A few weeks after breaking in began it was time to start getting used to some jumps. After all what is an event horse without a good jump?!
After a couple of sessions trotting over poles on the floor very carefully, as if they may explode if he dared to touch them, then the next day pretending he'd never seen such scary objects in all his life and having to jump all over the place to avoid them. Eventually admitting coloured poles will never eat horses, it was time to construct his first jump.
Borrowing from the Germans system we set up a 'jumping lane' down one side of the school blocking off one side with poles and wings and putting a jump in the centre. Now here it may help to explain we have light plastic pole wings and the arena wall is not entirely flat. On the far side there is a double door which although never opens it is set slightly into the wall leaving an alcove about 30cm deep. Starting slow the first run through the 'lane' he only discovered a pole on the floor, which required a good look but no jumping about or stopping. The next time two poles and the third time three. No problem for the laid back Moon.
However after a small rest a very small cross pole was constructed in the lane and back round he comes again in trot. WHOA! An obstacle in his way??! After a slight moment of dithering (and a little encouragement) he climbs very ungainly over the poles, making rather a lot of effort about something that’s only 20cm high. Some pats and praise and back round he trots.
Now this time he has had a little time to engage his brain and some classic Button logic emerges. He trots in confidently, takes a second to asses the fence and promptly squeezes himself into the door alcove, round the plastic jump wing through a gap of about 1.5ft and carries on trotting round. Why go over when you can go round??
Sound, sensible, energy saving, Moon logic but not the mind-set of a first class event horse!
Until the next adventure – take it easy!
