Dressage gives me body image issues, but it's cool because horses can jump

Ever since I was told I didn’t have Runoff between my aids enough, I’ve been warming up thinking flat work than preparation for grid work. I dropped my irons three holes and I’m starting to feel like I am sitting in a dressage saddle again, instead of the saddle designed for cross country that I am riding in. Also paying close attention to my hands, which Runoff reminds me of often, and maintaining a good degree of bend in my elbows, which Runoff thanks me for. She is a nice horse.

I’ve jumped three days a in a row, and I feel it. Only ‘badly’ in my abs, at it’s only bad when I vault of Runoff or Dolly and I have to stretch those muscles before hitting the ground from their tall backs. And it’s never really a bad thing to feel an ab work out, am I right? My lower leg feels a lot stronger, probably the strongest in the past seven or eight years I’ve been riding. I finally felt a difference when I put my leg on and my leg got longer rather than shortening, which was like a physical epiphany.  

Of things I am working on over fences: maintaining a solid leg that doesn’t slip back, and not jumping ahead of the horses. Both things are going well, and I’ve had lessons where I finish successfully, not just better. Given how stiff my arm is on the flat, I am surprised I didn’t hear anything about my release over the fences. When jumping Ami it’s hard to be soft in the elbow, because likes to rush the fences and won’t respect holding aids from my seat. I think she is mostly just happy to be jumping again, and then has a strong pony mentality to go along with that exuberance. I am sure she’ll resemble a hunter pony in no time, though. When I was warming up today Tom said she looked relaxed and obedient, which wasn’t exactly the story last week.

Jumping Runoff today was fantastic, possibly the best thing of my summer so far. She is just about the polar opposite of Ami, being big and in no hurry, and jumps around things all the time rather than diving at them half the time. It’s much easier to focus on keeping your lower leg in place or landing in a light seat when the horse you’re on isn’t trying to attack the fences. If I didn’t get something right the first time, on Runoff I was easily able to correct it by one or two more trips down the grid, which was a nice feeling. I didn't ever think I could enjoy riding something so big, but there it is. 

Oh, Benson is doing well! He loves it here (where does he not love it?) and his dog friends, Sophie the labradoodle, and Dexter the min-pin. They all run around outside like real dogs and come in and do this: