Okay, so I already gave away the good part.
Sparky turned 8 on Saturday. Eeek! Where does the time go?!? Last I knew, I'm pretty sure he was 4. Anyhow, so Sparky's chronological age is now 8, and his "training age" (yes, I made that up) due to his injury and related set-backs is 6 1/2, and he should be "all grown up" either way.
And he *just* might be (knock on wood).
On Tuesday, Honorary Big Sister Jen hauled Tiki and Sparky to her place of employ so we could ride together and kick each other's butts. This was going to be Jen's last jump school in preparation for her (and Tiki's) first outing at Novice at the May Daze horse trial in Kentucky. My goal with Sparky was to go somewhere different, jump around fences he hasn't necessarily seen in those particular spots, and do a little bit at 3'0". My rationale was that if one of the PWF IEA kids can jump him 3'0", there's no reason I can't!
Everybody pretty much knows that the journey with Sparky has been, uh, interesting (Greg Best saying Sparky was an asshole, anyone?). So it has taken a while for Sparky to get to where he "should" be training-wise. And the goals for this trip were not a "given."
We started out in the covered, due to an annoying thunderstorm rolling through. Honorary Big Sister Jen had some stuff set at 2'-ish, a vertical on the diagonal at 2'9", and a 3'0" oxer on a short, awkward diagonal. Sparky and I were not going to attempt that one. We warmed up on the flat, for which Sparky was pretty good. Honorary Big Sister Jen then did some 2'-ish stuff with Tiki, and then I followed suit with Sparky. It wasn't all perfect (and I certainly wasn't!), but Sparky never hesitated. In fact, he was forward enough that I was *quite* glad that I had chosen to use the Sprenger WH bit for the day. We progressed through the line (it was set as a two to a one, or a one to a two, depending on which way you were going) each way... and eventually I got brave, and we cantered up to the 2'9" vertical. And the Sparkplug looked a little bit, but he went right over! I did my job to make Honorary Big Sister Jen jump the 3'0" several times, even though Tiki was being a shit. *shrugs* I do what I can to make others' lives more enjoyable. ;)
After the rain let up, we moved to the (much) bigger outdoor arena. Because of the rain, the footing was pretty darn near perfect. Honorary Big Sister Jen had set herself an entire course at 2'9"-3'0", which she planned to jump "cold" (no schooling over anything before going in and jumping the course). So she and Tiki started out over the course, and then decided on a do-over. Second attempt was perfect-ish - Honorary Big Sister Jen sat up, rode, made decisions, and didn't take anything for granted. I was very proud of her!
Then it was my turn. Honorary Big Sister Jen watched Sparky while I went around and dropped random jumps to various lower heights. I dropped the square oxer to 2'3", because I really haven't done too many of them with Sparky (and this is clearly Jen's fault, because she doesn't like oxers and never sets them at home... so since I'm too lazy to set anything other than what she's set, I don't do many oxers!), and then walked around and lowered a few others that seemed somewhat imposing.
I vaulted up onto my trusty steed (ok, really I used the mounting block to get on the pudgy pony), and off we went. I didn't have an actual plan in mind (good thinking, I know) other than to just jump everything in the arena. We started with the oxer because it was low and oxers generally don't scare me (except for 3'0" ones set on an awkward short diagonal). And it went well. So we continued along to the single verticle on the outside line. Which also went well (not perfect, but well enough). And we continued around to a single hanging gate (Sparky and I had never jumped a single hanging gate before). And it went well. And next thing I knew, Sparky and I were doing exactly what Honorary Big Sister Jen and Tiki had done - going in and jumping an entire course "cold." And every single fence was just. fine. After the gate, we strung together the outside line, the other gate (this one had flowers underneath), and a ramped oxer. And Sparky perfectly willingly jumped everything. He looked a bit at the oxer, but said, "OK - if that's what you want!" and jumped it with a foot to spare.
And I was pleased as punch.
The sequence of jump heights was 2'3"-2'9"-2'9"-2'6"-7 strides (we did 8)-3'0"-3'0"-3'0". Holy crap! Sparky did it! He actually did it!
We still have some things to work on, but I could not be more happy with Sparky on that day. Everything I asked, he did. He trusted me to not put something in front of him that he "couldn't" do. And he looked super-cute doing it!
As for me, though Honorary Big Sister Jen complimented on the fact that I've become much more of a stylist and a thinking rider, rather than "seat of the pants" (hmmm... that sounds familiar as well), I am terribly out of shape for jumping and have developed the habit of letting my stirrups be too long. I *might* make it a point to spend some quality time in two-point for the next several days-weeks-months-as-yet-undetermined-timeframe... and I am definitely going to make it a point to get my stirrups to a *proper* length. Too-open knee angle? No thanks.
And without further ado, here is the link to Spanky's course! http://youtu.be/rathK9Jn5iU
Showing posts with label Morgan Eventer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Morgan Eventer. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Figure-8s are Bad-Ass, and I now have a legitimate reason to use one, or XC Clinic Day
Through a various set of circumstances, I found myself able to finally participate in a XC clinic with Local Event Trainer Who's Pretty Damn Good. Honorary Big Sister Jen was nearly pleading with me to go - she claimed it would make her feel better to have someone there who is brave. I guess at some point I was assigned the role of "brave."
I decided, after much hard thought, to try a new bitting configuration for Sparky for this XC outing. I read a lot about people changing the noseband, rather than increasing bit for their horses. Now, this makes a lot of sense to me and seemed, perhaps, a most excellent solution with Sparky, because he gets so behind the bit in any metal mouthpiece, regardless of how "soft" that mouthpiece may be (JP double-jointed full cheek with copper-rolly-ball, anyone?). I really like how Sparky goes in his Duo on the flat, but he sometimes gets a little strong in it while in company or over fences. So I decided to try his Duo with a figure-8 noseband. I reasoned that it would put an eensy-weensy bit of pressure on his nose, and well, I already had one, so it was rather convenient. Jumping him around in it a couple days prior, it seemed to work pretty well. Of course, for XC Clinic Day, the JP was on back-up. ;-)
XC Clinic Day was a beneficial day. Though Sparky was there with this two best buddies (the three of them - AKA: The Three Stooges), Sparky, AKA Moe, wasn't pulling or racing around to try and catch up with them. He seemed content to just listen to me and do as I asked. After warming up on our own at a walk, trot, and canter, we started out by going over a crossrail in the stadium ring. Sparky and I approached at a trot the first time. He wanted to make a bit of a bid at the jump, but I held him and maintained the trot, and he jumped it very well. The next time over we cantered, and then the jump was raised to a vertical. I thought Sparky might try something funny with it - like a stop - so I rode very positively to the jump, keeping my leg on. He jumped that one quite nicely, as well. We then moved on to a few jumps strung together: vertical to oxer to barrels. I knew the vertical and barrels would be fine, but I wasn't 100% sure on the oxer, so again I rode in a manner to convey, "We are not stopping." The Sparkplug was perfect. So perfect, in fact, that he got a pat from Local Event Trainer and was told "You're a good pony." I told her to not jump to any conclusions, yet.
It was now time to head out to XC. No baby steps, here - straight to the point, jumping the Lincoln Logs, a hanging log, and an oddly-shaped log on the ground. I knew Sparky would nail the Lincoln Logs, and the last log, but we've only ever done the hanging log once, so I had some concerns. Unfortunately, since I "knew" Sparky would be fine over the Lincoln Logs - they looked so small, now! - I rode rather poorly and we got a crappy spot, causing me to end up too forward with my upper body. I wasn't too concerned, because I know that's not my standard MO. Local Event Trainer, however, jumped all over me for it. This bothered me, because I felt as though a sweeping assumption was being made because of one fence. I guess you only get one shot to make a good first impression, but had we not just jumped several stadium jumps well? Didn't that count for anything? We approached the hanging log, and I asked Sparky to trot to it: I wanted to be sure he was where he needed to be (in terms of being on the aids, that is), and I wanted less forward momentum if he did decide to stop. I kept my leg on, but held him where I wanted him, and he went over just fine. And I got yelled at for not kicking and galloping forward. We cantered to the oddly-shaped log, about which I had no concerns, but having learned my lesson from the Lincoln Logs, also didn't take for granted, and it went well. I think I was told, "Much better," and then directed to go do the last two again, this time keeping my leg on and kicking to the hanging log. Hmmmm.... (it went just fine, as, at this point, I knew it would).
On to the ditches. Sparky was a bit of a pig starting out, and stopped. And I again got yelled at to sit up. Okay, this time I really should have known better and stayed back more, given our history with ditches. I eventually coerced Sparky across (read: smacked him so that he knew I wasn't playing his way today), and we came back over like it was no big deal. We were to then jump the small ditch, and continue on to a new jump - another set of logs like the Lincoln Logs. The ditch was fine, but Sparky stopped at the logs, which didn't surprise me. I'm pretty sure I got yelled at again about leg. I gave Sparky a tap with my crop, and we re-approached. I rode better, and Sparky went over. We turned around and came back over, me keeping in mind a postitive ride with leg. Sparky went right over, and we continued on to the ditch, which was again pretty much flawless. It was then decided that Sparky needed to do the big ditch, as well. Sparky again decided to slam on the brakes. He got smacked, protested minimally, we re-approached, and over he went. On our return trip, he stopped again, but I was more ready for it this time, and didn't get tossed up his neck until he bucked in protest at being smacked. A very small (for Sparky) confrontation, and he went over again, with some hesitation. We then strung it together with the new logs, and all was well.
We then moved on to the "middle" of the Calimar XC field. We were now to string together the small bank up, the small bank down, to a kinda-rampy-hangy-log thing that I'd never done before and looked bigger than the previous hanging log, up the big bank, over the barrel-train, back over the barrel train, down the big bank (gulp) and an almost 90-degree turn to another new jump that distinctly reminded me of a firewood rack. The small banks were fine - we'd done those before - but I was a bit nervous about the kinda-rampy-hangy log thing. Remembering the new log jump, I kept my leg on, thought positive thoughts, and we went over - despite Sparky's misgivings about the jump and his desire to stop. It had not been a very good approach, because Sparky was looking for a way out and was being wiggle-wormy, BUT he went over. This was definitely something of a breakthrough. Of course, Local Event Trainer didn't see it quite the same way I did, and wanted us to do it again, this time stay in the middle of the log thing. So we did it again, and this time as we went over, I channeled our work with Greg Best, and used my right leg and an opening left rein to keep him straight, with a successful result and a much better jump. Up the big bank with some hesitation, and over to the barrel train and either a rotten jump. I suppose here I was again taking the jump for granted. We went over a few times, but it was always sticky, even coming back over. We then went to the big bank down. I think this was the only jump I was truly nervous about. Even if I stay back, Sparky is still pretty talented at tossing me forward... I really did not want to go over his shoulder and down another three feet beyond the usual. Sparky did stop, and it took a little convincing to go down the bank, but eventually he did. It was also always a bit sticky, so it's now on the list of "Things To Work On." We then cantered up to the firewood rack, and for some reason, I felt really good about it. And dammit, I was right. Another jump we'd never seen before, and really, it felt pretty perfect. Figures that the hardest jump is the one we'd do the best. We took a break, and then did the last three jumps again. The barrel-train and down-bank were still not great, the the last one was again pretty damn good.
We then progressed to the water complex. Down the little bank into the water, up the little bank out, down the ramp into the water, and canter to a vertical right at the exit. When I had my approach right, the canter in and vertical out went really well. Of course, that was the minority of the time. Once we did a reasonable job with that, we were to then go jump another rampy set of logs and then the small cabin right by the water wheel. These were also jumps we'd done before, so I knew the only reason we might have problems would be if Sparky decided to again test me. The two jumps rode fine, but now Local Event Trainer got on my case about my hands and catching my horse in the mouth. At least she did seem to realize that it's a trust issue - I don't trust that Sparky is going to not stop/duck out, and hard - but she kept on harping that he will start stopping all the time if I'm not softer in the air. So we did it again; of course, this time I knew we were okay, so of course, it was much easier to trust my horse.
As we were heading back to the trailer, Local Event Trainer again admonished me about my hands, and "he'll start stopping all the time." Really? *Sigh* Please don't get me wrong - I think that going to this clinic was a great thing for Sparky and I, but I also think it illustrates some of the shortfalls of one-day clinics, and the fact that all clinicians are not created equal. As a clinician, I realize that one has to make some relatively quick assessments of horses and riders, which I'm sure is no small task. However, the drawback is that (I feel) sometimes the assessments made are not always 100% accurate. No, you don't know me, my horse, and our history... but there is a reason I ride the way I do (for the most part! See the section about the Lincoln Logs). And I *do* know my horse. He doesn't stop because I sometimes might have a rather strong feel on his mouth. He stops because he's either worried, or an asshole. I think I felt a bit like Honorary Big Sister Jen did when people kept suggesting she remove Tiki's hind leg wraps.
Honestly, I left feeling a little defeated. Sparky was pretty much a rockstar, and I am actually feeling like maybe we might have a future in this eventing thing, but...
I'm not used to being told that I'm going to hurt my horse's confidence, or that I'm going to cause him to start stopping. No, I didn't ride perfectly. I made some dumb mistakes, yes. But it's not like I'm riding some made packer. Really, my horse is not an easy horse to ride. Someday he will be, but we're not there, yet. But I really don't like leaving with the feeling that I didn't ride well.
I think that perhaps Local Event Trainer is not the right match for me. It's not at all that she didn't help me, or that I don't like her as a person, or that I don't think she knows her stuff - because she did help, I do like her, and I do think she knows her stuff. I just think that maybe it's not a good personality match for a teaching relationship. That said, I do really appreciate that she pushed me a bit beyond my comfort zone in jumping Sparky over scary new fences. Jumping the never-before-seen kinda-rampy-log-thing and the firewood rack on the first presentation is a BIG accomplishment for Sparky and I.
It's like I've said before: everyone has something to teach you. You take what works now and use it, and you file away the rest for future reference. So I'm taking the good stuff, filing away the not-so-good stuff, and remembering that I would still rather ride with Local Event Trainer than some other trainers out there.
And Sparky's figure-8 and Duo combination worked great! I now have a legitimate reason to put him in a bad-ass-looking figure-8!
I decided, after much hard thought, to try a new bitting configuration for Sparky for this XC outing. I read a lot about people changing the noseband, rather than increasing bit for their horses. Now, this makes a lot of sense to me and seemed, perhaps, a most excellent solution with Sparky, because he gets so behind the bit in any metal mouthpiece, regardless of how "soft" that mouthpiece may be (JP double-jointed full cheek with copper-rolly-ball, anyone?). I really like how Sparky goes in his Duo on the flat, but he sometimes gets a little strong in it while in company or over fences. So I decided to try his Duo with a figure-8 noseband. I reasoned that it would put an eensy-weensy bit of pressure on his nose, and well, I already had one, so it was rather convenient. Jumping him around in it a couple days prior, it seemed to work pretty well. Of course, for XC Clinic Day, the JP was on back-up. ;-)
XC Clinic Day was a beneficial day. Though Sparky was there with this two best buddies (the three of them - AKA: The Three Stooges), Sparky, AKA Moe, wasn't pulling or racing around to try and catch up with them. He seemed content to just listen to me and do as I asked. After warming up on our own at a walk, trot, and canter, we started out by going over a crossrail in the stadium ring. Sparky and I approached at a trot the first time. He wanted to make a bit of a bid at the jump, but I held him and maintained the trot, and he jumped it very well. The next time over we cantered, and then the jump was raised to a vertical. I thought Sparky might try something funny with it - like a stop - so I rode very positively to the jump, keeping my leg on. He jumped that one quite nicely, as well. We then moved on to a few jumps strung together: vertical to oxer to barrels. I knew the vertical and barrels would be fine, but I wasn't 100% sure on the oxer, so again I rode in a manner to convey, "We are not stopping." The Sparkplug was perfect. So perfect, in fact, that he got a pat from Local Event Trainer and was told "You're a good pony." I told her to not jump to any conclusions, yet.
It was now time to head out to XC. No baby steps, here - straight to the point, jumping the Lincoln Logs, a hanging log, and an oddly-shaped log on the ground. I knew Sparky would nail the Lincoln Logs, and the last log, but we've only ever done the hanging log once, so I had some concerns. Unfortunately, since I "knew" Sparky would be fine over the Lincoln Logs - they looked so small, now! - I rode rather poorly and we got a crappy spot, causing me to end up too forward with my upper body. I wasn't too concerned, because I know that's not my standard MO. Local Event Trainer, however, jumped all over me for it. This bothered me, because I felt as though a sweeping assumption was being made because of one fence. I guess you only get one shot to make a good first impression, but had we not just jumped several stadium jumps well? Didn't that count for anything? We approached the hanging log, and I asked Sparky to trot to it: I wanted to be sure he was where he needed to be (in terms of being on the aids, that is), and I wanted less forward momentum if he did decide to stop. I kept my leg on, but held him where I wanted him, and he went over just fine. And I got yelled at for not kicking and galloping forward. We cantered to the oddly-shaped log, about which I had no concerns, but having learned my lesson from the Lincoln Logs, also didn't take for granted, and it went well. I think I was told, "Much better," and then directed to go do the last two again, this time keeping my leg on and kicking to the hanging log. Hmmmm.... (it went just fine, as, at this point, I knew it would).
On to the ditches. Sparky was a bit of a pig starting out, and stopped. And I again got yelled at to sit up. Okay, this time I really should have known better and stayed back more, given our history with ditches. I eventually coerced Sparky across (read: smacked him so that he knew I wasn't playing his way today), and we came back over like it was no big deal. We were to then jump the small ditch, and continue on to a new jump - another set of logs like the Lincoln Logs. The ditch was fine, but Sparky stopped at the logs, which didn't surprise me. I'm pretty sure I got yelled at again about leg. I gave Sparky a tap with my crop, and we re-approached. I rode better, and Sparky went over. We turned around and came back over, me keeping in mind a postitive ride with leg. Sparky went right over, and we continued on to the ditch, which was again pretty much flawless. It was then decided that Sparky needed to do the big ditch, as well. Sparky again decided to slam on the brakes. He got smacked, protested minimally, we re-approached, and over he went. On our return trip, he stopped again, but I was more ready for it this time, and didn't get tossed up his neck until he bucked in protest at being smacked. A very small (for Sparky) confrontation, and he went over again, with some hesitation. We then strung it together with the new logs, and all was well.
We then moved on to the "middle" of the Calimar XC field. We were now to string together the small bank up, the small bank down, to a kinda-rampy-hangy-log thing that I'd never done before and looked bigger than the previous hanging log, up the big bank, over the barrel-train, back over the barrel train, down the big bank (gulp) and an almost 90-degree turn to another new jump that distinctly reminded me of a firewood rack. The small banks were fine - we'd done those before - but I was a bit nervous about the kinda-rampy-hangy log thing. Remembering the new log jump, I kept my leg on, thought positive thoughts, and we went over - despite Sparky's misgivings about the jump and his desire to stop. It had not been a very good approach, because Sparky was looking for a way out and was being wiggle-wormy, BUT he went over. This was definitely something of a breakthrough. Of course, Local Event Trainer didn't see it quite the same way I did, and wanted us to do it again, this time stay in the middle of the log thing. So we did it again, and this time as we went over, I channeled our work with Greg Best, and used my right leg and an opening left rein to keep him straight, with a successful result and a much better jump. Up the big bank with some hesitation, and over to the barrel train and either a rotten jump. I suppose here I was again taking the jump for granted. We went over a few times, but it was always sticky, even coming back over. We then went to the big bank down. I think this was the only jump I was truly nervous about. Even if I stay back, Sparky is still pretty talented at tossing me forward... I really did not want to go over his shoulder and down another three feet beyond the usual. Sparky did stop, and it took a little convincing to go down the bank, but eventually he did. It was also always a bit sticky, so it's now on the list of "Things To Work On." We then cantered up to the firewood rack, and for some reason, I felt really good about it. And dammit, I was right. Another jump we'd never seen before, and really, it felt pretty perfect. Figures that the hardest jump is the one we'd do the best. We took a break, and then did the last three jumps again. The barrel-train and down-bank were still not great, the the last one was again pretty damn good.
We then progressed to the water complex. Down the little bank into the water, up the little bank out, down the ramp into the water, and canter to a vertical right at the exit. When I had my approach right, the canter in and vertical out went really well. Of course, that was the minority of the time. Once we did a reasonable job with that, we were to then go jump another rampy set of logs and then the small cabin right by the water wheel. These were also jumps we'd done before, so I knew the only reason we might have problems would be if Sparky decided to again test me. The two jumps rode fine, but now Local Event Trainer got on my case about my hands and catching my horse in the mouth. At least she did seem to realize that it's a trust issue - I don't trust that Sparky is going to not stop/duck out, and hard - but she kept on harping that he will start stopping all the time if I'm not softer in the air. So we did it again; of course, this time I knew we were okay, so of course, it was much easier to trust my horse.
As we were heading back to the trailer, Local Event Trainer again admonished me about my hands, and "he'll start stopping all the time." Really? *Sigh* Please don't get me wrong - I think that going to this clinic was a great thing for Sparky and I, but I also think it illustrates some of the shortfalls of one-day clinics, and the fact that all clinicians are not created equal. As a clinician, I realize that one has to make some relatively quick assessments of horses and riders, which I'm sure is no small task. However, the drawback is that (I feel) sometimes the assessments made are not always 100% accurate. No, you don't know me, my horse, and our history... but there is a reason I ride the way I do (for the most part! See the section about the Lincoln Logs). And I *do* know my horse. He doesn't stop because I sometimes might have a rather strong feel on his mouth. He stops because he's either worried, or an asshole. I think I felt a bit like Honorary Big Sister Jen did when people kept suggesting she remove Tiki's hind leg wraps.
Honestly, I left feeling a little defeated. Sparky was pretty much a rockstar, and I am actually feeling like maybe we might have a future in this eventing thing, but...
I'm not used to being told that I'm going to hurt my horse's confidence, or that I'm going to cause him to start stopping. No, I didn't ride perfectly. I made some dumb mistakes, yes. But it's not like I'm riding some made packer. Really, my horse is not an easy horse to ride. Someday he will be, but we're not there, yet. But I really don't like leaving with the feeling that I didn't ride well.
I think that perhaps Local Event Trainer is not the right match for me. It's not at all that she didn't help me, or that I don't like her as a person, or that I don't think she knows her stuff - because she did help, I do like her, and I do think she knows her stuff. I just think that maybe it's not a good personality match for a teaching relationship. That said, I do really appreciate that she pushed me a bit beyond my comfort zone in jumping Sparky over scary new fences. Jumping the never-before-seen kinda-rampy-log-thing and the firewood rack on the first presentation is a BIG accomplishment for Sparky and I.
It's like I've said before: everyone has something to teach you. You take what works now and use it, and you file away the rest for future reference. So I'm taking the good stuff, filing away the not-so-good stuff, and remembering that I would still rather ride with Local Event Trainer than some other trainers out there.
And Sparky's figure-8 and Duo combination worked great! I now have a legitimate reason to put him in a bad-ass-looking figure-8!
Monday, March 14, 2011
Absolut Awesome
Sunday, Sparky and I tagged along with Honorary Big Sister Jen and Tiki to go XC schooling at Calimar Farm and meet up with The $700 Pony (of The $700 Pony fame) and her staff, Marisa. Calimar is a very inviting, nice facility with a beautiful water complex. The owners are wonderfully nice, as well, which makes it all the better. Now some of you may recall that I wasn't sure if I was going to take Star or Sparky. I guess subconciously I always knew that I was taking Sparky - when I left Jen a message on Saturday night, I said something about giving Sparky a bath Sunday morning; but this was before I "decided" to take Sparky!
We arrived at Calimar and proceeded to unload the horses. Well, Tiki, anyway. Sparky decided that he was having pretty much none of this "backing of the straight load trailer" stuff. After trying to convince him otherwise (and getting my finger smashed in the process, hence the swelling and impressive bruising), I decided to use Sparky's driving ability to my advantage. A leadrope on either side, and Sparky was convinced to back off the trailer, just as if he were backing under harness. Brilliant. I was pretty proud of myself for that one.
We started our warm-up in the stadium field. W-T-C both directions, with extra emphasis on the right lead, which he picked up with no problem. Near the end, Sparky had a pretty nice right lead canter. Hopped over some crossrails and applied "the George Morris Method to Schooling Scary Obstacles*" (hence forward referred to as the George Morris Method) to a jump of blue barrels lying on their side. No problem either direction. Then I decided to try a couple more of the stadium jumps - a red and white vertical with a red gate and a pretty decent (for Sparky)-sized blue and white oxer. Sparky hopped over them like it was no big deal.
We then moved on to jump out into the XC field over the Lincoln logs. The Lincoln logs jump was our "oh-my -gosh-wow-that-was-amazing-I-can't-believe-we-did-it!" jump the last time Sparky and I schooled at Calimar. It was pretty much the biggest thing he had ever jumped (certainly the biggest solid jump), and no one was quite sure that he would do it. When he did, we were amazed, and I was giddy beyond belief and absolutely thrilled with my pony. Coming up to it this time, I found myself thinking that it looked small... and Sparky went right over!
Jen and Marisa put their ponies over the hanging log, and I was thinking that Sparky and I would take a pass on it for the day. But then we got closer to it, and it didn't look as big as I'd thought. So I decided we'd give it try. No problem - up and (way) over! Over the little-ish log on the ground, and over to the ditches. Of course, with all the rain we had earlier in the week, there was actual water running through them. Sparky managed to put on his big-boy pants and go over the little one a few times, but wasn't ever comfortable with the bigger one. I had two options: A) Push the issue, and go over it, or B) Forget about it. Since I knew that his insecurity stemmed only from the water, and because he's done that same ditch with no problem without water, I decided that if I was going to fry his brain, I would do it on something more worthwhile. So we walked up to the edge of it, called it good, and went over the little ditch a couple more times.
Jen led the way to the next grouping of jumps - another kinda funny looking log, a biggish bank, and a bridge. Sparky and I did approached each jump individually first. The log was pretty much a no-brainer. The bank up was a bit harder for him - he literally almost climbed up it the first time. And then we came to the bridge. I wasn't sure it was going to happen - it looked HUGE. A few false starts, I was pretty well reconciled that it was just too big, and it wasn't happening. But then, after one "last" attempt, employing the George Morris Method, I felt Sparky actually offer to try and jump. So we approached once more, and over he went. Came back the other way, and he actually trotted right up to it and went over with no hesitation. We then followed Jen's lead, and strung the three jumps together both directions (omitting the bank down - I wanted to do a smaller bank down first). While Jen and Marisa played around some more, Sparky and I tried our hand at the train made of barrels. Sparky had no problem with it, and the log next to it was cake.
Up next were the ramped "wavy logs" that I was never able to convince Sparky to go over the last time we were at Calimar. He did that with no problem, while Jen did a big red coop next to it. Sparky and I took a pass on the coop. It was easily bigger than anything he'd ever jumped, and it didn't seem like the ideal jump for introducing more height. We then proceeded to the water complex. Sparky went right in, and also jumped down a little bank into the water and back out up a little bank with no problem. I knew I wanted to try the cabin right by the water wheel, but the sound of the water wheel can be distracting, so I decided to try another cabin first. The dog-run cabin looked pretty okay, so we did that. Coming back the other direction, though, Sparky decided that now it looked pretty scary. As I was working with him on it, Jen yelled over, "Nicole, this one's smaller!" I replied, "He already did this one the other way!" A little more schooling (again with the George Morris Method), and Sparky went over. We then moved on to the cabin by the water wheel. Silly me for thinking he would be distracted; he went right over! We then played a little more in the water complex, jumping in from a slightly bigger bank, and eventually out the biggest plain bank.
By this time, Sparky was getting pretty tired and was pretty close to the end of what his brain could handle for the day. We all headed back towards the beginning. Jen was determined that to get back out, she was going to jump the bench that always rattles her. The $700 Pony did it first, and then Jen followed with Tiki. It was pretty good... but I know Jen well enough to know that sometimes she has to be pushed just a little bit more... so I told her she had to come back over. Which also meant that she would have to jump it back out again. And she did, with no problem at all. The $700 Pony followed. Now, I had planned on jumping back out over the Lincoln logs... but looking at the bench, it really didn't look *too* bad. So I decided that Sparky and I would just jump out over that. Again, he went right over. What a good boy!
Gave my Napolean Dynamite lots of pats and praise and hopped off. I absolutely could not be more proud of him - he did absolutely everything I asked, and even jumped almost all of the same things as the "big horses." He might get this figured out, yet!
PS - For those of you wondering about the where the wrist works in: I injured it on Saturday helping a girl take off a boot. Yes, you just read that right.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
The Reason Sparky's Event Hony Debut Has Been Postponed
So back in June, I had thought that Sparky would make his eventing debut in the Beginner Novice division at the Oct Chattahoochee Hills Horse Trial. Had I more time and resources, this may have worked, but the simple fact is that he's just not ready.
We went cross country schooling for the first time in July (Happy Birthday to me!), and he was an absolute rockstar! However, since it was his very first outing, we took it pretty easy, and only jumped one "big" fence - a triangular stack of "Lincoln Logs"... and to be honest, I was pretty sure it wasn't happening. It didn't happen the first time, but on the second attempt, Sparky said, "Okay, I got this!" and leapt over the logs like it was nothing. THAT, in and of itself, made the whole day worthwhile.
In August, we had the opportunity to school the course at Chatt Hills, so naturally, I jumped at the chance. I went with Jen (and Tiki), Becca (and Captain), and Marissa (and The $700 Pony... who is awesome, by the way). The three (six) of them took part in the hunter pace held in the morning, and in the afternoon, Jen, Marissa, one of Jen's students, and I went schooling.
There was nothing. small. on. that. course. Nothing. Almost everything was max height (~2'6"), and Sparky had never jumped that high "cold" before. Poor Sparky was overwhelmed, and did the best he could... but it was kind of rough. We had a stop (or two) at almost every fence before he went over, and eventually (after a string of a couple GREAT fences with no stops!) he just said, "No, I'm done." And he was done. There is NO ONE in this world who could have made him go over that fence.
I overfaced him, plain and simple.
We did do a few more fences (bank and ditch on XC, a few in the arena) to restore confidence and end on a (somewhat) positive note, but I realized that with the little time I had and the other commitments I had, I was not going to be able to have him ready for the horse trial in October (unless we were to school XC many more times before then, which just wasn't going to happen). So we nixed it.
So Sparky is backing up a couple steps, and we're going to work very hard on square oxers, things that look solid (thanks to a brown tarp), and removing the word "no" from his vocabulary. I can't really think of a way to re-inforce the idea of "forward," because this is a one-off event... Sparky is naturally a forward horse, so me asking him to go forward has never been so much me asking or telling him - it's really always been me allowing him. So I think if I build up his confidence to the point that "no" never crosses his mind, we'll be good to go, and I will have one hella awesome Morgan Sport Pony eventer.
So what all of this really means is that Jen gets to use my dressage saddle when she and Tiki do go to the horse trial at the end of the month!
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