Lesson!

I'll update later, but first I had to share this :) 

Ok, time to actually post about my lesson! I felt like it was a little bit rough, mostly because it was only my second time riding in 2+ weeks, so I just felt discombobulated and like I wasn't quite going with Limerick. However, looking back and watching the videos that my awesome barn buddy Liz took for me, it wasn't nearly as bad looking as it felt. S was awesome, as always, and I think she'll be really good for us. We started out working on the flat, because Limerick has been really resistant to any kind of contact since coming back to work, almost like he's locking his jaw... We're also kind of all over the place in the canter, but it's getting better with each ride. We did WTC each direction and then started with one baby cross rail. Then a small course of cross rails, then a bigger course of cross rails, and then a course of verticals!! I keep thinking HOLY CRAP, how did I jump that and not freak out?! But at this point, I know that Limerick will jump pretty much anything I point him at, so for some reason I didn't get nervous. The only thing I really struggled with was S telling me not to get in two-point ahead of time... I understand the concept of being "thrust out of the saddle" by your horse's jump, but actually putting that concept into action is harder than it sounds! I kept feeling like I was pulling on his mouth, which I don't want to do, even though he's a total saint about it and doesn't put a toe out of line. Nevertheless, I asked S if she could help, so the very last jump (one single vertical), I slid my hands up his neck and the whole thing felt much smoother. Overall, I was happy with it and Limmers was such a good boy :) Now for the videos: