Warmup Day, Woodside Schooling Show

There was a hunter/jumper schooling show near me last weekend, and though I wasn't feeling ready to show I hauled Cupid over on Friday when they had the rings open (setup with a complete set of jumps same as for the show) for warm up rounds! 

In years past you would buy a ticket for each round - it was not judged you just went once around the posted course.  I was expecting the same, but they changed the format to where multiple people could be in the arena and you had 5 minutes to school the jumps.  There was a course posted, but you don't have to follow it.  There are some advantages and disadvantages to each.  I was worried it would be chaotic, but I ended up having the entire arena to myself.

Show arena open for practice.

I started out with a quick lunge.  Cupid was well behaved, cantering quietly and coming back down when I asked.  We did have a quick training session on the way to the lunging area though when he balked passing by what I assume is material for a new arena they're building.  Curiosity got the better of him though, and he wanted to investigate.

The only picture I took of Cupid there!

After lunging I got on and we went to the warm up arena, which was immediately adjacent to the show arena.  We started with our usual flatwork, and I tried to remember to sit up straight and have my outside hand by my saddle pad.  It was going well but I was a bit nervous knowing jumping was coming up so we started with just a pole on the ground.  We trotted over it, fairly quietly at first but after several passes Cupid did start to jump over it so I tried to fight the urge to lean forward, which I know is the opposite of what I should be doing!

I forced us to trot over a little log and cross rail in the warm up, though I knew I was not riding my best starting to crawl up Cupid's neck.  At this point I wasn't sure I even wanted to go into the show arena, and thought maybe that was a good note to end it on. 

We took a little walk around outside the arena, around the show grounds which helped me to relax again.  The show arena was still empty so I decided to go in, and told myself since I'm here I might as well at least school around the jumps.  We trotted around, letting Cupid see the judge's booth, flower boxes, and pass by the spectator tent that was flapping in the wind.  (It seems like it is always windy at the horse park!!)  Cupid was being good so I decided to trot the smallest jump, which was the little log at the front of the arena.  That went well, he landed quietly and I got him back into a trot and we trotted the next smallest jump, one of the verticals with a gate and flower box.  We ended up not doing the entire course, but jumped sections of it at a time and went over most of the jumps except one of the outside lines which looked like it was set a bit higher. 

We didn't end there, another ring was set up with a poles course (and also empty).  We trotted it through, then cantered around working on a steady rhythm and our trot changes.  It might have been better to start there, but that ring was initially set with jumps and had other people in it.  Plus then I may have decided to end on a good note and not actually jump at all, so I guess it worked out well in the end!

I was very happy with Cupid; he was very good despite me occasionally riding like a little monkey up his neck (which usually meant a long spot and a rare pulled rail, my fault entirely.)  And though he's never really hesitated with flower boxes, we don't do them very often so it was good for me to see again that it is not a problem for him.  I was very happy I did it, it was the perfect opportunity for me to be able to take my time and work up my bravery.  But I was even more happy I didn't think I was ready to enter the actual show, because I realize I'm not!  But if I keep working on making correct riding my new normal hopefully I will be able to do it even when I'm nervous. 

See vs Feel

Cupid has been feeling really good, as I said I've been really happy with our progress, but I wanted to see it with my own eyes and got my trainer to take some clips during our lesson today.  (Ack, that roof is a little dizzying!)

Trotwork - much improved!  Cupid's nose is still a bit above the vertical, but it's getting there and I like how will he is stepping under himself.  My arms are still a bit straight but it's actually an improvement.

Canter - it feels a lot better but looking at the clips his nose is still up much more then I thought.  You can't tell from this gif, but one improvement I noticed is much better separation in his hind legs.  I'm also going to give myself props for sitting up a bit better (though of course still room for further improvement!)

Yesterday we did some jumping.  Again Cupid was being very good so I decided to up the interest factor a bit, and we jumped the wood coops and I added some blocks under a vertical - both of which Cupid jumped without hesitation.  Our canter has gotten so much better it seems like the right takeoff spots just come up naturally! 

Hitting Our Stride

Cupid has been going so well (physically feeling good, as well as progressing in our training) I decided it was time to try jumping again!  I surveyed the arena and was happy to see the jumps were all small verticals, about 18" with one little oxer.  I briefly considered dropping one to a crossrail, but instead put out a caveletti. 

After a short warm up we did some flatwork, where I focused on putting Cupid on my outside rein.  I was ready to bail on my plan to jump at the first sign of any resistance or hint of misbehavior, but Cupid was being very good.  So we picked up the right lead canter, did a few 20 meter circles, went around the arena, and I focused my gaze on the caveletti.  We met it perfectly!  A few times to the right, then switched to left (Cupid has been consistently picking up the correct lead since he got the pads, hurray!) and found great distances each time! 

I added a vertical after the caveletti.  I didn't realize until I was heading towards it that we were aiming straight for the gate, but Cupid was very good and didn't quicken.  So big pats for him.  Then I put together a little course, I think about 6 jumps including the little oxer.  Cupid was super - we mostly did trot changes but I did get a lead change over the caveletti which I was very happy about.

I couldn't be happier with how the ride went.  Even though we haven't jumped in about 4 months I didn't feel rusty.  I actually felt more secure and confident then I have in a long time.  All that dressage work paying off, haha.  We may have some jumping related events coming up soon ;)

Another thing we have coming up is a Working Equitation test ride clinic, so today I wanted to practice for that.  I signed up for the Novice test, which I haven't ridden before but it's comparable to a Training level dressage test - except there is a reinback and no walk steps into/out of the halt.  Plus it's on a short court so everything comes up quicker!  The dressage ring was unavailable so I did it in the covered arena, in a space even a bit smaller than a short court.  I thought it went okay, except the transitions into the canter were quite late so we worked on sharpening them.  First between trot and walk, then trot and canter - the downs were fine but if Cupid wasn't prompt it was a quick tap-tap.  After a few reminders they felt pretty good, so we ended with a little stretching trot.

I am feeling very optimistic about our progress!  If the next few weeks go well, hopefully we can think about trying First level end of next moth!

Momentary Magic

Our trainer worked us extra hard in our lesson this week, and I think we had a bit of a breakthrough!  But first we had to get Cupid in front of the leg as he started out a bit lazy.  From the walk give a light squeeze, and immediate tap-tap if I didn't get an acceptable response (a forward walk was what we were looking for).  After repeating that twice more I squeezed and Cupid picked up the trot, and I patted him and told him good boy.  We did a few nice transitions between walk and trot, and Cupid was being very responsive. 

Then we worked on getting the trot rounder.  We started to the right, on a 20 meter circle at A.  Touch the saddle pad with my outside pinky (without lengthening the rein!), my trainer said.  It felt weird, and I had to use some leg to keep the trot going, but it did make our 10 meter circle feel a little easier.  Then we picked up the canter and again, pinky to saddle pad.  Cupid thought this was hard work, and can't we just go back to the longer floppier reins we're used to, so I had to use a lot of leg to keep him going and Cupid kicked out when I gave him a touch with the whip.  (This time I was sure his reaction was just annoyance, not pain.)  But then I felt it, all of the sudden it was like I was sitting on a rocking horse!  I wasn't totally confident when my trainer said now do the 10 meter circle at A, that I could both bend enough and keep him cantering (there was a jump standard there to keep us honest!) but we did it!  We did a few more laps of the bigger circle with the 10 meter circle each time we passed A and we kept that rocking horse canter going.

It was a bit harder left, my weaker side.  Whereas we sometimes overbend to the right, we tend to not bend enough going left so my trainer told me to apply inside leg and move my left elbow back past my sides for a stride.  Not there yet, more!  More!  And release.  =)  The canter was not quite as round and we did break to the trot twice.  But on the bright side we got the lead correct each time, and got a few good 10 meter circles where we didn't break gait.

After a quick walk break we finished with trot work doing some serpentines.  I ended feeling very happy and optimistic, feeling like Cupid is quite capable of being a dressage horse!  And we are both ready to take it up a level.  And also acknowledged that Cupid can be a little opinionated, lol.

The next day I wanted to take it a bit easier, so we mainly just walked around the property, dropping in to the outdoor arena for about 10 minutes of trot work getting that roundness we got in our lesson.  Short and focused - so we can sustain the high quality throughout!  We finished with a little stretching trot, before finishing up with our walk outside.

Tiny visitor last weekend =)

For a few recent rides I put a rubber spur strap around my stirrup leather and girth, to help keep my leg from swinging back.  I couldn't really feel a difference, though I'm not sure it's because the strap was too long or I can keep my leg in a semi-normal position without it feeling too weird!

Airs Above Ground

I finally got my video from the show, and it turns out the buck was actually more of a crowhop. 

My partner (who doesn't ride) was watching with me.  His first comment was, "are you laughing?"  And then "why are you patting him, he was bad!" I can't really answer those questions, except to say... horses!  If I wanted it to be easy / predictable I would pick a different sport or hobby.  You never know what can happen, and sometimes you just have to laugh!

If anyone is interested in the full test, it can be seen here: https://youtu.be/VMAewZrgXZM

On the Upswing

I don't know if it's the new shoes, time, or something else entirely but Cupid seems to be moving better and his attitude has been great. 

We postponed my usual weekly lesson from last Tuesday since he just got his feet done.  The first few rides with them he felt about the same to me, but at least it didn't seem to cause any discomfort.  And he was good cantering both directions; no bucks and picking up both leads.

We had our postponed lesson on Sunday, and it felt terrific!  I told my trainer the canter seemed better so we did a lot of that.  During warm up we did a longer canter each direction, then later we did a lot of transitions between trot and canter.  Just to see if after a few he would get cranky or inconsistent picking up the left.  But he was great! 

Then on Monday (Labor Day) I went on a trail ride with my friend I usually ride with, plus another friend from my barn.  It was a bit challenging because each of our horses preferred a slightly different pace (Cupid being right in the middle), but we all took turns leading.  Cupid got a little anxious and jiggy when he was second, with the fastest horse first, if his buddy disappeared around the bend.  I tried him behind the slowest horse, and that seemed to cause less anxiety.  But we had a very nice ride overall.  I rode with Cupid's fly mask on because the bugs are bad in a few parts under the trees, which helped keep Cupid from getting fussy.

Then today we had our usual Tuesday lesson.  Usually Cupid feels energized after a trail ride, but today he was being a bit lazy.  Maybe he realized that I forgot my whip, and also didn't have spurs since he's shedding his coat he's a bit extra sensitive and getting a little rub mark so I haven't been using them.  I realized that the whip is a bit of a crutch for me and I do need to be a little stronger with my legs.  But we had a good lesson again, and again the canter work felt really good both directions.  We are still working on not overbending through the neck going right, and bending more going left.  Without the whip I did feel like it was a bit easier keeping a steadier contact, but of course my left hand still wants to cross over the neck!