I still have a lot to learn about jumping. This week, my oxer was giving me trouble.
Everything looked fine at first...
But my joints started to feel creaky. And I began having trouble finding that sweet spot. My legs just wouldn't do what I wanted them to do.
Whoops! How embarrassing!
So, back to the cross rail with it's ground pole to help me find the take off spot.
When I step over the ground rail, I should be perfectly placed. X marks the spot.
I was finishing up my workout with one last try at the cross rail after totally demolishing the oxer. I had just stepped over the ground rail and was at the point of no return when off to my left from the barn, I heard a whinny of encouragement from the pony "You can do it William!" My ear flicked that way, and for a moment I hesitated... but wait, I was in the middle of something... wasn't there a jump around here somewhere?
So I took a page from the Thelwell Jumping Manual. I am no quitter. I have committed to this jump. From a stand still I jumped as high as I could straight up off all four. Certainly that would do the trick! To my right I heard Mom start laughing. And up above, Brita was sitting there wondering:
#1. Would we ever come back down?
#2. Which side of the jump will we be on?
Not to worry, my Herculean effort paid off. I had just enough forward momentum to carry us over. We landed safely on the other side. And I got to quit because, by golly, I didn't touch anything.
And thankfully, no one got it on on tape so no embarrassing photos will ever surface. You will have to rely on my description. I was gazelle-like. In the best possible way.
