Trust

Yes you guessed it, another post about the wonderous Prisoner.  I can't help it.  I set up a new course to jump and while I didn't measure, I only left one jump that felt small.  It had a direct 3 stride xrail to vertical, three bending 5 or 6 stride lines, and a stand alone oxer.  I just did a short jump school, I would like to do more with the course as it rode well and I didn't utilize all the options yet.  I'm guessing the two 'larger' jumps were about 2'6".

Cleared for take off

P-man is showing some real exuberance for the fences, I have to make sure I don't make him rushy.  He is totally willing though and also willing to learn.  If I half-halt and he doesn't listen or close my leg and he doesn't listen, the next time around he is 110% listening.  He doesn't seem to hold a grudge if it doesn't go quite right or he doesn't understand, I just reexplain (or do a better job of explaining) and he catches right on.

Total trust

The trust I titled this post about can be seen in the release in the above photo.  While not classic (I'm sorry George Morris), it is a habit that only shows up when I am fear free.  While it has arguably shown up on horses that aren't trustworthy, fear has never shown itself to be logical.  Prisoner is trustworthy.  While he isn't an easy 'kick and hang on' ride, he is a good boy.  Yes I have to use the skills I've spent years honing (and will spend the rest of my life continuing to hone) but he puts in an honest effort.  Someone asked today how I got so lucky with him, my response was hard work picking through a lot of lemons, I could also add that gloriously pushy friends helped clinch the deal.

Oxer like no big deal

Hind end to die for

I need to find the photos of my unorthodox release on other horses, but that will be a bit of a project so stay tuned for a follow up post on that.

I've also enjoyed the return of my position.  I'm not totally sure where it ran off to, I was seriously beginning to doubt I had any skillz.  Then, BAM, it is back.  Maybe my position was beginning to doubt if I would ever have a horse with skillz.  Either way I'm enjoying not feeling like a newb.

All the above shots are video stills (thanks to sprinklerbandit for being late to work so you could video! Don't forget to checkout her contest!) incase you want to see the video here it is:

There are some green spots, but I'm not worried since he is totally green.