Horsejumping 101

I was so excited when I arrived and Laura said "So, do you want to jump tonight?" I was totally psyched and felt more like jumping out of my skin! I was a little late arriving and a little excited to get started so I ended up putting the girth, anklepads and chin strap on wrong. Pet put up with me though as I got everything corrected out in the arena. The trot felt really good, the canter incredible. We brought the stirrups up a notch and then little work at two point, posting and at the canter. Felt a little strange, my legs being in a different position and all but my balance was feeling really good after the dressage saddle last week. Then, it was time to start the jumping. We started by putting three poles on the ground between the two posts. I rode at the trot, and tried to remember everything Laura told me...look up, put your knuckles on his neck, lift up out of my saddle to the two-point, keep my heels down and stay at two point for a couple strides after the jump...I jumped over the poles on the ground and then brought pet up to canter out of the jump...

YEE HAH!

I did several laps in both directions. It felt pretty good, but I had to keep tinkering with little things here and there. Then, Laura raised two of the poles to form an "X". They were pretty low, but I definitely felt the difference in the way Pet was jumping.


YES!

I had to really concentrate on getting up to my two point, keeping my hands on Pet's neck and keeping my heels down, especially just before and just after the jump. Then, Laura raised a single pole across the posts, a foot, then to 18 inches, then 24 inches.


I LOVE JUMPING!

In the end, I only almost fell once...well twice, but no one really noticed the second one. I'm pretty pleased, as was Laura, that I went to 24" so quickly. I still have a lot of work to do at the two point, so that I don't have to rest my knuckles on Pet's neck, as well as some balance and stirrup work, but...


I'M JUMPING HORSES! I think I'm addicted