3rd ever event report and a WWYD

[Starbucks]

Did our 2nd 80 and 3rd ever event on my 5yo today. Before I go into detail let me tell you about our perpetration in the week - it did not go well!

We went to Somerford XC schooling and she was great over everything except for this one ditch and I could just not get her over it!!! She normally doesn't even look at ditches but it was more difficult than she's done before. So this is my WWYD in this situation? Eventually managed to lead her over and nearly got jumped on, then after a bit more struggling she jumped it with me on and after about an hour was jumping it confidently but I'm not sure the leading was the best approach and I'm not feeling good about the whip use to get her over it!! But I did get her over! But would it have been better to give up? WWYD?

So onto today, was feeling a bit down after the XC schooling so really wanted a good day as having a little break after this. Walked the course and nothing too complicated but a few things she's not seen before (no ditches, yay!).

Dressage, so it was windy, rainy and cold hardly get her to shift! Really not off my leg at all which I was disappointed with because thought we were improving with that. She behaved at least but made a small mistake in the walk from me not understanding the test properly. She got 31.8 but it was a generous section so about mid-board. Not bad but could do better!

SJ was quite easy but she is quite bold and not that careful SJ so could well have had a fence or two! She was a bit too chilled in the warm up again so wasn't feeeling full of hope but she cherped up when we went in and really tried for me! So a nice clear if a bit messy.

Straight down to XC, warmed up better and seemed like she was enjoying herself now! Set off to number one and had a little look so I think I started riding really positively and she flew round! Felt confident for her to bowl on and jump out of her stride for another clear!

Went to look at the results and there were some real cricket scores, she was the only one to finish on her dressage score and 1 of 2 to finish inside the time! So we managed to pull up to finish 3rd!! Yay!

So she's in the good books again now. Clever girl foxy! Plan now is to have a little break then have lots of lessons and work on dressage and SJ aiming to be ready for BE90 in the spring.

Thanks for reading!

 

[mudmonkey17]

Well done sounds like a great day x

 

[j1ffy]

Well done, sounds like a great day out and a fab result!

Re: ditches, I don't think there's anything wrong with leading over it. If you look at a lot of schooling advice, they suggest leading over with a long line / lunge line to begin with and slowly build up. My boy suddenly went ditchy at a schooling session earlier this year, he'd been fine before and I casually went to walk over a ditch on a long rein and he flatly refused. Got there eventually with a fair amount on struggling through the entire session. Then the next time we schooled he was perfect again..! So maybe try not to overthink it and see how it goes next time.

 

[Embo]

Great report and great result, well done!

 

[dixie]

Well done.

I don't think there's anything wrong with leading over ditches. In fact its preferable when they've had a wobble and if you're not able to release quickly when they do go, which is very difficult when they leap over. I've done this with two horses and both went on to jump ditches very well. Also I believe I've seen a couple of videos of someone in Ireland lunging horses round a xc course. As long as you make it fun and not pressurised its got to be better than trying to force them over whilst you're on their back. I'm sure its just a blip and he'll be fine.