The Course That Started It All

Chapter 3

I started warming Infinity up by walking two laps each way around the arena. Once I walked, I trotted then I cantered. His stride is so much bigger than Opal's and it was hard to get used to. I got done cantering and headed up to the arena. The jumps looked to be set at two-foot. Which was weird because the next class was two foot three. I asked Amber which class I was in and she said you'll see, listen for your name. I knew there was no point in arguing, so I sit there on Infinity just waiting. Finally, I heard my name called but I didn't know what class it was.

Amber walked me toward the gate, and while she did she told me not to worry about the height or class and that he will jump it just do the course just like you would ride Opal in eighteen inches. I said ok and was confused until I saw the fences. They were set at three feet. I had only ever jumped three foot once before now. As Infinity and I entered the arena I felt him tense up at the sound of the announcer calling our name but pushed him forward into a trot. Halfway around my opening circle, I asked him to pick up a canter and he did it as soon as I asked.

Now onto the course which was first outside into a diagonal to a rollback diagonal line which was four strides. Then to a three-foot oxer single spread. Then over the jump between the two diagonals and rollback to the outside line second fence. Next, do the outside line in six strides and finish with a closing circle.