A couple of weeks ago I took a deep breath and booked to meet my fab little fearless friend (now a BHSAI) at a very local XC training facility. I was a tad apprehensive as this was our first time travelling Gracie solo and I don't know whether she has ever done solid fences.
I hopped on to warm her up. She was a little goggle-eyed at all the different styles of jumps but didn't spook.
We had a few proncs when she's to canter but once the tickle was out of her feet she was keen but controllable.
G was very clever.... The first 10" log she jumped as if it was 2ft but second time around she jumped out sensibly and thereafter all the fences were jumped beautifully. I don't think even the highest fence was 2ft but she didn't hit anything, or refuse or run out.
The arrangement was that at the end I would go back on, with a view to being coached over a couple of the baby jumps.... and that's exactly what happened...
G was brilliant for me. We jumped 9 times and some were from trot and some were even from my nemesis....canter!! And I cried. But for once they weren't tears of fear.... They were tears because for the first time I ACTUALLY ENJOYED IT!!!!
We finished with a final flourish back through the water....
I actually think - for the first time ever - that I might be able to nail this!!!
I'm still beaming.....
I hopped on to warm her up. She was a little goggle-eyed at all the different styles of jumps but didn't spook.
We had a few proncs when she's to canter but once the tickle was out of her feet she was keen but controllable.
G was very clever.... The first 10" log she jumped as if it was 2ft but second time around she jumped out sensibly and thereafter all the fences were jumped beautifully. I don't think even the highest fence was 2ft but she didn't hit anything, or refuse or run out.
The arrangement was that at the end I would go back on, with a view to being coached over a couple of the baby jumps.... and that's exactly what happened...
G was brilliant for me. We jumped 9 times and some were from trot and some were even from my nemesis....canter!! And I cried. But for once they weren't tears of fear.... They were tears because for the first time I ACTUALLY ENJOYED IT!!!!
We finished with a final flourish back through the water....
I actually think - for the first time ever - that I might be able to nail this!!!
I'm still beaming.....