What a lovely day. After taking the first Beginner Novice fence, I asked if, and my trainer agreed that, I could jump some of the Novice fences. Well, we ended up jumping the Novice course instead of the Beginner Novice.

 

Adamir's doing a great job of jumping from the canter now. I can feel him rating himself before the jump for a good take-off spot.

I was worried about the two combinations on course, but Adamir wasn't...

I really have to make it clear where we are going. He hesitated the first time at this drop, because we came up onto the bank, and then I asked for a turn to the left and jump down a stride away from the drop. The second time I made a very wide turn so he could see the drop coming up and he was happy to do it.

I think the picture makes this jump look small. It was huge. Max Novice height and width, I believe. (my trainer apologized for cutting off Adamir's head, but she said she got excited when she saw how good our jump was going to be and almost forgot to take the picture)

Towards the end of the course he started getting a little tired, and so, sloppy compared to his usually fabulous form.

But, he still had a little left in him to be tight at the last jump.

Beginner Novice Stadium, ugghh. We had no jumping faults, and no time faults, but by this time, after cross country, he was so tired. I let him trot some of the fences and just nursed him around the course. I can really see the benefit of an event being spread over two days. Oh well, we'll just have to do some more conditioning...