Today, Saturday, I had an easy morning as I only had jumping classes in the afternoon, so I got to sleep in, cuddle with the sweetie, and then give me plenty of time to bathe Oz in the am. After an uneventful haul (thankfully) we showed up at the Peachland grounds about 10 minutes before our first class. I was still tacking up when they called me to my class, and I felt awful as I know how bad and disrespectful it is to be late for your class. We hadn't warmed up, stretched his legs or anything, he came from the stall to the bathing ring, and then into the trailer and then into my first class. Hunter Hack with a Cross Rail - Green Horse. I was still putting on my helmet, gloves and buttoning my jacket as we entered the ring at the walk. That class we ended up with a fourth out of four, hmmm great start. The next class we were a bit better together, and put a bit of time in the warm up ring and over some jumps. But we entered into Crosspoles class, we ended up with a fifth out of six. He was kind of acting up, and rushing the jumps a bit, and wasn't really all that balanced nor was I. Great start, we only have three more classes, if I go into all I entered. Then came our first vertical class at 2'0, it was one of the larger classes for jumping with I believe about 6 or 7 entries, and we came in sixth. We had taken down a pole by the bull/cow shoots as he was paying attention to me, but shying from the shoot - thus bringing down the rail with his back legs. We had two staggered oxers in this class as well, which I was a bit hesitant about, but Oz had no problems over them. In fact I fought with Oz most of the class, as he wanted to canter to all the jumps, some I managed to hold him at a trot, but most, a stride before the jump he'd break into a canter over it.
We were signed up for 2'3 next but I was starting to hesitate with going into the class as Oz and I were obviously fighting over the speed that he should be going at. But I figured, what the heck, its only 2'3, we do that at home so just think we are at home. I went into the class first before I had a chance to play mind games with myself. My mom and aunt sherry were up in the stands watching, and really had only seen the two prior classes, and I thought might as well make it worth their trip out. Well we made it worth their trip, Oz was WANTING those jumps so bad, holding him back was like holding back a hotblooded horse. And at the jumps he went, some I just figured fine - canter them you ox, when you nail them with your front legs then your going to stop fighting me.... but he cleared them all except for the one again by the chute, which again came down with the back legs. But he was a dream - the ones he cantered actually felt smoother then the ones he trotted. A wonderful whipper in, who I dont' know her name, video taped us, and her daughter showed me after the class. I just briefly watched it and relized my horse was HOT - VERY HOT! Even my mom and aunt said that he was craving those jumps, and was all fired up. So I thought, before I wimp out, lets do 2'6. No time like the present, when we were rewarded with a second in 2'3, that just got my competitive juices going and I figured lets do it! As I watched them put up the jumps which looked higher then 2'6 I started to get worried, those oxers were fairly daunting, and then there was the jump by the chute, at 2'6 thats going to hurt if he nails it. Again we went first - I went in with the thought, if we clear two of them and bash one, then we'll excuse ourselves go back to the practice ring, jump the little 2'0 vertical and be done with it. As we went to the first jump, I was holding him back, and holding him back, and relized as we got to the jump I had left him in a position he was going to have to pop straight up to clear it- I gave him his head at the last minute and thought this is going to be ugly. But he cleared it, and the second jump he cleared, the third was an oxer and woosh over it we went at a mini canter... number four was also an oxer and I at this point just concentrated on my heels down and holding on, and stop worrying... if he wants to canter, then let the bugger canter. On number 7 which was the jump by the chute I gave him a tap, and a little prayer and over it we went, I HAD to look back! It had stayed up and not even a rub, one more jump, which I think I even told him. This one I just let him go over it at a nice quick canter, figured its the last one if it comes down then it comes down but oh well. Not a rub, not a hit, the last one was CLEAR! You'd think I had just won Spruce I was so proud, I could hear my mom and aunt cheering me on, and my horse I just fell on his neck and hugged him. My amazing boy! AMAZING!!! Mom and Aunt Sherry said he looked great, and still had plenty of space between him and the pole - we could have raised it another foot! There was only 4 in this class, and there was one little girl, who can't be all of 10 and just oozes talent! I knew she was going to take first. But then we took 2nd on the 2'6 class! SECOND !! I think I was close to tears I was so proud and happy and excited!
And Oz at this point hadn't even broken a sweat yet. He's my Big Ben, he has more heart then most horses combined, he has such elegance and class, but a personality that everyone falls in love with. Oz is a star - an absolute star, and I get chills when I think of the fact that we have been training for under 3 months, come spring/summer next year, I can't imagine what kind of team we will be together! As soon as I get photos and the video they will be posted
I want to apologize to you fans as I probably will end up only writing once this week. Its busy at work and before you know it by the time I get home its late and time to crawl into bed.
Thursday - Lesson Day
This was a particularly bad week at work, and I felt the stress as I headed to the barn. I relized as I drove that this lesson was going to go one of two ways, either I'm going to drop all my stress and work crap the moment I hit the barn and I won't think of it again till I get back in the car. OR Oz is going to fight me also, and its going to be total fusteration and war, a lesson that will end in both of us mad at each other. I've had those type of lessons before, where I just wonder WHY am I paying for this lesson, WHY do I have this horse, DO I relize how financially better I'd be without a horse.... Now I haven't had those type of lessons or thoughts since we've switched barns, but I have had them before. Today was going to be a good lesson evening. I go out to the field to get Oz, and still feeling sour and cranky, only to find him curled up in a ball sleeping. So I got to cuddle in with him for about 10 minutes. Oz has always been one of those horses, that if he loves you and trusts you, when he's lying down you can curly up in his legs and lean up against him and either sleep or just soak in the moment where you go.... I am cuddled into 2000 lbs of pure power and beauty, and he loves me so much.
Once I got him to his feet, he was a big of a slow slug, but we headed to the ring for our lesson. We worked on the flat work for a bit, with bending, cantering and working on connection and him paying attention to me. He was a wee big of a slug in the arena also. So after being told to perk up a bit, he got a quick spank and then instead of pouting he put a bit more effort into the lesson. He was really working in the ring, his canter is still a wee bit weak, but my legs aren't all there to keep him going also. But its coming along. We can do a couple of laps around the ring at the canter before it falls apart, and he just starts to speed up and lean in. Once his canter starts to go its hard to bring him back to a balanced canter. Then Brianne set up about 5 jumps, and one cross rail oxerish style. And we started to work on that, on me telling him which way to go after the jump. For the hour we worked, it felt amazing, although I don't think I've had a bad lesson yet. Lessons now, leave me with homework to do, things we should work on and things we should wait till our coach is there, we certainly get all our moneys worth as we are both sweating and out of breath by the end, and yet they leave me wanting to go on for a longer and longer lesson... until my legs pretty much crumble underneith me. The whole lesson I finally felt connected with Oz, that as I was thinking of the next move, it was like he was reading my thoughts. Everything seemed to come together! Even Brianne mentioned that she can't wait to see the pair of us in a year from now.
Friday was just a practice session for the pair of us. We worked mostly on flat work and with collection. Oz finally figured out if he went on the bit, not only did he get mass amount of praise but it was just easier for him. There were times in both the walk and trot, where he was so beautifully collected that he looked like some of the advertising that you see for high level dressage horses. It took most of the ride before he just started to do it for a full length of the ring. But it is there. Although we moved from our beautiful collection work to jumping. And with this we will need to work under Brianne some more, as Oz then started to have a beautiful bend at the poll, on the bit, and just looked elegant, only to head to a jump like this and not be ready for it. So we worked on some more jumps and he was great, I think as we continue both Oz and my confidence level keeps dramatically increasing. I'd swear Oz is getting to the point he's starting to get tired off trotting up to cross poles. And there were a few jumps during both our lesson and our practice session that he was cantering to. And that jump felt so easy and non jarring. Although through out our practice session there were times where I wondered - if everytime we get on a horse we are either teaching them something good or something bad. And our times when its just him and I, I can feel that there are things that we are doing as a pair that don't feel just right, and without Brianne on the ground to instruct us, it feels risky that I'm just instilling in a movement or behaviour that is incorrect. So I ended the practicing and was feeling a bit concerned about our show on Saturday, as it was just us going, Brianne was in Alberta, and the other boarders were going to the Kelowna show. SOHA definately has great and supportive members, but after a so so practice session I wondered about how this show was Igoing to end up.
Our photos from Spring Fever and Lanyard proofs are finally ready, I've searched out all our shots, which are pretty impressive. But I'm just waiting to see how they need to be purchased, as I'm wanting just the basics. So soon they should be posted.
Didn't ride today as it was fathers day, and I needed to put in some quality time with the bf. But yesterday we did ride and we started off heading out for a trail ride. We cantered up the road and over one of the trails, but soon to relize that I would have to get off Oz to open and close the gate - which without a step ladder is nearly impossible to get up. So we came back to the barn and rode in the ring for a half hour. We worked on bending again and flat work, transition from canter to trot, and from walk to canter. But then I had an epiphany - I'm not suppose to be holding up Oz's head - so we worked on a bit of bending at the poll and I have to say on the few moments that we had collection it was BEAUTIFUL! I had given up on flat work being fun or rewarding, but those moments when he is collected, he feels AMAZING! And its hard to describe how great or how he feels, other then suddenly it is no longer work - everything just feels like its push button.
NOW I understand why dressage would be rewarding and fun for some people, if I could get Oz to ride like this all the time, well then once again I'd be riding a horse that frankly would be exceeding my abilities.
Stay tuned for the photos!
Also I've changed the for sale section, as I'm not selling anything for myself, so if you have a photo and your one of Ozzy's friends then let us know. Send me a shot of Oz's friend and we will post it up here.
This Thursday was KRC First Jump / Dressage Fun Night, for $5.00 a round or test you could take advantage of the clubs jumps, or do a dressage test and get some feedback. Brianne and I hauled down Oz from the farm, good opportunity for more exposure to different location. After a quick stop at Timmys we were at the club, my aunt Sherry (Ozzys #1 fan, as she's come out to everyone of Oz's shows) and she brought my grandmother too, whose never seen me ride. After a 20 minute flat warm up/lesson - working on Ozzy bending to my leg, instead of ignoring it and just rushing, we were starting to get warm and sweaty and were ready for jumping. The first go around Kyra and Magic (Brianne's other student that was down) went first, which was benefitial as I didn't get time to look at the course and was hoping Kyra did it right. Then it was our turn, as it was crossrails I didn't really have any concerns about whether we would clear them, just it was about me trying to quickly learn the course on the fly. After a couple of X rail rounds, we moved the jumps up to 2' 0 Verticals. Then the test was on... as I tend to psych myself out with verticals, which I was doing as we went over the first three jumps, but after that it just got better, and I wasn't so tense and non focusing. We did 2'0 a couple of times, and we were enjoying it. Although Oz was starting to either get bored or tired or both, he's starting to relize that he can do this, and maybe the challenge is gone. Trying to stay one step ahead of this clever boy is becoming a job! During this jumping session, I wasn't overly impressed with myself, as I knew there was some definate dog of jumps that we did, and I wasn't concentrating on it as well as I should have been.
Thank god Brianne was there, for there was one jump #3 that I kept staring down at it as we rode to it, #4 was way across the ring, so I wasn't looking at the next jump, but as I got to my Deer Caught In Headlights Stare, I heard - Look at my hand, and Brianne was in my direct line, and I would focus on her hand or her lovely outfit :0), and the jump was fine, and off to #4 we would move. And through out our rounds both here and elsewhere, I am constantly holding my breathe and its not till I hear her say "Breathe" do I actually take a breathe.
We also tried our hand at 2'3 verticle and that was a good round as well, we are definately starting to get cocky out there though as there was a couple of jumps we took at a canter and really we aren't at that point quite yet. I think we've definately improved from when we first started lessons (10 lessons ago), as now I know when I jump something and I've totally dogged it and either had no release, or was way over him, and then there are some jumps that just feel AMAZING (those are the addicting ones) and then others where you can't quite tell how you did.
After our 2'3 set we thought we were done and Kyra and I cooled out our horses and waited around and watched some other go. About a half hour later, friends from Mission Creek Ranch showed up and we were talking with them and they wanted to see Oz go. So Brianne and Sandra and another gentleman were soooo kind to drop the jumps down (as they were now at 2'9) for us to an assortment of sizes, some X rails, some verticles, some wide X rails, and then a lovely little oxer - which although if asked terrify me on the ground, but as we are going over them, Oz feels incrediable and I LOVE THEM!!!!
Oz knew suddenly he had a crowd and had his A game on, now he felt alert and energized and I think we cantered a couple also. Prior to this some jumps I had to give him a tap to remind him that he does have to put in SOME effort, but now there was no need for that.... he had his spectators and so he knew he had to do it right... (little bugger!)
All in all, it was a great night, and left me more and more excited about Maple Ridge! I was so pumped up from it - it was certainly hard for me to fall asleep.
Today I had the ring to myself, and its just a practice work out day. I thought about racing around in the field - wishing I could take him out to the polo track and run him around that. But I knew that in the field its a struggle for us to stay in control and not just forward. So we worked for about 20 minutes in the ring on bending, and moving off my leg. I had my leg working today so much I think there was a moment or two that I had a good calf cramp. I noticed when jumping yesterday that sometimes I ride with a leg on, and then often if I'm not thinking about my seat then I'm riding with a leg off, and more or less steering. So today I was very aware of keeping contact with him and my leg and he worked hard. Twenty minutes and we had a sweat on his neck AND his butt and back end. Then I set up a couple of jumps, one with flowers which looked like it might have been set at 18", and we jumped that with no problem a couple of times. Then there was the pink jump that was a verticle with no fill. When we rode around it I thought hmmm... that looks very high, but I would compare the holes to the other jump and I thought, well its only 2 holes up from where the other jump is, so its got to be 2'3, maybe 2'6 (which I think we have done before). So I just figured it looked large because there was nothing under it. Up till now Oz was awesome! Collected at times, paying attention, not fighting me, would slow down when I asked, and speed up when I wanted him to. Just a perfect pair. Then we went at the big vertical as we went to it, I knew as we went up to it that we weren't going to clear it, we came in too close, and I jumped ahead of Oz.... so he hit it with his front legs and it came down.
NOW IT WAS ON - is what Oz thought, my quiet perfectly collected hunter horse became a raging, jump attacking horse. We went back over the smaller vertical, and then I got off upped the yellow smaller vertical by a hole, and changed the pink to a cross pole jump and got back on. But now Oz was a crazed jumping fool and every jump he was clearing it by an extra foot. It wasn't making it for the smoothest ride or jump, but I wasn't falling on his neck, and only caught him in the mouth twice. He did try to refuse the smaller jump with the flower fill once and then we won't be doing that again. But it was a fight now with him to keep him calm. At one point I looked at our shadow in the ring, and all I saw was him sort of resting on his back end, and his head way up, almost in a perma launch position.
We had noticed before he hates dropping poles, specially with his front legs, and he'll definately correct himself and make sure he has plenty of clear for the next jumps.
So a dozen jumps in all tonight, and a race up the field and he was done. Such a good boy! I certainly hope he knows how special he is and how even on a not perfect ride like tonight he's a one in a million horse.
After I put him back out in the field with Chili his buddy, I grabbed my tape measure to see exactly what we were jumping. Well the small jump that I thought was 18" was 2'0, and I had moved it up to 2'3 - and after the hit on the other jump, he was easily jumping this at 2'6. Then I checked the pink jump and I felt just awful! I was such a bad mum! What I thought was 2'6 was 3'0 at the bottom of the cup, so more like 3'3 with the pole. Ummm yeah - we've done 2'6 maybe a handful of times, and I've bumped him up a whole extra foot. Poor guy! But he has a heart of gold to even attempt it with me.
I think my aunt took some shots at the KRC Jump night, so once I see them I'll post the good ones.
For those that weren't aware, Ozzy's show name has now become Wizard of Oz - and if you went deep into his heritage you will find that he is actually related to the Wicked Witch of the East, or maybe is was West... The evil one that had the haram of Flying Monkey's.... Anyhow the only thing that Oz managed to inherit from this blood line was a terrible terrible disease. Aquadisolvitis. Yep its a rare but disabilitating disease - Its not evident to the naked eye, but indeed a person - well the disease only inflicts witches and horses - they melt with water / rain.
Today was our lesson and I haven't been in the saddle since last Saturday. And frankly by Monday I think I was very miserable. Sunday I was still on the adrenaline high from the show, but come Monday with work, family, routine I was just itching to get back in the saddle and start jumping again. So all week I've been watching the weather report as it was calling for 80% chance of showers on Thursday. All day I was at work it was cloudy but no rain, and then 4:30 came and so did the rain. I SWEAR I did not step or kill any spiders lately! I went to the barn, and I think Brianne was wondering if I was going to bail or not, Oz was in his stall as it had been raining up there earlier. He was sticking his head out of his stall just enough to watch Kim and Chili's lesson, but not enough to actually get wet. (God forbid!) So when I came in I got the usual greeting... "Hi mom, do you have a treat for me, cuz I'm pretty cute.... yeah a handful of treats, I love you", then I went and got his brushes, to which I got a reaction of, "Hmmm thats nice your brushing me, but really you don't have to go all out, cuz its raining out and I don't go out in the rain and you don't ride in the rai.... - hey what the hell!!! ---- Why are you putting my saddle on, um did you not notice that it was raining out there - OOMPH -- MUM !!! Easy with the girth, its really not required... I'm not sure if you heard me the first time but its dropping water from the sky out there, and I melt, and well rain doesn't do your hair any wonders either....
Mmmmm...mmmmggggmmmm...grinding of the teeth... this would be Ozzy refusing the bit, and twisting his head away like a child does when your trying to feed it brussel sprouts. So after finally getting the bit in his mouth and dealing with him trying to use his height against me by simply lifting his head. We buckled it all on. We were a wee bit early for our lesson and decided to wait for Kim and Chili's lesson to finish before going outside, so we watched from Ozzys window. I'm pretty sure at this point he thought that we were all dressed up, but really we weren't going anywhere other then watching the lessons.
Then it was our turn for our lesson, and it was pulling a mule out of the stall at that point. If he had fingers I swear I'd be having to peel them off the stall door frame. And out to our wet lesson we go. We worked on some off the rail and bending work for warm up. We worked on a couple of circles as that makes his mind sweat on those. I must stop leaning into the bend to move him over, and start to ask once and then tell him. We then worked on a some single stride jumps, both with a cross rail and a vertical. We jumped just under a dozen times I think, and I cannot believe how far we've come in such a short period of time. Speaks highly of our coach!
I mean we've been at the barn now since mid February, I don't think we started taking lessons until beginning of April, and even then our form was very scary. Us being both green it was only on the rare time I think we both felt confident enough to jump as a team and him not just rushing to get over and me holding on for dear life. But after every lesson now I'm feeling strong and more confident, but this isn't meaning I'm feeling cocky and that we can do anything. Even today there was a bad jump that I almost came off on, but where before it would take a lot of me trying to talk my brain into not being scared to do it again, now its an automatic - lets do that again. When it goes nice, it finally feels nice. When it goes wrong or bad, I can now identify almost immediately AFTER it happens what I did wrong. Its now just a matter of doing it before I do it wrong. Overall I think its amazing how much we've improved and its almost scary how addictive this has become.
A matter of weeks or perhaps a month ago, Brianne had said something to the effect that if I wanted to get serious, we would have to look at another mount. I know that Oz has limitations, and I think our goal this year was just to be jumping 2'6 by the end of the year. I think our limitation might be for Oz around 3'0. I'm not so sure I would ever want to push him beyond that, if we can even hit that. And by no means am I thinking we are going to get there by the end of this year. And when Brianne mentioned this I had thought, are you kidding, I'm not ever going to want to go any higher or more then what Oz can give me. Um well..... I've come over to the dark side, I know Al would KILL me, or leave me, but all week I'm thinking hmmmm... I wonder what it would be like to ride, like a 14.2 hh horse over the jumps, that could really fly over them. And by no means am I giving up Oz or at this time look at buying another horse... but its like when a woman gets the baby thoughts, suddenly all babies look cute, and you start trying to justify having another to yourself, and your not thinking rationally or in reality, but emotionally. Right now I know thats where I'm at, I'm getting such a rush with every jump, and as they come smoother and better and are feeling safer and stronger, I'm wishing that I could jump every day.
Oh well going to start playing the lottery, and when I win it I'm going to go out and buy that Dales Pony with the little black feathers, and jump every day! We could name him Toto - and he could be Ozzy and Chili's pet.
By the way for those of you that are waiting desperately to see the professional shots taken at the last couple of shows, I've talked to Melissa today, as she was on her way to her honeymoon (lucky girl) and the proofs should be up in about 7 - 10 days, so AS soon as they are up I will be ordering them, and we will get them posted up here.
Friday after work I headed up to the barn as there was going to be a few of us riding down about 2km to Sandy Day's property, Lanyard Stables, for a practice session before our show on Saturday. Now usually the barn has one or two people at it, other then Jimmy or Brianne, but as I drove up there was I think 4 other vehicles already there, and more yet to come. Hope was there and had just started to braid up one of her horses, Lauren was there exercising another horse, Mary had arrived but her horse Aieros hadn't yet arrived. Kim arrived shortly after myself and we started to get our horses saddled up, and waited for Joanne and her daughter Megan to arrive with Rex and Pony. This is the most amount of people I have seen at the barn, but as more boarders arrived this weekend, I think this will be close to the norm for the summer.
So Joanne, Megan, Kim and myself on Oz taking the lead off we rode down to Sandy's property for a night practice session... de-spook the horses of the environment, and perhaps settle some of our own nerves. Brianne drove along beside us, riding her brake, and ensuring that other drivers respected the horses riding on the shoulder. We got down to Sandy's in approx 30 minutes and not a spook from a horse.
Once we arrived we treated it like a regular lesson night, we all took some time in the ring, getting our horses accustom to the stranger danger that might be lurking in the corners, possibly under a jump, definitely always a scary troll at one end of the arena. George, Sue and Robyn arrived with Jewels and Star, their horses were going to spend the night at Sandy's and they would drive down in the am. But the horses were great, our practice time well spent, and we all, I think were able to breathe a little better. We arrived back at the barn at 9pm and Hope's hands weren't yet crippled up with Braid ache, Lauren was catching a late bite, and Mary was trying to ensure that her boy stayed clean. After a quick visit off home we went, but the night was not yet done, I was cleaning boots and his bridle till about midnight. But I was just doing jumping classes the next day, so I could sleep in till 7am, even 7:30 - pick up Kim and off we would go.
The next morning arrived EARLY! For whatever reason I woke up with the sun at 4:45am and could not get back to sleep, as I lied in bed listening to Al and Niles snore I was playing the days events in my head, of course getting myself worked up! Finally the clock could not move fast enough before it was time to pick up Kim and head to Lanyard to watch the rest of the Bresing crew do the morning flat classes. I had checked my class list that am to advise Al when to come up and watch. (I swear there would be more husbands show up to these events if there was a beer gardens at horse shows.) Thats when I saw what I had done! I must have sent in my entries prior to Topline, as I had signed myself up for both flat classes and hunter (jumping) classes. Hmm, Ozwald was at the barn and not ready, it would take us till 8:30 to get to the barn, my class would start at 9am... was I going to do these flat classes? Ahhhh no! I would scratch us out of the flat classes once I got there. I picked up Kim and I don't think her butt hit my seat before she burst out with her news - her parents agreed to buy or help her purchase Chili !!! YEAH KIM !!! YEAH PARENTS !! Yeah Chili!! This means Ozzy's best friend gets to stay with him and Kim gets to show HER horse today.
Off we drove to the farm. Hope, Mary and Lauren were in the first class which was Green Horse I believe Equitation or Pleasure, it was a huge class with approx 15 riders in the class. Hope and Lilly looked great and in control, Mary had an interesting ride on Aieros who looked like he just liked to pop a flying lead change whenever he wanted, this was his first show ever also, and they looked like they were having fun - which is essential! And Lauren had Mister looking absolutely fabulous! By far my favorite pair out there. Green Horse for flat classes stayed a large class and there was some very very stiff competition out there for the ladies. I think they all looked fabulous and should be proud. Joanne and Sue entered Green Rider classes, and I believe Joanne walked away with a ribbon in one of their classes. They too were an amazing couple of ladies, and certainly did NOT look like green riders.
Kim and I headed up to the barn to wash our horses and start to ride down. I wanted to be there at least a half hour before our class so it gave them a bit of time to get used to the commotion and crowd. They were good boys heading down to the stables. And of course Ozwald has a way to let the crowd know he's arrived. Once we got there, he sniffed the children that wanted to pet him, we answered the questions (how tall, how do you get up, how do you pick up those feet, is he a clydesdale???), we had people want their photos taken with him. Hmmm he's starting to sound a lot like a politician, maybe we should run Ozwald Clyde in the next City Council election - I mean honestly could he do any worse then most politicians?
Our first class was the same as Kim's Green Horse Cross Rails with 8 cross rails to complete. Kim and Chili did very good, this was Chili's first show and he had a few ADD moments, oh there's a crowd, oh look they have a concession, um where is Ozzy? Oh hey that's Brianne in the center of the ring, HI BRIANNE, HI ! I'm being such a good boy, oh was I suppose to jump here, okay, but oh wait a minute there's a photographer. Kim kept her cool and they did get over all the jumps and his first time at a show was a successful one. The pair showed such such great promise, and its only a matter of time of them working together as a pair before they are out their kicking everyones butt!
Our turn came up, I signed up for this class for two rounds, as I suspected the first round Ozwald would just not be focussed enough on the job. The first round he was awesome, but slightly - just ever so gently touched a jump and it came down. No Brianne his feathers didn't cause the drop, and they are staying on :) ! But he didn't refuse a single jump and I felt like I was having a great personal ride also. Short of me almost forgetting the course as we came up to the 4th jump - the beginning of the verticle. A few riders later we went back into the ring, this time we felt BANG ON! Now I know Oz is not a hunter, I'm not really out there worrying about the right or wrong lead or right or wrong diagnol, I'm in jumper brain and right now focussing on staying sitting right in the saddle, giving him his release, clearing the jumps and what was that other thing, oh yeah staying on! But this ride felt sensational! We did trot everything but I was so proud of my boy, and out there I didn't have one nervous moment. For all this we got a wonderfully pink sixth ribbon! I love pink!
Next class was Open Cross Rails, and yep they set the cross rails higher, again we entered this class twice. Our first go around this time was awesome! We didn't knock a rail down, or refuse a jump, again it was a great ride for us! Our second go around felt just as amazing! I swear its the closest I'm going to get to flying. Although on this round on the diagnol jumps we cleared the first one, and was cantering to the second one, and we got cocky and tried it at a canter (something we haven't started yet). Oz cantered over that jump instead of jumping it, and yep it came down. <br>Both cross rail classes had about 30 rides go through. Very stiff competition, so I'm still thrilled at our one ribbon.
We had two more classes coming up, the first one was the 2'3 and then 2'3 - 2'6, we waited for about an hour before our turn came up. As we entered the ring, I became nervous - there was a lot of fill in this class, and lately flower fill has been proving to be a problem for the boy. Both cross rails classes I went in thinking, this is no different then home, but verticals still have me a bit shy, so I think this is something we will be practicing at home! He refused the first jump, but we turned around and went over it, clear - next jump again a refusal and a retake and yep - clear, the third jump no hesitation, and clear - then the fourth felt like it came up fast and it felt tight suddenly to the corner, it was the diagnol and we did it fine with crossrails, but now it felt rushed and we had our third refusal and we were excused. We were the second last rider of that class and I asked the whipper in if I could pull from the 2'3 - 2'6 class and redo this class. I was fusterated, and we were NOT going to end our day on THIS NOTE! The whipper in was very considerate and let us do this. I wasn't looking for a placing or ribbon or anything, I just didn't want Oz to think thats how we do verticals! So our second attempt, the first jump it was a refusal - I whipped him around, a little snap of the crop, and a ton of leg and we went at it again! This time we cleared it, jump after jump we went clear clear clear, then on one of the middle jumps I felt hesitation on my horse - I FELT IT BEFORE IT HAPPENED !! (I love this saddle!) But I put a bunch of leg on and I think I may have even yelled UP at him, and UP we went, UP UP UP I went, I felt the air between me and my saddle I felt the top of my foot hit the top of the stirrup. All I was thinking was DAMN I AM NOT COMING OFF THIS HORSE ! And wow that photographer is taking a hell of a lot of photos of this! I came back down - and landed in the saddle, and off to the next jump we went! A clear round, some of the jumps weren't pretty, but I absolutely felt better about leaving the ring.
After watching George, Kyra and Robyn take some classes and kick some butt and have SENSATIONAL rides, Kim and I rode home. Our tired tired boys! But such proud proud owners/riders!
The show was sensational, a lot of incrediable riders! A great turn out, and we caught up with a lot of people that we missed from both Hillcrest Stables, and Mission Creek. Plus a few people that knew Oz that I didn't know who they were. Again its all about him, I'm just basically along for the ride.<br><br>It was an exciting day, Brianne's boarders and students turned out great rides and it was great to know we had such a crowd from the Bresing Farms. While we were there we were able to see a couple of shots from Spring Fever Jumping Day that Lindsay Kerns put on that were taken by Melissa Carl (Once I get the links figured out I will be adding hers!) That were absolutely FANTASTIC! FLYING FEATHERS could be the caption for one of the shots, I saw 3 or 4 of them and knew I needed to buy a cd from her of all of them. If your lucky enough to have her at your show, then make sure you check out her proofs! I will post photos once I purchase them. I promise!
A big thank you to everyone at Lanyard Stables and Sandy Day for putting on an incrediable show! There is no doubt on how much stress and energy it takes to put this on and have it run so smoothly and well! And a huge thank you to our coach, Brianne Mensing who not only was up till Midnight on Friday still in the barn! Then was up early to feed our horses and haul herself down to the show to stay all day, I'm not sure she even got a bite to eat. Her students think the world of her, and if your lucky enough to be one of her students you soon find out why!
Our next show isn't till mid June, so we have some definate practice time to get in, and are starting to get excited about Maple Ridge!
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