Hunter/Jumper 4.0

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Please note that the course linked below will give ample room on the outside track for students to warm up their horses. The jumps will not be set directly against the rail as pictured. They all range in height from 2'9" to 3'3". In addition, the jumps that Cora refers to are 1 and 3 on the course diagram.

course

Cora arrived at her jumping arena of choice much earlier than when her class was scheduled to make sure that the course she had set up was exactly as she wanted it to be. She wanted to get right to jumping today after they warmed up, and had set up an interesting course for them. It would be one that was simple in parts, and that would make her students think in others. It would certainly prove easier for her students who were seasoned competitors in hunter and equitation classes, as it was one that they could very easily find in the show ring.

After nudging one of the poles back into places, she returned to the center of the ring, helmet hanging from her elbow. She was dressed in her normal attire that she wore every day, as she always wanted to be ready to ride, which was breeches and tall boots. Today she also wore a long sleeve shirt and quilted vest. She waited for her students to arrive, and as each came in, she instructed for them to warm their horses up.

After all of them had arrived, Cora asked them to continue warming up as she explained how the class would go. ”I’ll be throwing you right to the wolves today. We are going to start by taking turns jumping the two verticals closest to the rail when you are finished warming up. After, we will line up and jump a course one at a time. I will tell you when to begin jumping the line, and in what order you will do so.” With that, she continued to watch them warm up their horses.


Students:
@beck
Cara-Jean Kitchi
@kate
Rose Hoff
Ben Hall
@olivia
@samanthal
@savannah

[Rose Hoff]

Rose found Vintage in her stall in time for their hunter/jumper lesson. She always loved the class and doubted that today would be any different. She kept her sweatshirt on as she groomed Vintage to a gleaming white, making sure that her dapples stood out nicely. It was spring, which meant shedding season, and though Vintage had been clipped for most of the winter, white hairs still stood out on Rose’s clothing. Spring also meant grass stains, and Rose was glad Vintage didn’t roll much, though it was only a matter of time before she spent a Saturday afternoon getting grass stains out of the mare’s light coat.

She tacked the mare up, using her light pink sad and sheepskin half pad, before bridling her and putting on her own helmet. She led Vintage out to the ring where the class would be held and entered, calling out gate before leading the Dutch Warmblood mare in and mounting in the center. She then guided her out to the rail as instructed and began to warm Vintage up at the walk and then the trot.

She kept Vintage at a working trot as she listened to Ms. Addison’s introduction, and asked Vintage for the canter when she had finished. She cantered her for a little bit in both directions, taking note to how Vintage was feeling a bit more nervous, as to where she was usually very sound and didn’t flicker her ears at anything.

clothes

[Ben Hall]

Ben groomed Lady, focusing especially on her white spots, but not taking his time. Their hunter class was next, and he’d been a little late getting to the barn, though he figured that he could be right on time if he hurried a bit. Once she was clean, he got her tack from the tack room and tacked her up, using her signature yellow saddle pad. He hoped that the instructor wouldn’t mind, but figured that he’d find out soon enough. Once she was tacked up, he put on his helmet and led her out to the show jumping rings.

After calling out, he entered and mounted her in the center, pulling down his leathers beforehand. The other girl already in the ring had a pink saddle pad on her light grey mare, so he figured that his yellow would be fine. As instructed, he walked Lady out to the rail and began to warm her up at the walk, trot, and canter in both directions. He listened to Ms. Addison’s explanation of the class, and was rather pleased. Judging by the jumps already set up, he and Lady would be able to handle this well given that she decided to behave.

Unfortunately, Lady didn’t seem to be pleased by anything, despite how nice the weather was outside. From the moment Ben got on, she’d been cranky and mare-ish, with her ears set back and tail flashing back and forth. Ben found himself focusing the most on trying to get her to relax her muscles and remove her ears from where they were pointed back at him. The class would have proven to be tough anyways, with Lady being more of a jumper than a hunter, but this would make things especially difficult.

[Deleted]

Kate scratched Poet’s nose when she entered his stall. She could always count on her gelding being in a good mood when she found him, which was certainly nice to look forward to, especially when she wasn’t having a great day. She groomed him, which didn’t take terribly long, and then tacked him up with her jumping saddle and sage pad. Once he was ready she put on her helmet and led him out to where the lesson would be held, taking her time while getting there.

She called out as she entered and stopped Poet in the center, smiling at Ms. Addison and pulling down her stirrups before mounting. She allowed Poet to stretch his neck out for a couple of moments before collecting up her reins and joining the rest of the students at the rail, warming up. She asked Poet for the trot and easily began posting to it, switching directions down the diagonal after a couple laps.

Kate listened to Ms. Addison’s plans, happy enough with them. She looked forward to jumping a proper course with an instructor judging her every move, which sounded sort of weird. This course looked similar to that she’d see in the show ring, so it wouldn’t be hard to settle into the feeling that showing gave her, and really see how well she could do.

clothes

[Cara-Jean Kitchi]

Cara leaned against Ella's shoulder as she rubbed her temples. She was busy getting the Hanoverian mare ready for their hunter jumper class and her head was throbbing. Straightening up, she went back to grooming the mare, scratching the mare's sweet spot, under her mane, to thank for for being a leaning post.

As soon as the mare was ready and keen to go, the girl left her in the cross-ties as she slipped into the tack room to put the grooming supplies away in the mare's locker and to get herself ready for class. Shedding the tracksuit she revealed the beige breeches and cornflour blue shirt she was wearing, she then slipped her espresso vest on and to offer a little warmth for her kidneys. She slipped her feet into her shiny black field boots and pulled her black riding gloves on. Lifting her Charles Owen helmet off the hook in the locker, she went back out to the mare and removed Ella's halter and let the cross-ties drop back against the walls.

Leading the mare out of the barn, they made their way toward the jumping arena. Pulling the girth tight, she lowered the stirrups and vaulted onto the mare's back. She hadn't even got her feet into the stirrups when the pretty horse began to pig-root. "Silly girl." She laughed as she settled the mare. slipping her feet into the stirrups they approached the arena gate. "Gate!" Even though her voice was still soft, it carried into the arena as she leaned down and opened the gate, giving Ella excess into the arena, and turning the mare on her haunches she closed the gate behind them. Bowing her head to acknowledge Ms Addison's instructions she squeezed her mare forward and the began their warm up.

Once the class started, a tiny smile played at the corners of the girl's mouth, she was keen to be jumping and knew that Ella would enjoy it too.

[Deleted]

Olivia finished brushing Blue's black coat, smiling at the almost-jet colour that had shone through the dirt-brown that the mare had sported. Apparently, the mare had enjoyed a good roll while she had been out in the pasture, and had managed to find one of the shrinking mud puddles around the pastures. The removal of the caked, dried mud had taken longer than Olivia had anticipated, however, and as she glanced at her watch, she almost started cursing. She would have to hurry so that she wasn't late to her Hunter Jumper class. Speed-walking to the tack room, Olivia piled everything onto her arms, slamming her locker and then hurrying back. Dropping her gear onto a bale of straw that was sitting in the aisle, she started tacking up the mare.

Leaving the mare's grooming kit in her stall, Olivia buckled on her helmet and grabbed the mare's reins before coaxing the mare into a trot towards the arena. As they neared, she slowed down, and walked towards the arena, just in time to hear the teacher's instructions. She led the mare towards the gate before calling out, "Gate!" and entering. She lead the black pony into the centre of the arena before jumping into the saddle. She pushed the mare towards the track and began their usual warmup, going through the mare's paces until the class was ready to start. She couldn't wait to start jumping for the day, and she rubbed Blue's shoulder, wondering briefly if she would be able to start Barcinka on jumping soon as well.

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Cora watched as her students entered and began to warm up, smiling and nodding at each as they came in through the gate. She took notice of their horses as they warmed up. It was clear to her which were seasoned hunters, and which took part in other disciplines as well. She could see that the mare Ben was on was easily excitable, and took note to see how she did as they got further into the lesson.

She decided to start even though three of her students were not there. She was glad it wasn't four though, and she'd smiled when Olivia had come in with her pony just in time. She hoped that they weren't all sick, but would also be annoyed it they were all late. Shaking her head the tiniest bit, she spoke up, beginning the class officially. "Okay, I think we are ready to begin. Please take turns taking the two jumps I indicated earlier in the following order: Rose, Ben, Kate, Cara, and then Olivia. If you do not have room to complete the exercise due to being too close to the rider in front of you, please circle so that you have enough room. Rose, please begin."

She stood in the center of the ring between the two jumps so that she could watch each student carefully as they rode their horses over the fences.

[Rose Hoff]

Rose put pressure on her third ring finger, wiggling the bit in Vintage's mouth as she asked the mare to collect her trot a bit. She was happy with her warm-up, and it seemed that Ms. Addison thought that they'd have adequate time as well, as the instructor had begun to speak. She listened to the instructions carefully, nodding when she heard that she would be first. She didn't really mind it, as there was no precedent and fewer expectations. She had far too many for herself as it was.

She was careful to keep Vintage steady and focused as they rounded the corner, and then a few strides later turned her off of the rail, towards the first vertical. Keeping her knees tight against Vintage's sides and shoulders square, she settled into her position, counting down the strides in her head until the jump. She had gotten her striding correct and Vintage took a good spot. After landing, she collected the mare back, knowing that she'd rush the line if Rose wasn't careful. She had to keep Vintage collected through the line, which was difficult to make neat, but she managed, and cantered off after the second jumps before transitioning down to the trot at the rail.

She liked that they'd gone straight into jumping and gotten down to work, as Rose really did hate to waste time. She was also quite relieved that she hadn't made any huge mistakes that would cause a spectacle. In fact, she really did think that she'd made it through quite nicely.

[Ben Hall]

Whenever Lady got like this, Ben struggled to remind himself that yes, he'd chosen this mare knowing that she would be difficult frequently. Honestly, she was worse than most of the girls he knew with her moodiness and little attitude. Why, oh why couldn't he have just found a nice gelding? From what he'd seen, Lady was even worse than most other mares, which didn't help her case much. He continued to try to get her to loosen up as he warmed her up, but she kept her neck perched high, refusing to bend through the corners and he could feel that her hind end was just as taught.

When Ms. Addison said that it was time to begin, he sighed, knowing that he'd need a lot longer if he was going to convince Lady out of her funk. He supposed that he'd just try to work her through the exercise and hope that she got better. When it came to be his turn, he guided Lady off the rail and asked her for a canter a couple strides before the first vertical. Lady flicked her tail in annoyance but struck off on the right lead. She jumped high over the first jump, catching Ben off guard on his release. He then tried to collect her back and salvage the rest of the exercise, sitting back deeply in the saddle. They managed to get the right spot over the second jump, but he'd been a little off balance over it.

Teeth clenched, he canter her off before trotting at the rail. She was already annoyed at his heavy hands, but he would have trouble handling her if he wasn't so. He was sure that Ms. Addison wouldn't be impressed, and waited for her comment.

[Deleted]

Kate continued to warm Poet up, pushing him forward constantly. The horse wasn't as sensitive as some others and it sometimes took a little while to get him moving. By the time Ms. Addison started talking again, he was moving nicely, with a good amount of power in his hind end. She watched as Rose went, and then realized that she would be a bit close to Ben.  She could circle, but she figured that she'd be safe simply because Ben's mare was moving at a quicker pace than Poet.

Sure enough, Ben had finished by the time she turned in from the rail. Turning off the of rail, she cued Poet into his canter which he flawlessly picked up, his motions flowing beautifully as always. The trick was getting herself to flow with him. The horse definitely knew was he was doing. He was the sort that she could trust to get his spots on simple lines, and that's just what she did. She only guided him through and made sure that she stayed still on him.

They took both jumps with good spots, and Kate was happy with their performance as they returned to a trot on the rail.

[Cara-Jean Kitchi]

Cara quietly worked the mare through their warm up, relaxing her hands on the reins as she felt the mare settle into her work. She could feel the energy that the Hanoverian felt, and knew that the mare couldn't wait to be allowed to jump. Moving the horse from a trot into a canter, she let the two-toned mare away with a playful buck before she collected her mount and really got her working, by bringing her haunches under her and making sure that she was working for behind.

She listened to the instructor's instructions and circled the mare to the inside to double the space between them and the horse and rider in front - she didn't see the point until waiting until Kate was preparing Poet for the first fence before she widened the gap between them.

She kept her thigh muscles tight against the saddle, giving a little impulsion with her calf muscles whenever she felt the mare needed it, as they approached the first of the two fences in their exercise. She kept her hands loose on the reins so that she had just enough contact with the bit, but didn't interfere with Ella's mouth. She watched the fence as it got closer and as they found their spot, Ella rose into the air and snapped her knees to her chest as she rounded beautifully over the fence, tucking her hocks up to clear the fence and then they landed, cantering toward the second fence - which the mare cleared just as cleanly with a near perfect bascule as her rider made sure that she remained with the mare, not allowing herself to get in front of or behind the mare's movement. As they landed on the other side, she closed her hands on the reins as she pushed her tailbone into the saddle, bringing the mare from a canter to a trot as the rejoined the back of the line of riders who had already completed the exercise.