Posts Tagged ‘jumping
Boomerang Training Videos
Today I took Boomerang back to the indoor arena where we had a little trouble settling him last weekend. HUGE improvement! Even the gun shots from the neighboring shooting range didn’t phase him this time.
We were able to get lots of practice in on our roll backs, side passing, backing, flying leads and jumping. Boomerang’s biggest issue is anticipation. Basically he’s too smart for his own good. If he does one amazing side pass, and gets praise from me, he tends to try offering his “amazing side pass” too soon – before I am even able to ask him for it. Sometimes this isn’t a bad problem to have, but other times, maybe I don’t want to side pass. Maybe I just want to stop and stand. This is something we will have to work on, and with Boomerang it’s important that I’m always doing something different to keep his mind engaged. He’s not the type of pony that does well with repetition, he’s just too smart for that. Some horses thrive on repetition. Trotting a cloverleaf pattern over and over might be something that calms them, but Boomerang needs variety. Variety gets him concentrating and always on his toes, never able to anticipate what I might ask him to do next.
I was able to get a few videos of our little session in the indoor today.
As you can see we redeemed ourselves in the jumping portion! haha. Also, in case you can’t tell in the videos – I always ride Boomerang in a bitless bridle.
At the end of our session we practiced a few laydowns in the arena. I always like to practice some of our harder tricks when we go new places, that way I can always count on the ponies performing them when the “pressure” to perform is higher. I was even able to capture Boomer in the sit position once with my clicker. I don’t think it will take to long to get this on cue in the future when we have a little more time to work on it.
The Hunter/Jumpers who were schooling in the arena the same time as me probably thought I was from another planet. With my stocky little Chincoteague Pony that does roll backs and flying leads and then promptly lays down on command. Although one of them did say they wished they had a trick pony too. 🙂
Jumping is not in my Skill Set
Anyone who knows me knows that I don’t jump. Well let me rephrase that. It’s not that I DON’T jump my ponies, it’s that I don’t like to jump my ponies. I have nothing against it, at all, it’s just that I like to keep all 4 feet of my mount on the ground.
I’m pretty sure the reason stems from one of my childhood ponies, Oopsie Daisy. With a name like Oopsie I’m sure you can see where this is going. Dear Oopsie (may he rest in peace) was an amazing pony who taught me so much. Oopsie excelled at Dressage and Mounted Games, however he HATED to jump. When I met Oopsie at the age of 10 he had a mild disdain for jumping, occasionally refusing a jump or two like any pony would, but as each year passed he began to despise it even more. To the point where at the end of his career you could barely get him to jump an 18″ fence.
I consider myself a pretty tough rider. I was never one of the kids to burst in to tears after being dumped by a runaway pony (not that there is anything wrong with that – we all know how scary it can be). I was just always the kid that popped up after being dumped into a fence, dusted off my pants, caught my pony, and tried it again. But I think probably after the millionth time of being thrown in front of, onto, or over top of a fence, jumping started to loose it’s appeal to me.
By the age of 13 I announced to the world my mom that I was going to be a dressage rider (this is also around the time I discovered Mounted Games). No more eventing, no more stadium jumping – it probably was a pretty wise decision for the sake of my relationship with my pony, as well as his happiness. I eventually upgraded my quirky pony to 16.3 hand Nitro – my dressage protege. Somehow I traded one jumping phobia for another, in a horse that excelled at stadium jumping – but thought a cross-country fence would gobble him up whole. But I managed to (maybe not gracefully) complete a c-2 pony club rating on him in 2006, complete with cross-country and stadium jumping. I just won’t mention the water jump incident nor the 5 spills at the ditch jump. 🙂
So what exactly am I leading up to? Well the video I am about to show you, and the fact that jumping IS NOT IN MY SKILL SET!
Don’t worry, no horses or people were harmed.
Also, apparently I did not know you were supposed to turn the phone to record video. Sorry for the weird angle, still trying to figure out the iphone 🙂
Atleast we did eventually make it over the fence. Boomerang actually LOVES to jump, unfortunately for him his rider has no idea what they are doing. I’m sorry Boomer, I will try better next time.
Western?
One of my items on my “to accomplish” list this year is to take a Western Lesson. I “semi” completed that on Monday when I took Boomerang to a “Western” lesson at a local western barn. (I told you I waste no time!) I only say I semi-completed this goal because although I started learning the beginnings to rollbacks and sidepassing, I cheated and rode in my English tack. In my defense Boomer hadn’t been ridden in over a month (except for the few days before the lesson) and I KNEW there would be some bucking involved, and I felt more comfortable hanging on for the ride in my english tack. (P.S. I was right, and he threw more than a few bronco bucks….thanks for making me look bad Boomer!)
Anyway, I’ll check this one off the list officially when I saddle up in the Western saddle! (Perhaps next week)
One of my main motivators for taking Western Lessons is the Extreme Cowboy Race. Also, I just think it will make Boomerang a better all-around pony.
When I originally made my Western Lesson goal I was thinking – that would be great to try since I’ve never done it before. Only after a few days did I remember I HAVE TRIED IT!
It had totally slipped my mind that for a semester in college I was on the Kutztown Equestrian Team. Not only did I try my hand at Hunters…
But I also tried a little Western Pleasure riding too…
Admittedly I only lasted a semester because it wasn’t “exactly” what I thought it would be. While it was great fun meeting new people, taking riding lessons at school, and trying something I had never done – the whole Hunter/Western Pleasure thing wasn’t really for me.
I felt like I was frozen when I rode around in the Hunter arena, and I had the hardest time getting rid of what the team called “Dressage Bobble Head” – too long in the Dressage saddle didn’t really help my hunter position either. It felt so strange! Thinking Western had to be WAY better I pictured barrel racing, reining, and team penning – I was not expecting to be caked with makeup and made to wear an outfit that itched – and god forbid my chaps touched the ground!
Not that there is anything wrong with that type of riding, I just discovered that it wasn’t really for me. I’m so glad I tried it though, I think it helped make me a better rider. I rode LOTS and LOTS of horses, and I broke out of my comfort zone.
I’m very much looking forward to a little more “rough and tumble” western riding though. Who knows what will happen next, maybe I’ll try team penning or even reining! How cool!
What about you, have you ever stepped out of your comfort zone and tried something new? Maybe 2011 is your chance to do something new with your horse! You can do it!
In the meantime, I’ll try to update on my Western Progress….maybe I should get a cowboy hat!
