Jumping into 2025!

 Happy 2025! The horses all fared well with the fireworks. Which, really weren't bad at all this year, so yay for that! I took Dan for a hack first and then when I got back and had some lunch, it was Lyrics turn. She let me catch her easily and loaded up. 

 

Once she was tacked up and ready to go I took her into the arena and lunged her to loosen her up. I started on the good side and we did about eight circles (although even lunging she wants to lean in) and she was good, so we swapped to tracking right. And she looked pretty darn sound, even from the get go. I could maybe see the slightest of head bobs but she looked pretty smooth and rhythmic in her foot falls. I do wonder if maybe it's not her foot but her scapular cartilage or something... maybe damage from the wrong saddle? Regardless, she's already looking sounder and sounder each ride.

 

I hopped on and we meandered around a bit waiting for Laura and Julia to show up. We had a "play date" for the jump arena. We walked to the XC field and then walked up the hill. Then we walked up the hill behind the stadium arena and back out to the parking area. Then we went back up the hill beside the dresage arena's and then ran into Julia, Laura and also Caitlin! Fun. 

 

Lois was untacking when I was tacking up and she told me she had set up a grid, so "you're welcome". HA! Seriously though, thanks for doing all the hard work. So basically we had a grid with about 4 bounces to a one stride that was all pretty low. Then there was a cross rail.. then a BN vertical... then a BN (or less) oxer... and then a two stride that was closer to Novice and then a slightly offset line but through the grid to the gated oxer, which was definitely novice. 

We warmed up and then trotted the cross rail a few times. She was a bit surprised and it was almost like she had to remember how to jump again.I am NOT jumping Funny. Stop jumping up her neck Holly. Expect the add!  But after a few times through she started jumping out of stride again. We did that a few times and then added the vertical. The vertical went better from the get go. So then... Laura and Julia both did the grid and it looked so smooth, we tried it. And... she went! She did it. And she did the bounces. BUT... she drifted hard right and almost ran out a few times and she was definitely hesitating and not jumping out of stride. But by the third run through it was much better. We then added the other vertical and that went better. '

 

Okay... it got better this go round. ;) 

So then I was contemplating the two stride, but it was fairly big. And I really wanted to do the crazy line to the gated oxer but it was definitely maxed novice. She jumped it before and jumped it well. (that's the video that Laura missed that jump on... doh!). But, it's been awhile since we've jumped... and honestly, she's just now really getting back into work... so I didn't. Julia went through the two stide and knocked a rail. So I decided that I would jump it backwards with the pole down. Now it was reasonable. And Lyric jumped right through it and out of stride. It was so smooth and brave! Good girl!!! I decided to be done after that. She did so well and it's been long enough... don't push it! 

 

So they finished up and then all 8 of us (4 horses, 4 people) went for a hack. Lyric led most of the way. We hit some big hills and then Laura ended up leading for a bit and we ended up in the big creek crossing.. the one past slippery rock. And Lyric walked flat footed right through it. Granted, Smartie was in the lead, but still. We carried on and saw the armadillo again. And then, by the green lake and that good grass, we parted ways. Lyric was a little sad at first but she kept up her pace and we were able to get home. Good pony!!