Draggin' Ass

After 2 days off and a dressage day before that which was preceded by another easy day, I should have not expected such amazingness out of Twister as I did. He was good, don't get me wrong. But after that many easy days, he probably needed a day of little jumps to get his stride back before I'm like "hey jump all the thingz!"

tried to set them up so we could weave back and forth
and keep turning and coming back around to another jump
at every which angle

He was good though. Wanted to gallop foreverrrrrrr but then was lazy and on the forehand over the jumps. And my right calf kept charlie-horsing which didn't help. I need to start stretching. I had a couple of close calls, but stayed on. And my confidence is no worse for the wear. I will jump again tomorrow.... vested.... but we shall jump. He's always better the 2nd day after a week of doing jackshit. Me too, come to think of it. I've gotten 3 nights in a row of crappy sleep and I am beat! We both need to get our wind back.

oh crap strap just for you, Fraidy Cat Eventing.

I used an oh shit handle/grab strap/whateverthehellitis today. I warmed up galloping on both leads in the big field. He really could go all day. I kept pulling him back to a trot and he'd break back into a gallop. Then we galloped over my xc jump in the back field and it is going to take some getting used to using the strap, but I think in the long run, it's going to be the best option for me as I work on balance. Pretty sure he likes my improved crest releases.

The blue barrel still gets to him, no matter where it is. Tomorrow I'm going to try just riding really aggressive to it and have it as part of a x-rail set up or a small vertical. Maybe use it as a roll-top. Or I need to add a ground pole in front of it. The jump block jump set up as I had it was a new one for him too. He jumped it wayyyy off center the first time (what's on video) but jumped it he did. The 2nd time was better. Of course my camera went and died though! 

crappy stills collage

My person was home but too busy weed-eating to take pics and then when he stopped he decided to ride Rascal, who had just as many easy days as Twister and needs them even less. He actually tried once and that's when the camera died. Like right before the blue barrel. I almost came off there too. Never get the good stuff!

and my camera bit the dust. but not literally. you drop
her, you die!

It's nice spending horse time with my person again though. I miss the old days when we used to break a zillion babies and were riding all day together. But only because I like doing horsey stuff together. Not because breaking a bunch of track rats was good times.

mmmm sexyyyyy :P