Post by pboy on Jan 26, 2014 14:13:45 GMT
After the not-so-encouraging comments from our dressage judge last week I decided to get jumping again as a break from flatwork for me and Classy. Last weekend went ok, I popped over a few jumps on Sunday which Classy enjoyed, but he was quite tired after the comp so I only did 20 mins then took him for a walk.
Yesterday I threw on the jump saddle and headed to the jump paddock again. Classy was quite heavy in my hand so after popping a little x-pole and 70cm upright I did lots of work on transitions to get him back on his hocks. We had a nice (too nice, not forward enough, first lesson learnt!!) canter so I popped the x-pole then upright, then headed over to a 70cm square oxer. Classy jumped it beautifully and very carefully...in that he chucked his back-end up as high as possible and flicked me straight out of the saddle!! Whoopsie. No harm done, I jumped back on and did the upright but didn't feel confident enough in my own riding to do the oxer again. A friendly teen was also riding so we swapped horses and I was pleased to see that she also bobbed around a lot over the oxer
Her response was to hitch her stirrups up and try again, second lesson learnt!! (Though she was nearly unseated by Classy's antics after the fence, cheeky monkey).
So today I had a lesson with my regular instructor and worked on forward-seat and balance in the jump saddle. I ended up with my stirrups two holes shorter than yesterday and felt much more secure. Homework this week is lots more forward seat work, some pole work and a grid lesson on Thursday. I WILL learn to jump again!
I'm not naturally a confident jumper although I enjoy it, so I need to build back up to decent heights and solid position.
At least Classy seems to be enjoying himself though, he even took a stride out to the upright which was unheard of when I first jumped him a year or so ago!!
Yesterday I threw on the jump saddle and headed to the jump paddock again. Classy was quite heavy in my hand so after popping a little x-pole and 70cm upright I did lots of work on transitions to get him back on his hocks. We had a nice (too nice, not forward enough, first lesson learnt!!) canter so I popped the x-pole then upright, then headed over to a 70cm square oxer. Classy jumped it beautifully and very carefully...in that he chucked his back-end up as high as possible and flicked me straight out of the saddle!! Whoopsie. No harm done, I jumped back on and did the upright but didn't feel confident enough in my own riding to do the oxer again. A friendly teen was also riding so we swapped horses and I was pleased to see that she also bobbed around a lot over the oxer
Her response was to hitch her stirrups up and try again, second lesson learnt!! (Though she was nearly unseated by Classy's antics after the fence, cheeky monkey). So today I had a lesson with my regular instructor and worked on forward-seat and balance in the jump saddle. I ended up with my stirrups two holes shorter than yesterday and felt much more secure. Homework this week is lots more forward seat work, some pole work and a grid lesson on Thursday. I WILL learn to jump again!
I'm not naturally a confident jumper although I enjoy it, so I need to build back up to decent heights and solid position. At least Classy seems to be enjoying himself though, he even took a stride out to the upright which was unheard of when I first jumped him a year or so ago!!
) and yes, shorter stirrups feel so wrong after years of long legs but then you find out why they work! I also need to work on my own fitness. 
for so much hard work we thank ye!!
I had to sweep the bathroom after my shower...
