Oh what a feeling!

[riderboy]

Gosh, I just have to let this out. I think I finally know what it is like to ride a forward, scopey thorobred XC. It was only beginner novice (for now ) but OH MY GOD! I've had a few really good xc rides before on some very good boys but, my oh my, this was in a different class. Rythym, balance, impulsion. It gets better the more I reply it in my little brain! Thanks Nad!

[Auburn]

When everything that you have been practicing comes together at an event, there is nothing else like that feeling. :D Good for you!

[Kairoshorses]

It's honestly more fun than a grown up should be allowed to have, isn't it? :lol:

[cranky]

This is so lovely to hear.

[ThreeDays]

Glad to hear you had fun!! Your horse? Or a friend's?

[RnR]

Congrats! I love this feeling. When everything just sort of "clicks" perfectly.

I'm glad you had such a good time!

[riderboy]

My new horse. I bought him last fall after my other horse was on sick leave for a year (again). My other boy taught me a lot, but was really not easy for me to ride. That 5 1/2 minutes XC Sunday was worth every penny, every injury and every humbling experience at every clinic,show and lesson I've done for the last 15 years.

[riderboy]

And yes, I know there are going to be MORE pennies, injuries and humbling experiences in the future! Ya gotta love it.

[Gryhrs]

Another one bites the dust!!!!!! Welcome to the dark side!!

[asterix]

Yeah, there are (more pennies, injuries, etc), but you can replay that 5 minutes for the next 3 years, not to worry! Some of my best xc rounds are blazed in my memory and I really do play the tape in my head :D

Now you know why it is such an addiction!!

And, don't knock that BN thing -- I've ridden through prelim but one of my all time favorite runs ever was novice last fall on my baby -- practically every step was perfect and it feels just as good at any level!

[pony grandma]

you can replay that 5 minutes for the next 3 years, not to worry! Some of my best xc rounds are blazed in my memory and I really do play the tape in my head :D

Hey guys you'll be playing that tape in your head for a lot more than 3 years!

It's been ahemmm... roughly 30 years and I still remember galloping down the treeline at Wayne, starting to shift my weight back in preparation for the opening back into the course in the woods. My horse popped up in front of me - looking for the fence. I started to try to turn him and he's still looking for the fence ahead of him - oops no fence there he says. Then I ask for the turn and he's a bit confused, then he sees the fence! And it's the big one - it's the next level up fence than the course we are riding, right alongside the path just before our fence. He's hooked on! He says 'I want it!' So, hi-de-ho and forward we go! We made it a combination. The whole conversation, in just seconds of time, and a lifetime of memories.

Congrats to the new member of the wide eyed 'I Just Skied Down A Mountain Club!' :eek::eek:

[riderboy]

THAT is a cool story! Anyone else?

[Kairoshorses]

My first time schooling XC and then doing a fun schooling HT the next day was amazing. I loved schooling the jumps, amazed that we could do it....we'd only done H/J before. The next day I left the start box during the HT, we settled back before the first jump, and we took it then went on, and I could FEEL my horse saying: "what? we're not circling and taking it again? We get to gallop and jump? YEEE-HAW!"

He kicked up his heels after that first jump and BOTH OF US literally giggled the whole way around. The water that was so scary the day before? I slowed to a trot (much to his dismay) and he said "none of this!" and we cantered through it.

It was BN, but I had no concept of time, and we came in a few seconds, uh, early. Both of us grinning from ear to ear.

At another schooling horse trial (maybe the next one), we were at a place we'd never been before, and I got a little lost on XC--and every time we'd come to a jump he'd perk up and say "can we do this one?!" My biggest problem was steering him to the ones we were supposed to take!

SO great when your horse loves XC as much as you do!!

[FoxChaser]

I'm there too :) I have done through training on my other horse before his untimely retirement and am just getting off to my first season on my big baby OTTB. We did the MTPC "Learn to Event" event a couple of weeks ago over a maxxed out BN course (we don't usually see anything that big & solid around here until late summer/ fall). I had schooled him over a few single fences, but hadn't put a course together. He can be pretty silly/ unpredictable, yet is braver and bolder than my training horse. The first fence was imposing and he took it like it was nothing, saying, "Okay, that was cake. Where's the next one?" I've never had a course flow like that- not even on my more seasoned horse. He is a x-c machine! I'm still grinning :D

[Holly Jeanne]

Congratulations!

Thanks Nad!

Up N Over? If so, I had my coming 5 yo there in the fall for training. :)

[riderboy]

No; He has helped us out over the years with lessons, clinics and shows when our regular trainer is not there. He is a great guy, very nice and very knowledgable. My horse was a bit of a looney- tune in the XC warmup and he got me thru that, into the start box and off for that very nice XC ride.Yes, Up N Over Stables!

[Finn'sMom]

That 5 1/2 minutes XC Sunday was worth every penny, every injury and every humbling experience at every clinic,show and lesson I've done for the last 15 years.

So much fun to hear this!! I am waiting for my "aha" moment with my young-ish horse - but I know it is just around the corner!!! Can't wait to go through that finish grinning ear-to-ear! Thanks for sharing it!