Have you ever gotten over the last jump in a line, felt really good about it (to the point of distraction) and felt that sudden lurch of your pony deciding she wants to take a sharp left to join her friends? It's amazing how focused on the jumps I can be, but when I focus on doing everything before and after the jump perfectly, the jump is really just a free moment to focus on the next thing.
We did 3 jumps (built up to 2 feet) with broken lines and it really made sense to go right at the end. Of course the horses lined up on the left side led my pony to want to take a sharp left to rejoin. It mostly required looking where I wanted to go and not taking no for an answer.
I also got one refusal on what was basically just a filled in 2 foot jump (so it just looks a little scary to the rider) because the pony drifted left quite stealthily. Again that was about willpower more than anything - and looking in the right spot. The body does the right things when your willpower is strong enough!
Do you ever learn something new just at the end of a lesson that feels you're unlocking some sort of door? But, of course, the lesson is over, so you don't get the satisfaction of fully understanding what door you even opened? I was approaching that scary, drifty-friendly jump and was told to "wait, wait, wait..." and then had this most beautiful jump. Like I was cruising in a Ferrari down an empty highway. Like I was 6 years old on the big-kids swing set.
Anyways.
So I was able to control the takeoff spot. I didn't know I could do that. I waited to give a good squeeze at the spot I wanted. That's different from what I read (but of course it is. You're supposed to read, but don't actually learn anything until you do it. And even then, every horse is different). But it worked (for this pony). I can't wait to try it again to make sure it wasn't just a fluke or beginner's luck.
We did 3 jumps (built up to 2 feet) with broken lines and it really made sense to go right at the end. Of course the horses lined up on the left side led my pony to want to take a sharp left to rejoin. It mostly required looking where I wanted to go and not taking no for an answer.
I also got one refusal on what was basically just a filled in 2 foot jump (so it just looks a little scary to the rider) because the pony drifted left quite stealthily. Again that was about willpower more than anything - and looking in the right spot. The body does the right things when your willpower is strong enough!
Do you ever learn something new just at the end of a lesson that feels you're unlocking some sort of door? But, of course, the lesson is over, so you don't get the satisfaction of fully understanding what door you even opened? I was approaching that scary, drifty-friendly jump and was told to "wait, wait, wait..." and then had this most beautiful jump. Like I was cruising in a Ferrari down an empty highway. Like I was 6 years old on the big-kids swing set.
Anyways.
So I was able to control the takeoff spot. I didn't know I could do that. I waited to give a good squeeze at the spot I wanted. That's different from what I read (but of course it is. You're supposed to read, but don't actually learn anything until you do it. And even then, every horse is different). But it worked (for this pony). I can't wait to try it again to make sure it wasn't just a fluke or beginner's luck.
