I went on a school this past weekend and it was a bit of a rocky start. Nothing majorly bad – I just was intimidated (and surprised I was intimidated) by the second jump (first jump – straightforward log).
I think it was partly the:
The shape of the fence: It was a ramp on one side and a shed on the other. So a wide base and two "pointy bits" at different heights
That it was brand new (shingled, and the orangey-color of new wood)
When I saw others jump it I realized it wasn't THAT big. But logic didn't help.
Anyway, we moved on, and things just kept getting better:
Table, ramp, big log, other big log, ditch, up bank, down bank, skinny log – all no problem.
Then we moved on to the water. The water was fenced off with electrical tape, so we removed a couple of sections. I did a (to me) large table and cantered on to the water. There was a relatively narrow gap to go through, between the pole holding one section of electrical tape and a rather large training level fence.
As we were about 10 strides out, I swear I felt maresie asking “are we doing THAT fence?” and I (without conscious thought) used my upper leg (the one nearest the fence) to say “nope. aim for the gap.” And then she locked onto the bank up out of the water and we cantered on through.
It was just so cool…
We only did one more fence after that – a long approach to biggish log / very baby drop fence. I got my good uphill canter and it felt like there was a magnet inside the fence drawing us on. We just sailed on over it.
At 47, I’ve only just gotten started. We did four schooling shows last year (3 at BN) with improvement each time. Had a blast. Took the winter off and things just have not gelled as well for us this year. I thought I had my best dressage test ever and then the judge gave me pretty lousy marks and scored me 5 points lower than she had last year, which really kind of blew me away. So much so that I screwed up in stadium when my goofy young guy went in jumping, well, goofy! On cross country though, with the exception of frog jumping a round top which he had jumped just fine the previous day, he was awesome! And it really is a ton of fun.
Yesterday evening we had a really great dressage lesson with our coach. A problem for us has been tenseness and steadiness in the bridle during dressage. Seems that I’ve been trying to give the contact away too much shying away from the heaviness, instead of holding the contact and being more supportive ~ think: he has to be heavy before he can be light. Anyway, we got some awesome roundness while trotting! I was thrilled but definitely have my homework to do.
Like PaintedHunter, I too ride a Percheron cross (mine is ASB/Percheron) and he has the most comfortable sitting trot, and going from sitting trot into posting and back, definitely helped me find a better rhythm last evening.
The most aggravating thing about my guy has been he is very looky at anything new when it comes to jumping. Once he’s jumped it, he’s fine and will go back and do it great. But even though we showed at Poplar Place twice last year; it was all new again when we went into stadium this year and while he had warmed up fine, he was still sucking back and looking at all those bright colored poles! Very aggravating but he is young (5 coming 6 in June) and we’ll just keep doing the schooling shows and getting him out there. He is the sweetest horse though, with a lot of try.
Well, you all sure don’t look weenie compared to me! I’m a dressage rider who doesn’t jump outdoors yet, or jump anything taller than say 15 inches… But two weeks ago we dressed up and played eventer.
My last “success” was taking my retired horse to a xc schooling show and almost completing our Starter course. Almost completed because I completely missed the last fence. Anyway, my horse was a rock star and decided he was born to do XC. Even fences I was lukewarm about (at best) he locked onto and flew over with no hesitation. It was SO fun and he absolutely loved it. I hope that he has some good days this summer so we can do it again.
I am a weenie eventer! We started eventing last year after 15 years of trail riding. And I bought a 17.2 draft cross! My favorite success this year (we fox hunted over the winter so just back in dressage/jumping lessons) was as we were cantering to a jump, I actually kept my head up and was looking beyond the jump, planning my next move during the jump! That is huge…for me!
I may be the weeniest of all! We went to a schooling dressage show last weekend, and cantered in public and didn’t die! Amazing! :lol: We rode Intro A, B & C, and I thought I was ready to head out to conquer the world!
We are all getting there! It’s the little steps . . .
I just signed up for the Barrington Mini with my new mare. She’s 16.3. The fences are 2 foot. I hope I’m not too scared! She’s my dear friend’s old 18yr old broodmare that we put back to work a 1 1/2 yrs ago. We were going to do it last year, but last April I was nervous cantering in the ring so elected not to. We’re doing better this year so wish us luck!
And thank you, pheasantknoll! I feel utterly ridiculous, but keep trying to remember that sub-sub-sub BN is where we start, and if it takes me longer to get somewhere, that is ok!
Libby ('Cause I can always show up with soap, and eventers will let me hang out anyway . . . )
I’m a weenie eventer too. Successfully did 2 events at Intro level last summer (was entered in more, but of course bad weather all summer meant they were canceled). We trotted most of the jumps, which were probably 2’3" max. At my last event, we managed to canter to the finish line AND get a 2nd in the OTTB division. Our first event, we got a 5th even! Totally weenie sounding, but I was very proud…especially since my horse is a green OTTB who loves to jump REALLY high & I am timid.
Anyways, of course this is the year I decided to have a baby lol, so I’ll be sitting out while my trainer & friend ride him. But I’m sure next spring I’ll be rocking around Intro again for the first few. Goal to be to canter the courses this time.
jherold:
If that’s the Fox River Valley mini you’re doing you will have a blast!
Many years ago DH & I did it 2 years in a row & had a great time.
I am now a Mental Weenie Eventer - it’s been soooooo many years & I still miss doing cross country.
In the Olden Days - when I worked with a trainer - we did BN and schooled to Training at home.
Current horse is still sketchy outside of the arena, but I continue to take him for schools on my 5ac. No jumping yet, I need him quiet/rateable WTC first!
Maybe one day…
I’m even more of a weenie eventer, but my little guy is still going well. We did have a stop and got stuck half over a jump because of some orange sand on the landing side, but I’m still keen to keep on eventing (came over from the dressage side).
My dressage girl went for a bit of a xcountry school we have a few fences on our neighbours property including some decent ditches. Was really funny and she loved it and took her terrified of jumping mum round. Decided if we do too much more of it we may need slightly better brakes but was a nice wee break before our winter means playing in the arena only.
I fully admit I am a weenie when jumping. So many times I ask my trainer “you want me to jump THAT?!” When riding as a child, although my parents were gracious enough to allow me to have a horse and ride, I wasn’t allowed to jump. So, I’ve basically only started jumping as an adult rerider. I never had intentions of getting into eventing. In fact, growing up, I couldn’t fathom why someone would even want to jump cross country and thought y’all were crazy.
When I was looking to get back into riding again, I searched for quite a while to find the right dressage instructor. As fate would have it, she was an eventer who introduced me to the sport and subsequently introduced me to my current trainer. My mare enjoys jumping and cross country more than dressage work in the arena so I guess I’m being led to the dark side :lol: My mare came from Pat Dale of Three Plain Bays (judybigredpony) so I guess you can say it’s also Pat’s fault.
Have to brag a little about my Solo girl though. Yesterday we went XC schooling. Though neither she nor I had ever schooled XC before, we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. I went just thinking I’d hack her through the fields, get her introduced to water, and overall just get her out in the open for exposure. We wound up confidently trotting through the water, schooling some beginner novice logs, a low drop (but with a visually deceptive downhill landing!) and even a ditch! Surprised the heck out of me!! Solo is a game mare who hardly batted an eyelash and took it all in stride, never refusing. Then, she would stand quietly on a loose rein while the more advanced riders in our group galloped and took the bigger fences. She’s green but so forward, brave and honest to the jumps. And she put up with me fumbling around on her back: I almost came off schooling over a warmup cross pole though LOL Gotta love these OTTBs–they are troopers. I will fully admit my horse is braver than I am!
And the better you get at this stuff, the easier your courses will be. We did something similar in a clinic I just did. LOTS of turns so that we had to find a line to a jump and ride it. Fun and challenging.
You two look great!
[QUOTE=FatCatFarm;7535143]Good for you both!
At 47, I’ve only just gotten started. We did four schooling shows last year (3 at BN) with improvement each time. Had a blast.
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The most aggravating thing about my guy has been he is very looky at anything new when it comes to jumping. Once he’s jumped it, he’s fine and will go back and do it great. But even though we showed at Poplar Place twice last year; it was all new again when we went into stadium this year and while he had warmed up fine, he was still sucking back and looking at all those bright colored poles! Very aggravating but he is young (5 coming 6 in June) and we’ll just keep doing the schooling shows and getting him out there. He is the sweetest horse though, with a lot of try.
Keep on keeping on. :yes:[/QUOTE]
Yes. My issue is likey going to be that Maresie is very brave in stadium AND when schooling XC in a group. But when she’s out on course on her own she tends to get distracted by her environment. Jump judge with red umbrella! Pumpkin on fence we’re not jumping! Golf cart! Giant black pick-up truck prowling slowly across the course! Cornstalks tied to fence flags (!) rattling in the wind (!!!).
So, when she fails to lock on to the fence (because she’s staring at her distraction and attempting to move laterally away from it*) I have to and make her get there. Rather than, y’know, um, ending somewhere 10 feet to the left or right of it.
I did 2 Elementary Hts last year. BN this year (a first for me. And… it’s only taken 5 years to get there
*Actually, what am I talking about “attempting to move laterally”? I mean, “doing a very good job of cantering sideways at an 85 degree angle away from what should be our line.”
LOL. Anytime I come back from XC without having sludgy water jump water enter my mouth is a good day. Maresie likes to SPLASH. But, eurgh…. Water jump water does NOT taste good.
And is it the same underwear?
And THAT is the best feeling – when your horse locks on and is like “yep, got this. Let’s go!”
Hee! Congratulations! Maresie, the story goes, is a failed fox hunter. She was apparently a wee bit too enthusiastic about the whole thing….
Yay for cantering in public! Remember, just breathe!
Good luck! 16.3 with 2 foot fences means she can likely canter over most of the questions. My instructor watched our video of our first BN and was like "yeah, she’s barely bothering to lift her front end at all. Maresie definitely thought it was fun, but wasn’t exactly impressed with the fences. But see my earlier note about “environmental issues.”
[QUOTE=BoysNightOut;7537616]I’m a weenie eventer too. Successfully did 2 events at Intro level last summer (was entered in more, but of course bad weather all summer meant they were canceled). We trotted most of the jumps, which were probably 2’3" max. At my last event, we managed to canter to the finish line AND get a 2nd in the OTTB division. Our first event, we got a 5th even! Totally weenie sounding, but I was very proud…especially since my horse is a green OTTB who loves to jump REALLY high & I am timid.
Anyways, of course this is the year I decided to have a baby lol, so I’ll be sitting out while my trainer & friend ride him. But I’m sure next spring I’ll be rocking around Intro again for the first few. Goal to be to canter the courses this time. :D[/QUOTE]
Congrats on last year’s successes, and this year’s new addition to the family.
[QUOTE=2DogsFarm;7537622]jherold:
I am now a Mental Weenie Eventer - it’s been soooooo many years & I still miss doing cross country.
In the Olden Days - when I worked with a trainer - we did BN and schooled to Training at home.
Current horse is still sketchy outside of the arena, but I continue to take him for schools on my 5ac. No jumping yet, I need him quiet/rateable WTC first!
Maybe one day…[/QUOTE]
Take your time and have fun getting your guy the mileage he needs so that you’re comfortable going XC. I have had some actual fun on hacks, and then there’s the “fun” of going out on short “hacks” (going maybe a half-mile up the road and back at a walk) simply to practice going by scary mailboxes. And garbage cans. And, OMG, FOLDED NEWSPAPERS ON THE GROUND INSIDE A PLASTIC BAG. My other “Really, horse?” moment was when she attempted to spook at a flattened pile of poop on pavement. (Really?)
[QUOTE=flight;7538914]I’m even more of a weenie eventer, but my little guy is still going well. We did have a stop and got stuck half over a jump because of some orange sand on the landing side, but I’m still keen to keep on eventing (came over from the dressage side).
Oh, no. LOL. I guess you both survived the experience, given your, ah, affectionate nickname for him. He is very handsome, though!
Weirdly, Maresie was very blasé about a “revetted” ditch with blue gravel on either side, whereas a grassy depression of a ditch make her jump like something’s going to eat her feet. Who knows?
Are you in Australia, and your winter is just beginning? Here’s hoping you have a milder, more riding-friendly than we had in the northeastern US.
[QUOTE=Endevor;7539141]My mare enjoys jumping and cross country more than dressage work in the arena so I guess I’m being led to the dark side :lol:
Have to brag a little about my Solo girl though. Yesterday we went XC schooling. Though neither she nor I had ever schooled XC before, we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. I went just thinking I’d hack her through the fields, get her introduced to water, and overall just get her out in the open for exposure. We wound up confidently trotting through the water, schooling some beginner novice logs, a low drop (but with a visually deceptive downhill landing!) and even a ditch! Surprised the heck out of me!! Solo is a game mare who hardly batted an eyelash and took it all in stride, never refusing. Then, she would stand quietly on a loose rein while the more advanced riders in our group galloped and took the bigger fences. She’s green but so forward, brave and honest to the jumps. And she put up with me fumbling around on her back: I almost came off schooling over a warmup cross pole though LOL Gotta love these OTTBs–they are troopers. I will fully admit my horse is braver than I am![/QUOTE]
Actually, that was another nice thing about our most recent school. First couple of schools, ever, and Maresie was all “is it my turn? Is it my turn?” Was v. annoying. Now she relaxes until I pick up the reins.
Downhill landings – I have to say, that’s my bugaboo. I don’t care about down banks, but a fence where the landing side is lower than the takeoff side makes me nervous.
UPDATE! We survived the Barrington Mini Event and met all our goals! I did the correct dressage test, jumped all the fences in the right order, stayed on the horse and didn’t embarress my trainer! We were dead last after dressage, but moved up to 9th. Only one knock down in stadium. Mare and I were having a heated discussion regarding pace and she stopped before fence 7 and “jumped” it from a stand still. We need to work on the brakes a bit, as she was more excited jumping at the show than she gets at home, but all in all, it was a sucess.
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