Jade's Weekend Jumping

It’s raining, it’s pouring…the childhood rhyme was the perfect tune for this week’s crazy weather. Growing up, Dad always reminded me I wasn’t made of sugar and wouldn’t melt, although these days considering how much chocolate I eat that’s debatable. Regardless of the weather the show must go on and horses got out, unless I want to end up on my bottom and one the horses looking down at me, wondering how I ended up there. My sticky Sophie g leggings get tested a lot! Last year during lockdown, after 20 years of horse riding, I finally got a sand arena (thanks Padraic) my surface from MSK silver sands loves the rain thankfully.

MUD! It’s the bane of my life, ok I am dramatic, but I think my horses are addicted. I like my horses to be horses and get lots of field time, I spent most of this week scheduling my lunch around rescuing them from the field, the perks of working from home. Paris is a drama queen and doesn’t like to get wet, she is at the gate waiting for her rescue team. Rocco, is another story who loves being out and his only fault is he charges around the field with me behind him shouting threats of no sweets if he doesn’t get into the van quick! He relents and loads himself when he decides, I have had enough exercise for the day. Friday evening arrives and time for a glow up before Saturdays show. It’s time for the potions to come out and save the day, I use carr & day & martin main and tail and stain master and fiebing satin sheen. I would be lost without these and I don’t think David would be too impressed if I brought the mud monsters to the show. I also cheat and use an extra light rug to keep them clean overnight. The weatherbeta xtra lite is a life saver and also a really good price point, I wouldn’t be without mine.

https://www.equestrianworld.ie/product/fiebing-satin-sheen

https://www.equestrianworld.ie/search/day

https://www.equestrianworld.ie/product/weatherbeeta-x-lite-standard-stable-rug

If anyone follows me on social media, it would be an easy guess where I jumped this weekend, I think I am addicted to Barnadown. The courses and the surface are top class, in my opinion it is one of the best centres in Ireland and we are based an hour away. Maurice and the Cousins family must be commended for the care they take, everything is pristine. One of my favourite things about the show is regardless if you are jumping 80cm or 1.30 the same care and effort is given to the ground. John also builds super courses that I find very educational for young horses. As you can see I am addicted. Pixie and Paris obviously agree and we got 3/3 clear rounds!

After a weekend off, I felt rusty, how does that happen so fast? Paris is still green and really only started to compete consistently this year. We went in the 90cm where she was so good, her changes are still a bit iffy but we are getting there and I am so pleased with the progress she is making. After her double clear she thought it was very unreasonable of me to expect her to jump the metre too and was a little huffy in the warm up. One and two I rode like a sack of potatoes and she was not happy with me however by three I had my ass in gear and she flew around for another double clear. Pixie started the year so well with clear after clear however we picked up a case of four faultitis for a few weeks, but after a super lesson we are back on track. I was letting her go around corner  like we were a motorbike and loosing all balance, late in the course we were having a pole. We have been working on Pixie carrying herself and me doing my job and balancing her on the corner so we have the correct approach and give Pixie the best possible chance of jumping a clear. She didn’t let me down jumping clear in the 1.10 and rushed back to the van for her sweets for a job well done.

This week my product of the week has to be the samshield hunter gloves, I have a navy pair. I am really hard on gloves and wear them out so fast as I use them every time I ride, but these are really durable, they took all the rain last week and no slippy reins. They dry really fast and most importantly they are a bargain.

https://www.equestrianworld.ie/product/samshield-v-skin-hunter-gloves

 Happy jumping,

Jade