9/19/09
Miaren Schooling Cross Country

I have Miaren training with one of my trainer's students. Laura
is doing a great job with Miaren. They seem to get along just fine.
He might be a bit too sedate for her at times, but it's great
to see him jumping with another rider.
She called him steady and said he wasn't at all spooky. There
were a few times that he ignored her leg and didn't canter on when she asked,
but not freaking at the galloping riderless horses made up for it.
I've taken one dressage lesson on him since she's started working him, and he's the
same as when I rode last year. He learns and listens and is just a bit stubborn at times.
Seeing them makes me want to ride him, but I don't know if I'll go there again.
She pulled him off the trailer, and I didn't recognize him (the mask, didn't help, of course).
 

He's used to standing and tacking up just about anywhere.
Walking around by the trailer.
 
Everyone thinks he looks big. Not compared to my draft crosses, but I guess he's got substance.
A bit up after loose galloping horses came over to investigate, but no leaping or real excitement from him.
 
He reaches underneath himself in the canter.
Laura had no trouble with him.
 
He was a bit lazy, and sometimes needed to be pushed to go.
This was his first time out with a more confident rider jumping. When I'd take him, I'd maybe canter after a jump or two. They did quite a bit of running around.
 
He really seemed to attack the fences.
They put together 4 jumps in a row on a bending line with no trouble.
He didn't hesitate.
He seemed bored with the small jumps that were available out cross country.
Jumping more than he needed to, because he could.
Down and up the stair step banks weren't a problem.
He was a lot more perky about jumping something with a bit more substance.
He was happy to jump from a trot or canter stride. No rushing and landing at the same speed as the approach.
A little training at the end. We held him back and let the other horses leave the area. He trotted around a few circuits before relaxing to the walk. Then we let him walk to catch up.