The plan involved taking Deuce over to the fair grounds so we could practice Friday night, after we got all the jumps hauled over and the course set. Then Deuce spends the night at and I ride my two classes Saturday mid day and then Deuce goes home while I continue to help out.
The plan went quite smoothly and for not having been out hardly all winter, Deuce was very well behaved and comfortable.
He arrived Friday evening calm cool and collected; looking happy to be in a new venue and interested in his new surroundings.
In the warm up arena, Deuce was firey and quite forward! I had some help from Erin on sending him forward and back to establish some half halts and get a more responsive horse who was not leaning on the bit and running through my hands. Once I had a more of Deuce's attention and cooperation, we found a few lines to jump. Finally! that is what he wanted to do all along! I worked on staying light with my hand sand softening and keeping my leg on. It was busy in there!! Horses going every which way and finding a line and taking it proved to be challenging, but Deuce was keen for any and all and quick to respond. . We jumped everything with no problems. Fox Hills has always been known for their creative jumps at their shows. This year was no exception, there's the big playing cards, Christmas, Eater, the skinny roll top, the beautiful stone wall, the moon/orange slices, and of course the road closed/American flag. Lots to look at and jump over!
Back in his cage of a stall, (all enclosed, with only a big screen to look out of - not very horse friendly - but quite spectator friendly when the county fair in is progress) Deuce was actually pretty content to stand in the corner and look out his window quietly watching all the traffic go by. I was relieve to see him munch hay and not be flustered about his confinement in such a new and exciting place (there were lots of horses arriving and being talkative by that point).
Saturday morning came early and I found Deuce well rested and ready for the day. I helped jump crew in the morning then it was off to get ready to ride. Deuce's patience continued to persist into the day as I saddled and got ready to ride. He's such a cool horse!!!
Our first class was the 2'3- 2' 6" open class. In warm up, Deuce as much more settled and ready to go to work. We focused on getting quality half halts, big forward canter and jumping straight. Then it was our turn to enter the arena.We had an okay ride, he made the corners and jumped straight though I did not have him forward quite enough and I could have done better about getting his lead changes.
Had our ride video taped:
Our second class was 2'6" Adult. We bopped into the arena and picked up a canter when the whistle blew. Nice big circle around to our first fence, the cards and dice, no problem, then a nice big left turn around with a fix of the lead to the American flag and a turn right around to the Christmas oxer. I was a little late on the turn and so we were not quite lined up, but he was honest and went to it and jumped cleanly anyway. good boy! Then a straight line to the skinny roll top. I did not stay strong with my left leg so there was a slight drift left again, but he still went over. Then another turn left at the far end to the orange and purple then a bendy line to the Chinese. I did not find my line soon enough to was a late turn to the orange an purple, then was out of whack and not forward enough or on the right lead for the Chinese so we pulled a rail there. Darn it! Then a right turn, headed towards the gate, which is the recipe for his notorious popping out of the the left shoulder and running though (with jump crew right in his path). To prevent that scenario, I half halted a bit too much to balance to make the turn so he broke to a trot and then when I cued for the canter, he was no balanced and he picked up the wrong lead to head around to the blue oxer so I tried to fix it again and micro managed too much and we so we went over at a disorganized trot. We landed in canter to head to the wall but I did not send him forward so we pulled a rail there too. Then I finally stetted down again and sent him a little more forward around the right hand turn to the two stride line on the out side and he took the last two straight and clean.
Here's another video of our ride:
Fun day, really pleased with the big spotted boy, but I have more work to do. My focuses will be to not manage him so much. Get him straight and then soften and leave him alone... stretch tall, hands together and leg on. and let him go forward.. big strides!
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