Clue, Briarwood Horse Show, 10/23/10

This is me showing Clue, my 2003 American Quarter Horse mare, in one class of the Itty Bitty Jumpers (2'-2'3) and the Level 0 Jumper division (2'9) at Briarwood. We took 2nd out of a field of around 20 riders in the Itty Bitty class, and 5th, 4th, and 5th out of (approximately) 15, 13, and 9 riders in the Level 0 classes, respectively. (I'm not 100% sure on the numbers for some of the classes because there were some falls and refuse-outs...Briarwood has killer courses!)

The first class of Level 0 was a "rub" class, meaning rubs and knockdowns count. I really don't like rub classes, haha. We had some rubs, so we didn't make it to the jumpoff. Clue handled everything really nicely, especially some of the not-so-fabulous turns I made. She really saved me in the second class of Level 0's. First, I got lost--thanks to a course shout-out from my husband and a fellow competitor (thanks Noelle!), I managed to stay on course and make it to the jumpoff, but I was a bit mentally frazzled. In the jumpoff for that round, I set up my distance poorly into the blue one-stride line, and I ended up having to turn her out to the right before the second element (I had Clue's face pointed at the standard, oops). It was worth the refusal not to crash my poor mare into a standard! In the video where I'm cutting a sharp turn from the blue one stride to the red and white fence, that would be my second, much better attempt. :) I also misjudged the angle coming to the purple vertical at one point--someone almost failed geometry in high school, folks--and Clue managed to somehow keep it up and get us out of there. I kept that in the video because it's truly spectacular that she made that work. She is amazing.

In the third round, I had one of the tightest turns in the jumpoff from the dark green jump to the purple, but we clipped it. Once I heard it fall, I tried to make up as much time to the last fence (the hot air balloon) as possible, hoping to have the fastest four-fault round. Forgive my flappy arms, I was a little amped. :)

I felt like these were much more confident rounds than our previous show at Briarwood, but I still do get a little nervous there because I know the courses will be technical. I definitely let my nerves get to me after I forgot where I was going in the one round, so that was a good lesson for keeping my head together in the future when I'm on course. I'm so proud of Clue and all of the progress she's made this season; she has such a competitive brain, and she's a very fast learner. Thanks so much to my husband, my mom, and my best friend (and her mom!) for coming out to support me, film, and help me remember where the hell I was going! :)

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• american
• quarter
• horse
• mare
• bay
• jump
• jumper
• jumping
• level
• zero
• itty
• bitty
• show

[JewishEquestrian]

ahh I love all the pretty fall colors!

I still think it's funny how most people are starting to pull out the blankets and wear jackets when I'm still wearing shorts and flip flops!

[dragonfly1030]

@JewishEquestrian Oh man, I'm so jealous! I had an Under Armour turtleneck and pants on under my show shirt, jacket, and breeches, not to mention wool hunting socks and insulated gloves. My knees start to lock up and ache if I'm not careful about wearing layers once it gets to 40 or lower, and I'm not even 30 yet...ack.

[LoveLiveEquine]

love this vid, i was wondering if you could put up a video on how to put on english spurs, if you do that kind of thing...thanks!

[dragonfly1030]

@LoveLiveEquine I seldom ever use spurs, sorry! Thanks for commenting!

[pecoslover97]

pretty horsey

[xxxligeiaxxx]

I'd just like to say that George Morris had good things to say about that first jump! JS

[kickbuttequestrian]

Wow! Finally a rider who does jumper courses the cool way! A lot of people, go to conservatiive and those people aren't the ones who win and go to the top! You took so many awesome risks yet were safe at the same time! Clue what a good girl she was! A whole bag of carrots for her haha! I can't wait for the future as you progress with your lovely horses!

[RideAnIrishHorse]

Looking good! Clue looks like she's been putting on the muscle! She looks very happy here, too...definitely enjoys jumping, I'd say!

[Cazino90]

Excellent!! She looks like she is loving her job!

[caddyismygirl]

Wow, their jumps are awesome! Not to mention you and Clue! You guys look like a totally different pair compared to your other videos! Great job, those courses didn't look easy at all.

[kmcab]

omg i absolutely love the very first picture you put up! and you guys are looking so good together!

[MyPonyHeartsMe101]

You both looked amazing!!!!!! I love Clue's outlook on jumping, its very WHEEEEEEEEE! Then my little ponies whose is, "Uh, what is that? Why are we going towards it? Oh heck no, there is no way your getting my hooves over that missy! OW THAT HURT WOMAN!" lol when I have to nab him to keep him going!

[LivingHope937]

@LoveLiveEquine Do you not know how to put them on? O.o

[HondaThoru]

We all lose track sometimes the important thing is that we can pull it together and the more experience we get the better well be at doing this so next time you get lost youll find the course much faster. Glad to hear it was a good day for you both. Good luck for the next ones.