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Post by .*.Brandy.*. on Feb 7, 2007 15:38:16 GMT -5
I smile as Joker and I come down the center line. He mouthed the bit lightly in his mouth, my fingers recieving every single ounce of pressure. I lightly tap his mouth, his head dropping as we come to a square halt. I lightly salute the judges, smile coming to my face. I raise my hands slightly, tapping Joker lightly with my heels. He moved off into a collected trot, my frame gently moving with his as we moved off the left rein. I smile lightly before coming back to a halt. I gently squeeze with my calves, his head dropping as he reluctantly stepped his five steps backwards. Reverse was never Joker's common strength. I squeeze him forward, changing direction. I ask for an extended trot, him obliging with much appreciation. I rise and fall with his movement on the correct diagonal before stopping. I ask for a canter and he responds beautifully off my leg, slow canter coming from his strides. I smile before crossing the diagonal. Flying lead changes were something we were working on and working on hard. I ask for the change and he did it... This once. I breathe a sigh of relief as we continue. I slow to an extended trot and we move down the center line. We come to a halt and I salute the judges... We exit.
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Post by .*.Brandy.*. on Feb 7, 2007 16:44:26 GMT -5
 [ x ]lily anderson. ~*~ 1. [5' 6'] pile of logs. 2. A [4' 2] ''fire'' jump with a small green swamp-water area. 3. [3'] pile of logs. 4. [4' 9] picnic-table jump. 5. [5' 9] wood fence. 6. [3' 6] play house jump. 7. [4' 10] tree jump. 8. [5'] pile of logs. 9. [6'] pile of logs [Very Slippery] 10. [3' 9] pile of logs. ~*~
I was really nervous. Roger had told me not to be or it'll transmit to Joker. Well, Joker knows everything I'm thinking anyway. If you try not to think about things, you usually do think about them. Augh. Some of these fences were high, not really what Joker and I usually jumped... Whatever. I'll give it a try. I mean, it can only help us right? Right. Okay. I waited in the box for a moment, rain pounding on me. I was already wet and we hadn't even started. The attendant dropped his flag and Joker moved quickly out of the box. I leaned into a two-point. Fortunately, Joker wasn't as freaked as Connor. I was freaked though and that was more of a problem. I watch the first fence. I watch it nervously... I push my heels down and hold my hands up. Joker's auds pricked forward, light nicker emitted from his vocals. He was remembering his days as a high jumper when he was younger. He pushed himself onto his haunches without much help from me and prepared for the fence. I squeezed my eyes shut as we took off and we cleared it. Good... The next fence came quickly, the rain pelting down on me. I blinked my eyes a few times, trying to get the liquid out of my eyes. It mixed with my sweat and made it hard to see through the pain. The fence came quickly. Auds pricked forward, Joker watched the water with disdain. I pushed my legs into his sides and we took off. This was all seemingly lucky. I still didn't feel comfortable.
life is a highway, i wanna ride it all night long...
Three foot pile of logs. Something I actually felt comfortable jumping. I slowed Joker slightly and I gave him a crest release. We soared over the fence easily. As we landed, a thunder clap surprised me. I jumped, Joker doing the same but we moved onwards. Good boy. Thanks! Next, a picnic table. You see. I like eating on picnic tables. Not jumping them. Eh... I came close, squeezing my eyes shut. Joker took me over and I gave him rein to jump. I smiled a little. Yay. I wasn't dead yet... That's good news... We landed in the mud and the gross stuff splashed up on my britches and boots. Ew. I hated mud. It was gross. Not like it mattered what I thought of it. It was still on my clothes and stuff. Ew... EWWW!... Whatever.
if you're going my way, i wanna drive it all night long...
Landing, I immeadiately thought to the next fence... Sweet! Picnic table. One of my favorites and Joker was pretty good at them too. But today. I don't know. I mean, he's been in this kind of weather before but I guess it was just one of those days. Most importantly, I couldn't get frustrated... I pushed him back on his hindquarters as we came up the hill. It was on the top of it. I waited before letting him go with a crest release over the high fence. We fly over it, Joker's auds pricked forward as he tucked his legs so he wouldn't touch the fence. We land and fly down the hill. The next fence was on the higher side and although it wasn't complicated, it could pose as a problem. Joker nervously leapt forward as another clap of thunder sounded. I bring my hands up his neck, trying to get him to rock back on his haunches or he wouldn't be able to jump it. Auds flickered backwards towards me, he did manage to do it. Good boy. We fly towards it and just barely clear it. It was hard to get a good take-off spot because of all the mud...
there was a distance between you and i...
Rain pelted down on me... Augh. Now I'm cold. Why couldn't it be nice? Maybe then I'd do well. Ew... Next was a simple wood fence. Or so it seemed. It was HUGE! Almost six feet. I trembled slightly, looking away from it. Joker had to do it. I couldn't. Fortunately, he did... He hoisted himself over the object, rubbing his belly and my foot against the fence. We landed safely and moved towards the next fence. A low fence... Good. I slowed him, eyes up. I placed ourselves perfectly over the fence. Good. We jumped it perfectly, landing in the mud. Ew... Ew... That's disgusting. I hate mud... But I already said that...
a misunderstanding once...
Omg... A tree jump. It was sort of normal and kind of small in comparison to some of the fences... Oh no... I threw my reins forward as we jumped it. Good. We had been doing pretty well up until now. Obviously it couldn't stay that way. The five foot and six feet high log piles were coming up. Eyes focused on the first fence, I bit my lips. Okay we're going to... What? Joker came to a stop before the fence, leaving me to stare the fence straight in the eye. I sighed, turning him around and picking up my canter again. I squeezed him really hard over the fence and we cleared it... Good. I watched the six footer come close and I knew I was doomed. Joker's auds flickered backwards and he came to another stop but this time I wasn't as lucky. I flew off of him, landing in a mud patch. I glanced up at him. He watched me on the ground. I wanted to cry. I stood up, trying to brush off the mud but it wasn't helpful because I was already being soaked by the rain. I remounted. Now we'll have to do this.
but now we look it in the eye...
I bring him back a few paces, spurring him on. Come on JOKER! I kick him right before the fence and he took off, tucking his forelegs tight to his chest. After landing safely on the other side, I went hysterical. I began to sob, not even focusing on the next fence. We jumped it but I barely did anything at all. My eyes burned with tears and I galloped him across the finish line. I dismounted quickly, handing Joker to Dylan who stood at the end. I sobbed, running towards the barn. I turned back to look at Joker before I took a seat on my tack box. Augh. I felt terrible.
life is a highway...
[Life Is a Highway by Rascal Flatts]
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Post by .*.Brandy.*. on Feb 14, 2007 12:49:57 GMT -5
we all live in extravagant times...
I yawned as I mounted up on my steed. Joker lowered his head, auds pinned back. He was in a pissy mood today. Great. I sat in the saddle for a minute, getting my head organized. Then I squeezed him lightly before we moved off. A slow trot at first as we moved across the fields of CCI. Trails were overrated... Seriously. I moved him into a canter and we raced the wind.
playing games we can't all win...
Joker's auds still pinned, we came across a small creek flowing through the huge rolling field. I watched the jump come closer. I leaned into a two point as we flew over the impeding water. Joker tossed his head and snorted, mouthing the bit annoyedly. I rolled my eyes as we moved off farther across the field. To think that this was a competition.
i don't want to live like that.
I leaned forward into a two point and we moved off effortlessly. I kneaded my hands up and down his neck as a long stretch came up. Auds pricked forward, Joker moved forward. He seemed to remember his racing days. We raced the wind for a few more seconds before I brought him back to a walk.
[Elaborate Lives sung by Adam Pascal & Heather Headley]
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Post by .*.Brandy.*. on Feb 14, 2007 12:52:10 GMT -5
a day of harmony...
Joker's horseshoes caught the sunlight and reflected it across the arena. He tossed his head happily. This was his favorite event and what he was originally trained to do. It was a little nippy in the weather today but pretty warm for almost January. I smiled in spite of myself. Eyes focused on the first fence, I sat back, my hands up as I slowed him to the first fence. Joker's auds flickered back and forth as we cantered towards the line of fences. There were three of them, each increasing in height.
a day of music...
Slow and fluid canter, we came close to the first fence. 1, 2, 3... Up and over with the effortlessness wanted for hunters. I went into a two point and we landed lightly on the other side. A few strides and Joker tucked his forelegs tightly as we jumped the next jump, the 3'3 vertical. Eyes up, we landed and I looked to the next fence.
hurray beethoven, hurray!
It was a fence that was a normal height for us. Joker launched off, forelegs tight and his form square as I leaned into a two-point. It was a beautiful picture as we landed softly. I pushed him out to the outside of the arena, cantering an effortless circle. This was just a warm-up. Like I said, Joker loved hunters. We'd do great.
[Beethoven Day sung by Stanley Wayne Mathis]
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Post by .*.Brandy.*. on Mar 30, 2007 20:05:17 GMT -5
I bit my lip as we entered the arena. The creative minds of Tara, Dylan and Kayla had created this sort of hell-ish course to help me and Roger practice for show jumping. I glance around at the fences for a second. The course ranged from 2'6 to 6'0 which a pretty ridiculous jump. I watched the audience I had at the rail and bit my lip. I pushed Joker into a canter, hearing the buzzer that had been installed for jumper shows at CCI. I had 30 seconds to get to the first fence. I move him around the ring. His strides were entergetic and this frightened me a little. Despite Joker's old age, he was still as spry as our young horses here. We move towards the first fence, a square oxer about 3'6 in height. It was colored green and white. It was actually a beautiful fence. I didn't know if I felt comfortable jumping it though. We came towards it, Joker's jumper senses kicking in. Quite honestly, I've been trying to push all sorts of hunter styling on Joker because that was where I felt comfortable. Maybe jumpers was what he was best at. We fly over the fence effortlessly. I smile as we move towards the next combination, two fences both 5'3 in height, one a vertical and the other an oxer. They were both colored like the American flag and very intimidating. Joker didn't seem intimidated at all. Without even thinking about cutting out, Joker plunged forward and flew up and over the vertical first, using himself to get the correct amount of strides to jump the next fence with very little effort. I try not to smile. Maybe this was his calling. I wouldn't know. I've been trying too hard to push more hunters ideals on him. Maybe I can't change him but I know what he likes to do. After finishing that combination we move towards a tighter turn towards a maroon and white colored fence. We clear the fence easily. Whew. Halfway done. We move around the turn easily, Joker's mane floating in the breeze and his tail streaming out behind us like a banner. I smile a little as we take the next fence, yellow and lime green fence that was 2'6. The easiest fence in the course. We turned quickly to our right and galloped towards the highest fence. I bit my lip as we moved towards it quickly. 6'0. Holy crap. Joker picked the correct spot and he jumps it easily. Whoa. The rainbow high fence was behind us now. I smile as we move out slightly wide and come towards the last combination. Both had blow up pool toys on the side. One jump had monkeys and the other had alligators. I rolled my eyes. Obviously Dylan's doing. Haha... Loser. The first was 3'6 and Joker and I fly over it easily. The next was 3'9 and was an oxer. I push him through the combo and he picks the correct spot and we fly over the fence. I smile a little as we canter a closing circle and come to a walk. I pat Joker's sweaty neck, smiling a little. He had done a really good job.
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