An instructor friend of mine said he was taking a group out to Kooralbyn to do some cross country. He said some of them were beginners and they wanted to work on their seat and do some of the intro jumps and maybe some prelim stuff and would I like to come and take some of them. Since I am still new to coaching, I only have a small client base and thought I would have a few of my students come along, and take my two competitive horses along.
So off I went, two horses in tow, all the way out to Kooralbyn for the weekend.
Now, as I said, it was quite a long time ago that I actually rode a cross country, and, I had upgraded my horse, who usually jumps big, and she hooted over the brush about two foot higher than necessary, and, I simply cant jump that big! so, I fell off. And, got carted off by the ambos..... I was fine, bit stiff and sore, a few bruises and such, but not too bad really. Scared myself silly, since I had only found out I was pregnant days before.
Of course, I forgot about all this in my planning to go to Kooralbyn.
I even scoffed at myself when I got butterflies coming over the last few rises before you pull into Kooralbyn. I told everyone how I must be reacting like Pavlov's dogs, because I felt like I was coming to a comp, where I always got butterflies over those two hills.
I got on my horse, lovely girl that she is. She never refuses, always jumps clear, and she is just a really lovely ride.
My group was all saddled up and we were ready to go. We walked over to the course, did a bit of a warm up, and they all popped over the pre-intro, the intro, and a couple did the pre-lim pipes. They did really well, I smiled at the couple that had that look in their eyes, you know the one, the OMG can I REALLY do this? Really? are you SURE? and over they went any way, so brave :)
Sarah and Bizzy (That horse can JUMP)
Once they had all had their turns, and were ready to move on to the next, I popped my girl into canter and cantered into the first jump. OMG, three strides out, and then, they kicked in. Those butterflies were back. Thank god for my horse, or I would have stopped at the first little pipe! "Don't be silly", I thought, and round I went and came into the next size up. Again! there they were again! those sneaky little butterflies!
Kelly and Sky
By the next set of jumps, I was starting to feel worried, what am I going to do? I don't know if I can actually do this anymore! and I'm trying to show these students how to do it! I pushed on, and jumped a few more, but ended the day really feeling a bit disappointed in myself. I always used to get scared prior to competing, but, now that I have kids, and a baby, the fear is nearly overwhelming. Its amazing the amount of disastrous thoughts that can go through your mind in two strides. Thoughts of children growing up without their mother, or not being able to see them while I recover in hospital . . . . . . gosh it is terrifying.
The next day, I rode my other horse, he is a lower level horse, who is not as trustworthy as my mare, but he is still capable of jumping more than what i was going to face him to. Most of my students had only been there for the first day, so I only had one with me, and her Mum on another horse as camera girl. I am glad for that, because I know them quite well, and was quite comfortable to let them know that I was scared!
Kelly and Mocha
Bronte and Sky
He turned out more trustworthy than I remember, didn't stop once :) even though the first time at each jump, I am sure I must have looked awful, by the third go, it was feeling great again.
So, we did ok that day, I felt better by the end, but definitely need a few more runs before we go off to a comp again. Just jump it, and jump it, and jump it, and jump it, until . . the butterflies are dead, and my wings have returned.
