I have been working on jumping and geometry and Punky has been very compliant with this endeavor. I have also been working on trying to maximize the effectiveness of my aids, so that I don’t yank when I am trying to get him to turn left. I tend to yank him so that his shoulder turns too far inside the circle and then he cannot remain balanced.  Therefore, he can’t make a good circle or he breaks to a trot. I have been trying to remedy that by able to use my leg aids more effectively and less hand. I‘ve also been working on riding uphill and downhill over jumps, outside of the ring.

I brought Punky to Trumbull Mountain today in hopes of introducing him to a different environment so that he can be comfortable in any competition. Then, I jumped some stadium fences. I worked up from small, and then to larger fences with different patterns and shapes. He was nearly perfect. He went over every jump until my Dad came to watch. Then he refused his first jump mainly because of the difference in height. I regained his confidence by going over other jumps that he jumped willingly, and lowered the problem jump for one round. Then, when he was comfortable again, we raised it back up and he jumped it with no problem. I gave with my hands really well, but I need to work on my heels. It was fun riding at a different place. Next time I write, I will have done my first “warm up” show.