Jumping at CSU

This weekend we bundled up in 18 deg weather and headed to CSU for their winter schooling jumping show.  Thankfully we were showing in a heated indoor arena, because even with being in a nice indoor we all felt cold.  There's just something about getting up at o-dark-thirty, hearing the wind howling, and making the mistake of glancing at the weather report for the day that made us all cringe at the thought of putting on breeches and high boots.

We toughed it out, though.  Carol rode Rain, on whom she's been taking jumping lessons for a few weeks.  Jasi and Miss Pea have been making good progress and so they came too.  I had planned to ride Highboy in the 3' division so he came along as well, but I left him in the trailer in his winter blanket so I could coach the other two in the morning without having to worry about him.  By the time Carol and Jasi's gigantic cross-rail division was over I was tired and my vision was starting to get wonky (leftovers from the brain injury), so I decided not to ride after all.  The result was Highboy, with a mouthful of hay from the bag, pressing his eye up to the window of the trailer and asking me, "Why have I been standing in a refrigerator wearing my pajamas for hours?"

Despite the cold and snowy weather, both horses and riders had a great day.  I was so proud of  Carol and Jasi and the rides they gave the horses. I couldn't help but be proud of my horses, too.  Rain took excellent care Carol, and Miss Pea really gave it her best effort.

At times it felt a little like we were from two different barns. Miss Pea becomes very psychologically attached to whichever horse she travels with.  This is a leftover from her track days, needing a pony horse as a calming influence.  It's time that she learns to look to her human for help and support instead of another horse, though, so we kept Miss Pea and Rain completely separate throughout the day.  This helped Miss Pea focus on Jasi instead of Rain.  It worked well.  Whenever Miss Pea would get distracted or start calling for Rain, Jasi would wisely ask her to bend or walk in circles.  This redirected her attention back to Jasi instead of the search for her friend Rain.

Miss Pea was a little strong in the flat classes (why are we all going the same direction if it's not a race?), but was listened well to Jasi's aids in the over fences classes.

Miss Pea politely asked for some of Jasi's protein bar as well as other snacks during the breaks between classes!  "Hey, whatcha got there?  Can I have a bite?"

My only regret is that we didn't remember to take a group photo of everyone who came to the show from the Bit of Honey Crew.  In addition to Carol, Jasi, and me, we had Sara, Joyce, Rebecca, and of course Kimberly Hale Photography who took these amazing photos.