Learn to Jump

[Kate Richardson-Hall]

Kate watched again, and was rather happier with what she saw this time. Everyone seemed to at least be trying to improve, which was, after all, all that she could reasonably expect from anyone. "Much better!" she called, once everyone had finished and were once again arranged in a neat line behind the letter. "We'll change the rein now, and if anyone wants to take over lead file, now's the time to do it. You've got five minutes to work some steam off your horses; I know they've been standing around rather a lot. By the end of that time, I want everyone lined up behind the letter V on the left rein, please."

[Kekona Hanson]

Kona grinned at the praise, then considered the instructions. She asked Casper to trot, staying off of the track to stay away from the mini-jumps. Did she want to go first? Not particularly, having someone else ahead of her saved her from getting lost in what they were supposed to be doing. After five minutes of letting Casper move a little bit more, she found herself at the letter V, and again in the second position, although behind someone else this time.

[Kate Richardson-Hall]

Kate spent the five minutes in appraising the leg positions of her riders during a normal session, and in checking visually that girths were all tight enough for jumping work, as well as making sure that stirrups were the correct length. She called out to one or two riders to make corrections, but most were good considering that these students were not used to jumping work. Finally, the ride was assembled again behind the letter V and Kate stood once more in the centre of the arena. "Right!" she began brightly. "Same again, but on a different rein. We'll do it in trot the first time, then take canter for the second. All right? Off we go."

[Kekona Hanson]

Kona nodded and then, once the girl ahead of her had finished, sent Casper off at a trot. It didn't look too different going this way around, all she had to worry about was turning the gelding the right way at the corners. Once she'd returned to the group, she smiled and waited for her turn to canter.

[Kate Richardson-Hall]

Kate worked her way slowly, methodically and patiently through the group, watching each person with care for minor mistakes or major ones which could lead to potentially dangerous situations. Finally, it got to the time to go round again in canter, and she stepped back well out of the way, but not so far that she couldn't step in if necessary. "OK, when you're ready." she called with a smile. She was rather enjoying herself.

[Kekona Hanson]

Kona took a deep breath before she asked Casper to canter, hoping she did as well as she was doing at the trot. As they took the first pole, she relaxed slightly, and focused on her seat - The horse knew his part, it was up to her to learn hers. And try she did, at that.

[Kate Richardson-Hall]

Kate watched in satisfaction as the students went one by one over the raised poles, noting the vast improvement in their position overall since the lesson had begun. Perhaps she wasn't so bad at this teaching thing after all, she mused with some relief. Something was getting through to them, at any rate. "Excellent everyone, well done!" she praised. "Right, we're going to try a bit of an experiment now. This time, we'll go over in trot- but we're going to do it without using the jumping position. Then we can discuss how it feels. So, off we go." She nodded to the first rider.

[Kekona Hanson]

Kona smiled at the new instructions, briefly wondering when lunch would be. She wouldn't mind a sandwich right about now - But that was probably the time change still having its lingering effect on her. Once it was her turn, she took on the poles, realizing how much more comfortable the jumping position was once she didn't get to assume it. After she had halted Casper back with the group, she nodded, understanding the point that was being made.

[Kate Richardson-Hall]

Kate watched with satisfaction as rider after rider returned with a better understanding of where they were coming from. "Now, that didn't look to comfortable." she commented. "It is possible to jump while sitting, but it's not easy for the horse and it's not comfortable for you. So, in case you thought that this position was just there for the sake of it- now you know." She glanced at her watch. "Right, we'll take a short break for lunch now; just run your stirrups up, loosen your girths and twist up the reins in the throat lash. I'll see you all back here in about an hour and a half. Well done so far, everyone."

[Kekona Hanson]

Kona grinned as it turned out that she might not have been affected by the time change after all. It was lunchtime! She dismounted and followed the teacher's instructions, patting Casper's neck, "You're a good boy, Casper." He'd be a lot of fun to ride in lessons, and at least now, Kona knew the basic position and the basic idea of jumping.

[Kate Richardson-Hall]

Kate walked over to the edge of the arena, leaning against the fence with a long, shaky sigh as she took a long drink from a bottle of water. Good God, that had been stressful. Still, she'd always thought that she'd be able to teach this subject, and now she'd proved it. Maybe that would help if ever she moved on from Blue Ridge to teach elsewhere, although that was a long way off yet.