Gia - session 439 - jumping at CDP with Hayley

 Gia and I made our way back to CDP today for a jump lesson with Hayley.  We warmed up with our usual stretching, bending and leg yielding at the walk and trot.  She was a bit looky, but not too bad, and not naughty.

Once we started jumping, Hayley wanted me to work on letting go of the connection between me and Gia, and not "helping" her as much in front of the jumps.  She had us trot until we were on approach to the jump, and then walk.  We had to walk until we were about 12 feet from the jump, and then I squeezed her into the trot again.  Then it was up to Gia to take care of herself over the jump.  In the beginning it was quite awkward.  Gia didn't quite know what to do without my connection and "help".  However, after just a few jumps, she figured out what she needed to do, and started to carry herself, quite nicely, over the jumps.  She even started to canter off in a nice, balanced way, although only to the left.  After Gia figured things out over a crossrail, Hayley had us jump a good sized vertical, and then a small gymnastic, consisting of a small X to a decent oxer.  Each time, I had to come in from a walk, and only pick up the trot from a few feet away.  By the end, Gia had several really good quality jumps in a row, and a really nice canter!

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