2/1/04
Cross Country at Sky Vista

We ended up going alone with our trainer. Bob looked
at everything, but didn't seem upset to be alone. He never
neighed at the other horses. There was a dog in a kennel near
one of the jumps. He startled Bob once, and then when we came back
around to take the fence again, the dog leapt up and jumped at the fence
and barked. That was too much for Bob out on his own. We had a minor
bolt through the trees. I circled him, and we took the fence again.
This time out was nothing like last weekend. I have nerve issues, and last
weekend out schooling cross country I think I made it over three jumps.
We'd made it around the GAG stadium course clear, but I let someone else
get on him for the cantering and jumping cross country.
Luckily today I had my nerve back, and even with all our green issues, I had fun.
Fence number one. There were other groups of horses out, and every once in a while, I could feel Bob trying to pull in their direction.
 

Same fence. We went over most of them twice. His first cross country out without a group of horses, and he hesitated at the jumps a lot more. He's got the ability, but I think we're going to have to build up his bravery and confidence.
Here's some of that hesitation. He went over, but it was in slow motion.
 
He seemed to like the wider jumps. This was first try. He even cantered away and took the log jump that was further down.
I think it was a mistake to ask him to take this Novice fence. He'd been doing great, and it didn't worry me, but after we took it twice, we started having refusals.
 
This was his second try and he over jumped it by 18" or so. I was very glad to be holding on to mane. I just kept waiting for us to land...
We took him back to the jump he liked after a couple of refusals at a different fence. Still overjumping, but more confident.
 
He likes ditch jumps.
He was also very eager up and down the bank jump.
 
The one completely comfortable, on the first try, fence. It's a lot like his dressage work. We know it's in there, and sometimes it's perfect. Other times we have to be patient and let him figure it out.
Gotta love those knees. I'd switched to a pelham for fox hunting yesterday. He went so well in it that I kept it on today. It was nice to have that little extra when he'd play after a fence. I could let him be a little happy, because I knew I had the leverage if he wanted to try something.
 
We're flying. 
Again, Bob is happy to tackle a wider fence. 
Oh, and I did slip the reins a lot today...
#1
#2
Just to show you his green moments. For some reason he didn't want to jump the center of this fence. He first tried to runout, then when he couldn't do that, he just started jumping it very crooked.
Then I got him straight, but not over the middle. In the end, I just over-corrected, and at least got him basically over the center.
#3
#4
The obligatory water shot. He walked and trotted through without hesitation. I also took him down the bank into the water. That took a while, but I was patient and just let him figure it out.
I did like having the curb bit, for the couple of times he thought he could just turn around and walk away. With just the snaffle I don't think I could have held him...
 
Last fence of the day. A group of horses had jumped through while I was contemplating the jump, and I was worried he'd land and take off after them.
I shouldn't have worried. He landed in a nice canter and came right back to a trot.
This is what happens when the photographer frames the picture for the typical jumping horse. Of course Bob isn't typical, and he over jumped just enough to cut me out of the shot...