 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
It was time to do a little more advanced work. Sarah could stop dependably, back nicely, stood like a rock for mounting and dismounting, would leg yield and turn on the forehand, and usually got the correct lead first time (she did like that left lead, as many ex-race horses do). Her main problem seemed to be an attention defficit. Her mind wandered. "Who's that over there?" "WHAT is that awful looking monster alongside the trail???" It did help to leg yield and do other exercises, but she definitely needed some work requiring concentration. Jumping.
The first thing we did was get her used to walking and trotting over poles.
We started with one pole and then two and worked up to four poles, sufficient to get her concentrating without being confused. She did well on the cavelleti, and it was good experience for Hap as well. There were occasional tree limbs and ditches out on the trails, and we went over those at a trot or a little jump with no problem... seemed to Sarah, there was a purpose... after all, we were going somewhere and they were in the way. Of course, they weren't very big. After she had all that down well, it was time to start some little fences in the ring. Well, Sarah did OK on those too, though occasionally she saw fit to save a little energy... why jump when the thing is so low you can just trot it?
Nevertheless, we kept up with it and she did alright... unlike me. I tended to get a little more forward a little sooner than advisable, and we had a stop or two. "How can I take off with you on top of my head?" she seemed to be asking. Can't blame her. I do remember one ignominious landing on top of a flowered thingie jump, after the several people watching had shouted out "Don't lean forward!" Too late. I was flat on my back on top of the jump, huffing and puffing, with Sarah staring at me accusingly. I worked on that little problem and we got past it. Below is a friend riding Sarah over a little jump so I could take a picture of her. She's relaxed and confident (both friend and horse, though friend should have had her helmet on), which is nice, because Sarah sees a lot more sense in jumping on the trail than in the ring, getting careless with those easily knocked down poles on occasion. On the trail, she often overjumps, keeping me on the alert. She knows those jumps don't come down.
On to Shows
Web design by Diana Linkous