First time out BN -- Gush moment. =)

Yea we had a moment of "oh mom you meant this fence" I think it's a brown one in SJ. It didn't seem so bad while riding, but the photos look really bad. He doesn't have a natural good form, but it's improved since last year.

Not all Hunter riders do the lay on the neck thing... it's all just bad coaching. Your catch riders and top riders are some of the best riders I've met, they get perfect striding, a round jump and a pretty overall picture all over 3' + fences. But it takes the right coach and training to do so. I give props to my first trainer making us ride without stirrups all winter. Probably why I'm also comforable with the longer length. But I def need to shorten them for galloping.

Well you had a very good trainer then! My trainer was very adament about proper form and we did tons of longing lessons constantly with no stirrups or hands to have proper form. Unfortunately the trainer that took over came from a ducking trainer. I maintained my form as well as I could but it did falter for awhile! Although some of the students ducked so bad they had to lean to the side of the horse!!! Scares me when I see some hunters (and jumpers, don't want to sound like its only hunters!), especially the young kids, ducking like that! I hold my breath every time! So where do you tend to do your trials? Im in Va and I know a lot of people who do eventing go up to MD and PA a lot.

Honestly I don't know how those that duck to the side stay on. The first time I saw it I thought the rider was looking at their foot or something.

Our barn competes at FairHill a lot, Bucks horse park, Lock moy( sp? I haven't gone there), Burgundy Hollow, Radnor and some hunter/jumper shows where ever we can find them. I love Fairhill and Bucks. We have a lot of young kids in our barn so we don't wander too far from home.

I don't wander far from home now that I tow my own horse since I am on my own instead of riding with a show barn anymore ;D I've heard loch moy is awesome! I don't know if ill travel up there this year though, maybe next who knows. I've heard of fairhill too and it seems nice. Ill probably stick to local places this year for eventing and jumpers due to money but hopefully ill start traveling a little more :)

Everyone says wonderful things about Loch Moy... I may tag along with the next time they go out.

Loch Moy is incredible. My coach designs their courses, so I'll definitely be going to one of their H.T.s this summer!

Congrats! Moving up levels and not completely failing is always a great feeling, HAHA ;)
Eventing seems so cool, I've never done it but I think I would like to try sometime!!!

Strange-- I have a feeling we'll be seeing a lot of each other this year.

The smallest victories are celebrated here. We ended the season last year by getting "talented jumper" on our dressage test. =/ Never again... lol.

Lol I bet we will!
Are you going to Seneca on June 17-18?

Might be if I can find someone else to trailer with. Looks like I'm grooming for the recognized HT @ Fairhill too. Yay... braiding.