HJ came to me from my DD who felt at 14 he’d reached his potential in 3-Day --an OTTB who raced for 6 years before she bought him off the track his knees were showing some wear and tear that continued jumping would not help.
The plan was for me to take him and work him into a Mounted Archery horse --but HJ had other plans. From Nov-December I did my best to ease him into Mounted Archery --but it just wasn’t his thing. He was too fast, too reactive, and needed a steady hand on the reins --something an archer can’t do! I ride totally hands free when I shoot.
Sad that such a nice horse wasn’t going to work out for me, I started just riding him around the (ever colder) fields. I finally asked him what HE wanted to do. Without hesitation, he took me to the Dressage ring (rather unused these days) and trotted a perfect circle --a straight line, another circle and the lightbulb went off. He wanted be a dressage horse!
As part of 3 Day, he’d had massive amounts of training and always scored well on his tests (60% was common --um, that’s 40% in 3D–respectable). 25-30 years ago, I’d had an interest in dressage, done a few classes, and as I recall, one show at 1st level. Then life happened and I groomed and cheered for my kids, fox hunted, and did some reining, etc. and now Mounted Archery.
But here’s this nice horse . . .so I set my cap to show ONE SHOW this summer with HJ. I was given a beautiful dressage saddle from another Mounted Archer, DD gave me a beautiful bridle because it doesn’t fit her new horse, and with the purchase of a blinged out browband --I am ready to start some lessons! That won’t happen til Mid-May due to archery conflicts --but looking forward to seeing what I don’t know. Meanwhile HJ and I are practicing what I remember about Dressage --for about 30 min a day --he’s a good teacher.
Our one and only show will be August 13, only 7 miles from my house. Such fun to have a goal and a horse who might be able to take me there.
Meanwhile, W and Will are rocking the archery course --I think --with the snow we’ve only been able to shoot at a walk --but spring is coming!!
That’s our update on New-to-Me Hugh Jackman!
