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