uplifting lesson recap

Saturday was another frigid 20-degree day with a barn full of slept-in stalls needing cleaning. But there was no whining (or even stressing, really) this time around - B and I have the chores drill down to a science now. And that barn has probably never been cleaned faster haha. I guess that's the beauty of routine? 

In any case, we headed off to our lesson feeling relaxed with all the time in the world to prep the horses. 

the lesson was chock-full of gray ponies

I tried to keep the flat work momentum going from our previous ride - and mostly succeeded. It wasn't *quite* as good (and we were sort of limited in our ability to detach from the rail, given the 7 horses sharing arena space), but the good moments were still very much there and trainer P seemed pleased with the work.

Then it was on to jumping. P had a nice little course set up: singles on each diagonal, a one-stride on one long side, and a swedish oxer on the other. Naturally I didn't take any pics of the course, and my esteemed videographer (of the 13-yr-old variety) didn't catch any rides of the full course (she just got individual jumps, and none of the diagonals)... so you'll just have to take my word for it lol.

my right leg doing its misbehavin' thang

Isabel jumped very nicely. She seemed a little impressed by the oxer, initially - tho after getting an awkward distance or two to it, she gave it a lovely lovely effort. Maybe among the nicest jumping efforts I've ever felt from her. P said she left the ground really well for it - and for once I felt like I could actually close my hip angles a bit and sink in to my legs and seat over the fence. 

that's better!

It's fun looking at the video stills too and imagining the various obstacles that could fit into the space beneath Isabel... All along I've been nervous about jumping bigger stuff bc my position is so poor... but maybe it works the other way around? Maybe a bigger fence will get a better effort from Isabel, therefore making it easier for me to sit pretty?

video is a little choppy, but still fun

That's all food for thought, really, but I left the lesson feeling pretty pleased about things - including the upcoming fix-a-test clinic (provided we can get our entries in before they run out of space!) and our general progress. 

The other outcome of the lesson related to the Stubben trial saddle. P actually thought it was fine for me, but did NOT like how it fit Isabel. She saw a lot of movement, even when I just stood up in the saddle. 

My opinion of the saddle had improved by the end of the lesson (our second ride in it)... but not enough that I wanted to buy the saddle in the hopes that investments in fitting/adjusting it would make it work better for the horse. So. On to the next one, I guess!

au revoir, saddle!