So for the past week or so its either been the second coming of christ with rain, thunder, and lightening, or the devil was visiting with the temperatures rising up into the 40's. So due to this our lessons and practice sessions have been a little less then consistant.
But after a storm with hail and lightening cancelled our Thursday session, Friday was such a bad day at work Brianne and I just headed up into the hills for a quick ride, and Saturday finally was a lesson day. We shared a lesson with Kim and Chili, and after a quick warm up we were off. Lesson were over the jumps today and working on counting our strides. I can't say that our abilities during the lesson were excellent, but there was some definate good jumps and then some definate bad jumps. But all and all we cleared them all I believe. One in particular was a repeat of our Peachland show, where it was almost a dead stop to the jump and then straight up and over - and clear. This is certainly not we want or how we want to jump, but to me it proves that this horse LOVES this discipline. It would have been so much easier to just not jump, go through it, or at least not put in the effort to clear it. During the lesson we were starting to get the strides required, and we could see what happened when we came to the first jump too soon, and had to add on the next jump.
There was a lot of cantering to the jumps, and as per Ozzy's norm, some fantastic flying lead changes that he just does on his own. Such a babysitter that way. When he's on his A-game, I really am on auto pilot, point and steer him to the jump and he'll just babysit both himself and me. On the wrong lead - you don't know it, that's okay mum, I'll just change it NOW - hold on here comes a jump, and we are flying over it.
I have to say I can remember just 3 short months ago when I was falling all over his neck, nearly coming off, when a cross rail was intimidating. Now we are both just itching for them. During the beginning of our lesson - we were doing a crosspole, but after going over it for three times Oz was done. Now he knew he could just step over or trot over THAT - come on mummy #2 (Brianne) bring on the good stuff! Bring on the scary stuff - flowers and oxers - we eat those up!
Sunday was just a working day in the ring, we started off with working on the right canter leads, as I'm still not getting those correct. That lasted for about 20 minutes before we were hopping over the jumps again. Although I can definately notice a difference when its just him and I, then when we have our coach advising us. I like it when Brianne is there far more! We do far better - so now we just need to find that semi winning lottery ticket so that I can just use that to pay for her to be there whenever we ride. I'm thinking a nice cheque of $25 000 would likely pay for the next couple of years of a lesson 4 days a week. Most people want to win so they can retire, I want to win so I can ride better! On the plus side, I think during the 20 minutes of canter sessions I finally figured out when we are on the correct lead and when we are not on the correct lead. BY JOVE I THINK I GOT IT!!!
I apologize to all Ozzy's fans, I think I figured out a way to write more often, but I'm pretty sure other then show days the lesson blog has got to be getting boring. We need something to spruce it up....
I did purchase some professional shots from his last two shows, and as soon as we have those we'll be posting them. We also have decided upon a logo for Oz, and soon he will have his own business cards. He also has quite a schedule ahead of him over the next few weeks. This Friday we have a braiding clinic at the barn, and Saturday we have jumper classes at O'Hara stables. The following week on the Thursday we have Jumper nights at the KRC, and that weekend we have Zing Fling July's Show. One whole weekend off - hahaha and then Wednesday we are off to Maple Ridge for what will be our nail biting show of the year I'm sure. Dog Days of Summer Maple Ridge Equestrian Center's Show, we'll be doing two jumper classes in the am at 2'6, and then in the afternoon a hunter class for 2'3. Three full days of this - I've very excited!
When we get back there is another Lanyard show, possibly IPE - but thats probably a long shot, and then of course if SOHA has a fall show we will be there, and the Peachfest parade we will certainly be out.
Plans are in the works for some large shows next year, and we will be working on a sponsorship package. If you have any SERIOUS fund raising idea's then please let me know in the comments section of this website.
Till later - actually I think you will have a guest writer for the next blog insert, maybe we'll see a blog from Ozzy's view point. Which I strongly suspect will be greatly different then my own.