_MizElz_
Well-Known Member
Ellie and I took part in our second ODE on Sunday. I've been trying my best to get her fit for it, since she's had to have three weeks off for her back to recover after a nasty rub 
I ummed and ahhed until this time last week - when the entries closed - and decided to go for it, as she felt great at home and the ground wasnt too bad.
The day didnt start too well. Mum went out to load up the car, only to discover a screw embedded in her tyre. There was no way she could change the tyre on her own, so she rang the RAC...and they gave her an ETA of 11am - precisely the time of my dressage test! So I was resigned to yet another withdrawal, until my lovely YO stepped in and said he would change the tyre for her, if she could get the car to the yard. So against the odds, we made it there in the end!
Warm up for the dressage - a little rushed, to say the least - did not go well. Ellie freaked out at the super spooky flapping secretary's tent, and every time I put my leg on she shied violently. It was a total disaster, and I got so cross with her...only to discover that one of the dressage girth straps had twisted and was pinching her I felt so gutted that I'd shouted at her, and the minute we sorted the girth out, she went really sweetly, as if to say 'I was trying to tell you!' Poor girlie - she got half a packet of Polos as an apology
Our dressage test was, for us, pretty good. Don't get me wrong - we have virtually no bend, my position (as a dressage rider) is horrendous, and Ellie's canter gives the impression she is constantly searching for the next jump...! But she was far less resistant than she has been in the past, and we were at least accurate if nothing else. So I was pretty pleased
Onto the show jumping, and I nearly had heart failure when I went round the corner and saw the course. The organisers had decided to hold the SJ in the outdoor school due to the ground, which was fine - except I have a huge hang up about jumping within a confined space. I just about scraped round the SJ at our first ODE, which was held in a field - and looking at this up-to-height (ie. bigger than we have jumped in 6 years!) brought back all my demons. There was a tight double, several related distances, a water tray and a couple of spooky fillers, not to mention 10 fences crammed into an arena probably designed to hold 5. I was bricking it - Mum said afterwards that she was going to suggest I pull out, as I was as white as a sheet. But I owed it to Ellie to try, so we popped just two practice fences, and in we went.
My little mare flew. It was like the old 'us' - there was me, thinking we'd need to trot into each one, but Ellie had other ideas. I rode as positively as I have ever done in my life - if I have lost some of the skill I used to have as a rider, at least I have gained the ability to channel my nerves in a positive manner - and she didnt even touch a pole. She had a bit of a look at the water tray, but we were virtually over it by the time she realised what it was. The double was no problem, and she didnt look at the fillers at all - in fact she cantered round the whole course like a pro. I came out with the biggest grin on my face - I just couldnt believe we had actually done it! Not only had we gone clear, but it was a deserved clear - not a messy, wing and a prayer round like the last ODE. Mum had a tear in her eye when I came out - she realised how hard it had been, yet we had done it - and I was smiling!
After that, I couldnt wait for the XC. And as we set off, Ellie seemed to know where we were - she recognised the course from last time, and I barely needed to do a thing. I know it sounds crazy, but she knew that we had to turn sharp right after the wall to go up the staircase, not the slope; she [knew] that after the drop fence, we had to bear left rather than heading straight down to the water. She's just so clever, and I can honestly say it was one of the most exhilarating things I have ever done. We were so together, it was simply wonderful. I think we were both grinning as we galloped across the finish line!
I didnt carry a watch; I didnt know we could, if I'm honest. So I had no idea of our time, but I didnt care. The optimum was 6.24, fifteen seconds slower than the hunter trial earlier in the year (we were one and a half minutes over the time at the HT!) I had no concept of how fast or slow we may have gone. But it didnt matter, because I knew that even with a double clear, we'd be let down by our dressage! I had no hope of rosettes; I still maintain, that's not what I'm in it for these days.
We hung around for the results as I wanted to at least see what our dressage score was. Mum thought we may have sneaked 5th or 6th, but when the results were finally read out, our names didnt feature there - we looked at each other, shrugged and grinned - 'That bloody dressage!' So you can imagine our shock when we were read out as being in second place - Mum and I shrieked, before I rushed to the board to check it was actually for real.
We got 44 dressage - equal best ever, alongside the oh-so-familiar comment 'Your horse needs to go in a rounder outline to attain higher marks'. D'oh! Clear SJ, clear XC - but 6 time penalties, as we finished 30 seconds under the optimum time. And we were 2nd by only two marks...so in spite of my lack of initial competitive spirit, I was slightly peeved at this point that I hadnt worn a watch! But hey - at least I have a goal for next time!
I'm absolutely chuffed to bits - I'm so proud of Ellie, the showjumper who I always swore blind would be too spooky to ever go XC. How little I knew her; she's as bold XC as she is SJ, she simply needs to know that the rider on her back truly does want to do it - if she has my confidence, then she'll do anything for me.
I've now well and truly got the bug, and am frantically searching for more events to get to over the summer holidays! Never thought I would be this happy and excited about competing...although I'm aware that I'm beginning to sound like a broken record now!
Here's a couple of my fave piccies - I will put the rest (and a link to the professional ones) in the PG:
DR:
SJ:
XC:
Thanks for reading my essay
I ummed and ahhed until this time last week - when the entries closed - and decided to go for it, as she felt great at home and the ground wasnt too bad.The day didnt start too well. Mum went out to load up the car, only to discover a screw embedded in her tyre. There was no way she could change the tyre on her own, so she rang the RAC...and they gave her an ETA of 11am - precisely the time of my dressage test! So I was resigned to yet another withdrawal, until my lovely YO stepped in and said he would change the tyre for her, if she could get the car to the yard. So against the odds, we made it there in the end!
Warm up for the dressage - a little rushed, to say the least - did not go well. Ellie freaked out at the super spooky flapping secretary's tent, and every time I put my leg on she shied violently. It was a total disaster, and I got so cross with her...only to discover that one of the dressage girth straps had twisted and was pinching her
I felt so gutted that I'd shouted at her, and the minute we sorted the girth out, she went really sweetly, as if to say 'I was trying to tell you!' Poor girlie - she got half a packet of Polos as an apology Our dressage test was, for us, pretty good. Don't get me wrong - we have virtually no bend, my position (as a dressage rider) is horrendous, and Ellie's canter gives the impression she is constantly searching for the next jump...! But she was far less resistant than she has been in the past, and we were at least accurate if nothing else. So I was pretty pleased
Onto the show jumping, and I nearly had heart failure when I went round the corner and saw the course. The organisers had decided to hold the SJ in the outdoor school due to the ground, which was fine - except I have a huge hang up about jumping within a confined space. I just about scraped round the SJ at our first ODE, which was held in a field - and looking at this up-to-height (ie. bigger than we have jumped in 6 years!) brought back all my demons. There was a tight double, several related distances, a water tray and a couple of spooky fillers, not to mention 10 fences crammed into an arena probably designed to hold 5. I was bricking it - Mum said afterwards that she was going to suggest I pull out, as I was as white as a sheet. But I owed it to Ellie to try, so we popped just two practice fences, and in we went.
My little mare flew. It was like the old 'us' - there was me, thinking we'd need to trot into each one, but Ellie had other ideas. I rode as positively as I have ever done in my life - if I have lost some of the skill I used to have as a rider, at least I have gained the ability to channel my nerves in a positive manner - and she didnt even touch a pole. She had a bit of a look at the water tray, but we were virtually over it by the time she realised what it was. The double was no problem, and she didnt look at the fillers at all - in fact she cantered round the whole course like a pro. I came out with the biggest grin on my face - I just couldnt believe we had actually done it! Not only had we gone clear, but it was a deserved clear - not a messy, wing and a prayer round like the last ODE. Mum had a tear in her eye when I came out - she realised how hard it had been, yet we had done it - and I was smiling!
After that, I couldnt wait for the XC. And as we set off, Ellie seemed to know where we were - she recognised the course from last time, and I barely needed to do a thing. I know it sounds crazy, but she knew that we had to turn sharp right after the wall to go up the staircase, not the slope; she [knew] that after the drop fence, we had to bear left rather than heading straight down to the water. She's just so clever, and I can honestly say it was one of the most exhilarating things I have ever done. We were so together, it was simply wonderful. I think we were both grinning as we galloped across the finish line!
I didnt carry a watch; I didnt know we could, if I'm honest. So I had no idea of our time, but I didnt care. The optimum was 6.24, fifteen seconds slower than the hunter trial earlier in the year (we were one and a half minutes over the time at the HT!) I had no concept of how fast or slow we may have gone. But it didnt matter, because I knew that even with a double clear, we'd be let down by our dressage! I had no hope of rosettes; I still maintain, that's not what I'm in it for these days.
We hung around for the results as I wanted to at least see what our dressage score was. Mum thought we may have sneaked 5th or 6th, but when the results were finally read out, our names didnt feature there - we looked at each other, shrugged and grinned - 'That bloody dressage!' So you can imagine our shock when we were read out as being in second place - Mum and I shrieked, before I rushed to the board to check it was actually for real.
We got 44 dressage - equal best ever, alongside the oh-so-familiar comment 'Your horse needs to go in a rounder outline to attain higher marks'. D'oh! Clear SJ, clear XC - but 6 time penalties, as we finished 30 seconds under the optimum time. And we were 2nd by only two marks...so in spite of my lack of initial competitive spirit, I was slightly peeved at this point that I hadnt worn a watch! But hey - at least I have a goal for next time!
I'm absolutely chuffed to bits - I'm so proud of Ellie, the showjumper who I always swore blind would be too spooky to ever go XC. How little I knew her; she's as bold XC as she is SJ, she simply needs to know that the rider on her back truly does want to do it - if she has my confidence, then she'll do anything for me.
I've now well and truly got the bug, and am frantically searching for more events to get to over the summer holidays! Never thought I would be this happy and excited about competing...although I'm aware that I'm beginning to sound like a broken record now!
Here's a couple of my fave piccies - I will put the rest (and a link to the professional ones) in the PG:
DR:
SJ:
XC:
Thanks for reading my essay
