Jumps and a Fall and Snow

Hey!
I've started lessons at the new barn, and I absolutely love it! I've advanced so much in the past two months and i really feel like I'm getting somewhere. The whole month of January and the majority of February was spent with flat work and working our strength and balance in the saddle. I'm still not 100% comfortable in a saddle, but I'm getting there. The last two lessons have been amazing and have given me the best riding high! ;) Two weeks ago we worked on roll backs over ground poles. Which was SO FUN, as i have not done anything remotely that exciting... But the most recent lesson takes the cake, we jumped. The highest was maybe 1'5", but still, it was the highest I have jumped so far. We first worked the flat on all three gaits and then my instructor placed down blocks and poles, on the lowest setting, and a vertical, also on the lowest setting. We trotted a course with those a few times and then she placed the cross rails on the next setting. Again we trotted them, and if our horse cantered, we were able to canter over the last jump. Unfortunately, my lesson horse, Shania, and I were not on the same page about cantering, and we trotted it. When our instructor raised the cross rails to the highest setting was when the fall took place, and it was also the highest I have jumped so far. My round was not altogether horrible, I did feel a little left behind at some jumps, but it was okay. The problem came when my instructor asked me to keep my canter over the last jump... I have never cantered a jump before and got a little ahead of myself, I got into my two point early and Shania took the long spot. I wasn't ready and fell forward, then eventually off. It was not a bad fall, and I got right back on and cantered it again. This time I waited and stayed on!

I learned some things I need to work on for the next lesson...

• WAIT... Now that I've gotten the fall out of the way, I know better than to get ahead of myself. 
• Lower leg position. Occasionally, I could feel my lower leg falling back over the jump. I need to strengthen my leg, which I believe will help my balance in the saddle.
• Sitting up during transitions. (Especially into the canter) This happens especially when Shania decides to speed up her trot rather then cantering, I will hunch my shoulders because I'm bouncing around and feeling unbalanced. It's a really bad habit...

So that's pretty much it... I'm hoping, when it gets warmer, that someone will come and take some pictures! I think pictures are so helpful to see exactly where your position is over the jump and such.

Well thanks for reading!

Just some random questions...

Heyy!
So  I haven't written anything in a while and I didn't feel like explaining the whole barn situation at the moment, I decided to do a q & a type thing. I stole this one from Kalin. :) (You should go check her outtt)

1: A time you've been scared for your life on horseback.
Probably the various times Summer decided to take me across the arena. No brakes are no fun.

The beast of the day. ;)

2: There's a huge party at your friends house or you could have a lesson on the same night, which do you go to?
Probably the lesson. But I'd make all reasonable attempts to also attend the party.

3: Favorite markings a horse can have.
I Loooovvveeee snips and stripes! Or just any unusually shaped markings... I'm a sucker for unique looking horses. 

4: Would you rather deal with bolting, rearing or bucking?
Almost bucking... Although bolting is a close second. All of these are not very pleasant. 

5: Agree or disagree; To have good eq means to be a good rider?
Well disagree... To be a good rider I feel like you should be able to effectively communicate with the horse, whether or not you look pretty. Although I feel like good eq should be promoted.

6: If you could try any discipline on any horse for 1 day, what discipline and what horse?
Eventing! I'd love to do a cross country course on one of my favorite Instagram account's horse, Bayley. Or stadium jumping on Cylana or Hickstead. That would be cool. 

7: 3 horses you'd want to ride/meet the most?
I'd love to ride/meet the horses I said above... Especially Hickstead though...

(Not my picture)

8: On a scale of 1-10 how good would you say your seat is?
Ohh that's a hard one... I'd probably say like a 6 maybe... I can sit a good buck but my balance in two-point is something to be desired. 


9: One of your goals for the next year, horse-wise.
Start jumping... Start showing... Find a horse at my new barn I really click with.

10: Would you rather teach lessons or train horses?
That's hard! If I had the knowledge I'd prefer to train horses. 

11: Have you ever given a lesson for money?
Nope.

12: If you were a trainer, would you want to train little kids, pre-teens, teens or adults?
Teens or pre-teens. Little kids tend to annoy me as they get super distracted and they don't seem to really understand what you're trying to teach them... But actually when I get older, I have a passion to teach lessons to teens who can't afford much in the horse world. :)

13: Have you ever ridden someone's horse for money?
No... That'd be really nice though. :P

14: If given the opportunity, would you exercise track horses?
If they thought I could handle it! I think that'd be tons of fun!

15: On a scale of 1-10 what is your confidence like in the saddle?
Probably a 8.. I'm pretty confident... Although some of my balance could use work. :P But if the horse freaks out or anything I'm okay. 

16: 3 things you need to work on, riding-wise?
Two point (as I've mentioned before), keeping my heels down and my feet securely in the stirrups and not hunching over when asking for the canter transition. 

17: 3 things your horse needs to work on.
Well... Since I don't have a horse, I'll just write about my current lesson horse, Dekker. He's not very straight on the rail, he doesn't like to move forward into transitions and if you release leg pressure, he will stop.

18. Top 3 favourite riders?
Reed Kessler, Beezie Madden and Eric Lamaze.

(Not my picture...)

19: Is there anyone you'd say is a bad rider ? (don't give names)
Yes actually...

20: Are you better on the flat or over fences?
Well since I haven't really jumped yet, I'd say on the flat...

21: How high do you think you've jumped?
Second level cavaletti... Not that impressive. :P

(not my picture)

22: How high do you think your horse would be capable of jumping?
Again, I don't have a horse... And I'm not sure of Dekker's capability as I've never seen him jump.

23: Opinion on tackless riding.
Supah cool! 

24: Have you ever lied or over-dramatized anything about your riding?
Probably... Mainly my falls to make them sound more exciting. ;)

25: Do you think you're a good rider?
I'm not the worst... But I'm definetly not the best. :P

26: Ever had barn drama?
Not too much... But a little at my old barn.

27: Favorite things about the barn you're at?
The fact I know I'm getting somewhere in my riding.

28: Will you show next year? If so in what?
Probably! Hopefully in jumpers. :)

29: Plans for your horse over the next year?
Well, don't have a horse... But just finding a lesson horse I work really well with. 

30: Would you share your tack with people?
Depends on who it is, the horse and what piece of tack it is. Like if it's likely the person will lose it or damage it, the horse will damage it or if it's uber expensive or specifically made for my horse. Probably not.

31: Has a horse ever shattered your confidence?
Yes... My last official lesson at my old barn. I rode a new horse and could barely trot on him. Granted he was super forward and the horse I was used to riding was super lazy, they were pretty much complete opposites. It made me afraid I wouldn't be able to handle any other horses then Summer...

32: Ever been scared to get on a horse?
Not that I remember... There was always the initial nervous excitement to be riding a new horse. But other then that not really...

33: Do you get nervous before shows?
Haven't showed... But I probably will be VERY nervous!

34: Hunters or Jumpers?
Jumpers!

35: Last time you fell off? What happened? Were you hurt?
Last time I fell of... I believe it was when I rode Summer, we were cantering over a jump and she decided to run us straight into the wall. I put my arm up to take some of the blow and ended up sliding down the wall and scraping and bruising my arm. :( This makes it sound way worse then it actually was. But it was pretty scary for me.

Well thanks for reading!