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| Subject: Working with JJ & Bet, riding B-man | |
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Author: Laura |
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Date Posted: 03:43:43 09/24/02 Tue Laura grinned and walked back into the barn where her pony, JJ, was standing in the crossties, tacked up for jumping. The cute gelding snorted eagerly as she led him out to the jumping arena. She swung into the saddle and squeezed firmly. JJ tossed his head and bucked a few times. Laura grimaced and smacked him with his crop. He pranced along and then bucked again. Laura bumped him with her legs and held a firm contact. JJ snorted but arched his neck and walked neatly forward. Laura kept a light contact on the reins and rode in perfect huntseat position. She had her heels shoved down and her back arched as she asked JJ to trot. He snorted and moved into a lazy trot, shuffling his feet in the sand. “JJ…” Laura warned, squeezing his sides with her legs. He picked up his usual perky trot. The pony always acted like that in warm up, but once it got done to serious work, he was a concentrated, perky mount. Laura posted softly and encouraged JJ to soften and bend. After a few minutes, he did, bending nicely and listening to her aids. She sat trot and he pranced elegantly beneath her. She bent him and then touched him with her outside leg. He sprang into a canter and moved perkily along. Laura closed her inside leg and held contact. JJ performed a perfect flying lead change and they cantered some the other way. Then, Laura sat lightly in the saddle and urged him towards the first jump. JJ bounced over the 4’ oxer and landed in a controlled hand gallop. Laura grinned and circled her perky pony. She glanced at the trail to the XC course and grinned. She trotted JJ down the short trail and arrived at the 12 jump course. She urged JJ into a canter and pushed him towards the hanging log. He soared over it and they took the coffin, bullfinch, ski jump, corner fence, and tigar trap in perfect style at canter! Then, Laura squeezed and JJ sprang into a hand gallop, light and balanced. She pushed him over the next 5 fences and checked his pace as they came to the water jump. He sprang over a log on the bank. He landed in the shallow water and plunged through it eagerly. Laura smiled and rode back to the barn. She dismounted and took care of JJ. Then she walked to Bet’s stall. The tall TB/QH snorted as he was tacked up for dressage. Laura grinned as she tightened his girth and adjusted her stirrups. She led him out to the arena and mounted quickly. He started off in a fast trot and Laura collected his stride. She slowed him to a walk and let him freewalk. His stride was stretched and very relaxed. Laura walked him twice around and then took up the reins and squeezed firmly. Bet tucked his head to his chest and moved lightly forward in a big, gliding trot. Laura posted lightly and held steady contact. She sat deep in the saddle and kept her leg relaxed. Bet was responsive and on the bit as Laura circled him and practiced serpentines. She rode him gently but every signal she gave was clear and firm. After a good warm up, Laura took more contact and exaggerated her posting, pushing him lightly with her legs. He extended his trot, flying down the M-X-K diagonal. Laura then squeezed and asked for a canter. His big, gliding canter was perfect for dressage and always gave him high marks. Then Laura steadied him and asked firmly for a canter pirouette. “Good boy!” she praised happily as his muscles churned and his slender legs tossed in a right lead canter. Laura sat deep and asked Bet firmly for a half pass. He moved sideways in perfect rythym and kept him neck arched and back rounded nicely. After 30 minutes of similar practice, Laura dismounted and led Bet to the barn. She untacked him and turned him out in his paddock. She smiled and walked out to the paddock where B-man was grazing. She watched the colt and then whistled. He looked over at her and trotted over. She clipped a lead shank to him and led him to the barn. After hooking him in crossties, she brushed off his glossy bay coat and tacked him up. Then she vaulted into the saddle and pushed the colt down the trail. B-man snorted and danced energetically beneath her. The colt always had lots of energy but never concentrated it on racing. Laura was daydreaming and B-man grabbed the bit in his teeth and took off. He flew down the trail and Laura jerked the reins upward roughly. It broke his hold on the bit and he slowed gradually. She sighed and rode him firmly along. When they reached the beach, Laura gave B-man lots of rein and crouched lightly over his withers. He galloped forth, seeming interested but soon dropped off the pace and started to mess around. Laura dug in her heels and he tossed his head and slid to a stop. Laura sighed and was about to ask him to gallop again, when a few raindrops splattered her. She turned the colt around and as the rain began to pour cantered him back towards the barn. He spooked as the sheets of rain came down in torrents. Laura slowed B-man down to a trot. Then suddenly she heard the whinny of another horse. She rode toward the sound and nearly ran into the barn! She dismounted and untacked B-man quickly. She put him in his stall and was about to go get the other horses to bring them in when... [ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ] |
| Subject | Author | Date |
| .................... | Laura | 03:45:31 09/24/02 Tue |
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