Every year, my barn has a little Christmas Eve "show". I use the term show loosely, because all it really is is everyone getting together, eating and drinking, and throwing some riding in there. Sometimes trainer has a pre-established course, sometimes we're just on our own to make up what we want to do. Its just to get out there and have a little fun before the holidays/end of the year.
Well. I know I've been talking about how good Arwen has been lately. Saturday was no exception. She was EXCELLENT. It was funny, because the day before I rode her in my first jump lesson of the week and oh man, I couldn't find a distance to save my life! We took a couple of fliers, one even knocked me loose and I almost slammed my face on her neck. Got better as the lesson progressed and I actually started riding her but damn...I was thinking that the next day was NOT going to go well. So Saturday I get on her, and we do a quick little warm up and then trainer calls me out to do some jumps. They're all set at like speed bump height (probably 2'3"). I trot the first cross rail just as a little warm up. Arwen goes to it super quietly, then canters away almost on a loose rein. The ENTIRE time jumping continued on like this. She was so quiet it was scary. At no point in time did she feel like she was running away with me, even after a one stride which is where she can sometimes get quick. And, we even did a bending line to the new liverpool (which she didn't even peek at, unlike her owner who was staring at it with great big googly eyes on the approach). I quit jumping her after a few jumps at around 2'5" and now I'm kind of regretting we didn't do more! I bet that we could have done a really nice 3' course that day, and I might have even been able to play around a little bit higher.
I'm really liking how rideable she has been lately, and I'm wondering if its the supplements (SmartCalm Ultra, SmartGut) doing any of it. I definitely think the vacation she had helped her brain too. She's much more responsive and willing to listen to me. Also, maybe its me getting a little bit better? I know my posture in the saddle is improving so I'm wondering if its making my aids less confusing. Either way, I was so impressed with my girl on Saturday. We'll see if this week its back to regularly scheduled programming, or Arwen has a future as a hunter ;-)
Here's a short little video of us too. Good times, and man those jumps look so unimpressive! (although from the saddle my brain perceived them as 5ft tall)
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