jumped the highest I have EVER jumped yesterday!

[Happy Horselover]

Yesterday I went to my friend's farm (http://www.stoneybrookfarmohio.com/) in Dayton, OH to take a lesson on one of her awesome horses, Commander Aero, a 17.3hh 5 year old Oldenburg Gelding. This horse is a dream to ride, Heidi really trains her horses well (she broke and trained Aero from a yearling). This was my first lesson where we spent most of it working on my position over fences - I have always had greener horses to jump so I have never really had the chance to work on me and get the "feel" for what is correct while not worrying about whether the horse is going to jump or not. We set up a gymnastic and as long as I got us to the first fence nicely, Aero did the rest and I could just think about me! I am not looking for critique as I know I look terrible, that's what we were working on ;). Heidi was actually really pleased with how I progressed as we went on but I get frustrated when I'm not perfect right away - especially since I can critique the photos all day and KNOW what's wrong, but can't fix it in a second. It's all muscle memory, I'll get there! Now, on to the pics:

warming up
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs634.snc4/59421_1476984419064_1667363975_1092634_5483639_n.j pg (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=1092635&id=1667363975)


he's quite large
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs602.snc4/58284_1476986699121_1667363975_1092643_3738079_n.j pg (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=1092644&id=1667363975)


what a cutie
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs409.snc4/47197_1476988979178_1667363975_1092655_436795_n.jp g (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=1092656&id=1667363975)


http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs209.ash2/47197_1476988939177_1667363975_1092654_5018819_n.j pg (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=1092655&id=1667363975)


http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs209.ash2/47197_1476989099181_1667363975_1092658_3305587_n.j pg (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=1092663&id=1667363975)


http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs623.snc4/58335_1476994939327_1667363975_1092663_4202392_n.j pg (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=1092664&id=1667363975)


first time jumping into the grid
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs431.snc4/47445_1476995579343_1667363975_1092666_7440470_n.j pg (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=1092667&id=1667363975)


http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs411.snc4/47445_1476995619344_1667363975_1092667_492629_n.jp g (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=1092668&id=1667363975)


and it's a 3' oxer!
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs411.snc4/47445_1476995659345_1667363975_1092668_3306418_n.j pg (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=1092668&id=1667363975)

shows the spread, he makes it look easy, but that's not a small jump!
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs615.snc4/59517_1476996059355_1667363975_1092670_351732_n.jp g (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=1092668&id=1667363975)


so it was a big day, that was a biggest I had ever jumped, height and spread, and it was so COOL! I'm excited to keep working until my position is perfect, I just wish I was closer to Heidi so I could go ride with her, but I can only go there when I go visit my family in Cincinnati, OH which is only a few times a year :(. I love my trainer here in KY (who works with me and my green OTTB) and she said she has a "schoolie" I can lesson on a few times to work on me more. I'm psyched!


** ETA - video added, post #26 **

[WashingtonBay]

Tall as he is, he's half over it when he thinks about picking his feet up :) Very very cool

[Happy Horselover]

Tall as he is, he's half over it when he thinks about picking his feet up :) Very very cool

that's why such a big jump was neccesary, otherwise he's barely jumping ;)
I'll take it!

[missdixie]

He is stunning and freakin' huge!!!!!!! He is taking those 3 footers like crossrails!

[mare]

Nice looking horse! You looked like you were having a great time, too! You look good on him.

[vicklynn]

Nice looking horse!! You look great on him!

[Ix3Morgans]

looks like you really were enjoying it,
Don't tear your self apart over a few pictures! I think you look nice.

[JackieB]

Geez that horse is tall! You look great to me. Good job!!!

[ownedby7horses]

I think you look great!! He's a beautiful horse and tall....just a tiny bit tall!! ;)

[Scout1026]

That looks like so much fun!!! :)

[Remali]

You look great, that must be a blast! And OMG that horse is seriously gorgeous!!! You're really a good rider!

[Happy Horselover]

I love you all for being so sweet :). I'm far from excellent, but I do have fun and work hard to get better. This horse just makes it all so fun, he's SO well trained (his canter departs are HEAVEN) and just never even thinks to argue. I adore my horses, but this one is just in another class. And he is gorgeous as I see a few of you agree ;)

eta: he is for sale and I asked Heidi what his price is (not because I thought I could buy him, I knew it would be insane) and she said while he is technically for sale, she wouldn't sell him for less than 6 figures because he is just that nice. His attitude, his scope, his athleticism, he is just a SPECIAL horse. And I get to ride him! I'll take that too!

[cloedoll]

Awe! You like right at home up there! Haha, what a handsome man..you did great! :)

[Happy Horselover]

Awe! You like right at home up there! Haha, what a handsome man..you did great! :)


I feel good on him, he's a really sweet horse. I love my OTTB, but I can't let my guard down with him - I could with Aero

[Diane of Buck's Hollow]

He is beautiful!! Congrats on the terrific jump!!

[Happy Horselover]

thanks all!

[Piper522]

Awesome photos and you looked great. Very stunning looking horse. I am originally from the Dayton (Centerville) area...where is the farm at that you went to. That outdoor footing looks really nice.

[NJrider]

Oooo, I've seen Aero on another forum—I love that horse! Looks like you had a great time :)

[Happy Horselover]

Awesome photos and you looked great. Very stunning looking horse. I am originally from the Dayton (Centerville) area...where is the farm at that you went to. That outdoor footing looks really nice.

she's south (west?) of the city, her exit is before the loop, it's the morraine/kettering exit and she's only a few miles from the hwy. The foot is awesome, they did a good job on it.


Oooo, I've seen Aero on another forum—I love that horse! Looks like you had a great time :).

I know she's on the Chronicle, but I can see why you'd remember him, he is really a cool horse!

[NJrider]

That's where it was :) Every time she posts about him I drool!

[Happy Horselover]

That's where it was :) Every time she posts about him I drool!


He's soooo cool in person too ;) Love him!

[shewasmyshadow]

Isn't it neat to ride a more "finished" horse. :D I rode my trainers horse just once during jump lessons. I couldn't even get the horse to canter. That is how far apart my riding was from his training. I didn't feel bad, though. I was just happy to walk/trot him.

Congrats on getting to ride that horse! I used to work at a dressage barn where some of the horses were 6 figure horses. It's a little nerve racking handling them. :p I learned NOT to ask how much they were worth.

Did you get any video? I'd love to see some if you did.

[TheBadLands]

That is a fantastic horse! And congrats!

[NJrider]

He's soooo cool in person too ;) Love him!

Next time you go just pop him in a box and ship him to NJ... I'm sure no one will ever notice :innocent:

[Happy Horselover]

SWMS - it really is cool riding a well trained horse, especially since my main ride right now is a greenie. Aero is really easy I think, maybe I'm just decent enough to get what I want, or maybe he's just that well trained, but the walk to canter departs I was getting were perfect, you just get him moving from him hind end, ask for a little haunches in, and ask for the canter and !! there it is. He is so fun!
I actually do have a video - Hubby took two on his phone, I'll see if he can get them off there and on here for me....

NJrider - he'd need a really BIIIIIG box ;). I'd say he's Heidi's favorite horse (don't tell the others) so it really means a lot that she lets me ride him knowing what he means to her. Its is so hard to watch someone ride your horse crappily, so I must do okay with him!

[Happy Horselover]

got the vid for you SWMS!

YouTube - Aero and I!

[Happy Horselover]

bumping in case SWMS didn't see the vid!