For two or three rides in a row, Bob was going better than ever. He’d taken the bit willingly, which AJ saw as a good sign. Maybe he didn’t dread the use of it in his mouth, because of the way she was consciously very soft with her hands?
It was fun to present the small plank jump, one morning, and the tiny puddle ditch another, because they frightened him and he cleared them — by far — using his powerful body “correctly” - engaging the hind end, rounding his back and lowering his head!
“It’s nice to see him facing his fears” his spectator said.
AJ was glad to sit two or three bucks as well, because, “usually those send me flying, ha”
It was so nice that the saddle was just sitting there waiting for her in the tack room, and that she didn’t need to make an appointment to use it. Although it was true the girth was missing, so she’d just borrowed another and returned it.
*
Jill didn’t know that AJ had once had a job with the Olympic Team. This was only 10 years ago, as a mature working student ha, who’d been promised her own private cottage in Florida for the winter and $250USD per week! But, it hadn’t lasted very long. And word on the street was, she “really broke his heart.” AJ told her the story while accompanying her mounted protege for a winter walk through deep snow, AJ on foot.
She also told about that swimming feeling she’d experienced through snow drifts, training with another Eventing Team member, another winter, in Canada.
They also talked about how AJ would find another horse to ride, or Retire!!! lol if he ended up moving to Kingston with Jill for 3rd year.
Meanwhile, AJ’s only other “not-student” had worked on training a nice school horse gelding to do his flying changes over poles in a figure 8 in the arena. A very effective rider, with good position and a great attitude as well! AJ had been trying to explain to her what riding "with a contact" was all about...
The difference in the aisles ways of the 2 facilities was remarkable!
