Brief recap: Hugh Jackman (HJ) came to me at Thanksgiving from my daughter who felt he’d be better suited in a non-jumping home. She did 8-9 years of 3-Day with him retraining him as he was a direct OTTB. He’s now 15 years old, honest 18+ hh gelding.
At first he terrified me --old lady fox hunter used to riding 14-15 hh fat QH on the hunt field.
But we came to appreciate each other. HJ likes the 20 acre grass pasture with his buddy, 24/7 turn out, 5 day a week regular work for 45 min to an hour --some lunging, some trails, some dressage work.
After 5 dressage lessons in 1970s, and two recently with DD former 3-Day instructor/trainer, lots of practice and some suggestions from the COTH Dressage board on what classes to enter at our one-and-only local dressage show --HJ and I are six weeks away from competition (and to think I was too afraid to ride him in April!)
HJ and I have resolved our issues (he never had any, they were all mine). DD was here this weekend and gave us two lessons --main take-away was use my calf to cue not my heels (HJ is very, very responsive); work on transitions more walk-trot; trot-walk; walk/halt -halt-trot etc. The canter is THERE --DD had me saying my cues out loud because I’d forget to do something --but saying them out loud made trot to canter transition perfect every time. I also found out HJ can read . . .I told DD, “I’m going to pick up a canter at P or A or V,” HJ would hear me --and canter at the letter without being cued. Smart boy. DD said I need to verbally praise him more --I do when lunging, but not when riding --need to do that.
And keep my reins between ring and pinky, slightly give the bit when he is asked to go faster; leave it alone when he’s asked to slow down (just shift weight.) --after two separate lessons on two days, I am starting to feel confident! Oh, and keep him slightly bent at all times --this is a small arena test–DD thinks judge will expect HJ to be slightly bent even on the long sides --he’s so big and has such a huge stride there isn’t much time to straighten and bend.
I’ve discovered HJ is fun to ride. I put him first on my list each day --ride him, practice dressage or just ride the trails (usually alternating days), then practice mounted archery with one of the other horses –
I have all my equipment for the one-and-only show (visited the venue, it is tiny but nicely laid out) --10 min from my house. I have a jeweled head band for HJ, a custom swallow-tail saddle pad (told they were “out of style,” but I really wanted one so had one made by Padded Ponies), new white breeches, ancient Dehners I use for fox hunting that still take a nice shine, new black gloves, black helmet and one of those fancy stock tie things that doesn’t look anything like a stock-tie but is pretty --Velcro around the neck). The first thing I did when I started riding HJ was take him to the saddle-fitter so he has a lovely dressage saddle that fits us both (and I received over 1/2 the cost on the dressage saddle I traded in).
DD will come and groom for me day of show --trainer/instructor and his wife are planning to come, my other (adult) kids and DH –
I have memorized my two tests Intro C and Training 1. Six weeks until Show Time August 13. Too early to be excited?
HJ before he was mine . . .
