Pepé Le Pew

Butterball and I took another lesson this week with PW. My friend arranged it so that we could do back to back lessons and snag video for each other. But then she asked if I was okay doing a group lesson. "Uhm, yeah, but we don't jump things the size that you do."

Turns out we were doing almost exclusively gymnastics so it worked out okay to ride together. And multiple people have told me now that Butterball could jump 1.10 easily. Yes, guys, I KNOW. Again, hi, I'm the problem it's me. Although, really, there are worse things in the world than having people tell you how lovely and talented your horse is! 

We started with our usual trot jump. Man, the keeping the outside rein through the turn, just magic for his straightness over the fences. PW commented that Butterball is so clever, when he's deep to a fence, he still cranks his hind end up over it to make sure he clears it. Can confirm. Also not super easy to stay with, but I'm trying. Then we did canter poles up to the vertical that then became an oxer. Ride to the first pole, the rest will fall into place. 

After that we introduced Butterball's new fave exercise. A line of 7 bounces. He came in a teeny tiny bit backed off the first time, but really not bad at all. And then merrily bounced through it. The next time he was confident from the first and felt just delighted. My coworker compared him to Pepé  Le Pew happily bouncing along, which is exactly right. The two larger horses we were jumping with didn't look nearly as thrilled by the exercise. 

via GIPHY

Then we moved on to the last exercise, a line of four square oxers set at one stride apart. We built up to what was in the video. The first time through Butterball's eyes did bug out a bit and I had to tap him between the first and second. But after that, he merrily sproinged on through those as well. Ride to the first jump, keep him straight with your outside rein on, the rest just happens. 

Finally we put all three things together and did the one strides, left hand turn to the single oxer, left hand turn to go through the bounces. And I rode the canter while keeping my eye on the top rail of the single, and we hit it perfectly out of stride. GOOD BOY BUTTERBALL! 

Easier time with my equitation with the single fence as well 

I don't have a lot to say notes wise because this is coming together with me feeling like I'm doing two (simple) things: 

- Creating a bouncy canter by being PATIENT and holding my outside rein. Don't rush the canter transition, don't rush the canter itself. Make it quality. 

- Riding to the first pole or rail and then letting him do his thing

PW told me Butterball is too nice to event, but I told him we'll just clean up our show jumping and then he'll be a super event hony with a beautiful show jumping record. He's too fun out on XC and too nice in dressage to not event!