Jumping Strides

The Second Chance Team has finally made it's first steps toward jumping. Tokaj has been just great on the flat for me, and we finally decided to start jumping. Unfortunately our first attempt was not so successful. I have not jumped a horse in quite some time, save one leap at the indoor a few weeks ago which does not count. Tokaj has had quite a bit of education in jumping during her past career as a show hunter. Even though I had not jumped in a while, I felt that I could pick it up quickly, and so I set up some trot poles to a crossrail, and also another combination that included two crossrails set up on two strides. No big deal right? Wrong.

I basically committed the cardinal sin of too much rein contact. Tokaj got nervous that I was not going to let go of her mouth over the fence and the rushing began. In the old days, I knew better than to ride, especially a hunter-type horse like Tokaj, over fences with a dressagey contact. The unfortunate result of my riding, was that Tokaj was cantering down the line of trot poles, and rushing the combination. If I had been working with someone knowledgeable (even if I could have been on the ground watching myself), it would have been nipped in the bud right away. However, I missed the forest for the trees for the entire lesson and put Tokaj away wondering, "What the heck?".

After mulling it over and remembering other horses I had ridden who had done the same thing and how I fixed it.... I recalled that perhaps it was ALL MY FAULT. So the next ride focused on cavaletti (poles spaced on the ground for those who don't know) and I rode Tokaj on a generous huntery rein length. It was as if she breathed a huge sigh of relief and went about her business and did all the exercises perfectly. Well, all I can say is... lesson learned! Or should I say lesson recalled?

Even though I made mistakes the first time out, I am happy with our progress and that we did not keep doing what was not working and then create a habit of rushing. We are going to hang out and do cavaletti and low fences for quite some time until Tokaj and I are a partnership. I feel I know her in dressage.... but don't know her jumping style, willingness, or ability over fences. So that is going to be our work for the next few months.

Happy riding!
P~