RVHS

So I had considered showing Boo in a couple of the little, unrecognized jumper classes but after adding up all the fees, even for those little dinky classes, it just wasn't worth the cost.  However, one of the major benefits of living close to the venue (which is the Salem Civic Center)  is that we can pack up, trailer over, school in the groomed arenas, utlilize the fancy jumps and just go home.  So that's the route we chose.  The boyfriend, wonderful as always, tagged along to hold ponies and take pictures because he's just that awesome.

I rode Boo first, flatted him and then did a bit of jumping doing some single fences, lines, bending lines and finishing with a couple little made up courses.  He was good.... as long as I rode.  Predicably I did not ride a few times and he thoroughly embarrassed me in front of anyone who was watching (hopefully just a few random people I'll never see again) and certainly scared the living shit out of one of the horse show officals who thought maybe, I "really should just let it go".  Umm, thanks but I know my shit-headed horse and if I was doing my job, trust me, I can make him do his, despite that you apparently think he's dangerous.  He's not that dangerous.  He's just an ass.  And I really can ride, I just wasn't right that second.  Thoroughly embarrassed and moving on.  Otherwise Boo was good.  His one ridiculous habit... being TERRIFIED to walk over the hard plastic things they run over the wiring to protect it from being run over by cars, golf carts, hooves, etc.  He jumped them. Every. Single. Time.

Reily on the other hand was a total champ (about the plastic covers and riding) per his usual self.   We did quite a bit of flatwork to start which he was very good during.  He was however, extremely excited to jump, to the point that when I set up some trot poles to work over he decided he wasn't entirely sure what I wanted so the best thing to do would be to jump across 3 of the 4 poles instead of trot through them.  Needlesstosay I was completely caught off guard and the boyfriend managed to capture this amazing moment on film.  Luckily for Reily we did get to jumping after some good flat work.  He was great for that as well.  Height doesn't seem to be any issue for him, which is great, but his technique is still very green (to be expected) so that will be an ongoing process.  We jumped some x-rails, some verticals and finished jumping in a figure-8 pattern over a nice square oxer.  This exercise was great for him because it helps him with landing on the correct lead or changing leads as needed, to keep a steady tempo and be adjustable.  Overall I was VERY pleased with how he handled himself!!  Even though I purposely schooled him in a ring that was on the edge of the grounds there was still a lot to look at and take in.  Noises, sounds, smells, traffic, none of it really phased him :)

After Reily was done and walked out I rode him, while the boyfriend led Boo-butt, and we went for a slow, meandering walk through the show grounds between all the temporary stabling, vendors, schooling and show rings.  He was alert but never put a step wrong.  He's such a cutie he even caught the eye of a little girl walking around with her parents and he let her pet his nose before heading back to the trailer.  Boo was very good walking around too, which I'm not sure I've ever done with him before so I was happy with him as well.  All in all, a successful day :)