Neat with is feet. Fred Astaire was very neat with his feet but I am talking about a horse being neat with his feet. For those of you who are in the hunter and jumper disciplines you will know what it means and why it matters. Here is a photographic explanation. Look at Biasini’s front legs . They are neatly tucked up and even. One leg or one foot is not hanging lower, nor is one in front of the other. This is a very small jump but the neat feet still matter. Dropping one leg or foot could result in a trip up over the fence. The end result of a trip up over a fence can be the horse and rider somersaulting to the ground. Disaster! Neat with his feet is important!

Lynsey Rowan took Biasini over a couple of fences this week for a change of pace for him. He enjoys the jumping and it is a break from dressage. Lynsey is riding Biasini in a loose ring snaffle bit. I am lucky to have Lynsey, who is Belinda’s assistant trainer, available to jump Biasini. It has been too many years ago that I was jumping horses and I would not be doing a good job of it if I went back now. Lynsey is a former event rider who now does dressage and at the moment is riding two horses at the top dressage levels. But I think she enjoys popping on Biasini for a bit of jumping.

And now you know the meaning and importance of being “neat with his feet“.
Nancy Merrills Photo a Week Challenge “Motion”
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