Back In The Show Ring

This past weekend I took Poppy to an A show in Ocala.  I took her down Friday afternoon and decided to just show Saturday and Sunday.  She had been schooling well at home however we had not shown since March 1st and I had not jumped her 1.10m since probably then.  

I strongly believe in saving my horse and am against excessively jumping.  Ideally I like to show in 2 classes per weekend.  So although I knew I was taking a risk I decided to just hack her Friday and walk in Saturday and do the 1.10m High Adult Amateur Jumper class.  If it didn't go well there would be another class I could go in if need be.  I hacked Poppy Saturday morning and she was wild so she got a good work out.  Even warming up for my class she was wild and running passes distances.  She even had 2 rails down in warm up which she never does.  Fortunately once in the ring she settled down and marched around the course like it was her J-O-B.  a clear first round and a clean jump off.  I stayed conservative in the jump off but still good enough for 4th place.  I was so proud of her to have 3 months off from showing and walk right into the highs.

Tired girl getting some grass while she dries.

Sunday my plan was to just do the NAL High Ch/Ad Jumper Classic.  Of course as I was tacking up the rain came so I had the pleasure of riding in the pouring rain.  Jumps 6, 7, & 8 was a 4 stride to a 3 stride off a short turn on the rail.  I rode a little hard to 6 thinking she would look hard so I over rode it and she had a rail at 6.  The rest of the course was good and I am really happy with Poppy.  She is  not so green anymore so I need to trust her and not ride so hard.  That is a new concept for me as I am so used to the greenies.

Nugget finds horse shows exhausting

Next up I plan to make the trek up to Tryon, NC to show in July.