Lawn Darting

Lawn Darting: When your body becomes a projectile and you are hurled from the back of your horse on to the ground.

Tonight's game of Lawn Darting results: Poppy 1     Me 0

Poppy was sort of cranky tonight.  We have been doing lots of pole work which she hates.  I jumped a small jump with a landing pole (9 feet out) a few times then on to a bigger vertical.  She was fine, just sort of blah.  So I went on to a bigger vertical, nice distance, and ...lawn darted.  Yes, I took the whole jump down.  Got up, fixed myself, picked up the poles, and got back on.  Stopping is not an option.  Not when it's a 3 ft vertical that she could trot over and one she has jumped many many times.  This is where you make a point and prevent a habit.  This being said, she got one firm stick behind my leg.  Then as I cantered to the vertical I put reins in one hand and used the stick once more behind the leg just before take off.  Point was made and we jumped the vertical each direction a few times, then I let her be done.  She will work again tomorrow and I'm pretty sure she will be good.  I got comfortable and she got dirty.  She has been a tough horse from the beginning.  I knew this when I bought her.  This is what I love about her though.  She has a phenomenal jump and is the most careful jumper I have known and she knows how good she is.  I once read that the tough, arrogant horses are the ones that go out and win for you.  Those are your horses of a lifetime. 

I put Tank on the lunge this evening to see how he felt.  Even though my farrier got his shoe back on,  due to losing so much hoof he had to put the nails up high.  I was really expecting Tank she be ouchy but he looked good.  Yay!

I am saving the best news for last.  My trainer said Ketel was GREAT today!  So good in fact that she trotted a cross rail three times then cantered it.  Awwwww my little baby is JUMPING!!  I am going to try and cut out of work tomorrow afternoon and go watch her work him.  I am so excited.  I will take video and pictures!

I don't have any pictures tonight of the horses.  But I do have one of my barn mascot.

This is my little love Puff.  Ok she isn't little but she is dieting.  How can you not love that face?