First bareback jump

 This weekend brought some much needed r&r.  Saturday we did an XC schooling at the Meadows and it was a great outing. Hemie's right drift issue came up multiple times, which was good because it gave me practice addressing it (LEFT rein! right leg! turn left if you have to!). He didn't get overly frustrated or dramatic which is nice because means both of us are working on this issue as a team.We had a lot of fun, and even did our very first jump going solidly downhill. Hemie and I stayed balanced and uphill. :)

Sunday I went out the barn just to do a quick visit, applying the Keratex hoof hardener (you apply every day for the first week). It was a lovely day and I decided to do a little bareback ride. Hemie was a great sport, and we cruised around the facility while working on him being forward into my hand.

The jumps in the upper arena were set super low, so I decided to hang in there for a bit and have a conversation with my guts about bareback jumping. We went for it:

 

 For the last week or so, we've added a new piece of tack to our jumping rides - a neck strap. It was recommended to me by a very successful local eventer, and it sure has come in handy a few times.