This weekend and on Oct 6th my Mom was registered to participate in some PVDA horse shows with Smash. Unfortunately there was a little bit of chaos this past weekend that have changed our plans.
Saturday my Mom went to Waredaca for her regular lesson while Nick took me for a trailer driving lesson. It took me 5min to get the truck to stop pulling 2 millimeters forward every time I got the hitch lined up and let my foot off the brake! That was the beginning of the frustration! We drove the trailer to a nearby school parking lot and I practiced driving forward, backward, backing from the left, and backing from the right. I didn't think I was going to get it. I felt like I kept getting stuck with the trailer turning too far almost jack-knifing and not being able to straighten out and line the trailer into the parking spot I'd picked. Finally I was getting it. I felt great that I could finally back the trailer up on my own no matter how long it took!
I drove the trailer home and didn't kill any one (I did have a long parade of cars behind me since I refused to go anywhere above 45mph). I even backed the trailer back into our parking spot at Waredaca and as I was taking the last wire off the battery as part of my unhitching procedure I hear Nick say "Ummm is that Smash?"
I looked up thinking I'd see my Mom riding or walking her back to the field but instead I saw her still fully tacked and riderless running for the field she lives in. I was wearing shorts and sneakers, clearly not riding clothes, when I exclaimed to a woman who was there just for some cross country schooling "That's my horse!" (why I exclaimed this I have NO idea. I blame the adrenaline and pure shock of seeing Smash running around. Normally I would never shout at strangers random exclamations but there's a first for everything I guess)
She looked at me with the most confused expression imaginable and said "It is?!" Here I am in street clothes, fiddling with my empty trailer, and then claiming that the fully tacked horse running amok is mine. I guess that would confuse me, too. Instantly I take off after her. (Side note: I do know I won't ever catch up to her but I wanted to explain that when I run after Smash it's because I feel if I can keep her within my eye sight I at least know where she is! And yes, there have been times when I have not known where she was which scared the crap out of me! Not to mention if she gets hurt somehow *knock on wood it doesn't happen* I can maybe see what happened) Thankfully there were some girls ahead of me on the road and one had a bike and they were able to catch Smash before I could.
As I'm walking Smash back up to the ring I still notice there is no sight of my Mom. I finally encountered her riding instructor who said she had just come off and she had stayed to make sure she was ok before coming to find Smash. I finally see my Mom and get ready to help her finish her lesson when she says her wrist hurts and cannot get back on. She said she thinks she sprained it and should go to the hospital. She went off to the hospital to get checked out and I told her I'd meet her there since I decided to ride Smash for about 10 min just so she knew running to her field after her rider fell off didn't mean she got to be done.
After I untacked her and Nick helped me put her tack back into the trailer we headed to find my Mom in the hospital. I found out what happened was just Smash spooked at something (probably invisible horse eating monsters), stepped on and broke a dressage ring fence which spooked her again, my Mom fell off since she wasn't expecting it, and Smash decided to run home. I was glad it wasn't Smash being "up" or not focusing because she was bored and wanted an excuse to be silly and that her actions were just Smash being a normal unpredictable horse.
After the trip to the hospital and a few x-rays it turns out my Mom has 2 fractures in her wrist and will require at least a month of rest if not more. So unfortunately she had to scratch from both shows. :( And because I'm not a PVDA member I can't take her place in the show. There will be plenty more shows in the future for my Mom to ride in but it definitely stinks that she can't do these shows this year.
Heal up, Mom! Then you can sign up for more shows!!
Have you ever had to scratch from a show because of a horse related injury?
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Friday, September 14, 2012
Flower Boxes
Have you ever asked your instructor what you were going to do in your lesson that day and when you heard what the exercise is thought 'omg that is so simple how am I possibly going to find this worth our time?' and then once you try what sounds like a simple exercise find yourself eating your words?
Yeah. That was me on Wednesday.
I went into my lesson thinking I'd work on some poles/jumping and it'd be easy and fun and full of effortless riding. What happened was the complete opposite. The task was to trot and then canter over 2 flower boxes in a line.
This is what a flower box is:
Yeah. That was me on Wednesday.
I went into my lesson thinking I'd work on some poles/jumping and it'd be easy and fun and full of effortless riding. What happened was the complete opposite. The task was to trot and then canter over 2 flower boxes in a line.
This is what a flower box is:
(Source)
They are like 6" tall and maybe 5' long. Usually you need 2 to be long enough for each jump. And usually you place silk flowers in them as decorations for the jump like this:
(Source)
There weren't any flowers in the boxes I was instructed to trot over. In fact they weren't even painted white. They were natural colors - i.e. brown - and only 2 of them total.
I confidently pointed Smash to the first box and missed and proceeded to trot up to the second box missing it, too. It was my wake up call this exercise might be a smidge harder than I first anticipated. But I thought maybe it was a fluke and I just wasn't focusing hard enough. 20 minutes later I was still either missing the boxes completely, Smash tripped over them, or I was completely wiggly in my attempt to get over them resulting in maybe getting over 1 box but not the other.
20. Minutes.
This wasn't like jumping a produce stand (my arch nemesis) or a 4' swedish oxer. This was a 6" flower box that a toddler could jump over without trying. Without a horse. or maybe even with one and blindfolded.
After firmly planting my foot in my mouth and focusing on what was going on and what I needed to do I got it. I got line after line and was unstoppable! Well until we stopped the exercise...which wasn't long after I finally accomplished the task since it had taken me so long.
So what was going on? I think it's obvious I have an issue with straightness. First I'd ride with only 1 leg on, then I'd try steering with just my hands, then I'd look down to try and see how wiggly I really was which in turn made me wigglier. All wrong. Only after I stopped trying to jump the flower boxes and actually ride Smash and steer with my eyes up and legs on and trot/canter paced evenly did I start being successful. Steph didn't anticipate this exercise being so challenging for me but I think she was glad she had me do it - and I am, too! In fact, my homework for the week is to get 2 more flower boxes out and do it again on my own time.
I find it amazing how jumping isn't about how big a fence is but rather all of the logistics surrounding the fence. Sure your horse can jump to the moon and back but was it straight? did they use their body correctly? did you use your body correctly? I know tons of people can technically get over jumps but what's more important is HOW you get over the jumps. Not the flashy height of the jump.
My lesson was very humbling and showed me just how shaky my jumping logistics were. Yeah I can jump over a flower box. Yeah I can get through the line most of the time. But then again most of the time it was not ridden properly. I'm slowly building up my jumping foundation so that when the height does matter my form and Smash's form will already be well established.
So the next time your instructor has you do something that sounds simple chances are it's not and remember that even simple exercises can challenge us to turn our weaknesses into strengths!
Flower boxes are going to become my new BFFs after this week is over! Guaranteed!
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
What To Do in the Fall/Winter
Not sure if you've noticed but the cooler temps are setting in and I'm thinking the official start of fall is going to be a chilly one this year. With that said horse show season is coming to an end in MD and shorter days and frozen ground season is upon us. So with no horse shows for at least 3-4 months, what the heck are we supposed to do besides chip the ice off our horses whiskers?
I've thought of a few fun winter horse activities to consider:
* Foxhunting - Foxhunting is very popular in MD despite not as much talk about it. Anyone can join but it's best for new riders to go cubbing or to an open introductory hunt that some of the hunt groups provide at the beginning of the season. Below are a list of local fox hunting clubs to check out:
Potomac Hunt Club
De La Brooke Foxhounds
Goshen Hounds
Elkridge-Harford Hounds
Marlborough Hunt
New-Market Middleton Valley Hounds
Wicomico Hunt
Carrollton Hounds
* Clinics - When horse shows aren't happening, there are sure to be some opportunities to keep your horse in shape and your riding up to par by attending a clinic or 3. You can find a list of clinics in your area either on The Equiery or other organizations like PVDA or MD Dressage or local barns just like you'd search for a horse show. There are plenty of places that have indoor rings, too, that might host jumper clinics.
* Trail Ride - When the foliage is lessened due to winter months it is sometimes a little easier to hit the trails. The sun shines through and you aren't constantly dodging branches. A trail ride also provides endurance for your horse and I know I get to catch up with friends since I never ride alone on a trail..
* Dressage Boot Camp - Winter is the perfect time to really focus on your dressage work. Make a goal for you to accomplish within your dressage work for the winter months to make it more interesting and see how far you get by March! Make it more fun by tracking your progress with video/photos and give yourself and horse a reward for accomplishing your goal at the end of winter. Your reward could be a new dressage whip or more horse treats or to enter into a dressage show at a higher level you normally would ride.
* Goal Setting - Winter is a great time to assess what you want to accomplish next year. Sit down and write out some goals and then more than likely you can make a plan for what you need to do in the winter to achieve those goals. If you want to move up to Novice next season, plan on memorizing the Novice dressage test and practicing it in clinics/schooling shows. Work on grids in jumping that can still be easily set up and done in winter months. Do trot and canter sets in a field to keep endurance up. By the time spring rolls around you won't have to hurry up and get fit again!
I've thought of a few fun winter horse activities to consider:
* Foxhunting - Foxhunting is very popular in MD despite not as much talk about it. Anyone can join but it's best for new riders to go cubbing or to an open introductory hunt that some of the hunt groups provide at the beginning of the season. Below are a list of local fox hunting clubs to check out:
Potomac Hunt Club
De La Brooke Foxhounds
Goshen Hounds
Elkridge-Harford Hounds
Marlborough Hunt
New-Market Middleton Valley Hounds
Wicomico Hunt
Carrollton Hounds
(Source)
* Clinics - When horse shows aren't happening, there are sure to be some opportunities to keep your horse in shape and your riding up to par by attending a clinic or 3. You can find a list of clinics in your area either on The Equiery or other organizations like PVDA or MD Dressage or local barns just like you'd search for a horse show. There are plenty of places that have indoor rings, too, that might host jumper clinics.
(Source)
* Trail Ride - When the foliage is lessened due to winter months it is sometimes a little easier to hit the trails. The sun shines through and you aren't constantly dodging branches. A trail ride also provides endurance for your horse and I know I get to catch up with friends since I never ride alone on a trail..
(Source)
* Dressage Boot Camp - Winter is the perfect time to really focus on your dressage work. Make a goal for you to accomplish within your dressage work for the winter months to make it more interesting and see how far you get by March! Make it more fun by tracking your progress with video/photos and give yourself and horse a reward for accomplishing your goal at the end of winter. Your reward could be a new dressage whip or more horse treats or to enter into a dressage show at a higher level you normally would ride.
* Goal Setting - Winter is a great time to assess what you want to accomplish next year. Sit down and write out some goals and then more than likely you can make a plan for what you need to do in the winter to achieve those goals. If you want to move up to Novice next season, plan on memorizing the Novice dressage test and practicing it in clinics/schooling shows. Work on grids in jumping that can still be easily set up and done in winter months. Do trot and canter sets in a field to keep endurance up. By the time spring rolls around you won't have to hurry up and get fit again!
(Source)
There are plenty of activities to keep you at the barn and your horse in shape during the winter months. Granted the ground might freeze and the temperatures can be tough but if you plan a few activities or set some goals for yourself and your horse you can still make the winter a great time to ride!
Thursday, August 30, 2012
Products I Love Pt. 2
In case you missed Part 1 this post is going to cover all of the gear I use on Smash that I love. Tell me all about your favorite gear in the comments section!
Let's start with tack!
My biggest piece of tack is my saddle. I use the All Purpose Wintec saddle with Smash. I love it because of the changeable gullet system and because it can be used for everything. Granted I'd love a real dressage saddle but I don't have the funds to have a million saddles for everything I do.
With the saddle comes the girth! I use the Professional's Choice girth because it doesn't rub and has plenty of elastic! Plus they are easy to clean and synthetic!
This is my girth extender. I need it when tacking up just to get the girth on. Then Smash sucks it in and I can swap the extender off and have only girth to saddle. She is such a bloater! I totally recommend you get one of these vs a larger girth to save you some money!!
I stick with simple WOOF boots for the hind legs because she does rub her back legs a little and I am always a bit nervous those ankle boots don't cover enough of her leg. Plus WOOF boots come in many colors and are much cheaper!
Smash's bridle is no-name generic brown leather but her brow band is not! This pink brow band from Clever with Leather is actually my Mom's. I also own this purple one below. Smash's halter is also from Clever with Leather. They make amazing products! I saw them when I went to ROLEX 3 day Event in KY but they will make custom tack from their website, too!
Part of my tack up routine also involves using some hoof oil to make sure the pounding while jumping on the dry and hard ground doesn't completely ruin Smash's hooves. I love this Farrier's Fix stuff. It smells like bengay a little bit but I have noticed her hooves have stayed in good shape because of it.
Let's start with tack!
Even though these Eskadron open front boots were fairly pricey, they were worth the money! Smash over reaches all the time and these boots have a nice hard shell so she doesn't hurt herself. And I love the open front so when she is jumping she remembers to pick her feet up and not be so lazy because if she doesn't she will feel it.
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| Her name plate has seen better days... |
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| you can't see the purple very well but it's a nice color! |
Last but not least is my trailer. It's a Featherlite with a roomy tack room. The saddles fit neatly in a nook under the bridles and there is ample space for all of my junk.
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| Side view |
 |
| Front of trailer |
 |
| Entrance to dressing room |
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| Bridle hooks and saddle racks |
 |
| all my junk piled inside |
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Products I Love Pt. 1
Most riders are curious about what products other riders use and love so today's post is going to dissect all of my rider apparel/gadgets that I currently use and love! Come enter my trailer!
A lot of people have asked me about my helmet cam I use so I decided why not share not only what I use for my helmet cam but also what I use when I ride, show, and take care of my horse. Below are the products I love to use until they are no longer usable.
Cameras:
For my Helmet cam I use the GoPro Hero with an additional side mount (purchased separately) so I didn't have to wear the camera on the top of my head/helmet. The mounts that come with the camera as is are very limited and while the bases are a thick double sided tape that probably stick well to plastic helmets it does not stay on horseback riding helmets with velvet or velvet wannabe exteriors. The only way I've gotten my GoPro to stay secured is with super glue. I got my GoPro at REI with a member discount and coupon.
Clothing:
Also for horse shows I wear my Ariat Field boot with zip up back. Love the zip up! It keeps me from struggling with boot pulls (which I always end up losing and having to resort to hoof picks) and they are a much better fit. I also save money with them from not needing tall socks since my pants don't bunch up at all while putting them on. I still will by a few pairs of tall socks, though, ...to be cool, naturally.
I protect my cranium with the IRH helmet. This is not the helmet I attach my camera to but that helmet is also another IRH style just smaller so the additional weight of the helmet cam is less noticeable. I love this helmet because it has the traditional velvet look and feel but with some modern wannabe GPA action for a third of the price. It's also super comfy and keeps my hair more contained. I don't struggle nearly as much to make my hair look neat/tidy with this helmet since it comes down farther in the back and around the sides.
Last but not least, I wear Tipperary's jumping vest whenever I go cross country. It comes in a few colors and is very comfortable on course! Safety is very important to me and with this jump vest I get great protection for an affordable price. Since I'm not jumping in the higher levels I don't own an Air Vest but I have heard pretty good things about those, too. Reminder - if you decide to go with an Air Vest you still need a traditional jumping vest like the one pictured above!
Those are all of the items I wear as a rider. I hope you enjoyed this post about rider apparel and products I love! Part 2 will show you the products I love to use on Smash! Stay tuned!!
Cameras:
I use (or rather have someone else use) a Sony HD Handycam. It has 7.1 megapixels and a 32 GB internal memory. The quality superiority between this handycam and my previous non-HD handycam is astronomical! The file size might be larger and take a while to upload but it's worth it! (note: we got this on sale at HHGregg so don't go thinking I like dropping tons of cash on stuff. Remember I own a horse)
Clothing:
My go to paddock boot is the old Ariat Volant zip ups. Obviously these have seen better days and I don't think Ariat even makes them any more but their latest Volant XT is probably going to be next on my list to buy. I wear these with the matching half chaps and they are great for the summer!
These are my most favorite riding pants. From Left to Right the Kerrits Full Seat insulated winter breech, On Course full seat white show breech, and Kerrits full seat super thin summer breech.
In the summer I usually will wear the Kerrits summer breech exclusively. It's so super thin that I never get as hot as I used to in other riding pants. They are very tight, though, so be warned that you will feel like you've just put on a second skin.
In the winter I wear the Kerrits Full Seat insulated breech and it's so much better than piling on layers of underarmour and feeling like the michellan man. They keep me warm and are super soft on the inside!
For my horse shows I wear the On Course full seat white breech and I love them. They are comfortable and get the job done!
I protect my cranium with the IRH helmet. This is not the helmet I attach my camera to but that helmet is also another IRH style just smaller so the additional weight of the helmet cam is less noticeable. I love this helmet because it has the traditional velvet look and feel but with some modern wannabe GPA action for a third of the price. It's also super comfy and keeps my hair more contained. I don't struggle nearly as much to make my hair look neat/tidy with this helmet since it comes down farther in the back and around the sides.
Last but not least, I wear Tipperary's jumping vest whenever I go cross country. It comes in a few colors and is very comfortable on course! Safety is very important to me and with this jump vest I get great protection for an affordable price. Since I'm not jumping in the higher levels I don't own an Air Vest but I have heard pretty good things about those, too. Reminder - if you decide to go with an Air Vest you still need a traditional jumping vest like the one pictured above!
Those are all of the items I wear as a rider. I hope you enjoyed this post about rider apparel and products I love! Part 2 will show you the products I love to use on Smash! Stay tuned!!
Monday, August 27, 2012
Best Horse Shopping Places in MD
Disclaimer: These are just my personal preferences. There are many different shops in MD that I probably don't know of or never have been to so this list is limited to only what I prefer and know. Please feel free to add any I have missed or your personal favorites in the comments section! :)
Growing up riding in Maryland I had to buy a lot of riding apparel and gear. Depending on where I lived or rode depended on where I shopped.
Before the internet (yes there was a time before online shopping!) we used to just go by word of mouth. My first tack shop I remember visiting was The Grey Pony in Laurel, MD. Between there and what was once Gayers (now Outback Leather) we had everything we needed. Outback is notorious for saddle and boot adjustments!
When I went off to college, in southern MD, I shopped online and at a tack shop run by Mennonites. The only thing was they had no electricity in the shop so you had to shop in daylight! The shop owner would order you whatever you needed and it'd be there in a matter of days! Southern States was another good place to pick up a few necessities. Online shopping was finally in full swing and to this day I still frequent sites like Dover Saddlery and Stateline Tack.
After moving to Ellicott City, MD/Baltimore and riding at a new barn in Mt Airy we discovered Bits and Bridles (no longer in business) which was SUPER convenient! A one stop shop! Sadly they went out of business so now we frequent Stablemates in Carroll County.
Stablemates is good for things you can't wait to order online or if you have any questions about a new product you are thinking of trying. Not to mention to try on boots or clothes and their sales are really good! I also make sure to check out Tack of the Day. If you have not heard of it, go now! Every day there are 2 sale items and it's the best deal out there! I also like shopping with Smartpak because their prices are good and their customer service and reviews are really good, too! Last but not least I have also shopped through Jeffer's Equine. They don't have too much but for medical supplies and general horse care, they are great. They ship almost immediately. Obviously you can also shop directly to manufacturers/brand names like Ariat and Kerrits but I find I learn more about what's "in" and what actually works from the other sites I listed above.
I have not gotten a chance to check out the new Maryland Saddlery Consignment horse shop in Gambrills, MD or their original shop Maryland Saddlery nor ever been to any of the Dover shops but I hear great things about them, too. Also, a favorite show/last minute omg I need it now because my horse just ate/broke it vendor is Bit of Britain. I see them a lot at Events.
Where do you shop for horse essentials in MD?
Growing up riding in Maryland I had to buy a lot of riding apparel and gear. Depending on where I lived or rode depended on where I shopped.
Before the internet (yes there was a time before online shopping!) we used to just go by word of mouth. My first tack shop I remember visiting was The Grey Pony in Laurel, MD. Between there and what was once Gayers (now Outback Leather) we had everything we needed. Outback is notorious for saddle and boot adjustments!
When I went off to college, in southern MD, I shopped online and at a tack shop run by Mennonites. The only thing was they had no electricity in the shop so you had to shop in daylight! The shop owner would order you whatever you needed and it'd be there in a matter of days! Southern States was another good place to pick up a few necessities. Online shopping was finally in full swing and to this day I still frequent sites like Dover Saddlery and Stateline Tack.
After moving to Ellicott City, MD/Baltimore and riding at a new barn in Mt Airy we discovered Bits and Bridles (no longer in business) which was SUPER convenient! A one stop shop! Sadly they went out of business so now we frequent Stablemates in Carroll County.
Stablemates is good for things you can't wait to order online or if you have any questions about a new product you are thinking of trying. Not to mention to try on boots or clothes and their sales are really good! I also make sure to check out Tack of the Day. If you have not heard of it, go now! Every day there are 2 sale items and it's the best deal out there! I also like shopping with Smartpak because their prices are good and their customer service and reviews are really good, too! Last but not least I have also shopped through Jeffer's Equine. They don't have too much but for medical supplies and general horse care, they are great. They ship almost immediately. Obviously you can also shop directly to manufacturers/brand names like Ariat and Kerrits but I find I learn more about what's "in" and what actually works from the other sites I listed above.
I have not gotten a chance to check out the new Maryland Saddlery Consignment horse shop in Gambrills, MD or their original shop Maryland Saddlery nor ever been to any of the Dover shops but I hear great things about them, too. Also, a favorite show/last minute omg I need it now because my horse just ate/broke it vendor is Bit of Britain. I see them a lot at Events.
Where do you shop for horse essentials in MD?
Thursday, August 23, 2012
Produce Stand - 0 Me - 1
FINALLY! I have finally conquered my produce stand fears and jumped successfully over it! For those of you who aren't exactly sure what I'm talking about here is a photo (not the same jump from last night or the show) of an example of a produce stand jump:
(Source)
My produce stand fence was not as big obviously and it was painted white and like a greenish color but the form of the jump is basically the same. Sadly I do not have photographic proof of me jumping over the produce stand but I do have witnesses!
For as long as I can remember I've been terrified of this type of fence (for no real reason) and it didn't help that the last time I attempted to jump a produce stand it was kind of traumatic. I was schooling at Loch Moy's competition course and kept refusing the fence. Finally I thought I was going to get over it when Smash literally stopped jumping mid-air and landed half on the jump half off (front end on the jump)! I was perplexed, and a little scared, and was starting to get really nervous about even attempting the jump and was instructed to just move on to another jump instead of getting over it. Now that I know what my bad habits were, I totally understand what happened (looked down, leg was not on, and I was probably pulling her reins back instead of being elastic with them), but it doesn't stop me from having a knee jerk fear reaction to the jump.
So jumping the produce stand last night was so therapeutic on many levels.
1. I finally got over the fence I got eliminated at proving I am capable of getting over it
2. I finally faced my long time fear of produce stands
3. Now I know I can jump any produce stand because no matter what color they are, I have successfully jumped it and can and will do it again!
Mentally this was SO good for me!
Last night we schooled most of the BN course again but added in a few other jumps. I added in a few Novice fences, too. Slowly I am figuring out the details to my bad jumping habits and working through them. Last night's big focus was using BOTH legs to keep Smash straight to the jump (seems like common sense but for some reason if she jigs to the left I was only putting my left leg on, so then of course she leaps to the right and I put my right leg on. Back and forth we go until we stop and I lose my balance). It helped tremendously when I just funneled her through both legs to jumps. (...duh.)
Sometimes it feels like I'm never going to get over my jumping issues but I know it takes time and practice - lots of it! Nobody woke up and thought "I'm going to go be an event rider today!", hopped on a horse, and was perfectly successful. I just need to remember it takes time and I am making some good improvements but perfection will never happen and getting close to it will take much longer than 4 months.
My produce stand fence was not as big obviously and it was painted white and like a greenish color but the form of the jump is basically the same. Sadly I do not have photographic proof of me jumping over the produce stand but I do have witnesses!
For as long as I can remember I've been terrified of this type of fence (for no real reason) and it didn't help that the last time I attempted to jump a produce stand it was kind of traumatic. I was schooling at Loch Moy's competition course and kept refusing the fence. Finally I thought I was going to get over it when Smash literally stopped jumping mid-air and landed half on the jump half off (front end on the jump)! I was perplexed, and a little scared, and was starting to get really nervous about even attempting the jump and was instructed to just move on to another jump instead of getting over it. Now that I know what my bad habits were, I totally understand what happened (looked down, leg was not on, and I was probably pulling her reins back instead of being elastic with them), but it doesn't stop me from having a knee jerk fear reaction to the jump.
So jumping the produce stand last night was so therapeutic on many levels.
1. I finally got over the fence I got eliminated at proving I am capable of getting over it
2. I finally faced my long time fear of produce stands
3. Now I know I can jump any produce stand because no matter what color they are, I have successfully jumped it and can and will do it again!
Mentally this was SO good for me!
Last night we schooled most of the BN course again but added in a few other jumps. I added in a few Novice fences, too. Slowly I am figuring out the details to my bad jumping habits and working through them. Last night's big focus was using BOTH legs to keep Smash straight to the jump (seems like common sense but for some reason if she jigs to the left I was only putting my left leg on, so then of course she leaps to the right and I put my right leg on. Back and forth we go until we stop and I lose my balance). It helped tremendously when I just funneled her through both legs to jumps. (...duh.)
Sometimes it feels like I'm never going to get over my jumping issues but I know it takes time and practice - lots of it! Nobody woke up and thought "I'm going to go be an event rider today!", hopped on a horse, and was perfectly successful. I just need to remember it takes time and I am making some good improvements but perfection will never happen and getting close to it will take much longer than 4 months.
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