Today was our first "jumper" show, we missed out on the flat classes and hunter yesterday. The first class was 2'0 Green Jumper class, and we had a triple and oxers in our jump pattern. So already I was doubting our abilities, but we attempted it - sort of - Oz refused all the jumps on our first go around, but thankfully it was a schooling show and we were going to get over them come hell or high water. I believe we made it to just after the triple (which was jump 5 out of 8 - although there was the triple in 5 and two combos, so really out of 10 in total) and after that jump I nearly came off, so we said thank you and came out.
The next class was another 2'0 jumper just with the second pattern - he refused a few, and on all of them he came at them too fast and forward that we had to circle before each jump. After this I initially pulled us out of 2'3 as I just didn't have the confidence that we could make it over the jumps and me stay on. But I took a big breathe, put on my big girl panties and put us back in the class. We completed it, but we missed the final jump on the triple, as we were just coming in way too fast, so we skipped it and moved to the next jump. We did complete all the jumps and I managed to stay on. He was such a good boy and an incrediable babysitter for me. We were done then until after lunch, where we had jumper pairs, hoof and woof and then gamblers choice. Brianne and her other students showed up at lunch time, and Robyn was gracious enough to cover my slow butt and partner up with me in the pairs. She took on the triple and the balance of the jumps, and we did 1, 2, combo in 3 and 4. We came in 3rd, but I believe Robyn and George came in first, as she also partnered up with George.
Hoof and Woof was great fun, I didn't relize that I had to bring my own woof, so Brianne graciously donated Andy the super dog... George and Andy went first, but Andy decided once he was on course that he really didn't want to jump in the heat and managed to get out of his collar and went the other way. Oz and I managed to barely make it over all the jumps, and I bailed off and off Andy and I ran... jumping the triple, 6, 7 and the combo on 8 together. He was fabulous, and I was totally out of breathe!
Finally our last class was coming up, Gamblers choice... I thought this will be easy as I don't have to know the pattern. But I found it more difficult to make up my own course as I was out there. That felt like our best class, as we didn't circle, except for one jump that we kinda deeked out on and I didn't want to end on that note.
We also won People Choice Award, and recieved a beautiful bouquet of flowers! Thank you everyone that voted for us! It was the closest we are going to get to derby flowers I'm sure.
Oz was a star for the show, and I have to remember we have never practiced a triple or an oxer, and this was our first jumper class. The jumps come MUCH MUCH faster then hunter class, but its rather addicting. Towards the end when Oz wasn't as hot as in the beginning, and we were coming together as a pair, it felt great, and I think I could have tried to go higher. Not faster just higher.
Hopefully we didn't embarrass our coach or her other students too badly. We had great fun, and I'm itching to get back and start jumping again! Thank you Lindsay Kerns and all her sponsors for putting on a great show.