Thursday, June 2, 2016

bright white lights

Another mostly quick post here today. But a fun one: A brief summary of our jump lesson at OF last weekend.

It was definitely a good lesson. Very reassuring. Isabel jumped around like her old self, like she had never stopped at a fence a day in her life. Well. Ahem. Let's be a little more honest here: She jumped around like she had just been tuned up by a professional.

apparently there's a learning curve in figuring out how to snack with the nathe
I could go into great detail on the ride - from the warm up (uninspiring) through to the jumping section... but I think I'll just let the video of the final course speak for itself.

(plz disregard the large and mostly pointless circle at the onset of the course... I was in deep navel-gazing retrospection at the choices in my life that led to this exact moment of jumping this horse who has really not been all that fun to jump lately.... fortunately that feeling faded fast as we got through the course!)

Might not seem like much. And. Well. It honestly isn't much. Just an adult ammy and a cute arab mare cruisin around a course of 2'3-2'9 fences.

But damn did it feel good!

that's my girl!!
And if we are, in fact, being totally honest here? I'll admit to bursting immediately into tears at the end of the course. Those big, ugly, full body wracking sobs that are practically totally silent bc you're choking and you can't breathe except for those desperate shuddering gasps for air that come out sounding like some dying deranged donkey bray.

nailing the small corner!!
Thank god the course ended at the far end of the arena so I had the whole walk back to the group to compose myself...

i trued the horizon of this pic on my phone, but it still came out crooked on the computer.
oh well. too cute, sharing anyway.
Brita tells me that what I'm experiencing right now are called "feelings" and that they are totally natural and normal. Idk tho. I could probably live without it lol. But whatever. I will take tears of relief over tears of frustration and disappointment any day.

so easy she does it with her eyes closed!
She just felt great. Taking me to the fences and pushing up in front of my leg and into the bridle. The kind of feeling that when you get to a longer distance you know the horse is going. Never a single question. And as you can see - she's jumping quite well. She never really stopped jumping well either... she just. Stopped jumping sometimes. Idk.

barrels to the corner!
So now the focus shifts back to me. Some things trainer P wants to be very clear that I work on to ensure that Isabel continues to play nice. I've been working so hard to keep my hands quiet and not pulling on approach to the fence that I've just been nestling them into Isabel's neck... But then they never move or release over the fences either, so that needs fixing.

A couple other details too - staying committed with my upper body. It's not enough to just have my legs on, Isabel is so sensitive I need to say the same thing with my entire body language.

onward!
We will also continue riding in the nathe over fences. Isabel was happy and forward enough in this ride that I don't think it mattered, but it'll be curious to see how much it helps on days when she takes a little more effort to get in front of the leg.

For now, tho, we mostly just try to stay optimistic that we've figured some stuff out and are getting back on track. And should the fix not stick... perhaps another training ride (or two or three haha) might be appropriate.

58 comments:

  1. Hurray! I'm so happy for you! Lots of feelings are okay, and encouraged.

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    1. haha idk if i want to encourage all these ups and downs... so much inner turmoil!! lol... but yea, i'm happy all the same

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  2. All the feelings... I suffer from that. It sucks. She looks so freaking cute but im holding a grudge against her for making you unhappy. Hopefully this continues and not the meme inducing Izzy.

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    1. ha i'm trying to hold true to that 'short memory' concept that dan talked about a couple weeks ago and just forget and forgive all the stopping... except apparently i'm still a bit defensive with my position. ah well, if she keeps going like this it will all smooth out i hope!

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  3. this makes me soooo happy to read!! Izzy looks so happy!

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  4. Yay! YAY YAY YAY! I am so happy that the lesson went well! And yes, feelings suck. They are exhausting!

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    1. omg so exhausting!! like who on earth has time for all this drama?!? and yet... here i am lol

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  5. I'm happy things are looking up for you. I hope your rides continue to get better :)

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    1. thanks! i hope so too! really i will just settle for any semblance of consistency in a positive direction

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  6. Yay!!! So glad your lesson went well. It sounds like you have some good takeaways to keep Izzy happy!

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    1. yea, definitely a better idea of what works - and a good feeling for what we can do if things go south again.

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  7. That looked great! That mare is nice and front of your leg :D So glad the lesson went so well.

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    1. when she is up in front like that it is SO EASY and SO FUN!! just need to keep her going there haha

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  8. Yayayah! Feelings...always popping up at awkward moments.

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    1. ha right? sheesh... it's almost embarrassing! or would be, if i had any shame lol

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  9. BRAVO!!! That course looked so fun and you killed it!!! And feelings.. you know I haz them now too... they are a pain in the ass.

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    1. such a pain, omg. and such a distraction! but not insurmountable tho!!!!

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  10. Horray! Really happy for you. I don't blame you at all for the 'donkey bray' cry (omg lol). I would have done the same.

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    1. lolz.... we like to keep it real here, donkey braying and all! ;)

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  11. Training rides are God's gift to adult amateurs. SO glad things are back on a good track for you and Izzy!

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    1. oh man, seriously! now to see if we can just keep things going!

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  12. This post makes me ridiculously happy!

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    1. thanks! i'm mostly just super relieved haha

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  14. You guys look AMAZING!! Like wouldn't know there had ever been a problem, trainer rides are the best. I love the description of crying afterward lol I'm familiar with that sort of cry.

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    1. ha it's definitely a special kind of cry lol... but yea, she definitely felt like everything had snapped right back to where it should be. thank god!

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  15. Aww, yay! So happy to read this. No wonder you cried - it must have been a huge relief to have that committed feeling back. Good for you for doing your homework and doing everything within your power to help your little red mare. :)

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    1. oh man, we are certainly trying!! i'm just glad it seems to be sorting out relatively easily... vs any other alternatives that you might be very well familiar with...

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  16. Hooray! I would have totally sobbed too. Glad you guys are getting in a groove again.

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    1. thanks! fingers crossed it lasts! hope Riley is coming around too!

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  17. Such a good ride!!!!! I could feel the awesomeness in the ring when you completed the course!! Way to go!!!

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    1. thanks! it definitely felt awesome! Isabel has apparently been watching Wick and taking notes :)

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  18. I'm so glad you guys were able to have a good ride. Even if it isn't a permanent thing yet, it's so nice to have a reminder of WHY you are fighting and struggling to make things work, and sometimes, you just need the horse to be ready to play.

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    1. definitely. tho i'm gonna pretend like it's a permanent thing and see if the horse goes along with it haha

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  19. YAY! So happy you were able to have a good ride!

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  20. Yay!! I'm glad you had a nice ride!! You both look good on video- cruising around, happy and eager!

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    1. thanks! that's exactly what it felt like, and exactly how i like it to be!

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  21. I was going to say watching the video I was thinking 'damn that mare is forward good job emma!" and not even crazy running off the feet, just nice and forward. So glad you had this great jump school :)

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    1. yea the 'running off the feet' thing is an easy trap for us to fall into, too. but she seemed to have it just right this ride!!! :)

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  22. I have the highest hopes that your vibrations are back in sync (who even knows what knocks them out sometimes...) Pretty red mare is looking shiny and happy, too!

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    1. thanks! she is SUPER shiny right now haha. and yea i hope things are back in sync for good too!

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  23. Um, that video is amazing. You SHOULD be thrilled- I would have been proud to ride a course like that!

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    1. thanks :) our courses most definitely don't always look like that so i'm definitely enjoying it for now and storing it away as an example of what to shoot for!

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  24. Yay! Keep going! I'm so happy to hear you had a good jump session. We had a fun one yesterday, too. If nothing else, the crappy rides make you appreciate the good ones so much more ;0)

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    1. ain't that the truth!! glad Mo Mo is doing well too :D

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  25. Crossing my fingers she STAYS sensible for you!

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  26. SO happy to see you back jumping!

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  27. Ah feelings my fickle friend, thou art a fine line between helpful & hindrance.
    So glad all went well ☺☺☺☺

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