Finding my legs

[racaille]

Since the derb event was cancelled on Sunday due to the arenas being frozen hard, we had a spare day and were psyched up ....

So we rented the jumping arena at the place where we were going to compete in the hope that it would be thawed by the afternoon. Despite a very hard frost - minus 10 apparently - it turned into a beautiful balmy day here and we set off gleefully...............

until we turned into the Rhone valley where an icy mistal was howling. Boy it was cold! And so windy that even the heavy wooden wings were being blown over. Paco set off just once when a jump behind him blew down and Sam dumped the teenager when he did an emergency stop from canter because he saw a filler by the side of the arena. No one saw the teenager come off - I thought she'd got off to show Sam the filler but no, she said that she had gone out the side door!

Paco was really good despite the wind (I don't know how to describe the cold mistral, it was torture) and was giving me a really nice canter because - dah dah - I was using my legs! I finally managed to overcome my habit of letting everything go just in front of a jump. He needs a lot of riding but I sort of got it. Still can't be very pretty over a double as I tend to go fleuuuwwww in between but I am encouraged.

I tried to dip out of doing the course of 10 at the end but my coach wasn't having it and guess what? We did it! Not very high, but I managed to keep him in a decent canter all the way round

Sam, after the initial spook, was brilliant and just bounced towards the jumps as though he'd being doing it all his life. At the end he was easily clearing a couple at 1m5. Good boy. And good Paco too But I confess I was jolly glad to get back home to the warm, especially after battling back up the motorway against the mistral

[brigadier]

oh no- naughty Sam, for a second.... then he returned to Sainthood! Glad you are getting a ping out of Paco. I remember first jumping lessons where my horse would stop in front of the jump and the instructor kept saying I had 'dropped him'. It certainly didnt feel like it at the time as I felt I was keeping my leg on but they seemed to not know how to explain what was happening. It was only years later I realised the horse just wasnt that genuine. But it kind of stuck with me for a long time and I always feared that moment when you stop riding for the flight over but the horse doesnt take off!
No fun riding in chill wind either but you both seem to have come away with something which is great.

[fleabitten]

Oh yay what a great achievement! I too have a problem round a course of stopping riding in front of the jump. Thinking on it, its probably why my rounds arent as flowing as they could be sometimes! Saying that i havent jumped a course on anyone other than murphy in over a year and hes the type you have to nearly carry round and i just get out of breath and then he grinds to a halt lol! But i have this habit on other horses too, particularly if the jump is a bit scary/bigger. But im making a conscious effort in my lessons to keep my leg on and ride positively. Well done for getting out there yet again and sounds like terrible weather but im sure you were glad you made the effort to get out

[zara]

Rac, you've really found your brave pants! I hate riding in the wind but freezing wind and jumping? You deserve a medal What good boys x

[pboy]

Sounds like horrific weather, well done for getting out there! Can you tell me how to use my legs properly please, especially my naughty left one that never seems to be where I think it is?!

[racaille]

Ah yes, that darn left leg ..... Another annoying thing is breathing. As in, I don't. But it turns out the teenagers I was training with also have this problem. Even my own teenager said she forgets to breathe and then runs out of strength - her brain is telling her legs to work but they just can't. My coach says a tip is to chew chewing gum but I'm sure I would swallow it and choke to death!

[haffyfan]

Fantastic rac, like Zara says you really have found your brave pants - you'll wear them out at this rate, your such an inspiration.

Glad Sam returned to sainthood rapidly too...the weather sounded vile, that alone would have made me chicken out!

[brigadier]

I used to struggle with breathing during showjumping. It's the lack of time between jumps I think? Never had that problem across country. I dread showjumping now, but going to take a leaf out of your book Rac and tackle whatever is thrown at me.will remember the chewing gum!