1 Week, 5 Horses, 47 jumps

Whisper had to have a shoe replaced and she still was moving "off" on her right hock that swelled badly after a stall kicking session, so I gave her a full week of nothing but being a horse, checking that leg, and bute as needed for inflammation.

Meanwhile, I've been working on my half of our riding partnership and rode 5 different horses in the last week. Going up a gear higher than I've asked for is a top Whisper complaint. Riding the hippotherapy horses at Walker Therapy, giving them both exercise and mental stimulation, my legs screamed for a horse that would move without constant urging. In 2 hours of that style riding I got tired and put Hunter and Sage up on the horses to help me out.

Next this week was Dollar, a fantastic QH gelding at Lone Star. Amy let me take a trip on him in the late day sun to work some jumps. I've jumped Whisper a little bit, well maybe "jumped" is a bit of a stretch... I needed more air time and some practice at slightly higher set bars to get ready to help out the farm's IEA team. Dollar is a wonderful smooth ride but even he helped me appreciate Whisper's impulsive trot that shoves me out of the saddle to post with no effort. Anyone else see the lazy rider pattern here emerging?

My husband, ever the supporter of my equine ventures, came to ring side to watch me jump Dollar (did I mention he also thoroughly enjoys opportunities to laugh with me if I make a fool of myself and my "jumping again after x-years" was a great possibility for that). He grabbed a few shots but had the camera set to long exposure in full sun, this is the best one.

I had forgotten how amazing and freeing jumping is. There is that wonderful moment of air-born immediately following the surge of energy it takes a horse to propel itself through the air. So much fun even if you're only clearing 2'3" verticals. My equitation was far from stellar and hopefully months from now it'll all be a lot prettier when I'm doing it on my own non-forgiving gray mare. Maybe by then there will also be a lot less day-after soreness that's real high point is giving good joke fodder to my ever-so-sweet darling husband.

Recently I've talked a lot about the gorgeous t-shirt friendly February we were having. As much fun as that was, it didn't last for the Staramia Team's IEA show. Early morning warm-ups happened in a balmy 25 degrees (adding in wind). Temps dropped through the day with a few snowflakes mixed in for entertainment. There was an arctic weather and wind advisory for Saturday, Sunday it was 8 degrees. Yee-haw.

Long explanation short, IEA riders draw horses they ride at the show. The teams all bring, or lease, appropriate horses to be in that IEA show's pool of horses to draw from. Before horses are drawn, they are ridden by warm-up riders over the full course of jumps for the show stewards to watch and be sure the horse is qualified to be ridden at IEA events by entered riders in two main level divisions. Then after the draws the real show begins as riders enter the ring on their new mounts.

I mounted up on Dollar, then a team horse another rider had, needed a new rider and before I blinked I was up on a thoroughbred I've never ridden and jumping a 2'6" full course. Per photographer Marc Mesa, "blue is not your color, you should breath so I can get a good shot". Breathing or not, I stayed on and the horse cleared a pretty round.

Off him, up on Dollar and repeat at 2'.

That afternoon I rode another horse I haven't before had the chance to ride, over crossrails. Scooter is a sweet souled 15hh gray gelding. He was not thrilled at the wind blowing sudden gusts and picking up everything in it's path, I was surprised to find that a simple neck pat was all needed to make his world right and he threw his heart into the course in front of him. I set him up poorly and managed one refusal followed by a complete course clean.

Dollar, me with frostbite, Scooter

Sunday I had commitments in the afternoon so I just came out to do a 2' jumpers course on Dollar in the early morning. There were a lot of moments in that ride I wanted do-overs that weren't just related to my rusty equitation. I got behind him at one jump where the sun was blinding us both and I also let the sun complicate the brick wall landing. Even with the "should have"'s, nothing is quite as much fun as jumping. Hunter, my avid little photographer, took his camera. Here's his favorite, Dollar and I approaching the wall.

Chaos of jumping in the collision course warm-up ring was a great trial by fire. My confidence is growing and it seems easy to think of jumping in an open arena. It was also nice to have my oldest kids there to watch, the hot chocolate shared with them after was very good, and the Staramia riders had a nice showing the entire weekend.

Did I mention with wind it was 8 degrees? It's true the "wind of heaven blows between a horse's ears" but that wind sure as heck isn't a tropical one.

All of this riding was a great way to break-in my Valentine from my dearest, some new paddock boots. Big plans, girl, big plans.

"Your journey has molded you for greater good, and it was exactly what it needed to be. Don't think that you have lost time. It took each and every situation you have encountered to bring you to the now. And now is right on time" Asha Tyson