How not to be a ground person

As someone who has started plenty of babies/greenies in the past, I can tell you that a good ground person is invaluable. I always pick someone I trust, with good horse sense and who can react quickly, in a calm manner if needed.

This girl's ground person did just about everything wrong ... I guess besides just letting go of the horse.

Jump clinic & analysis

Radio Flyer

Saturday our barn hosted a clinic with Dorothy Crowell. You may know her from her days with famous horse Molokai. She also competed at Rolex with Radio Flyer.

Molokai

Hampton and I participated in a group jumping lesson with 2 other riders.

Our group: Rufus, Hampton and Roulette.

We started our warming up on the flat. I was sort of wondering why Dorothy wasn't saying anything to me. Eventually she said, "Karen, you can walk. Your horse is so beautifully balanced over his feet. I really don't have anything to say. Looks good to me!"

... um!!!!! I was beaming of course. :) This just goes to show how important dressage work is. He certainly was not naturally balanced 2 years ago. He is half the age of the other horses in the group, but because of his dressage he appears more schooled.

Warm up.

Always on the look out for treats.

We started out with a basic gymnastic line. A bounce, one stride to an oxer. I really wanted to work on my position because despite 2 years at the University of Findlay, and a scattering of other jumping instructors... no one has ever really taught me what to do at the base of the jump! 

Dorothy did have a good point, however. Because when we stand up (out of a chair or car or whatnot), we lean forward, then straighten the knee and then stand up. So of course our natural instinct is to throw our upper body forward at the base of a jump. So at least I know now that there is a REASON I toss my shoulders at his neck. It made me feel like less of an idiot.

The proper procedure for jumping is: 

Straighten your knee

Put your hands forward

This is similar to what Peter Atkins says "Kick Up Look Up Stand Up" which has been a real help for me with jumping. 

I also really worked on my release. I have developed a bad habit of giving a short release or no real release at all. I have gotten away with it because the jumps are small. And for some reason, Hampton has started to develop into quite a talented little jumper - in spite of me!! But giving a long release no only gives him freedom in the neck, it also provided me with more support so my shoulders can stay away from his neck a little better.

No real release here. I'm perched over my hands. Hampton still jumps
like a boss in spite of me. (from FCF)

A better automatic release. Overall a more stable position here, although
my lower leg his slipped back (typical). But my heel is still down.

Lower leg appears better here, but I'm still really loose with my legs.
(that's what she said! OH!! BLAMO!!)

Bad habits die hard though and we did have some sticky jumps. Partly my fault and partly because Hamps is still pretty green.

Bad Karen.  I threw my upper body at him. He made a real effort but still knocked
the top plank.

Yes, still jumping ahead with my lower leg sliding back.
BUT .... I think this jump, with an actual release, is better  than ...

THIS ... no release. Perched over hands again. AND my lower leg is pretty
much in another county.

I learned a lot from Dorothy and would not hesitate to take another lesson from her. I think she has a real gift for working with OTTBs. She has a great sense of humor, was friendly and positive. 

I had been so starved for quality jumping instruction. This was a real treat and Hamps was brilliant. The way he packs me around meets criteria for Sainthood I think.

I am currently borrowing this jumping saddle from a friend. It is better than the Collegiate I had ... but I'm not sure I've found "the one" yet. 

Back to the sandbox this week. :)

FCF fotos

Dressage

I think Hampton wants to be a hunter.

There was lots of this ... sorry, Hamper!
He doesn't seem to care tho, judging by his expression.

There were a couple of oxers that were BIG for a Starter division.

"Hmmm, do I remember the course?"

Hampton studies the fence intently. :)

... and hops over.

Someone was very proud of themselves.

Add caption

I bumped my helmet when I bent down to kiss Hamper's neck.

Thank you for taking care of me!

LOL he is so tall you can barely see the top of
my helmet on the other side of him. :)

Yes, this is the same wild beast that reared up on me days before.

Alive

We made it through the horse trials. I am currently trying my best not to fall asleep at work so figured I'd give a quick update. Photos to come tomorrow.

We had a solid dressage test. One of our better ones I thought. We got a pretty good score - a 66%, which is funny last year I would have been jumping for joy at that. This time I thought dang I can do better! But still happy with that. And an 8 on our free walk. Blamo!

Stadium was basically Hampton saving my ass at every jump. I am still recovering from strep throat and by this point in the day I was exhausted. I put Hampton at every wrong spot on course. I was sloppy and jumping ahead. But he kept going and never once hesitated. Yeah, we chipped a lot of jumps but he left all the rails up.

Cross Country was next and even though we have not seen a XC jump since July, Hampton remembered the name of this game. He did not hesitate one time and some of the jumps were different than what we have seen before (a few brushes, barrels). At one point I did have to bring him back to the trot because he was ROLLING and I did not have the strength to rate him. I also swallowed a bug and began coughing. Yeah. So once again, Hampton saved my ass and carried me home. No penalities.

We finished 3rd in a really strong group of 12 people. I am really proud of that. Especially since our "episode" this week.

I really appreciate everyone's kind comments. :)

More photos and details tomorrow!

Kiss and make up.

Back in May with James Houston

When I walked out to catch Hamper in the field this morning, he saw me and immediately started walking my way. Ears perked and happy.

He had forgiven me for my part in Thursday's episode.

So I forgave him, too. :)

We had a lovely, relaxing dressage school. He was 100% his normal self. Maybe a touch muscle sore (so was I!) so I avoided any real sitting work. We ran through our test for tomorrow (must remember that you do NOT halt and salute at X on the way in. Just at the end ...). Did some shoulder-in and a little leg yield. Lots of stretching. It was a pleasant ride. One we both needed.

Tomorrow's schedule looks like this:
7 am: breakfast with my parents who are driving down from Indy to watch.
8 a.m. ish: go walk my XC course
9:a.m.: Braid Hampton, plus a quick lunge if time.
10: a.m. ish. Load up, head over to FCF
... get number, show packet, memorize stadium course? Lunge, warmup
My ride right now is 12:30 p.m. but the times keep changing.

We're going to ride dressage, dash back to change saddles, throw on my vest and arm band ... go jump our courses and then probably go right back home. I hate that I have to work but dammit I am NOT missing another horse show due to work. Especially since the weather will be so nice.

I do not anticipate any problems tomorrow. But you bet I am going to lunge him just to check on his mental state. No need to run him into the ground but if he has any sillies to get out, that will be his chance. I'm also throwing the running martingale on for jumping. Its benign unless we run into trouble. Peace of mind for me.

The boy is coming along to take photos and serve me mimosas again.

Will report back with results.

Also, good luck to Hillary over at Equestrian at Hart who will also be competing with her big, handsome guy Houston! I was going to be stalker and grab photos of them but I think our ride times may be too close together. :)

Hi-Ho Hampton

Here's how NOT to boost your confidence days before a horse show:

When your horse rears up, bashes you in the face with his neck, makes your nose bleed and gives you a black eye.

...

Earlier in the ride ...

I knew as soon as I started tacking Hampton up that he was fresh and in a snarky mood. Looking back I probably should have just lunged him first, but I thought that since we were going to jump today that he would wear out pretty quickly.

We started out doing some caveletti which went pretty well. He wasn't being bad but he was very electric to my leg. There was lots of half halting going on.

I moved on to an in-and-out (1 stride) which was actually quite lovely.

Next up I went to canter a vertical, long bending line to the fan. As soon as I even touched him to canter he rooted the reins out of my hands and wanted to get silly. No big deal. BIG half halt. He wasn't amused with that and from that point on I could barely put my leg on without feeling like he might explode.

(Here is another instance where I should have either lunged him or just let him have a good canter around the field)

At one point I did a full half because the rooting and snarky attitude needed to stop. We halted. He wanted to back without being asked ... this is a big no-no so I tapped him with both legs.

I remember the first small rear and thought "Ok, he's too fresh for this let's just go forward and let him get it out of his system." But after the first rear he just. kept. rearing. The second rear (I think) was when I got my face bashed. After that I was disoriented and merely slumped over hanging on. I had let go of the reins and just remember the world going up and down. One rear was VERY high. I should have turned his head to my knee but I was just so disoriented ... he probably went up and down 4 ot 5 times in a row?

(Oh yeah, I also have strep throat so was already sick and weak ... oh hey another bad decision!)

Eventually I just yelled "Hampton, STOP!" ... and it must have surprised him because he did.

This episode frightened me to tears. Fearing for my safety, I jumped off and immediately went for my lunge line. I know a lot of better horsepeople would have "worked through" the problem and blah blah but this type of behavior I do not tolerate. He cantered and galloped on the lunge line until he was begging to stop.

After that I got back on. Did many walk, halt transitions (perfectly well behaved this time) and went over the jumps I had planned to do in the first place. It was lovely. But the damage had been done.

I was now scared of my horse.

November Rein

Good news! The barn cats were returned. :)

Other than that, I am working a crapload of overtime at work (thanks, elections) and trying to get ready for FCF trials on Sunday. The schedule looks like this:

Tuesday: Dressage school (+ clean dressage saddle, wash nasty girth)
Wednesday: Hack day (Jessica gets Hampton this day)
Thursday: Jump school
Friday: Day off (I work weird hours)
Saturday: Dressage school
Sunday: Mini trial! (then ... you guessed it, go into work)

I also need to memorize the Beginner Novice Test A. We are also doing First Level Test 1 for the ride-a-test as long as we ride early enough for me to still get into work on time.

My goals are the same as last time:

Have a solid dressage test
Stay on for cross country
Stay on for stadium jumping.

:)