The Blindfold Please

It's the first day of Autumn, the radio station put Randy Travis back on rotation, and I've got the whole morning to spend outside. It just doesn't get much better than that. It started perfect and early under a sky so full of stars it looked like they could just drip right down on you if you stood still too long.

Bandon was a willing accomplice, holding his own through the wind until the brush jump came down in one strong gust. My long-distance trainer reminded me recently to keep my leg on as he and I went through some speed disagreements and I was lucky enough to remember that at the same time I was thanking God for the 500th time that Bandon spooks hollow and forward.

The answer is always more leg.

As we went to work combination jumps, I continued to get on his forehand and stay there. My mind just gets going one step ahead, in the saddle or not, and being in the moment is nearly impossible. Crucial to good jumping, unattainable to me. There needed to be a way to turn my mind off and just feel Bandon's movement and move with it.

While the weather kept a mild sun and blowing wind on my young boy, I turned him back towards the line, squeezed my leg on, said a quick prayer, and closed my eyes.

Forward. Impulsion, His head's coming up now. Rear under. Up - airborne - front down, rear down, stride, rear under, up and airborne, eyes open - that was it. Bandon cantered off, creating enough wind all on his own that it wasn't necessary for me make any effort to breathe.

How many people use up a whole life and never feel that?

2 + 2 = That's right, more leg.