When I went out to Debbie's stable Wednesday I had my notes about the low release for jumping in my pocket.  While Debbie was finishing a stall I read them to her and asked her to help me during the lesson.  Last week during my non-lesson ride, when I tried the low release on Mia I "heard" Mia ask me what in the world I was doing (Mia is a horse who tends to halt whenever she does not understand anything new.)  I obviously needed eyes on the ground!

After we got out…

Long, long ago, when I first read of jumping horses I dreamed of effortlessly sailing through the air on my trustworthy horse.  Needless to say my first jump (accidental) was a horrible wake-up call as I lurched all over the horse's back (I did stay on but the jump was only one foot.)  Years later when I finally got my first horse I was DETERMINED to learn how to jump.  Having learned about the Forward Seat I finally got one week of lessons at a FS school and from then on it was a…

I got to ride today, last night Shannon suggested that we see what the weather was like at 10:00 AM, and when I woke up it was 19 F.  By 10:00 AM  the ground was still frozen so I asked if I could come out and make sure all my new tack I got for Merlin fit and Shannon said fine.  Well the 44" girth was just small enough (the Wintec Wides take a dressage girth) but I better get myself a shorter one for when he sheds his winter coat, the Warm-blood sized running martingle was big…

I was going to have an adventure today but it rained all night and the ring is too soggy so I am hoping I'll get to do it next Sunday.  The adventure was for me to ride Merlin again at Shannon's place.  Merlin is an 18.2 hand grey gelding, half Dutch Draft Horse and half Irish Sport Horse, a BIG GUY.  He came to Shannon's with issues after being used as a lease horse for a few years.  I used to ride him years ago, and the last time I got up on his back was April…