Lucas

[stacey]

Sounds like you and Lucas are doing great up there.
Your arena at home is just a feild right? How do you find the horses in that compared to a sandy arena?

[Jasmine]

Thanks! Yes our arena is a fenced in field. It hasn't been a real big change to go from sand footing to grass. Our full field is completely flat. No bumps or hills, it's all level. The only thing we have to be careful of is slipping. The horse's are fine as long as the ground is dry but when it's wet we have to be cautious. In the winter we're probably going to shoe our horses and get corks to put in their shoes. Corks are like cleats for horses. You screw them in before you ride then take them out when you're done. All in all riding on grass isn't that bad. In fact it's better than some of the sand footing I used to ride in.

I had another lesson today. We worked on going over "spooky" fences again. Lucas was a lot less hesitant today and didn't really look at any of the jumps. We had some crappy distances in the beginning just because I was over riding a little. I need to find the happy medium between supporting with my leg/hand and just driving Lucas forward. Near the end of my lesson I was starting to figure out this happy medium. I rode a small course a couple of times then I cooled out.

[Jasmine]

Ok it's been a while since I updated this. I had a jumping lesson on Monday. Lucas was a bit of a loony toon. I hadn't jumped him for almost two weeks because his feet had been chipping. He wasn't lame or anything I just wanted to wait until his feet were trimmed to jump again. I didn't want to risk him being off right before the show. Anyways Lucas was a ball of fire, I have never jumped a course so fast in my life lol. I dealt with it though and I ended up putting in a few solid rounds with no major screw ups so it was all good. Lucas probably could have done 20 more rounds but we called it a day.

So the show is coming up this Sunday. I'm doing the low hunters (2'6) and possibly the 2'6 jumpers as well. We would be fine in the jumpers but I'm a wimp and I want to see how challenging the course is before I a commit to anything

[Emily C]

Jasmine! Sounds like you guys are doing awesome, I'd loveee to see some videos of Lucas jumping your jumps! You have come such a long way in a short amount of time!

I also ride in a grass arena, and fine Red much better then on sand oddly enough. Mine is about 140 x 200, which is a fair size. It's fenced, and perfectly level.

[Jasmine]

The show was definitely a learning experience. I was really tense during my rounds which affected my riding. Lucas was good though considering I wasn't at my best. I just need to learn how to ride the same at a show as I do at home. Then I'd be fine. So the only way to do that is go to more shows and get used to riding under pressure. We're looking into doing an couple more shows in October and November and then Thunderbird has this schooling show circuit throughout the winter. By the time summer rolls around I should be an old pro

We did get over all the jumps and I did finish all my courses by the way. I wasn't once eliminated or anything. My courses just weren't as pretty as I know they could have been if I had been at my best. On an up note we did get most of our leads in the air, which was a miracle.

[Jasmine]

I just had the best ride! First I worked on the flat as per usual. Lucas has been really supple lately. He's a lot softer in the jaw and it takes less to get him to bend/come round. Anyways so I worked on bending/rounding at the w/t/c. Lucas was being really good at the canter. He was really balanced and kept an even tempo. So because I was bored to decided to try to do a flying. Just so you know Lucas has never been able to do flyings. They tried to teach him at Huntleigh and Liz and I have been trying to teach him for the past 2 years.

So first couple times I tried I got a half change. To make my life easier I got off and set up a pole on the ground. I tried again over the pole and Lucas did a full change! He then did 6 proper changes over the pole. I was sooo happy with him! Hopefully if this kind of progress keeps up and maybe by next summer Lucas will have auto changes! I'm really excited right now lol.

[Jasmine]

Ok so I haven't updated this in like.. forever haha. Lucas has had the last couple of months off because:

a) I haven't really had the time to ride because of school
b) The field we ride in is totally shredded

So he's quite fat but the happiest I think I've ever seen him . We've kind of figured out that keeping our horses at home over the winter isn't going to work out so come January both Lucas and Billy are moving to a boarding barn. I'm so excited, I can't wait to get back into the swing of things again! The goal is to get Lucas (and me) back in shape to be able to compete at the spring schooling shows that start up in March

[Jasmine]

Gonna update this because I'm bored and I haven't written one of these in forever

Well Lucas has been moved to a boarding barn called Windsor stables. Super nice place, great facilities but it's a quiet barn considering its size. In my last lesson, when I was actually riding another horse, I had a revelation. I finally understand what it means to hold your outside rein. Something just clicked in my head and now I get it!

It's actually so simple. You just use your inside leg and push your horse over into your outside rein. Then your outside rein blocks the horse's shoulder from popping so they just lower their head. Then you use your outside leg to control their haunch and your inside rein/leg for flexion. Repeat it over and over again and your horse will just stay on the contact. I think I was just over thinking everything before. It all makes sense now lol.

So today on Lucas I was just fooling around with that at the walk and trot. I worked on keeping Lucas on a straight line and not letting him drift (either with his shoulder, haunch or both.) I also worked on having him stretch into the contact on a loose rein which he did wonderfully both directions. Then at the canter I worked on keeping an even tempo and I mostly focused on my position. Liz if you read this I think I've figured out what you meant by absorbing with my ankle but staying firm with my upper body. That's what I practiced anyways. I feel a lot more solid now and more with the horse than against it.

Then since there were jumps set up I moseyed over a couple lines for fun. All the previous flat work really helped with staying on an even stride during the lines. I felt all the correct distances probably because I was able to keep Lucas at an even rhythm. I had a really good ride. I love it when you get stuff!

[maria]

haha I know exactly how you feel! It suddenly just clicks, and all the pieces that you've been trying to hold together just fit ;D What a great feeling, huh? Comngrats on getting it!

[Jasmine]

I know right? Thanks