Tucker Jumps!

All 3 of us are delighted with our ride today!  Tucker is clearly a little event horse in the making and since our steering, circles and strength are all getting better each day we decided to spend a little time jumping a little cross rail today in the indoor arena.  He ATE it UP!

Shanna took some great video of the progression from trot poles (which he mastered instantly) to a small cross rail (which helped him figure out how to pick up his feet) to a slightly taller cross rail (further aiding his desire to get under himself and push off his hind end, to an 18-inch X which he jumped like a champ.

Erin spent about 30 minutes mixing in nice collected circles and both trots and canters over the jump.  He was clearly tickled with himself, shaking his head with joy after the first few fences.  As the lesson wore on he took his job more and more seriously, and he'd actually speed up toward some of the jumps!  By the end of our time in the arena he really had the hang of it (he's a very quick learner) and was quite pleased with himself.  As were we!

To cool him out (it actually made it in the low 80s today in Seattle) we took a chance and decided to strike out and explore the trail system near the barn's property.  Double!  Shanna took the lead in the saddle and Erin brought up the rear, literally!  Tucker was unphased, though he wasn't pleased that his work day hadn't quite ended.  It took some coaxing (and a near squash of someone's precious Mercedes in the parking lot) to get him down the trailhead.  But thanks to his successful lesson, the fact that he was indeed tired, and the added incentive of having two people aboard to encourage him forward, he went!  And went, and went, and went!  We switched seats about half-way through the ride giving both of our breeches a chance to get filthy.

Ninety minutes later, after discovering a beautiful trail system and working through a few spooky things such as deadly tarps on fences, horrible swampy bogs, creepy logs and killer chipmunks, we arrived back at the barn a happy trio.  It was the first time Shanna and Erin had been able to ride together outside of the arena in a month, and Tucker seemed to appreciate the added support and encouragement more than he minded the extra weight on his back.

Back at the barn Tucker was fully bathed, treated and rubbed down with that yummy-smelling Bigel Oil!  And he stood patiently.  Since everyone else at the barn was partaking of dinner during his bath, Tucker's patience did have a definite ending point.  Realizing we were running out of good behavior time we squeegeed him off and plied him with a carrot.  Shanna tidied up the barn aisle and put away the freshly cleaned tack while Erin walked the Emperor back to his pasture and awaiting meal.  Actually, Tucker pranced his way back and Erin just did her best to stay out of the way....

Tomorrow Erin has a lesson with Jordan and Shanna's got one the following day -- with all this work it's been fun to see his muscles building and his work ethic improving!