Pony has Hops!

I often use cross rails in training a young horse. It is helpful in getting them accustomed to the feel of the saddle in big movements in a very green horse. It can be a useful trick in early canter work and is a fun change for a horse if you are working on fussy posture work.




This feeling.  <3

I attempted jumping Savvy many times in the past, mostly on the lunge and a couple of times under saddle last year as well. Lets just say she did not present as much of a jumper - more of a step over or knock it down kind of girl. That was fine with me. She showed such great talent at dressage right from the start that I was happy with her 'career' choice.

I have been missing jumping though and just wanted to try again.

For those of you who jump big jumps, humour me in my excitement over a cross rail. It was a BIG DEAL for me! A big deal that she actually jumped instead of her weird step-over manuever, a big deal she was happy to just approach a jump for the first time, trust me and just do it without being looky, and a big deal I approached that jump with a smile on my face and no thoughts of "oh my god, will we live?" in my mind whatsoever!

This is what a year's worth of hard work and steady progress can do -- instill confidence in my wonder pony and in myself. What a great place to be.