My entry to Southern Pines 1 is in and it’s time to get fit! I took Oh So for his first gallop on Sunday at Morningside and he was really loving it. I was beginning to get worried about our abilities like I always do at the beginning of the season, but as we galloped up the hillside and I sat up to balance him, I could feel that we hadn’t missed a beat. Sure, we might need to go back to a stronger bit, but he was (sort of) listening and felt ready to go.

We did a short jump school in the ring with Lisa before we went out. That’s where I’m still a little worried, because we haven’t jumped prelim height since December. But, the things we have been doing over smaller fences has been good. We’ve been doing gymnastics, bending lines, skinnies and related distances. I just need the practice at the bigger heights. He was quite nice and soft on Sunday though, so that left me with a good feeling.

I’m going to try to get him out every ten days for a gallop depending on the weather. I’m heading off to Rocking Horse horse trials in Florida for a couple of days for COTH, so my dressage trainer Nicky is going to ride him for me while I’m gone.

I’ve just realized that there are no combined tests before Southern Pines and that also has me worried. There is a local jumper show on March 2 that I might consider going to, and we’re entered in a dressage show in the 24th. So far, this winter has been kind of a bust as far as getting out and about.

I’ll try to check in from Florida in a few days. It should be interesting!

***The photos at the top are of me and Sam schooling over the weekend. I actually popped him over an 18″ jump last week for fun and he turned back into his fire-breathing former self, which was fun.