Baby's Second Cross Country Schooling

Runkle and I learned a lot this weekend, in which we did our second cross country schooling ever. Or first really, since the last time we went out was almost exactly a year ago and I nearly fell off at an 18" jump. I think we also spent the first twenty minutes moonwalking.

That's beginner novice.

Five takeaways from Sunday:

1. I can't jump tiny jumps.
There are two things I can't do for shit: trot jumps and jump tiny jumps. I have all the elegance of a half-filled beanbag and the startling stability of overcooked spaghetti. I didn't have my stick with me for the first couple jumps because I didn't want him to be over reactive because of it, which resulted in me pony club kicking up to every single jump. Not exactly a good look for us.

Ahahahah oh man... Olympian in the making

Runkle doesn't help by jumping with his face tilted so he can look down at said tiny jump.

I must look at the jump to make sure it is still there.

Naturally when you look like this over jumps, your trainer will ask you to jump bigger things. These bigger things are jumped significantly better, by both of us. Thank god. Although we are still prone to interesting moments  as I backseat drive and don't move fast enough to catch up from being in the back seat. Can't wait to send these pics in to George Morris for evaluation.

TO THE MOON!!!

Proof that I can be normal.

2. Runkle is going to lay down in water one day, and I'll only have myself to blame.
Flora Lea's new water is so much better than their old one. Even so, he tried really hard not to go in. My trainer tried to lead him through but he just kept trying to go around. He finally realized we were going in a circle and no one was leaving until he went in, so he heaved a big sigh and gave up. Immediately he started sniffing around and pawing in the water. Can't wait for that to go poorly for me.

Good boy in the water!!

He never seemed scared he just seemed... confused why we would bother. We made a couple more passes through and while he entered very carefully he did enter every time. I'm actually shocked how rational he was about it.

3. Bell boots suck.
The only time Runkle has ever worn bell boots is to go cross country. He wore them out in the field once, but still managed to rip a shoe off (without touching the bell boot, actually) so after that I didn't bother. I inexplicably have four brand new pairs of purple bell boots, I'm not sure why, but there you have it.

Unfortunately they rub, especially if there's a drop of moisture out. And they rub A LOT. I don't want him to rip his shoes off but I don't want to hurt him with the boots themselves either! Does anyone run their horse without bell boots? Do no turns work? Do I have to buy fleece top ones for the special flower? I went all upset overbearing mother last night tending to his rubs. Send help.

4. Confidence is catching.
It was really cool to feel him start to trust me and trust himself. He settled down, listened well, had happy floppy ears when we were cantering and pricked them up when we were going to a jump. The more we jumped the more readily he came off my leg, opened up his stride, and jumped without putting his head between his front legs to stare at it. Most cross country horses I've ridden have been made. It's so satisfying to come at it from the other direction and be able to do it well.

His first attempt at a bank. Feel the enthusiasm.

5. I'm really stupid happy.
One of the kids at the barn took pictures. And I look so, so happy in every. single. one.

Runkle started a game of halter tag with the neighbors.

I'm having the time of my life. I don't know what else to say besides that.