EnglishGuy
10-19-2008, 07:48 PM
Well yesterday was a heck of a lesson. We did our flat work very well and I was really proud of Tobey when we were practicing simple lead changes. He picked it up easily and was very in tune with my cues. We moved on to jumping after about 30 minutes of flatwork.
So first we did just one jump at the trot and did very well. Then we moved on to the canter and did the single jump and then a line. Again we did really well, he listened to my cues and got every lead change flawlessly. So we tried out a course. The first three times we did decent, out of the 12 jumps on the course we'd do more than half of them well and he got the lead changes almost every single time. The only problem was I didn't always have a good eye for our distance and would two-point too early and thus throw myself off balance over some of the jumps.
Then the fourth time we came around and to this one jump thats kind of tricky since you have to do a bit of a sharp turn around another jump standard to get a straight approach. Well my turn was a little too wide this fourth time, but I still had the mindset like the other times when I got it right. All the other times Tobey chipped in so thats what I was anticipating. Well he took a long spot, a REALLY long spot. I was expecting another stride so I was completely caught off guard. I got popped out of the saddle and flew over Tobey. Now the jump was 3' and Tobey is 17.2hh plus he took it BIG, so if hes jumping over that is like 10' or so plus I was tossed a couple feet above him so I was close to 12' in the air and we were going at a strong canter. I did a front flip and landed on my hip and skidded for about 4' before rolling a couple times into the second jump.
Good news, we caught Tobey (he ran out of the arena to the hay cart by the barn) and did the jump again and he did it absolutely perfect, way better than the other times it was literally flawless. Bad news, I may have cracked my coccyx/tail bone because its extremely sore(considering seeing a doctor but seeing as theres nothing they can do for it, it would be a waste) and my back is all bruised, but no cuts or broken bones (spelling?).
So I'm thinking of investing in a protective vest to wear riding. I don't know how much they help, but I'm thinking it would be nice just to protect my spine and keep my back from getting really banged up. Would it be a good choice to get one? Can anyone reccomend a quality, inexpensive vest?
Obviously I can't show hunter/jumpers in it but it would be nice to have extra protection in schooling falls.
Oh, and moral of the story. Don't assume that your horse is going to do something and ALWAYS wear a helmet. Mine has a big dent in it and the padding is cracked...lucky that isn't my skull. Guess I need a new one before I go riding Tuesday.
P.S. I know I owe pictures since I haven't gotten yall any since I first rode Tobey. Its a pain to find someone who will come out and take them for me. Hopefully since I'm on break and riding Tuesday through Sunday I can get someone out one of those days.
So first we did just one jump at the trot and did very well. Then we moved on to the canter and did the single jump and then a line. Again we did really well, he listened to my cues and got every lead change flawlessly. So we tried out a course. The first three times we did decent, out of the 12 jumps on the course we'd do more than half of them well and he got the lead changes almost every single time. The only problem was I didn't always have a good eye for our distance and would two-point too early and thus throw myself off balance over some of the jumps.
Then the fourth time we came around and to this one jump thats kind of tricky since you have to do a bit of a sharp turn around another jump standard to get a straight approach. Well my turn was a little too wide this fourth time, but I still had the mindset like the other times when I got it right. All the other times Tobey chipped in so thats what I was anticipating. Well he took a long spot, a REALLY long spot. I was expecting another stride so I was completely caught off guard. I got popped out of the saddle and flew over Tobey. Now the jump was 3' and Tobey is 17.2hh plus he took it BIG, so if hes jumping over that is like 10' or so plus I was tossed a couple feet above him so I was close to 12' in the air and we were going at a strong canter. I did a front flip and landed on my hip and skidded for about 4' before rolling a couple times into the second jump.
Good news, we caught Tobey (he ran out of the arena to the hay cart by the barn) and did the jump again and he did it absolutely perfect, way better than the other times it was literally flawless. Bad news, I may have cracked my coccyx/tail bone because its extremely sore(considering seeing a doctor but seeing as theres nothing they can do for it, it would be a waste) and my back is all bruised, but no cuts or broken bones (spelling?).
So I'm thinking of investing in a protective vest to wear riding. I don't know how much they help, but I'm thinking it would be nice just to protect my spine and keep my back from getting really banged up. Would it be a good choice to get one? Can anyone reccomend a quality, inexpensive vest?
Obviously I can't show hunter/jumpers in it but it would be nice to have extra protection in schooling falls.
Oh, and moral of the story. Don't assume that your horse is going to do something and ALWAYS wear a helmet. Mine has a big dent in it and the padding is cracked...lucky that isn't my skull. Guess I need a new one before I go riding Tuesday.
P.S. I know I owe pictures since I haven't gotten yall any since I first rode Tobey. Its a pain to find someone who will come out and take them for me. Hopefully since I'm on break and riding Tuesday through Sunday I can get someone out one of those days.