Girlracer
Well-Known Member
So last Sunday we ventured off to a local unaffiliated event at Elmwood Equestrian, it was a nice course asking a few questions, probably one of the bigger 80s we have jumped.
So as some of you who have seen previous posts may know, dressage is a phase that is attended through necessity rather than capability or indeed enjoyment. The lack of enjoyment was somewhat accentuated by the slightly unorthodox use of the centre line in the BE97 test, and the last minute (i.e as I trotted round the arena) realisation that actually you couldn't have a caller either.
My spirits were lifted as we trotted down the centre line and turned left at X some what resembling 'on the bit', this was of course short lived as we struck off on the right leg on our left rein canter and practiced our XC gallop down the long side, a tactical comment of 'rather onward' and 44.5 in a harshly marked section (11 riders had a sub 40 score, I think that counts as harshly marked, either that or the organiser had ordered her sections based on dressage ability) actually put us about mid field.
So the necessary bits out of the way, and on to the Show Jumping, which provides us considerably more enjoyment. So, ordinarily this is a fairly reliable phase, albeit a 4 fault phase... except at our last event where King had clearly mistaken coloured poles for brush fences and we came home with 12 faults.
I will be honest now we are fancy and have an arena at home, we have been practicing... I feel like a bit of a cheat now.
I have also become almost as unorthodox as BE97, and as one of Kings pet hates is you advising of speed and direction via his mouth I have inadvertently taught him to slow down off his neck strap, this has happened slightly because I am too much of a wuss to let go of it. I had taken it off at Offchurch, as everyone kept telling me to stop holding it, and of course that resembled the Grand National.
So anyway, cut a long story short, we jumped a balanced and in control clear round - our first clear round in fact - thank you Mr neck strap.
I know what you're thinking, this is all going rather well isn't it?
Could this be the day that they actually manage to complete 3 whole phases without embarrassing themselves, might they even bring home a rossie?
Do not worry folks, I would really hate to disappoint, so here is a slightly pixelated (thankfully) photo entitled "I am not a nappy horse, but everyone else seemed to be doing it and I like to follow the crowd so I thought I would try it out at fence two" - it's a punchy title, I know.
I'll be honest, I wasn't very good company for the rest of the day, especially after looking at the scoreboard and realising we would have in fact been placed fourth without the 'character building' 20 penalties bit at fence two.
Professional photo, for those interested
The next day, we went to my riding clubs clear round Show Jumping evening, where we confidently jumped a clear round over a 90 course. All is forgiven.
So we head to Moreton Morrell at the end of this month for the BRC ODE, could we complete 3 phases well on the same day?
Watch this space...
So as some of you who have seen previous posts may know, dressage is a phase that is attended through necessity rather than capability or indeed enjoyment. The lack of enjoyment was somewhat accentuated by the slightly unorthodox use of the centre line in the BE97 test, and the last minute (i.e as I trotted round the arena) realisation that actually you couldn't have a caller either.
My spirits were lifted as we trotted down the centre line and turned left at X some what resembling 'on the bit', this was of course short lived as we struck off on the right leg on our left rein canter and practiced our XC gallop down the long side, a tactical comment of 'rather onward' and 44.5 in a harshly marked section (11 riders had a sub 40 score, I think that counts as harshly marked, either that or the organiser had ordered her sections based on dressage ability) actually put us about mid field.
So the necessary bits out of the way, and on to the Show Jumping, which provides us considerably more enjoyment. So, ordinarily this is a fairly reliable phase, albeit a 4 fault phase... except at our last event where King had clearly mistaken coloured poles for brush fences and we came home with 12 faults.
I will be honest now we are fancy and have an arena at home, we have been practicing... I feel like a bit of a cheat now.
I have also become almost as unorthodox as BE97, and as one of Kings pet hates is you advising of speed and direction via his mouth I have inadvertently taught him to slow down off his neck strap, this has happened slightly because I am too much of a wuss to let go of it. I had taken it off at Offchurch, as everyone kept telling me to stop holding it, and of course that resembled the Grand National.
So anyway, cut a long story short, we jumped a balanced and in control clear round - our first clear round in fact - thank you Mr neck strap.
I know what you're thinking, this is all going rather well isn't it?
Could this be the day that they actually manage to complete 3 whole phases without embarrassing themselves, might they even bring home a rossie?
Do not worry folks, I would really hate to disappoint, so here is a slightly pixelated (thankfully) photo entitled "I am not a nappy horse, but everyone else seemed to be doing it and I like to follow the crowd so I thought I would try it out at fence two" - it's a punchy title, I know.
I'll be honest, I wasn't very good company for the rest of the day, especially after looking at the scoreboard and realising we would have in fact been placed fourth without the 'character building' 20 penalties bit at fence two.
Professional photo, for those interested
The next day, we went to my riding clubs clear round Show Jumping evening, where we confidently jumped a clear round over a 90 course. All is forgiven.
So we head to Moreton Morrell at the end of this month for the BRC ODE, could we complete 3 phases well on the same day?
Watch this space...
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thanks.