One step back

I've been avoiding writing this post, mostly because I just wanted to forget about how our jump lesson this past Sunday went.

I did flatwork with Otter on Thursday and Saturday to get him supple for jumping in our first lesson at the new barn.  He was pretty good both days, although in looking in the pictures - holy batman, I need to keep my eyes UP!

Then our jump lesson Sunday morning happened...  He warmed up well, despite how early it was.  I had joined a group lesson with 3 other ladies from the barn, all doing beginner novice.  We started jumping and he was okay over the small crossrail, then when we started jumping the barrels, he/me started doing the really deep distance thing that we do, and getting strong afterwards.  So I will be digging out my running martingale to put back on him, upon advice from the trainer.  She also suggest a neckstrap - so good thing that black friday/cyber monday is coming up because I also need some new stirrup leathers (I've been avoiding that purchase for a little bit now).

So then we moved on to courses.  Otter got really ansty on the approach and then we got in super deep (again) to the first jump and my trainer put things on hold.  She put the jump down and said that she wanted us to come back at a trot, but only after he was relaxed.  It took a few minutes to get him to calm down, but when he did, we reapproached the lowered jump and he took it really calm and nicely.  I stopped and had a conversation with our trainer after that and she pointed out that we have confidence issues.  I don't trust him over the higher jumps, and he doesn't trust me over them - but when we lower the jumps one hole, we are able to work together as a team.  

She lowered the rest of the jumps and we trotted most of them, and had a much nicer round - soft, nice jumps, good distances.  So it looks like we will be backing off of height for a little bit while we start to trust each other over fences again.  I'm really not sure when this breakdown happened - I feel like it may have been a gradual decline that may have started after that fall at Winona.  

By the end of our lesson, a good bit of the barn was there, and watching - seems like Otter has become a barn favorite and everybody wanted to see him go.  So our performance was a little embarrassing and frustrating because I know we could have been so much better and have in the past.  Everybody was really sweet about it though, and told me how cute he was and how much the trainer has helped them.  After the lesson I stuck around and chatted with a few of the other ladies at the barn.  

So I'm not sure what this will mean for our plans for next year, hopefully with some consistent work over the next month or two, we can be back on track for my plans.