Jump, Damn It!

    "Are you kidding me?" Aubrey's distressed tone filled the indoor, dissuading any other riders from entering during her lesson.

    "Bring her around in a circle and approach it again. Show her the crop if you need to." Isabella instructed from the center of the ring.

    Aubrey had been fighting with Boxer for most of their lesson, but the mare showed no interest in practicing the course. Each time they approached the beginner sized verticals, the mare stopped short or stepped around the jump. It seemed like her skill in cross country had failed to transfer to the showjumping ring. This attempt was no different. Just before the jump, ignoring the sight of Aubrey's crop, Boxer slammed on the breaks, throwing her rider forward. 

    "Damn it!" Spurred by Aubrey's sudden outburst, the mare tossed her head up, lifting her front legs in a half rear. "What is wrong with you today?!"

    "Alright, take a deep breath and walk a lap. We're going to try something else." Isabella, patient and collected as always, stepped out of the center of the ring to adjust the closest jump. There were six low jumps spread out around the ring in a simple course. It was meant to train Boxer on jumping a course, rather than to push her jumping abilities. Isabella had a feeling the mare hadn't appreciated the lackluster obstacles, though. With the knowledge that the mare was jumping much larger jumps on the cross country field, she bumped the jump up to a meter in height. Hopefully, this would entice the mare enough that she would actually go over it.

    "When you're ready," Isabella called, returning to the center of the ring, "pick up a left lead canter and go ahead and take her over the jump I've just adjusted."

    Without speaking, Aubrey gave a curt nod and urged Boxer into a brisk canter. She circled to adjust her lead, then shortened her reins and approached the jump. Three strides away. Two. Boxer launched herself over the top rail with ample space between her and the jump. Her feet touched down on the other side, her ears perked up, and she seemed to be seeking out the next obstacle to clear. 

    "Good, keep her going! Go over the oxer! Don't let her stop short, push her over it."

    With the mare's energy back up, Aubrey followed the course to the second jump. Boxer's energy faltered at the height of the smaller jump, but she popped over it all the same. Before the mare could lose her zest, Aubrey slowed her to a trot, stopping her in the middle of the ring alongside Isabella. 

    "Talk about go big or go home! Did you see how much space was between us and that first jump?"

    A small smile found its way onto the showjumper's lips. "You two did well. It seems like she just needs something challenging, or it isn't worth her time." Isabella patted Boxer's neck, praising the sweaty mare. "Let's end here for today, next time we'll work with bigger jumps so that she feels a bit more challenged."

    "Works for me," Aubrey laughed, relieved that her horse hadn't turned out to be a dud in the showjumping ring. "You'd better watch out, Isabella, we'll be beating you and Venti in no time at all."