Jill Clinic

2 day jumping clinic this weekend. It was our first jumping of the year.

Day 1:
It took about 5 minutes to settle her down, but as soon as we started going over some cross rails she settled down and got to work. During the warm up we went down a small line of 2 sets of 3 trotting poles. Went over the first 3 no problem, but I guess she decided we were most certainly jumping today and jumped the next 3 in one leap. It was pretty funny because she wasn't spooky about them, or rushing into them, just jumped them as if they were a long jump, cantered off straight on the correct lead. Funny little girl. Other than that, we had a really nice little ride, and got almost all our leads on the landing.

Day 2:
She was pretty hot for the first 5 minutes or so again, just took it slow and walked around, but she really just wanted to get to work and settled really well as soon as we started doing some exercises at trot. I think she was probably a bit stiff today, body sore, because she was a little more reluctant to stretch out today. The last 15 minutes were really nice though, she became more forward and soft like her normal self, and was jumping really nicely. Even got a lead change. I liked the grid we did. It was a trot in bounce to a one stride to a bounce to a one stride with an oxar. It helped keep her up, and bring up her shoulder. As a result, the more we rode, the better she jumped. Definitely giving her the day off tomorrow though, she worked really hard.

Clipping the beast!

Haven't been able to go out for a few days so I just lunged her. It was a good decision too, she was a but full of herself and we worked through it pretty well. She was being a bit ignorant of downward transitions (especially trot to walk), and it didn't really get better until she was more tired, but sometimes that's how it is. If she's going to ignore me until she's tired, that's when she's going to have to work! By the end she was going well though, responsive and submissive, back to her old self.

When we got back to the barn my coach was clipping, so we decided to do Elegant's under neck, chin, chest, and jaw. She was unbelievably good! Stood perfectly still and didn't flinch at the clippers once. Not even when they were close to her eyes, muzzle, throat, and ears. It probably helps that she was tired and was on her best behavior. :)