Girlracer
Well-Known Member
Afternoon!
Wanted to come and do a quick report on our last few weekends, as we have been pretty busy!
Last weekend we attended another 3 day camp at Lincomb Equestrian... I was hoping it might go some what better than last September, when I managed to fall off XC then have a total confidence crisis melt down and sit in the trailer crying for half an hour about how I wanted to go eventing but couldn't. I'm pleased to say things have improved since then!
We had an amazing weekend. He was just incredible the entire time. It was amazing to have people who saw him last year coming to compliment me on how much he had improved and changed - even down to the fact we have almost totally eliminated the weaving whilst he's stabled...! :thumbup:
Day one, we had a flat lesson in the morning and poles in the afternoon. He was perfect in both. Day two, we had a simulated XC lesson in the morning, with William Blane who was just fantastic - worked us very hard and didn't let me get away with anything. And grid work in the afternoon. And day three we had XC in the morning (again with William) and Show Jumping in the afternoon. Day three was the best, William pushed me well out my comfort zone and I was so glad he forced me to do a few things that at first I refused to do. And I stayed on... the last two timed I have been there I have fallen off - most noticeably the broken arm debacle last April! And in the afternoon I ended up having a private half hour lesson show jumping, as everyone's horses were too tired to do too much, but King was full of it as usual. So we worked on riding a course, at 90... because I'm mad and have entered my first 90
A few pics from our weekend.
Raring to go
With his best mate, Hero
After our XC lesson
Major welcomed us home in true Major style...
A relaxing few days... before our next weekend of fun!
With a bit of fun thrown in...
So this weekend we headed off to our first British Riding Club competition with the new riding club that I have fairly recently joined, and our first two day event!
And WOW what a weekend. Like a dream come true to not only get to do something like this, but to complete and with so much support from the club... as some one who always competes alone it was a real treat to get cheered over the finish line!
Day one, dressage and show jumping. Dressage was again improved on last time, we started the season at 48 and this weekend we got a 41.5. He warms up so lovely, but just gets really tense and rushes once in the ring. But it's only his fourth event, and I know it's all there. If we can just get to sub 40s consistently this season I will be happy!
Then on to the show jumping, which to be honest with you was a dreadful course (and I wasn't the only one saying it!) it was almost dangerous actually. Too small, with some ridiculous turns, on the side of a hill and very slippy. That coupled with the fact the warm up was too small and full of people stood spectating I struggled to jump a fence, at one point I circled 4 times trying to get to and upright and kept getting cut up!
It was a miracle he kept his head actually, it wasn't so long ago that would have tipped him over the edge! The course was full of uprights, 3 of which were down hill... I was convinced it was going to be demolition derby!
But he did me proud, and jumped his socks off for an unfortunate 4 faults - but considering the carnage it was causing I was over the moon... I've never seen so many compulsory retirements due to poles coming down - such a shame.
You can see the photo here - https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?...60015880.62972.100003468353211&type=3&theater
We then went for a walk round the roads and tracks to make sure we knew what we doing!
On to day two... and wow what a fab experience!
He behaved much better than expected on the R&T, I expected him to loose his mind a bit, but actually he coped okay. He LOVED the steeplechase as did I - he is so bold and brave. Everyone had said ride the first fence as a show jump, as loads were having stops, as of course at that point you haven't jumped anything... didn't get much choice in that, he was off :lol:
On to the ten minute box, where the ace support crew from CROWN were waiting... and I got to rock the lucky CROWN.
On to the XC... where after my 20 time penalties at Swalcliffe for going too fast I kept the anchors firmly on! He was flying round, proving the fences are far too small for him now, he was barely trying really
It was going so well until I cam to the second to last, which is positioned directly next to the entrance road into Princethorpe College. And as I cam cantering to it a double decker coach, followed by a lorry, with three horses being led were headed toward us... King is quite nervous in traffic and totally started backing off looking at the coach headed toward him, and unfortunately we got a few strides out and I'm not sure if he just hadn't seen the fence or was trying to get out the way of the coach, but he suddenly ground to a halt and tried to do a runner off into the undergrowth! Honestly this horse just doesn't stop, especially not at totally straightforward 80cm XC fences at the end of the course! I came again and he popped straight over, but I was so disappointed. Worse still if we hadn't had the stop we would have been placed.
Photos here - https://www.facebook.com/cassey.watson/posts/910079669117636?pnref=story
But never mind... onwards and upwards to Solihull Area 5 qualifier on the 19th where we are doing our first 90! Literally can't wait!
Wanted to come and do a quick report on our last few weekends, as we have been pretty busy!
Last weekend we attended another 3 day camp at Lincomb Equestrian... I was hoping it might go some what better than last September, when I managed to fall off XC then have a total confidence crisis melt down and sit in the trailer crying for half an hour about how I wanted to go eventing but couldn't. I'm pleased to say things have improved since then!
We had an amazing weekend. He was just incredible the entire time. It was amazing to have people who saw him last year coming to compliment me on how much he had improved and changed - even down to the fact we have almost totally eliminated the weaving whilst he's stabled...! :thumbup:
Day one, we had a flat lesson in the morning and poles in the afternoon. He was perfect in both. Day two, we had a simulated XC lesson in the morning, with William Blane who was just fantastic - worked us very hard and didn't let me get away with anything. And grid work in the afternoon. And day three we had XC in the morning (again with William) and Show Jumping in the afternoon. Day three was the best, William pushed me well out my comfort zone and I was so glad he forced me to do a few things that at first I refused to do. And I stayed on... the last two timed I have been there I have fallen off - most noticeably the broken arm debacle last April! And in the afternoon I ended up having a private half hour lesson show jumping, as everyone's horses were too tired to do too much, but King was full of it as usual. So we worked on riding a course, at 90... because I'm mad and have entered my first 90
A few pics from our weekend.
Raring to go
With his best mate, Hero
After our XC lesson
Major welcomed us home in true Major style...
A relaxing few days... before our next weekend of fun!
With a bit of fun thrown in...
So this weekend we headed off to our first British Riding Club competition with the new riding club that I have fairly recently joined, and our first two day event!
And WOW what a weekend. Like a dream come true to not only get to do something like this, but to complete and with so much support from the club... as some one who always competes alone it was a real treat to get cheered over the finish line!
Day one, dressage and show jumping. Dressage was again improved on last time, we started the season at 48 and this weekend we got a 41.5. He warms up so lovely, but just gets really tense and rushes once in the ring. But it's only his fourth event, and I know it's all there. If we can just get to sub 40s consistently this season I will be happy!
Then on to the show jumping, which to be honest with you was a dreadful course (and I wasn't the only one saying it!) it was almost dangerous actually. Too small, with some ridiculous turns, on the side of a hill and very slippy. That coupled with the fact the warm up was too small and full of people stood spectating I struggled to jump a fence, at one point I circled 4 times trying to get to and upright and kept getting cut up!
It was a miracle he kept his head actually, it wasn't so long ago that would have tipped him over the edge! The course was full of uprights, 3 of which were down hill... I was convinced it was going to be demolition derby!
But he did me proud, and jumped his socks off for an unfortunate 4 faults - but considering the carnage it was causing I was over the moon... I've never seen so many compulsory retirements due to poles coming down - such a shame.
You can see the photo here - https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?...60015880.62972.100003468353211&type=3&theater
We then went for a walk round the roads and tracks to make sure we knew what we doing!
On to day two... and wow what a fab experience!
He behaved much better than expected on the R&T, I expected him to loose his mind a bit, but actually he coped okay. He LOVED the steeplechase as did I - he is so bold and brave. Everyone had said ride the first fence as a show jump, as loads were having stops, as of course at that point you haven't jumped anything... didn't get much choice in that, he was off :lol:
On to the ten minute box, where the ace support crew from CROWN were waiting... and I got to rock the lucky CROWN.
On to the XC... where after my 20 time penalties at Swalcliffe for going too fast I kept the anchors firmly on! He was flying round, proving the fences are far too small for him now, he was barely trying really
It was going so well until I cam to the second to last, which is positioned directly next to the entrance road into Princethorpe College. And as I cam cantering to it a double decker coach, followed by a lorry, with three horses being led were headed toward us... King is quite nervous in traffic and totally started backing off looking at the coach headed toward him, and unfortunately we got a few strides out and I'm not sure if he just hadn't seen the fence or was trying to get out the way of the coach, but he suddenly ground to a halt and tried to do a runner off into the undergrowth! Honestly this horse just doesn't stop, especially not at totally straightforward 80cm XC fences at the end of the course! I came again and he popped straight over, but I was so disappointed. Worse still if we hadn't had the stop we would have been placed.
Photos here - https://www.facebook.com/cassey.watson/posts/910079669117636?pnref=story
But never mind... onwards and upwards to Solihull Area 5 qualifier on the 19th where we are doing our first 90! Literally can't wait!
