Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Linda White on January 26, 2010 at 10:39am

I admire tremendously both the eventing riders and their amazing horses. I jump judge at Checkmate which gives me the best seat in the house, and I am constantly impressed with how well conditioned the horses are - and how brave. Today's eventers encourage and praise their horses all around the course, and it's evident that both horse and rider absolutely love what they are doing. Some horses are "point and click" and the riders keep out of their way. Others constantly refer to the rider for what to do next and you see the partnership growing. It's a thrilling sport and offers equal opportunity to men and women, to old and young. I only wish I had the guts to do it myself, but I live vicariously through the competitors I watch.

Permalink Reply by robin a on January 26, 2010 at 1:01pm

Well, I can't ever get enough of it. It really is fun taking a newbie around for a first time on course, and feeling him 'get it' and enjoy himself. Sometimes they don't click until they've been out there a few times. My daughters big friesian cross was so cute his first time she took him cross-country, it was like he was saying, 'cool, a trail ride with jumps!.
I think anyone who loves to jump should give it a go at sometime or another, even if it is just to borrow a ride on a rock solid eventer, and school some little stuff, but the real fun is heading out of the start box after the count down, and galloping to jumps that the horse has never seen before, schooling cross just isn't the same.
Checkmate must be a beautiful course. I doubt I'll ever get to see it though, just a few too many days driving from here.
I like jump judging at our local events, and I make a point of volunteering when and where I can.

Permalink Reply by Cindy Jeffery on January 26, 2010 at 11:21pm

Mounting blocks are great! I have trouble with my knees and left hip (had a fall years ago), old injuries hurt more as we get older. Trouble is my horses have mixed feelings about the block, it does take sometime to get them used to it.

Permalink Reply by robin a on January 27, 2010 at 10:05am

My horses are used to more than mounting blocks, they know how to stand beside fences, or the tail-gates of pickups, rocks on the trail etc.
I use a dressage whip, and apply on the opposite hip to move them towards what ever I am standing on. Sometimes they don't get it at first, and need an application of firmness mixed with patience. Because I also train for part of my income, all horses I work with learn to stand by a block for mounting. One cute little stallion I started last summer got ground driven between the mounting block and fence for three days before he was willing to stand in there. He felt explosive when I was doing his early mounting, so standing by the block while I rubbed his butt with my foot got him over that, and I was able to mount from the ground, pass my foot up over his butt without the reaction. He turned into the coolest guy.