๐๐๐ ๐๐ช๐ข๐ฅ ๐๐จ ๐ก๐๐ซ๐
Once again, Flash, you know you can just jump the ๐ข๐ค๐ต๐ถ๐ข๐ญ height of the fence and it will still stay up, right?!
Our first day out showjumping since February 8th – I had to look back to see how long ago it was! And we entered the 70cm and 80cm classes at
Barnadown Showjumping for some confidence building to get us back in the swing of things. One of the things I love about Barnadown is that even when itโs really busy, it always seems relaxed?!
In the 70cm class we had a stop at fence 2 – she looked at it and backed off a good distance out, and I didnโt ride positively enough (until it was too late!) to get to the other side. That was the wake up call I needed, a reminder that we hadnโt been out in six months and I really had to ride more positively. We came at it again and she absolutely pinged it, and was super around the rest of the course.
Into the 80cm class and she jumped a clear round – we took a few standoffs where I maybe rode a bit too positively 
but the main thing was we jumped around confidently, off a forward pace, and left on a good note.
but the main thing was we jumped around confidently, off a forward pace, and left on a good note.
Watching back the videos, I thought I was going like a bat out of hell, but I actually could have done with more canter. This is a takeaway for me, that I need more canter, and explains why we had the stop as I was holding on a bit too tight out of nerves, to an already flat canter, with no leg to back it up.
I also learned a lot about how I ride – If I could ride the way I do after I have a stop, before I have the stop, weโd be laughing! So thatโs a new energy for me to harness for next time 
Itโs hard not to feel disappointed that we did have a stop, but itโs not helpful for me to linger on it – instead Iโll stay focused on what I learned from today, and just be pleased that I got out there and showed up.
And weโll keep showing up until we crack it and get it right. Thatโs all thatโs in my control, is to keep showing up – to lessons, to shows, and to do the homework.
Oh, and I can also use more leg 
Thank you Louise O’Brien Equestrian Photography for giving me some wonderful memories of our first day back out – you always capture the best moments!
And thank you to my lovely friend Laura who encouraged me to come today when I really didnโt want to, and came with me for morale support, warmup fence building and video taking.