(and my first jump lesson since my birthday back in April) New trainer and I chatted a bit as she set jumps from the prior x-rail lesson. “What height have you been doing? Like BN?”
I blanked… I admitted we hadn’t really been jumping and then said, “between Starter and BN is pretty comfortable.” Spoiler alert, turns out it wasn’t super comfortable (but everything was a hole or two smaller than the pics). The jumps were laid out in a way that gave a lot of options, gymnastics, and related distances. Overall, everything was set up to be super technical.
The orange line was a placement rail, 5 one-stride jumps, and then another placement rail to help riders get into and out of the gymnastic on the right stride. The blue line was a x-rail, two strides to an oxer, and then two strides to another x-rail. The green line was set in a moving 4, and the purple line was set in a steady 5. The only “stand alone” jump was the blue, double barrels. The new trainer offhandedly asked me if I thought they would be an issue, and I flippantly said no. (and then immediately was thinking (OMG we’ve never done barrels like that.”)
I warmed up, and she had me head through the gymnastic towards home, trotting in and cantering through. It was originally set really small, with just one side of each pole in the cups, and the distances were a true one stride. NT explained to me that the ring has a bit of a slant towards the barn, so things will always ride more forward coming towards the barn (i.e. traveling left to right of the above photo).
May was a bit wiggly the first time, and I don’t blame her. We haven’t done a gymnastic like this in a LONG time (like more than 2 years), and she wasn’t totally schooled in them at that time either. However, I kept my legs on, my reins open, and we were just fine. We alternated our approach to it a couple of times (making a right turn into the gymnastic, a left turn at the end, then a left turn into the gymnastic and a right turn at the end), until it was smooth and easy. Then, she put them up to small verticals (about a hole smaller than the above pic).
After that, it was time for our first course. Down the gymnastic (left to right), right turn and up the green line in 4, left turn and down the barrels. Sounded easy enough. Except I also cannot remember the last time I did a line that was oxer to vertical… That line was set to about 2’6″, and the approach to it was a bit weird. I tried to capture it in the below photo, but you had to come maybe 2 strides past the corner of the ring, turn, and then had maybe 2 – 3 strides off the rail to the oxer. AND THEN we would have to turn right and come down the double barrels that I wasn’t too sure about.
I nodded. I picked up my canter. I came through the gymnastic, May landed on the right lead after, I looked for my line to the oxer… and looked… and then just pulled back around the corner, lost her shoulder, lost any straightness or rhythm, and had a BIG OL’ CHOCOLATE CHIP into the oxer. I kicked on out to get the 4 strides to the vertical on the second half of the stride… and finished really well over the barrels. (At least there was some good)
Then the dreaded trainer words, “So what do you think happened there?”
I briefly blanked before blurting out, “I lost her shoulder in the line and then everything fell apart.”
NT nodded and then elaborated, “You lose her shoulder, couldn’t find a distance and did nothing. When you keep this horse balanced and on the line, you have no issues with jumps, distances, etc. However, when she loses her balance, then she pulls you off balance, and then it all just kind of falls apart. Worry about balance and straightness, and if you’re in doubt, add leg. The barrels were really good though.” (I swear, she is SUPER positive, but the negative feedback is more important right now than the positive)
We did that course one more time and while the turn to the oxer wasn’t perfect: I didn’t throw my body at it or panic. I just added leg and tried to keep my body back. Overall, a lot of improvement.
Now for a new course! Down the gymnastic, a right turn to the purple line (so oxer to vertical), and then around to the barrels. Gymnastic was great. I got to the oxer into the purple line, and we lost our balance a bit. I over corrected coming down the line, and got to the out in 5 and 1/4 strides… and promptly threw my body up May’s neck. Uh… not helpful. We rubbed it hard and landed in a heap on the other side.
“KICK AND SIT UP!” I heard from the other end of the ring…. oh gosh. our first lesson and here she is terrified that I am about to eat dirt. Oh well, I kicked on. Got a brief instruction of “always kick away from something like that!” while I cantered past her, and back to the barrels, which were, once again, no problemI walked, and huffed, and puffed (it was like 85 degrees with 80% humidity). May was prancing around like she was ready to go run the Belmont. Trainer sent me back to do just the barrels to the purple line again. It got tight on me again, but I sat back and it rode fine. SHOCKING.
Finally, it was time for our last course. Is your head spinning? Mine was. UP the gymnastic, a left 90* turn to the purple oxer, a right turn down the blue line, a right turn to the barrels, and then ANOTHER right turn to the green line. The turn from barrels to the green oxer wasn’t quite as tight as it looks in the pic, but it wasn’t much more generous.
I jumped up the gymnastic and actually had too tight of a turn to the oxer… and promptly forgot to turn right. I looped back around, got my right lead, and came down the blue line. Despite being a true 2 strides to 2 strides, the second half got a bit tight (*more of this later). The barrels, as always, rode great, but we landed on the left lead. I tried to fix it. I failed. I lost her shoulder and AGAIN the green line was ugly. At this point, I actually felt nauseous from the heat. (May was fine though. Totally amped and ready to keep going).
NT waved me over and said, “I am going to tell you something that is going to blow your mind. Stop worrying about the lead. Worry about balance and your line.” Now, I know this is kind of a controversial topic. However, I can tell you that for May and I to drop down to a trot, get the canter back, get balance, and get our rhythm back… it can sometimes take a lot of effort and coordination and TIME. So I decided to try it her way. (there is also a small chance that, if I stop fixing it for May, she might start fixing her own leads on her own.)
I jumped the barrels, we again landed on the left lead, I left the lead… and couldn’t turn to save my life. I ended up pulling her around the corner at the last minute and almost missed the jump. I did get a nice 5 in the line though. I was officially done tho. We identified something to work on, and it was overall really positive.
NT really liked May. She was shocked by how easily she got down the line, how un-bothered she was by all my mistakes (my words, not hers), and how light she actually is on her feet. She seemed really excited to be working with us, and I felt like I got a lesson that really challenged me without over-facing us. The whole idea is to do really technical courses at home, so, at shows, things feel easy. Sounds good to me!
*Now the striding thing. Since May had her hocks and stifles done, her stride opens up MUCH easier, and I am still getting used to riding the difference. She is also more receptive to taking the long spot, vs. chipping in, so it has really affected my riding.
(As a total off topic, I came across this article on stretching tight hips. https://www.popsugar.com/fitness/Best-Stretches-Tight-Hips-44931840 I remember when I first got May, I had to be DILIGENT about stretching my hips to be able to ride her. Time to get back on that band wagon!)
Your post did indeed have my head spinning! I certainly don’t miss my jumping days, although I enjoy reading about your experience. Keep up the progress!
I could barely remember what courses we even did… Definitely going to make the courses at shows seem a lot more simple!
I am definitely keeping that article in mind! After so long without sitting on Amber and riding Whisper, I noticed that I no longer had my “bareback seat” or general “easy feeling” as I rode Amber. Riding Whisper who is a soft mover in a western saddle really doesn’t make your body work that hard haha. So I’ve really been focusing on strengthening my weak side and doing a lot of stretching in my hips. So thanks for the article!!
And wow such a good lesson! So glad you’re liking her so far, and it’s always SO important that they like your horse. I was getting a bit turned around too! Had to keep referencing your photo lol. Also I’m so glad May is feeling better enough now to really open up her stride!
Yes. I have been having so much difficulty really SITTING in my Dressage saddle, and I think it’s because I let my hips get tight again.
The lesson was HARD but good. It was nice to be challenged. May and I can lope around a 2’3″ course pretty easily, but hadn’t tackled a new question in quite a while.
It sounds like a wonderful lesson! NT seems like a keeper 🙂
It was a great lesson! Challenging for me without over facing my horse.
How did you keep all that straight? 🙂 My head was spinning just reading it! What a great lesson with things to be very proud of and some homework too. NT sounds like a good fit for what you are looking for
I didn’t! Totally got lost on one course ?. definitely seems like a good fit. Can’t wait for my first Dressage lesson.
my head was already spinning thanks for more spin. what a good girl May is!This sounds like a great person to have helping you. YAY
She was awesome. A ring full of brand new jumps, only her second time being ridden in her new home, and her mom riding like a moose, and she still packed my butt around <3
That lesson sounds like a blast!! And like a great way for the new trainer to put you and May through your paces to identify your strengths and also the areas for improvement. Definitely sounds like an insightful trainer! Glad you enjoyed it!
Thanks! It was really fun, and I felt like she got a really good idea of where we are.
Sounds like a great lesson! Glad you like the new trainer and you guys mesh.
I’m totally stealing this exercise.
It was a great exercise. I told her I have a habit of throwing my body over fences, and I think she actually started cackling, followed by an “oh, this will fix that!”
Wow sounds like a fabulous lesson! I love doing more technical stuff at home so shows feel a bit like a vacation (minus the nerves!). Definitely sounds like the NT has some awesome insights and seems to be a good fit for you guys. Congrats! I can’t wait to hear about future lessons!
I love lessons that give you something to work on in the future. NT sound promising for working with. 🙂 Those stretches though… I don’t think I can pretzel myself enough. I’m working on flexibility now too but I’ve got a long way to go before I can do some of those.
hahaha. For some of them I use like a scarf or something to help me “pull” my foot towards me when I can’t reach. Mostly, I look like a turtle stuck on my back.
Exactly that! I feel like the huntchback of notre dame when im trying to get down to stretch and i just cant…
What a great lesson! It sounds like new trainer has a great program and is excited to work with you both. Can’t wait to see all the improvement!