First ever cross country school!!

Our lesson last night was GREAT! We started out by schooling a tricky SJ round and Pistol did fabulously. He didn't hesitate at everything, and even jumped a really tricky jump at an angle. Then we moved out to the XC field and went over almost everything. Originally we were supposed to only be doing Amoeba level stuff, but she had us go over a few BN stuff! He did so well for his first time ever over ANY XC jumps AND I didn't fall off! (quite an accomplishment with a plain flap saddle!) We even went through the water complex, which included jumping down and jumping up a bank! This little horse is so great...he is so brave. He's gonna be such a cross country machine when he moves up the levels. Can't wait until the show on May 10th! I'm strongly considering doing the full 3 phase instead of just the CT.

This is the video of our first time through the water complex!
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10201842597207891&l=5921589895930964489

Video from our ride today. We worked on trot to halt transitions and staying straight on the center line and our turns onto the center line.

I'm Back...take 2

Since school is finally winding down for the year I finally have time to start regularly posting again.

Back in March I took Pistol to his first jumper show. We entered the 18" crossrail division which consisted of 2 courses and a flat class. For the first flat class we knocked a rail, so we got third. In the second class we were on the wrong lead the whole time but he jumped fabulously and got first. (We were the only ones that cantered the course) Pistol ended division champion, so super proud of him there!!

Our trainer switched our bit from the hollow eggbutt to a mullen mouth pelham...can you say BRAKES?? I didn't realize how heavy he was and how hard my hands were before in the eggbutt! SO now we are working on staying light and getting more uphill in the pelham.

Our first combined training is scheduled for May 10th!! I don't know yet if I'm doing the Pre-Amoeba CT, Amoeba CT, or the Amoeba 3 phase. I'm a little weary to do the full on 3 phase because I'm not sure P can get fit enough for that in that amount of time. (Quarter horse...slow as molasses when he wants and once his gas is gone it's like pulling teeth to keep him going) So we will see about.

It's supposed to rain all day tomorrow so I won't have videos until Saturday which is a dressage day, but I will include a video I took a couple of weeks ago with my helmet cam!

Monday's lesson

All we did was walk. (not complaining!) We worked on being able to drop the head by command. Not just put the head down, but truly drop it and stretch the neck all the way to the ground. It's a lot harder than it looks!  We eventually nailed it at the halt, but had trouble with it at the walk on a 20 metre circle. I would ask for the stretch and couldn't find the happy medium between my leg and hand ques, so the horse either wanted to halt or trot. I got some stretch, but not quite all the way down!

I am loving my lessons! I am learning so much that I can apply to P-man in our own training rides. Yesterday I started working with him on stretching his head all the way down. I didn't keep my ques even on both sides, so he kept wanting to move off of my leg. Not complaining though, considering how hard we've worked on that! He got it after awhile. We have to work in short increments, or else he gets frustrated. My lesson next Monday is on him, in preparation for our show next weekend. So excited!

Well I have not been on in a while... P-man has been lame! He hurt his hip running into something. I should be better within the next week or 2.

On a happier note, I scheduled a lesson with an eventing trainer!!! My first lesson is Monday! So i will have pictures from that. When I set up the lesson she gave me homework to do- I have to draw a picture and write a paragraph on what i want to accomplish from eventing. When I finish the paragraph I'll edit this post and include it.

My saddle is being shipped back from the fitter today!! :D

On another note, P-man is lame. He ran into a post a week ago and cut his hip. He was never lame from that til monday. He's really sore, so I've been giving him bute, cold hosing his hip, and putting liniment on it. It will be probably another week before he's back to normal. They're getting their teeth done on the 28th, so hopefully I can ride by then!

Well they were supposed to get their teeth done this morning...but the dentist called and rescheduled for next week. Dang. At least this gives me time to send the saddle off to get adjusted so I'll have it when he gets his teeth done and can ride again!