video- Jasper's first jumps!

I sent my entry in for the Deep Creek Derby on June 6th in Medical Lake. We're doing the Rockhopper division, which consists of USDF Intro Test A, and a course of 12" jumps on the cross country course including water. I get to have a lead rider. :)

Today I set up some cross rails to see what he would do. Here he is:




He was forward and willing, but didn't rush. He didn't seem to worried about it. I didn't do anything but stay still and grab mane in case he leaped. Um... this was pretty fun.

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Dressage Test- Video

I was sooo lucky to have one of the boys from the ranch come with us to this show. He helped out a lot, took all the pictures, and this video. It's not high quality but it's still fun! I think he looks *quite* elegant. 6's and 7's on everything, he did better going to the right. 5 on the non-existent free walk.

ETA: We got our test and a THIRD PLACE RIBBON in the mail!!!!!!!

64%!

64%! Woot woot!

Warming up

Baby Jasper's first show today. It was a beautiful, sunny day and he did a beautiful, flowing test. We free lunged in the round pen. We rode in the outdoor warmup. We rode in the indoor warmup. We rode all around the grounds- he was much much better if he was moving. When it was our turn to enter the arena, he walked right by the judge's trailer and at the other end of the arena only gave the mares and babies a second look. Intro test B, all 6's and 7's, and a 5 for the free walk. He was so good in the warm-up, I would have been happy to load him up and go home. The test was the cherry on top.


Oh it wasn't all perfect. He got off the trailer and couldn't stand still. He trotted circles around me on the end of his lead rope for 10 minutes or more. BUT he wasn't crazy-lost-my-brain-trying-to-pull-the-rope-out-of-your-hands, he just trotted and trotted. I walked him for about 40 minutes. We walked everywhere. He walked on top of me and got in trouble. Often. When it was time to get saddled I tied him to the trailer. He can buck in place. He leaps up and kicks out behind. While tied. And he paws. Pawing-bucking-pawing-bucking. He hated being tied to the trailer. He pulled back so hard he stretched out my nice leather halter so bad it no longer fits him. He pulled back again so hard he stretched the metal ring the rope was tied to. The third time the knot was so tight I thought I was going to have to leave it there and cut it off when we got home. There were a few riding "baby" moments. I thought he was going to explode once, but he didn't.

Once we got moving- once I got on and we got to go somewhere- he settled right in. He listened, didn't spook too much, didn't rush, didn't pull. He was trying really hard.

*Snort* Who is that boy with the camera sitting in the grass?

First time in an indoor arena. No sweat!

When I got off after my test, he stood still for the first time. I quickly took advantage and started pulling his braids out while also trying to watch my friend Janaira's ride, which was right after mine (it was beatiful- she's got quite the young dressage horse there). And then when we went back to the trailer he wanted to eat grass for the first time. The little guy finally got worn out. My skinny chewed-up not-even-4-year-old-yet OTTB that I've had for 6 weeks wearing a crappy old Wintec all-purpose saddle was a rock star. Janaira's filly was awesome. Krystle is officially a member of WSU's dressage team, she got off the trailer and settled right in with their horses.

We left before the class was placed, but I'm pretty sure we're not in the ribbons. There were 8-10 people in the class, they place to 5th, and I'm sure at least half of them got over 64%.

I'm tired, but not drained. I'm tired, but not frustrated. I'm tired, but don't feel like I went through a battle today. This showing thing might turn out to actually be fun...

Ride Times

I just got my ride time for Saturday's dressage show and got really nervous. All those "what ifs" coming to the surface, along with all the second guessings (I've only had him 6 weeks! He's not even 4-years-old yet, not until June 4th! He's an OTTB! Am I pushing it?)

We're going into Intro B at 11:42.


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Poker Ride

Fishtrap Lake is about 30 miles west of Spokane, and every year the Inland Empire Back Country Horsemen put on a Poker Ride. Today was my second time doing it. It's made up of 2 loops, on the first loop (which is 3-4 hours long) you get off your horse at stations and "play" games to earn cards towards your poker hand. The second loop is optional, and we did it- it's another 2 hours or so but you get to go by (in!) a lake and by a waterfall. The second loop is less rocky and there are some really nice places to trot and canter. Whoever has the best (and worst) hands at the end wins. There are hundreds of people on this ride, but I think I may be in the running for worst hand.

Hershey/Alexandre and Junior/Rooster

Junior bringing up the rear.

I rode my horse Alexandre, and Anke (another staff member at the ranch) rode her favorite horse Hershey. We brought the 2 boys from the ranch who have ridden the most this year. 3 of the horses we brought are huge- 16.2h and over... and then we brought the snotty pony Junior. We called ourselves "Team Lowrider".



Technically everything went pretty well. At lunch one of the boys let his horse step on and break a rein that was a pretty easy fix. Hershey's saddle kept slipping sideways when Anke got on and he got away from her once, bucking across the parking lot as her lunch flew out of the saddlebags. Everyone stayed on.


One of the boys did OK. The other absolutely loved every minute of it and said it was the best day of his life. We are all sunburned, tired, and sore sore sore. My numb knees are just starting to get the feeling back in them. I love the ride but it is a bit stressful for me as I'm ultimately responsible for everyone, plus all the other horses/riders that we come within a short distance of. The boys can stay on but are still very much beginners, and a few lessons in trail etiquette were learned today.

End of the trail.

*Gulp* Sent the entry in for our first show...

I sent the entry in today, Jasper and I are going to a little dressage show next Saturday! Not so much to be competitive, I'm pretty sure you have to be able to *turn* to be competitive, (even at Intro level) but for the experience. It's a very nice place that has an indoor arena to warm up in. He's never been in an indoor. Plus I'm picking up my friend and her filly- it's their first show too, which will be fun and will probably include some drama.

We had a great ride today! Jasper is quite balanced for a horse that's not even 4 yet. Practiced circles and serpentines and... dun dun dun... trot poles! It took a while for him to get the hang of it, but after some swerving and halting and confusion it clicked and he trotted over 4 in a row.

Then we went on a second ride later on, a trail ride behind another horse, and went through the swampy area. He wanted to refuse to go in it, but by the time he realized there was water under all the grass he was already standing in it. My legs were clamped on, one hand grabbing mane waiting for the bolt or swerve or... and he pretty much just walked through it to the other side.

On another note I'm taking Alexandre (my big guy) to a Poker Ride tomorrow. One of the other staff members at the ranch is coming, and we're taking 2 boys. The boys have been warned to be on their best behavior as there are hundreds of people on this ride. They are not allowed to have the usual middle-school conversations about butts and farting. They are both very excited and helped me hook up the trailer and load up all the stuff. At 7:30am we'll load up the horses and head out to Fishtrap Lake, which is about 30 miles west of Spokane. There are 2 loops, the first loop is where you get all of your poker cards. I think it takes 3 or 4 hours. There is an optional second loop which includes a lake and waterfalls, but it makes it a realllllly long ride, we'll see how everyone's bums and knees are doing after the first loop. Will post some pictures!

The first solo ride

First of all I've gotta say that all the sudden Jasper is giving to pressure on the bit. Not steadily, he still sticks his head up and braces, but eventually comes back down. We've really been working on outside rein as steering him is like trying to steer a wet noodle. Today for some reason he stayed on the bit nicely, and we even had 2 walk-trot transitions where he didn't throw his head up. I was floored. They were better transitions than my 16-year-old has ever done. So floored that I rode all of 10 minutes in the arena and decided to end on a good note.

The 100+ acre hay field was calling. He's been out in it once last week with an old campaigner, a buddy, and did great. He had to cross a narrow ditch with running water, so I got off and led him over it right behind the other horse. He eventually went, leaping over and landing on me.

Today there were no other horses. After the stellar time in the arena, I took a deep breath and we headed out. I don't know what he does if he "freaks out".

His little tail was swishing back and forth about as fast as it could, but he walked. It's a long gradual downhill from the arena to the ditch, then a gradual uphill on the other side. We got to the ditch with the rushing water in it and he got nervous. I never even kicked. Just kept his head pointed at it and he worked himself up, which was walking up and down it and at one point he grunted, stomped the ground, swished his tail, and shook his head. I didn't want to get in a battle over this. I want him to think ditches are no big deal, especially when they're part of a cross country course. I got off and led him over. Again and again and again, until he was just stepping over it and not leaping. I got back on on the other side, made a small loop, and asked him to walk over it headed back towards the barn. I was leaning forward and had a death grip on the saddle horn as he calmly stepped over it and continued walking.

He was pretty excited to be headed home, but listened nicely when I asked him to walk and not trot. We went back in the arena just so he knows going home doesn't mean the work is over. Worked on moving to leg pressure and got 2 somewhat decent half-turns on the forehand.

I am really happy to be working with this horse.