.
It was a fab day and Gracie was a total superstar and didn't put a hoof wrong. She really seems to enjoy jumping and I'm so proud of her. The saddle was fab, it didn't move and I felt safe and "in" it. G had minimal high jinks going into her first canter but I know she was just very excited and keen.
Now I've got to work on technique and position (those elbows though!!) We're booked into our first jumping clinic next week!!!