officially flying again !!

Between hitting the reset button while schooling at home, getting back into the dressage zone with trainer C, and letting Isabel fly into her gallop on the trails with Austen, Jen and Brita, things *finally* clicked back together for our second jump lesson since October.

hangin out, waiting for our turn

So this post might come off as moderately (and unapologetically) photo-spammy. Sorry not sorry. Not only was this ride SUPER fun compared to the previous week's lesson, it actually clocks in as one of maybe our best ever jump lessons. Ever.

kinda dark but i luv it anyway

Sure there were mistakes, the jumps weren't up to our full competition height (they stayed around 2'6" and below), and we were generally much too fast through all the exercises. But whatever. It felt so good - Isabel and I operated as a single unit, the forward distances were right there for us every time, and I felt like the timing of my aids (as in, dramatic half halt to rebalance through the turn, then ride forward to the fence) was as good as it's ever been.

look at her expression! so happy!

PLUS. We did lots of really fun exercises in the lesson too. Not that long lines of fences all set at one stride distances isn't fun... but it was a little taxing and overwhelming for a horse that hasn't had to be that quick on her feet in a while.

sass!!!

So this week we started by building up to a line of three jumps set at 30' two stride distances. And Isabel was FRESH haha. Actually, all the horses were lol. Perhaps the chilly weather and setting sun? Idk. Whatever the case, Isabel was landing raring to go. Trainer P wanted us to settle more into the line, but generally was pleased to see Isabel so enthusiastic about her job.

oxers weren't a problem this week

Then we worked through two different (but super fun!) three fence bending line exercises. First up, we came in through a 24' one stride line on the left lead, then landed bending right to catch an oxer in three strides.

wheeeeeeeee!!!!

The 24' one stride had me pretttttty nervous, since historically I really struggle with finding a true open 12' stride on Isabel that doesn't devolve into fast-n-flat. But it was fine. Well, it was too fast the first time (and our left-drift issues helped save my butt by giving us extra room to fit in the third stride to the oxer lol) so trainer P had us come through again a little quieter.

one of the few times our left drift is an asset

But Isabel was SUPER game to it - good mare! This same bending line ended up built into the full course we did at the end of the lesson (in the video below).

The other awesome bending line started with the same first jump off the left lead, but on a pretty severe angle to catch the blue and red below in a balanced two strides bending right, then land and bend even further right three strides to the out jump. 

slicing fences like nbd

Given the nature of the approach and changes in bend (not to mention more compact distances), I actually balanced for the kind of canter that we should have had for the rest of the lesson too... Eh, at least I know that canter is still in there!

Really tho, we were kinda just bombing around all the fences and it was *awesome sauce* lol. Next up we schooled down a three stride line that I probably was again still too strong through... but it was fine. Honestly I think some of the speed issues came from my own nerves - just closing my leg and hoping for the best. Isabel of course was happy to acquiesce lol.

majestic back-lit tail flick

Part of me almost wanted to quit while we were ahead at that point, rather than going through the whole course to finish off the lesson. But I am so glad we kept going - the course was as perfect (tho still too fast) as the rest of the lesson. Isabel was completely in the zone. The fences could have been 2' or 3' and I don't think it would have made a difference to the mare.

#lovethishorse

It might have made a difference to me tho, bc like I said, I did actually have some nerves during this ride - kinda like that hollow feeling in the bottom of your gut? Nothing terrible or crippling, just something worth acknowledging.

video of the full course here

I don't think it'll be a problem tho - just a symptom of spending 2 months out of the saddle and being a little unsure of myself. This lesson went a long way towards reassuring me tho. I felt solid in the saddle - and actually a little softer in my upper body (particularly with my release) than I'm used to. Perhaps the time off melted away some of the muscular tension that had built up?

all the pets for a good girl

The only catch will be to make sure that my nervous energy doesn't make this too-fast ride our normal style, and that I also take care to try and maintain the new softness in my arms, rather than start getting grabby and tight again. 

We'll see!! The season of indoor riding is looming (boo) so I'm just happy to get a couple rides back in our normal lesson format before that happens!