[imjustjoking22]

Ok, I am putting these up because he is feeling much better to me while jumping so I wanted to kind of double check with all of you.

I *know* about my position faults and am properly ashamed. A good friend of mine is going to start working with me (on top of the dressage lessons, which start next week!) and whip my butt into shape... hopefully.

Anyway- is he using his back and neck a bit better lately? I put the jumps up to 2'6" ish today (trust me, that is huge!!) and he just sailed right over them (with me holding on for dear life!). I feel like he is picking things up really well.

Oh and I am FINALLY starting to see distances at the canter! So we have actually been cantering jumps successfully as opposed to letting him pick the striding and getting thrown around like a sack of potatoes.

Anyway, here are some photos! I am getting a tiny bit better with jumping ahead, but I have noticed that I am getting dangerously close to laying on his neck and having a cuddle-fest mid-jump.

Although you can rest assured that I am not actually leaning on his neck, as evidenced by my picture perfect floating crest releases.

I am a piece of work.

(oh and check out the facial expressions- I call it "Blue Steel". )









And... surprise! A couple pictures of him packing my friend over a few little fences (can you believe it?! What a good boy! )

[rose1081]

Stunning! you are doing great! i am very jealous of your horse though.

[Simon Says]

He is beautiful and looks like he is doing really well! I love your horse, the name is one of my favs and when I look at him he reminds my of Storm, they have the same back left foot sock!

[kaitlyndzn]

he looks great!! keep up the good work!! good luck with those lessons

[JumpingBean]

Good news all around.

That's very good you're starting to see distances -- it'll make it easier for him and a much more comfortable ride for you!

Your form doesn't actually look that terrible, by the way.

[Ropin1]

Originally Posted by JumpingBean

Good news all around.

That's very good you're starting to see distances -- it'll make it easier for him and a much more comfortable ride for you!

Your form doesn't actually look that terrible, by the way.

Yea, I was going to say, your form in the first photo (of you) is great!! Good job! Hes a really nice horse! Looks happy jumping too!!

[I_Luv_Ponies]

Lovely horse. Just goregeous! And I love the expression! i think we need an emoticon that does that...

[imjustjoking22]

Originally Posted by rose1081

Stunning! you are doing great! i am very jealous of your horse though.

Thank you! Most of the credit should go to him- I am not a brave jumper at all, but if I raise the jumps and ride him to them, he will go over no matter how I am feeling! He is wonderful!

Originally Posted by Simon Says

He is beautiful and looks like he is doing really well! I love your horse, the name is one of my favs and when I look at him he reminds my of Storm, they have the same back left foot sock!

Thanks! He actually has the exact same markings as the first horsey love of my life - the star and left hind white sock. It is eerie!

Originally Posted by kaitlyndzn

he looks great!! keep up the good work!! good luck with those lessons

Thank you! Now I just have to find somewhere to get *jumping* lessons- I am less miserable at dressage!!

Originally Posted by JumpingBean

Good news all around.

That's very good you're starting to see distances -- it'll make it easier for him and a much more comfortable ride for you!

Your form doesn't actually look that terrible, by the way.

Thanks, JB! The distances do make it MUCH better- he has stopped chipping, which totally threw me off.

I have been starting to actually FEEL when my position is better, because I can feel him come up and round his back under me (which I couldn't feel so well when I was jumping ahead of him) - but I still see all my faults. I think when I am waiting more consistently, have the stirrup on the ball of my foot and my heel better, and fix my release the overall picture will be much prettier .

Originally Posted by Ropin1

Yea, I was going to say, your form in the first photo (of you) is great!! Good job! Hes a really nice horse! Looks happy jumping too!!

Thank you! He does seem to love to jump!

Originally Posted by I_Luv_Ponies

Lovely horse. Just goregeous! And I love the expression! i think we need an emoticon that does that...

Haha isn't it great? It makes me quite embarassed, but I have to say that once I get past that it is pretty awesome .

[imjustjoking22]

I'm curious- is he starting to round his back better over the jumps?

[imjustjoking22]

bitty bump. Just got through writing over 3500 words (eek!) and I need a little HGS love.