#parkerpants

So after stalls I decided to ride with Sam and Erin. I hopped on Parker bareback, because that has been going really well for me lately. Sam was riding Annie huntseat, and set up a baby crossrail to pop over. She rode for a while and then asked if I wanted to horse-swap and try the jump on Annie. By this time poor Anne was ready to be done and wanted nothing to do with me, but we successfully trotted/flopped over the jump a few times each way. She's a good girl. 

We switched back, and parker got impatient and started being a turd. I've gotten a lot more confident bareback, but I was not feeling "on" today, and I wasn't dealing with his stupidity very well. So I got off and put a saddle on. 

Meanwhile, Erin decided to try the crossrail, with some entertaining results. Erin has never jumped before, but Squiggy apparently used to be quite good. First try Squig refused. Second try she over-jumped like a loon and Erin barely held on. Third time was quite pretty. 

Anyway, I got a saddle on Parker, and spent a few minutes reminding him who was in charge. Then I decided to try the jump for the hell of it, knowing that poor Corgi Pony has very short legs and a very long body and zero jumping experience or natural ability. The first two tries he trot-tripped through and knocked the rails. Third and fourth times he actually made a legitimate tiny jumping effort. I was actually so pleased and proud of him. And happy with myself for not overthinking or worrying and just going for it. 

We ended with some canter work—figure eight with simple lead changes in the middle, which he's getting awesome at. Then had a bit of a hand gallop just for giggles, and called it a day. What a good Pickle. 

After all that, I decided to free lunge Addie. She started out a little funky still, but worked out of it pretty well and was looking nice. Sam wanted to see her take the jump, so we worked on convincing her that free jumping is actually super fun and not at all scary. Addifer was not convinced. Eventually I got her to jump going to the right, and once she participates she is actually a super cute and athletic jumper. To the left was a different matter. And the whole thing turned into an hour long battle of wills, leaving us both exhausted and sweaty and stubborn. At one point she refused to go to the left at all, even without encouraging her to the jump. There was spinning and bolting and a few times she thought about actually charging me. (Bad idea, Mare). We finally ended with working to the left with a lunge line, and trotting over the jump in-hand. Poor pony hasn't been this worn out in months. All the better though, as I'm planning to ride her tomorrow. 

SO, that was my ridiculously long pony post. I'm really excited about my baby jumps, guise. They were totally ungraceful, and I'm sure my eq was horrid, but I'm a lifelong dressage girl and that's the second time I've intentionally jumped something, ever. The first time was ten years ago. I have done any consistent two-point since I was 8....