I sat deep in the saddle and tightened my grip on Sundance's reins. I surveyed the jumping course ahead of me: a few verticals, a square oxer, a low brick wall, and finally a triple combination. None of the jumps exceeded 4'0", although the last jump on the triple looked pretty close.
I took a deep breath, then squeezed Sundance into a smooth canter. She responded immediately to my signals, and together we swept around the perimeter of the ring. As we approached the first jump, I did a half-halt to slow Sundance down. She flicked her ears in annoyance but listened to my command and slowed to an easy canter. I counted the strides in my head. 3-2-1-Jump! I rose into the two point position as we swept over the low vertical with easy air to spare. We approached the next jump, a vertical a few inches higher and took it with ease.
As we came up to the oxer, I shortened Sundance's stride. She quickened her pace and together we lifted off into the air. Sundance tucked her legs tightly and we sailed over the jump. We turned to the brick wall, and Sundance flicked her ears back nervously. I felt her tense up, and as we neared the jump, she tried to duck out. I held her up with my inside leg, forcing her to take the jump. We landed clumsily on the other side and I grabbed her mane to steady myself. We approached the triple, and I estimated that we had about a stride in between each rising vertical. I lengthened my reins, and Sundance stretched out her stride.
The first part of the triple suddenly loomed in front of us, and I rose into the two-point position. Sunny took the jump without hesitation and landed swiftly on the other side. Without wasting a second, she powered over the second jump. I pulled on her reins, but she mare didn't want to slow down. She leaped towards the last jump, and I knew that we weren't going to be able to make the vertical.
We rose into the air, and I felt Sundance trying to tuck her legs in as much as she could. I felt her hit the top rail with her hooves. The pole disappointingly fell to the ground with a loud thud as we touched down onto the ground. I patted Sundance's neck.
"Good try, girl", I murmured to her. Clapping outside the ring startled me, and I turned in my saddle to see Ryan watching me from outside the ring. I turned Sunny and trotted over to him.
"Not bad, Tay." He said. I grimaced.
"Can you put that rail back up and raise the jumps a notch?" I asked him. He nodded and jogged over to the jumps. I waited for him to raise them all and move aside before I turned Sundance back to the course. I squeezed her into a smooth canter, and we swept around the ring. We cantered around the arena twice before I pointed her towards the first vertical. Together we popped over it with easy despite it's height. We flew over the second vertical and approached the oxer. Under me, Sundance was focused and pricked her ears as we cleared the jump with inches to spare. We powered towards the wall, and this time, Sunny didn't try to duck out. She quietly followed my signals as I pushed her into a longer stride.
We rocketed over the wall, Sundance's muscles rippling under her flawless coat. Without hesitation, we headed for the triple. I aimed her at the first jump, and together we leaped over it with ease. I pulled gently on the reins as Sundance tried to speed up. My mare got a little too much air over the second jump, and we landed a little heavier than normal. Sundance tripped but quickly regained her footing. We rose into air on the last bar of the triple, and I held my breath as we soared over the jump.
I exhaled with relief as we touched down solidly. I turned in my saddle to see the last bar of the triple wavering in its cup. I smiled in relief and rubbed Sunny's neck in praise.The mare snorted and tossed her mane proudly.
"That's definitely one of your best rides. Sundance looked great; she followed all your cues perfectly", Ryan called. I smiled.
"Thanks, Ry. I'd better call it quits for the day though. We've been working for over an hour already", I called back to him. I urged Sundance into a trot and we exited the ring. I stopped her and dismounted, before leading my mare into the barn. I hooked her into a pair of cross ties and unfastened her girth. I pulled her saddle off her sweaty back and gently lifted the bridle over her head. She spit the bit out and stamped a foot as I went to go put her tack away.
