Sure, it's been awhile

but look what we've been up to!

Fourth Jumping School

Another good jumping school- Drifter and I jumped a great course. We had a little mishap on the second time around... I let her get wide on a jump with a tighter turn and at the last minute she attempted to run out, but ended up jumping (and knocking down) the standard. I almost came off and this scared her too- which meant she bolted with me with almost no stirrups and minimal control. I gave a "heads up" holler and careened her back into control. She went back around and jumped nicely- actually very nicely. Here are our new pics.

Improving jumping

Slip.fall

This time of year is best for sitting back and looking at the spring/summer show schedules! It is great thinking of clinics and nicer weather. Riding in the indoor area is great (I know many of you do not have an indoor), but sometimes you want to get out.

Yesterday was one of those days. It was a heat wave of 40 degrees. Drifter and I went out to the dressage ring; which is covered in snow. I planned to lunge - just to allow her to move and stretch her back. She is turned out 24/7 but the horses don't move at speed much and have been gingerly picking their way around the paddock. Drifter was very cute, realizing that she was able to move a bit on the lunge. She did a few small prop and bucks, but nothing too naughty. She picked up a great little canter and cantered around a few times. THEN we found out there was ice under the snow. WHOOPS. Her hind end slid out from under her and she fell and slid about 6-8 feet. She didn't fall hard or struggle and was calm overall. I did have her lunge in the other direction (cautiously) just to end on a good note.

We went to the indoor and it was EMPTY. That is very rare this time of year. So she was able to move on the lunge and was very happy about it. She cantered nicely on both leads and just seemed happy to work. I got on her to cool her out. Her ride was her easy part today. I love my horsey!

Jump School

Drifter did so much better at jump school this year. We attended our first jump school this past Friday and she was great. She was more forward and straight then last year. The only thing I wished was that she put in more effort over the cross rails we were working on. When we moved it up to a vertical she actually jumped over it, but only as much as needed. She wasn't expending any more effort then necessary. It's great that she doesn't get worked up or overly anxious about jumping, but sometimes I little effort would be nice too. Jump school was really fun and hopefully we will have pictures or video soon.

Barrel Jumpin'

Yesterday we had a great little ride. I had been doing some suppling work with Drifter and a few sessions working on lateral work. She was very easy going when I introduced the dressage whip to help cue her to move her haunches over more in the leg-yield.

We hadn't jumped in awhile, but the jumps were pretty low in the outdoor arena and she warmed up real nice- so why not? We jumped over the simple cross rail first and then over a few small verticals. She was barely trotting them and totally relaxed. We did a line of three fences- small cross rail to large cross rail to one stride vertical which she did very nicely. The next time around we aimed for the two barrel jump and she went right over. I supported her nicely with my leg, but she didn't even waiver like she used to at each fence. I trotted her down over a panel fence and she did fine, but when coming back over it she plowed into it. This panel fence is pretty heavy and she must of felt it because after hopping off and re-setting it she snapped her back and jumped way over it. This is one reason I still feel that schooling cross country will help her be more tidy with her legs. It was a really fun ride and I was very happy with her!

Hooray for autumn

Things have been going well with Drifter and she has been so much fun to ride. Even when she has a week off of work- she comes right back and tries hard. She is such a great horse. Can't wait to keep moving her forward.