Is it just me, or is a case of jumping jitters going around the interwebs these days? Well it turns out I’m not immune to them.
Yay new media! Riley showing off his newly acquired dressaging skillz
With the help of Ali I took Riley over his first (for me) jumps. He’s jumped before in his random spurts of training, but I’ve not yet been in the irons over fences. The only time I had seen him jump was years ago, being wiggly to some tiny cross rails.
Not (yesterday) today though! Riley was all game and go when it came to fences, and it was me who was looking like the numpty. My classic move, throwing my heels in front of me, came out in full force, since I was a bit nervous about how it would go.
Steering, or rather bulging, is still a bit of an issue. Because of his bendy, short neck, it’s easy for him to throw his shoulders around a turn with my opening rein aids doing nill. It’s like having a short rudder and a strong, wide boat to steer. So we’re working on those outside rein aids and blocking the shoulders.
Even considering some of our less-than-straight approaches, and though it only included a couple crossrails and an oxer, I would say the first attempt jumping was a rousing success. I’m hoping that I can learn to let go of some of my confidence issues and continue to have fun jumping, even though he’s a greenie.
Because over-fences bonus: There’s a sh*t ton of mane to grab!
Red on the Right 
He is adorable!! He looks like he belongs in one of JenJ’s hubby’s jousting competitions!
He would definitely be good at that! He’s got the draft power and just a touch of pony snarkiness that he’d probably love charging down a big guy 🙂
He’s so cute!
I know right?!
Riley is stupid cute. Like, no matter what he’s doing, he’s still SO DANG CUTE!
Haha even when he’s got his ears back like “what is this on the bit nonsense ok fine I’ll do it” he’s still a cute little booger.
What a cutie pie! And I second Alli’s comment. He would be a pretty cute jousting pony.
Oh man, he’s cute. Like a giant Thelwell pony.
YAS- definitely a giant pony 🙂
He’s got a great expression over fences!
Oh he LOVES jumping. Dressaging I think he’s still kinda WTF about. 😉
So fun!! I’m sure you’ll feel back to normal asap too – jumping a new horse (esp a greenie!) for the first time can always be a little nerve wracking haha
Oh my gosh, I felt like such an idiot. I hope to not feel like an idiot again soon 🙂
he is the CUTEST thing omg.
🙂 I need to get some proper pics soon!
I want to squish him. Adorbs.
He’d love to be squished and kissed and especially cookied. 🙂
He is an adorable cartoon horse! I cannot find my balance over jumps on my short necked mare… I think short necks are trickier that way!