Its Been Too Long

At the end of this month my barn is having an Eric Smiley jump clinic that I have been looking forward to watching. I had thought about signing up back when I first moved in but since we hadn't been jumping I decided against it. After all who wants to ride with an olympian when you haven't jumped with a saddle on for 6 months?! The clinic filled fast so I had no urge to sign up as all my friends started getting excited. Next thing I know one of the barn girls had to drop her spot and my mouth couldn't have opened fast enough to offer Pony and I as a fill in! What I didn't think about? The fact that the person who's spot I am taking is currently in the training/prelim group and the schedule has been made. Which means that even with some shuffling around we will still be riding in the novice group. Go big or go home right?!

In preparation I had a jump lesson tonight, which also happened to be the first time I have really jumped him since September. This got me to thinking to the last time I had a jump lesson and it is scary. It has been over 3 YEARS! Thankfully that is going to change now. Pony was super! Our biggest problems are 1) that I have a hard time keeping his canter from getting flat when I push him forward (instead of keeping a nice bouncy forward canter)  2) that even though I can feel a 'bad' jump, from many strides, I freeze and just drop him instead of trying to salvage it and 3) my inner DQ comes out and I like to try to micro manage him which often results in very poor fences!

There were definitely some very ugly fences but they were ALL due to my riding, or lack there of, and had nothing to do with him. I was super pleased with him and when I did ride him well he felt amazing. By the end we were making easy work of the novice sized fences and he just felt super rideable. I am looking forward to getting back into jumping shape and getting some much needed lessons. After tonight I am really looking forward to the clinic and I think it will be a blast. As for now, I have a strong feeling that I will be sore tomorrow ;)