This weekend was incredibly weird. For one, it was super warm, that even riding in a vest had me sweating (is it Feb?). For two, we simultaneously had the worst jump school of our career and the best dressage school of our career. It was odd and I'm still processing what happened. The will not be the most eloquent blogpost, typed at 6AM on a Monday morning, sorry.
Friday, I had a friend trailer over to my barn and we fully intended for some excellent jump schooling over our mini indoor XC course we had at my barn.
Fully intended.
Instead, I literally almost died on the way there in a car accident (like I don't understand how I'm still alive actually) and therefore I was incredibly rattled when I actually showed up to ride and it was a disaster. I'm pretty sure B was feeding off my anxiety and wouldn't even jump a crossrail. Cool.
So that was frustrating and non-productive, but completely my fault. I should not have even attempted to ride after my near death miss, and I really feel bad about that ride. Putting that behind us.
Saturday was magical and even though I had an all-staff meeting and a baby shower to attend, & my jump lesson was cancelled due to Supertrainer calling it off, I still wanted to get outside and ride, because beautiful in February.
Luckily too, there were barn friends there and barn friends that were willing to video...SCORE
I avoided jumping, because of the disaster the day before, and decided some light dressage work and a hack would be enough for the day.
It was slightly windy, and they had begun bringing horses in, so he was slightly distracted, but that really didn't affect him much.
For the first time ever, we schooled in a dressage ring and I thought he would be spooking left and right at the white rails. However, he was completely sane and perfect, like nothing had happened the day before.
I felt like I had the most incredible horse underneath me. He was responsive, light, forward and active behind. Kind of tense here and there, but for the most part, incredible.
Despite my horrible eq, due to the fact that I was exceptionally sore, he performed brilliantly. Nailing his changes (see video) and almost getting smoothe transitions everytime.
Also, never wearing that goofy vest again. Not only does it add 10lbs, it also makes me look like a hunchback....my eq isn't THAT bad. So try to ignore it.
The girl videoing for me kept saying, wow he look really good and I kept saying, "yeah I have no idea whats happening right now", hahaha.
Generally, he's a very good boy lately, but he never feels THAT great. Its like he was really strutting his stuff. I don't even know what else to say really because my mind is so blown, so here's some more pictures of the nugget.
Happy monday all!
Dude, he looks totally ballin'! Bacardi is one lean, mean, muscled-out machine, and I think you guys look great. Sometimes horses wake up and smell the coffee at the most random times, maybe he felt bad for your car accident (really glad you're ok btw) and put his game face on :)
ReplyDeleteHe is super muscled and idk where it came from!! B was super on point
DeleteEek scary! Glad you're alright, though too bad about the jump school. That Indoor XC looks amazeballs though, so maybe another time! Awesome dressaging!
ReplyDeleteI know I felt bad about even trying really, who does that?? Me. Apparently.
DeleteI'm pretty sure that half of riding is knowing when not to get on, haha.
ReplyDeleteApparently
DeleteI don't know why, but being in a car accident or near-accident can rattle me like anything else. Maybe it's the feeling that it's really NEAR DEATH and not just "oh, that could have been bad" like when I crash my bike (or my horse).
ReplyDeleteBacardi looks balling. And look at all the sunshine!!!
Its because life almost ended! THEN I get mad some asshat almost ended my adventures prematurely. Didn't sh know I would rather die riding than in a stupid car. But yes, I was so shaken, i don't know why I didn't just cancel on my friend, but I felt bad because she was trailering there....but thank you!!! B was amazing
Deletewait so you were actually in an accident? or a near miss?!? either way, that sounds awful, i hope you're feeling better soon! bummer to miss out on the ballin jump school too, that xc indoor looks amazing. also pretty much all my vests are crimes against the word 'flattering'... but eh they're so convenient to wear!!
ReplyDeletelmao crimes against the world, they are though but so comfortable. And easy.
DeleteAnd yes, I was clipped but legit almost got squashed by a semi because some other person cut me off and it was avoid slamming into her at 60mph and swerve and possibly die (missed semi by half a millisecond) or slam into her and most def die. SO theres that.
What a stud he is here!!
ReplyDeleteriiiight?? <3
DeleteVery glad you are ok! B looks so freaking fancy!
ReplyDeleteYikes! I'm so glad you didn't die in your near death experience!! I can totally understand how that would mess you up for your ride. Don't let it bother you. You proved with your dressage ride that you both are doing fantastic and that the inability to jump was just because of the terror of almost dying.
ReplyDelete