Lovely Jubbly Day

Apley Park fun ride today. Definitely one of my faves - must be as it's been the only one I've done the last few years!

All very chilled today. Lorry was loaded efficiently and quickly. I put my stuff in whilst mum fetched T-Jay. Lorry started on first go. Pony loading without even thinking twice. Off we set. Slightly delay at petrol station while tyres were filled but nothing major.

Got there via a slight detour through a farmyard - silly sat nav. Booked in. Tacked up, off we toddled. Last year T bounced and bucked all the way to the start, this year he plodded on a long rein.

Had a really really nice ride.

Photographer came up really early (on our first canter) but I did jump. Just the little one but worst nightmare, he bucked after the jump but I survived and it wasn't as bad as I always think it will be. In fact, wasn't bad at all.

Slight brake failure in the field I hate (due to the fact that every horse seems to have brake failure in that field and the river on the left gives me the heebie jeebies). Sat a "yeeeee haaaaaaa" fly buck without even budging, it really did just get too exciting for him, wasn't a nasty buck. Fabulous gallop up one of the biggest hills ever and abrupt stop at the top as it's just as steep and long on the way down LOL.

Then he got really tense and bouncy no doubt because I was. Knew the mother of all downhills was coming and at the bottom is the ditch that you CAN walk through but is muddy and where I had a very traumatic time last year. Think last year it took about 15 mins to get him over, I had to get off, then he pulled back and got his leg through his reins (up to his elbow as he's too big for his reins, I can't get any bigger ones!) then he launched over it then I had to walk up a huge hill before getting back on.

This year, he planted again. At that point I felt like crying but kept reins really soft and legs quite but on him, turn to friend to say "he's going to leap in a minute" but only got to "he's going to llllllllllll" then we were over. Friend swore profusely at firstly the leap and secondly the fact that I didn't budge. Didn't feel as big as friend said it was but gave me a huge confidence boost.

Maybe all this work with no stirrups is really truly helping.......

In fairness though, it's not ME i'm proud of .. it's him. That's the first time he's gone "I really don't like this" but has trusted me from up top to go over something. That was my 1st thought when we landed. My first thought was mid air and would have turned the air blue had I had time to formulate the words LOL

Am pleased he made his mind up to go over it quickly because had I got that sentence out, I'd have been worrying over him leaping but as it was I didn't have chance AND I know now I can sit them :)

Tried very hard to let him have his head and not restrict him whilst cantering, like I'm doing more in the school but the problem with that is that he's so bloody fast! Getting there though. Silly pony was spooking at things, then flew up one field no problem, pulled up to a trot then spooked, tut. Suppose I shouldn't moan, would rather have him spook in trot than in canter!

Other thing is jumping. None of my other horses have actually cantered away from the jumps and I think it's that that bothers me, or is at the moment. I can stop him within 3 or 4 strides of the jumps easily. But those 5 strides are a hell of a long way away from the jumps. Did do some of the jumps but not as many as I was hoping I'd feel comfortable doing. However, had got myself in a tizz over that ditch so had we done the ditch EARLY in the ride, I'd have probably relaxed.

I know I could be seen as over analyzing EVERYTHING I do or don't like, not just in this blog but in it's predecessor too but I'm just trying to understand things and by writing them in a blog, working through them in my head/on paper/in blog, I can break things down into manageable chunks. It's not the jumping I don't like, I don't think - it's the landing - so now I just need to get my head around that. I need to work out why and how to get over it.

Think next week will go to local show and do clear round but not working hunter. Just a little clear round will be achievement enough for me :)

Oh and ponio loaded without chifney on the way home :) Really looking forward to doing some more rides this year and definitely time for a new one :)