Some of the super cool eventer folk at my barn started making a few cross country jumps around the property (I hereby volunteer to help make more!) and I of course can’t resist anything that looks like it might be fun to jump over. So last night I dug out my old XC vest and took The Beast out for an adventure.
We started small with a teeny little ramp, which he was not so very impressed about. Then we moved on to the bigger pile of rail road ties. He wasn’t that impressed with those either, but it did inflate his ego enough to where the last time over it he did a gleeful gallop away then promptly spooked at a pole sitting by the arena fence. Sadly there isn’t video of that part but trust me it was funny. It was kind of a “I am HENRY, conqueror of all things! Ahhhhh, horse eating pole, run away!” type of moment.
HenryXC1 from amanda chance on Vimeo.
Then we walked over to the skinny log jump. It’s hard to tell on the video but the approach makes for a pretty narrow jump, with a tree trunk on one side and lots of bushy weedy stuff on the other. Henry marched over towards it feeling more and more excited with himself. I let him walk past it a couple times to get a good look at the takeoff and landing (there was little room for error in either direction due to the width). When I cantered to it I could feel him just light up. And the more he jumped it, the more proud of himself he got.
HenryXC2 from amanda chance on Vimeo.
By the time we were done he STRUTTED back to the barn like he just won Rolex. I couldn’t help but laugh at him, Henry rarely looks excited about anything that isn’t edible. Pretty sure he told all his horse friends that William Fox-Pitt was coming to pick him up tomorrow and take him to WEG.
He’ll be available for autograph signing this weekend, cuz he’s a pretty big deal y’all. Those three little XC jumps feel totally conquered by the great and powerful Henry.
Maybe there will be a few baby events in his future to add a little levity to our jumper lifestyle?
breedrideevent.com 
do you always travel with an entourage to record your rides? i’d like to get in on that (or, actually, maybe not!).
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I wish I had an entourage. 😛 My friend Amy likes to take pictures/video so she usually comes out a time or two every week to play with the ponies and her camera. I love her.
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I totes need a friend like that!
Looking great as always lady!
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Oh, XC. Hmmm . . . now if y’all build a bank jump, I might come play. I always did like those.
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Well, the landing side of the railroad ties is higher than the takeoff… does that partially count?
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Sure! Can you jump back down it?
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Uh sure? Lol
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it rides up and down–i can attest to it! and it rides really well both ways!
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Looks so fun!!! Max and I did a starter trial once (we’re hunters at heart) and it was actually super lax and fun! It was a nice change – I’d recommend it 🙂
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It is definitely a lot more “chill” type of atmosphere
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Of course Henry showed those jumps who’s boss! Good luck at WEG Henry, I think it’s only slightly more difficult, you got this!
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Pffft, WEG is pretty much the same… 😉
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Basically. It’s just in a different country.
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Great video! You absolutely should do some schooling derbies (more affordable than registered horse trials) since he clearly loves it so much =)
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I think there are a couple derbies around here. But I probably need to take him REAL XC schooling first. He might not put his princess feet in water.
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Yessssssss………..
Come to the dark side……………. =D
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Just one foot. The other foot stays in jumperland.
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I’m with Equine Snob. COME TO THE DARK SIDE!!! We have cookies. And also a lot of margaritas. 😉
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I’ve been on the dark side before. 😉 I do quite like the company there, but I’m not so into the dressage thing.
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XC is the most fun ever, especially for my horse, who is this nice calm dressage diva until we go xc and she turns into a leaping, snorting, bucking monster. A monster who jumps everything with gusto, so I don’t moan. Well worth the occasional near-death experience, and I find that the horses find xc jumps less scary than the humans do; probably because they’re usually not colourful.
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this is awesome sauce! Henry looks like he owns the place
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He thought he did!
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Henry looks like an old hat on the XC “field!” What a fun idea to build jumps around the property!
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Them eventers are crafty! 😉
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Aw, he looks so pleased with himself! ❤
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Way too pleased. I really wish I’d taken a picture of his face.
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Looking fabulous! I’m going XC schooling next weekend 😀
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Jealous!
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Hen-biscuit! So fancy 😉
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or Hen-cookie? Or Ballyhen Castle? Or Hen and Juice?
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Go Henry go! 🙂 You both look like you’re having a blast
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Only a month left ’till USEA Championships – and it IS in Texas!
Looks like fun!
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soooo… Intermediate? Advanced? 😉 Totally kidding, BN is enough for me when the jumps don’t fall down.
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He’s proud lol !!
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Funnn videos! If a picture is worth a thousand words. . . your videos got me thinking. . . maybe one day, after I find my next horse, I could try a mini-event. You guys make the XC fences look so simple, fun, not like death traps. I too have a thing about fences that don’t fall if they get hit. Cool stuff. And I saw your DIY makeover of the riding helmet. Very Martha Stewart meets HGTV. Impressive!
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Thanks! I do have a healthy respect for fences that don’t fall down…
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Yes yes come event, sooooooo fuuuunnnnn! I am totally jealous of your green fields and xc jumps!
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