Gunner's 1st attempt at clear round at Merrist Wood!

[casper_cb]

This evening in the pouring rain my Mum very kindly drove gunner, who's 4, over to Merrist Wood for me as I was working in the tack shop opposite. At 5.30 I nipped across the road. He looks so little in the lorry compared to my other boys, he's not grown, still 15hh. He was a dream to tack up, lead out the lorry calmly and let me climb on. Marched round to the warm up as if he'd been there before. Was very good about the other horses warming up. At home canter leads are random - today he was getting the correct leads.

1st cross pole - you'd have thought he'd never seen a SJ before in his life, stopped dead then leapt off all 4 legs and made it to the other side - I very nearly didn't. 2nd attempt not too much better. Then it clicked - he was meant to be jumping and little gunner did not look back! :) Popped over the spread perfectly. :D

Went into the ring, did not spook at a thing. Trotted him in a circle, picked up canter and off we went. He's not seen any of the jumps before and he was fab.

Video below:

YouTube - Gunner Clear round at Merrist Wood

So so so so proud of my little man. It's the biggest he's ever jumped.
Thank you for looking. Comments, suggestions, advice welcome.

[Anni~Bell]

Its actually wierd seeing you jump little jumps :lol:
He really looks like a superstar in the making!

[CautionToTheWind]

He looks great :)

Bless him he starts to tire by the end, but he went great nonetheless! Well done Gunner! :D

[casper_cb]

Its actually weird seeing you jump little jumps :lol:
He really looks like a superstar in the making!

Looking at the course they jumps looked pretty diddy, compared to jumping the other boys, but cantering towards them, not 100% sure we'd take off, believe me they looked a lot bigger. Also I was thinking gunner's a good 6 - 8 inches smaller than my other boys, which in my head means gunner jumping 2'9" is equal to Prince jumping 3'5" and Oscar doing 3'3"!

[casper_cb]

He looks great :)

Bless him he starts to tire by the end, but he went great nonetheless! Well done Gunner! :D

Thank you. He was pooped poor boy. I think mentally as well as physically. He's got his first prelim dressage test this weekend. EEekkk!

[Grey Haven]

Aww he did so well - bless him in the triple trying to sort this strides out!!!

He's so honest what a good boy - how high do you think he'll make in the end?

[casper_cb]

Aww he did so well - bless him in the triple trying to sort this strides out!!!

He's so honest what a good boy - how high do you think he'll make in the end?

I think he's probably not going to grow any more, just fill out. He's still unshod, so I think maybe he'll make it to 15.1hh when shod. Jump height wise I really don't know. As he's so bold it would be so easy to push him up in height too early, it's easy to mistake boldness with confidence. Planning on sticking at 2'6" for the moment.

[IcarusGirl]

Looking at the course they jumps looked pretty diddy, compared to jumping the other boys, but cantering towards them, not 100% sure we'd take off, believe me they looked a lot bigger. Also I was thinking gunner's a good 6 - 8 inches smaller than my other boys, which in my head means gunner jumping 2'9" is equal to Prince jumping 3'5" and Oscar doing 3'3"!

Haha, welcome to my world! The challenge is getting over the jump - not the height!

He does look very sweet. Bless him for trying to sort himself out in the triple!

[gem]

Ohhhh I want!! He looks like a little diamond. And those baby steps when he's trying to figure out his striding are so familiar :) Right up my street.

[Cobby Keri]

bless him trying his heart out.