Jill had presented her little riding buddy with the x "spread," a cross rail made with two sets of standards. Which that day also had the empty white brush box (previous barrier to the sand hole) as a groundline. This brush box was pretty much blocking the view of the scary middle of the spread branch that was on the ground too, until you were in the air.
He was strong to begin with, and, very grumpy before breakfast! Jill was glad he was boarded at a private place where there was no academy rules or insurance regulation about jumping unsupervised.
On the approach, he'd felt like he wanted to refuse but she had kept him straight and square and really pushed with her leg. She even clucked, to mr. speedy. Is that when he took off? He F L E W thru the air, way earlier than neccessary, clearing an imaginary obstacle 5x the size of the real one. She had gone with him, stayed with his motion, surprising as it was. But then, they were in the air forever. Jill thought "boy, has ever got the scope!"
And, in slow motion, she could feel her lower leg slide back, and realized that, clearly, her heels were not down. As they started their descent, she lost the right stirrup and was leaning left severely. She did her best to straighten, getting back into balance, and to relax the right leg long and down. She needed to establish a seat, meanwhile her pony scrambled right on landing. And, he was taking off!
Some help in times of trouble he turns out to be! she thought as she spoke whoa firmly, repeatedly.
She always taught her students that sometimes a verbal command can help when your body isn't quite communicating the message you mean. She, simply kept trying to gain her balance in the slow motion adjustments she was making. A stride later she really got scared as they came around to the sand hole area and she suddenly found the strength to pull him left into the fence. And, he thankfully stopped. She sat up and regained the stirrup and they walked on, a little freaked, but able to laugh about it...
After more flat work, and when their breathing and rapport was back to normal, she presented the x spread again. This time taking her jumping position way early and grabbing a little mane as she set him up from the corner. It was probably a bit cowardly, but at least she was representing. He jumped it like an honest-enough school horse, at more normal size and speed. but was fast and strong after. oh boy... Jill wondered what would happen when they started riding courses?
*
At the big show, when she was spectating, later that day, the editor of the USEF's magazine offered her an American flag to wave. She'd recognized the fellow spectator and, on instant instinct, she shook her head. Could she find a way to represent?
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