The weather this weekend was BEA-U-TI-FUL!!!!!!!! So I rode, of course. I rode Stormy and Sophie on Saturday and jumped them both. Stormy was much nicer to jump than Sophie!!! (yikes) Stormy went around easily, adding when I asked and leaving out when I asked. He is such a rateable little thing. I need to focus on his flat work again though. Not that its getting bad, but he isnt as supple as he was before. Without being able to ride much ive kinda gone into a little slump and havent been "training" them like I should. That was extremely apparent with Sophie. .....
Whew. I got my workout with her! Saturday was worse than Sunday. I havent been riding her much, anyone really, but ive been on her less than Stormy. Saturday there were several flat out bolts and superman jumps, which yank me out of the saddle like no other. If she wasnt doing that then she was breaking to the trot before the fence, or she would actually listen to me and stay in her nice canter and jump it beautifully! Sunday came with only a few flat out jumps, which was nicer.
Sophie is so out of shape right now that she isnt holding herself well. Im hoping thats the biggest cause of her poor jumping. I suppose we will see when shes back in shape. I do need to jump her more though, once every month or so is just not enough. All this dressage work is messing up her jumping, shes battling trying to figure out how to jump in proper form or just flat out over it, so I need to practice more so she can get the hang of where her legs are and how to take off when shes engaged through her body.
I realized im in a slump though. I need to get back to really training them and working on there flat work and lateral work. Sophie was leaning something terrible on the right lead and I had to do leg yields to the left to get her straight. Her transitions were good, and when I asked she lifted nicely, she just couldnt stay together. It was unfair of me to ask as much as I did. So, gotta dig myself out, and get back to training and improve the stamina and suppleness of both of them to start getting ready for the show season. Small jumper show Feb 22, we will see if we are ready in enough time!
Whew. I got my workout with her! Saturday was worse than Sunday. I havent been riding her much, anyone really, but ive been on her less than Stormy. Saturday there were several flat out bolts and superman jumps, which yank me out of the saddle like no other. If she wasnt doing that then she was breaking to the trot before the fence, or she would actually listen to me and stay in her nice canter and jump it beautifully! Sunday came with only a few flat out jumps, which was nicer.
Sophie is so out of shape right now that she isnt holding herself well. Im hoping thats the biggest cause of her poor jumping. I suppose we will see when shes back in shape. I do need to jump her more though, once every month or so is just not enough. All this dressage work is messing up her jumping, shes battling trying to figure out how to jump in proper form or just flat out over it, so I need to practice more so she can get the hang of where her legs are and how to take off when shes engaged through her body.
I realized im in a slump though. I need to get back to really training them and working on there flat work and lateral work. Sophie was leaning something terrible on the right lead and I had to do leg yields to the left to get her straight. Her transitions were good, and when I asked she lifted nicely, she just couldnt stay together. It was unfair of me to ask as much as I did. So, gotta dig myself out, and get back to training and improve the stamina and suppleness of both of them to start getting ready for the show season. Small jumper show Feb 22, we will see if we are ready in enough time!