only_me
Well-Known Member
Woke up at stupid Oclock (4.30am
) and woke up a very surprised Merlin
not a good combination when you have been at an 18th party night before till 12
Was looking forward to my 2nd novice
Arrived at event a little earlier than planned (dad thought we were going 30 mins south of where we were meant to go
) but walked SJ which seemed HUGE
and got numbers etc. and put studs in.
Warmed up nicely for dressage, albeit with some tantrums of I dont want to go on bit/bend/go low in canter but walked and then started again, where he was much more relaxed
my friend was the 1st one in, but started the test and judge beeped her
the judge had the wrong test so she (and the rest of us) had to wait for AGES till they got score sheets, and she was marked very harshly and unfairly to get 49.5
it was a nice enough test, she deserved high 30s we thought. I then re-warmed up Merlin (my plan of a short warm up went to pieces
) and he felt relaxed and collected (fancy term for not having as much impulsion as judge wanted
)nice test, was the 120, got 8s for both my give and retake over x in canter
(very pleased about that!) and Merlin kept listening me and was obedient, so very pleased (and shocked) to get a score of 33.3
which left me in 2nd place after dressage!!!!
The show jumping here seems to cause the most problems no idea why, it just does
but warmed up quietly enough and with lots of enthusiasm from Merlin who felt the need to overjump the jumps by about 50cm every time
my knees where starting to hurt
watched a few go, then I went in! He over jumped fences 1, 2 and 3. We met all the jumps on a great stride (me very
) and Merlin was a star he tried very hard and kept all the poles up! So clear SJ
the only clear in my class
he loves his jumping
Then walked Xc, seemed tricky enough, some big questions, there was a big log before water but it had brush on it so the horses couldnt see the landing, only the water this caused a lot of problems! Then there was a corner skinny fence type thing which you could do straight through (jumping on an acute angle) on 2 strides, or curve it and do 3 strides. Then the 2nd water jump was skinny log in, in water sharp turn right up bank to skinny log, and a massive hedge/log type thing. Then the biggest question a 1 stride up bank to log drop which was GINORMAS, 2 strides to an angled skinny cottage
So set off on a very determined merlin for once! He was quick off the mark and really got galloping
some of my galloping work seems to be helping
I could feel him being VERY powerful and it showed popped no.1 which was a step up, got a FANTASTIC stride to no.2, he was incredibly powerful, jumped up the bank with ditch in front, bounced and jumped down it over the brush (which concealed the landing) jumped the skinny walls 3ab lovely
no. 4 was a hole in the hedge fine. I got ready in case he backed off no.5 which was the 1st water (log brush cant see landing) but I neednt have worried
he was fab, he backed off it a little to get a better look but he kept on going forwards and actually CANTERED through the water this time
jumped next hedge fence great, then the skinnies
I decided that we were here to jump a challenge so we should go for it I jumped them on the acute angle in a perfect 2 strides
he made it feel impossibly easy
he then took off a stride early to the tiger trap thing
and landed running
then the 2nd water he again made it seem incredibly easy!! Jumped the skinny in, turned right sharply and up the bank to the skinny no problems
so then kicked on to the big hole in the hedge fence, no worries. Then ditch in front of upright, again no problems
then backhanded to the big hedge/log/bank thing, which he took off a bit early to ( he was practising being brave and bold
) and launched himself at it
he tried to bank the hedge
but stayed up due to the contact I had on his mouth, and recovered and then jumped the parallel great
then gallop to the trakener/not a trakener jump which we took at an acute angle ( I like this jumping fences on an angle malarkey
) fine, two logs in wood (where I got thumped by a stray branch
) then upright palisade sharp right to 3rd and final water, great down the steps and straight into the water, 2 strides and up step where he stumbled on landing, held him together short 1 stride and up the final big step. Jumped the palisade with ditch in front great
Pics:
Coming down the steps
Holding him together after the stumble (excuse my lower leg it was a case of cling on
)
Then the bank
it was GINORMUS
attacked it, Merlin was absolutely fantastic!
he popped up, popped down like it was nothing and then jumped the cottage beautifully
he was mega
the final log and gallop to the finish
Merlin seems to be the type that goes Ok, done that one, wheres the next?
We went double clear at our 2nd novice
thats 2 double clears at novice I have only done 2 novices
so I have qualified for Ballygraffen CIC* next spring
The best bit? I came 2ND!!
thats 5 shiny points Merlin is now officially a novice eventer
Woop!!!! More pictures to follow
Can you tell Im pleased?
Merlin is my first horse, and I have produced him myself (with help of instructors/lessons etc
) and its our first ever season eventing
Sorry for such self indulgence but strawberries and cream for those who got this far
Arrived at event a little earlier than planned (dad thought we were going 30 mins south of where we were meant to go
Warmed up nicely for dressage, albeit with some tantrums of I dont want to go on bit/bend/go low in canter but walked and then started again, where he was much more relaxed
The show jumping here seems to cause the most problems no idea why, it just does
Then walked Xc, seemed tricky enough, some big questions, there was a big log before water but it had brush on it so the horses couldnt see the landing, only the water this caused a lot of problems! Then there was a corner skinny fence type thing which you could do straight through (jumping on an acute angle) on 2 strides, or curve it and do 3 strides. Then the 2nd water jump was skinny log in, in water sharp turn right up bank to skinny log, and a massive hedge/log type thing. Then the biggest question a 1 stride up bank to log drop which was GINORMAS, 2 strides to an angled skinny cottage
So set off on a very determined merlin for once! He was quick off the mark and really got galloping
he then took off a stride early to the tiger trap thing
Pics:
Coming down the steps
Holding him together after the stumble (excuse my lower leg it was a case of cling on
Then the bank
We went double clear at our 2nd novice
The best bit? I came 2ND!!
Woop!!!! More pictures to follow
Can you tell Im pleased?
Sorry for such self indulgence but strawberries and cream for those who got this far
