A Perfectly Wonderful Weekend

December 1-2, last weekend before everyone says "it is too close to the holidays, I am just too busy to commit to anything,"  as if the holidays are the black hole sucking all energy out of the universe.  This was the weekend of the Susie Hutchinson jumping clinic at the beautiful facility of Hawkwood Hill Farm, Petaluma, our new home town.

Princess and Hanalei, Hugh and myself, signed up for Susie's clinic weeks ago, before the rambunctious tropical storm dumped 7 inches of rain on already soaked hillsides.  We are not competing with tropical super storm Sandy for attention, but it gave an extra challenge to the weekend.  We were squished into am indoor arena not much bigger than a dressage arena, green horses, big jumps, and deep mud make interesting bedfellows.

Saturday was flat day and low exercises.  One of the best was galloping at precisely 12 miles an hour for one minute, 3 times around the arena, 360 yards.  Princess and myself were 4 seconds over the first time going left and 2 seconds under the second going right.  The eventers clocked in at 60 seconds each time.  Something to practice.

Cloverleaf jumping patterns and 12 foot U turns were a challenge.

Then came Sunday.  I saw pretty much the same lesson 3 times before my turn came up.  Trot, canter, counter canter, circles, gallop, come back to a tight circle, all great flat work.  She wants to see all gears available, slow, fast and in between.  Then the jumping exercises began.  2 jumps were 60 feet apart, a true 12 foot stride 4 stride.  At exactly 30 feet in the middle, a third jump was offset from the direct line but parallel to the others. Numbering 1-2-3, circle left and jump 2-3 in a short 30 foot two stride, roll back right and jump 2-1 as another 30 foot two stride.  Next, jump the line, going deep in the corner, jumping 1-2 in two strides, approaching 1 on an angle left to right, turning in the air and finishing over 3 in two strides.  Right after that, gallop 1-3 in 4 strides. No adding.  After all that collection work, the horses were asking, really, can we gallop now?  Many adds, all not tolerated but cheerfully encouraged to correct and get right by Susie.  Princess did not add.

Then the course, 4 stride line, coming in big and bold, roll back to the oxer on the diagonal, then oxer on the far line, do it again until right.  That is the lesson we had to learn, getting it right, Susie-right.  I got a little jazzed and picked up some pace,  Had to chill and keep steady.  We got it done.  3'6" in the indoor with muddy shoals shortening the space even more, I was SO proud of my pony!

(fyi: Image from Pebble Beach show, waiting for one from clinic)