J.O.P Stable: The Twin Saga (Book 2: Vortex)

Chapter 4:

I cringed as I watched the hard striped wooden pole on the four foot vertical tumble to the ground behind Gypsy.

Kendall sighed as she cantered the mare in a circle, pulling her to a trot and finally a walk. She dismounted and reset the pole.

We had been jumping for about half an hour, trying to solve Gypsy's lazy jumping problem. Carol had an emergency meeting with the rest of the Canadian Olympic Equestrian team via video chat, which meant she wasn't able to help us. We had asked Wendy when we came in if Gypsy looked off while Kendall warmed her up, but she had replied with the all clear gesture. After we started jumping, Kendall and I had checked all her tack and felt her legs, but nothing was off, so it was a hundred percent just her being lazy.

" Raise it again? " I suggested as I rode Onyx over to her. He tugged on the reins, shaking his head. He wanted to jump more than I had already put him through.

She nodded and raised the jump to a metre sixty. " I still don't think it's the height, but maybe if you and Onyx go first, then we go a few strides behind you it'll encourage her to do as good as him? "

" Ah, the old fake competition trick, ya, let's give it a try " I replied as I transitioned Onyx into a canter right away. I circled the jump as Kendall remounted and followed me. Once Onyx got a good look at the change in height I pointed him at the jump. The jump wasn't as high as the wall had been and I suddenly felt nervous.

I never felt nervous...

' What's happening to me? ' I thought, but quickly pushed the nervous thought's out of my mind and instead, busied myself counting strides.

4

3

2

1

Now!

I lifted out of the saddle and into a two point position as Onyx rocked back on his haunches and propelled over the jump. We landed smoothly on the other side. I smiled, the nerves disappearing.

" Good boy! " I told Onyx as I gave him a firm pat on his muscular neck. He snorted a reply, shaking out his mane. I slowed him to a walk and turned back to watch Kendall and Gypsy. Gypsy took off but her back hooves still knocked the rail hard and it tumbled behind them.

Kendall sighed in frustration as she pulled Gypsy up beside me.

" I'm stumped, sorry Kendall, we should just wait until Carol gets back... " I replied with a shrug. I was disappointed that I wasn't able to solve her lazy jumping problem.

" Or... "

We both turned to see Felix walking into the arena and over to the jump. He took the two poles from underneath the jump and put one 10 feet in front of the jump and one the same length away after the jump.

Ugh, I thought he said he didn't do this anymore...

" I said I don't ride anymore...that doesn't mean I don't know a thing or two about training... " Felix replied.

Oops, I guess I said what I was thinking...

He lowered the jump to about 2'6" before turning to Kendall and I.

" Bring her to this at a working canter. " He told Kendall. " Make sure you maintain a consistent rhythm. Don't try to make it the perfect take-off spot to the ground pole, instead, allow her to canter over the first ground pole in stride, jump the vertical, and then rock back on her hocks to re-balance so she can then canter over the second ground pole, then circle back and take it again "

Kendall looked over at me. I shrugged.

She shortened her reins and pushed Gypsy into a nice even paced canter, circling her a few times before rounding the corner and heading towards the line. Gypsy seemed to pick up her hooves more as she cantered over the ground pole, then sprung into the air, snapping her knee underneath her. As I watched, I saw the mare tuck her legs a bit tighter underneath her and stretch. When they landed, the jump remained still.