Befney3
Well-Known Member
Seeing as I rarely post reports but always wish I did, I thought I write you all a round up of mine & Chillis last few weeks. This could be long. Sorry!!
We've been working very hard on our dressage & are feeling much more confident & relaxed now than we were three months ago & are regularly competing at BD Prelim. In the last six weeks we've ridden quite a few tests with some mixed results.
Firstly we rode P15 at Myerscough. I was expecting the test indoors so was a bit worried when we arrived to find we were going to be working in at one side of the outdoor & riding our test in the other side. Chilli didn't seem bothered by being outdoors & worked in nicely. I'd had a lesson the previous evening & worked on my transitions lots so really used these working in & it helped loads. Went into the test & everything seemed to flow nicely with just one iffy canter trans' & a wonky halt. Was pleased with a score of 63.04%.
Next I rode P15 again but at home (Arkenfield) this time. Despite working in fine & riding what I thought was a fairly average test we scored 51%. I was gutted (Chilli still got a polo so I don't think he was bothered) but my trainer had been there to watch the test & promptly screwed up my sheet & threw it in the bin. I wasn't the only one with a disapointing score or slightly odd sheet, in fact most people seemed unhappy with the judge. Trainer insists I don't dwell on it & as the judge wasn't local I doubt I'll have to ride under her again.
Next was Aintree & two tests this time, P15 then P19. P15 is my fave test & I HATE P19 & Chilli hadn't done two tests on one day before so I was hoping P15 would be good & wasn't too bothered about P19. Chilli worked in fantastically but as soon as we got into the arena for the first test he saw the monsters hiding under the table that the judges were sat at & his brain fell out. To say the test was interesting would be an understatement. All the work at the A end of arena was lovely & all the work at C was shocking (mainly 'cos I couldn't get within five meters of C). We scored our first ever 8 but balanced it out with a few 3's & 4's. This left us on 55.2% but thankfully not quite in last place. I'd have been gutted had it not been for the fact that the none spooky bits were lovely.
At the end of P15 I'd walked Chilli right down the centre line before leaving the arena in the hope that he'd realise that the monsters under the table were harmless & not bother in the next test. Wrong!! Unfortunatley his little TB brain could not recover itself so P19 was only slightly better with a score of 59.1%.
Pictures http://www.everybodysmile.biz/cgi-bin/public.cgi?form_status=order_image&img=EF10-T28_P15Q_0144{Class%201%20-%20Prelim%2015Q.jpg&anc=p2_0065_es&ss=161&imgcat=Class%201%20-%20Prelim%2015Q
Onwards & upwards to another test at home. A very uneventful test (P15 again) where I got cocky 'cos I've ridden the test loads & fluffed both canters, asking for the transitions upwards a bit late. That'll teach me to read thro my tests however well I think I know them. Score of 58% which, even with my mistakes, I thought was a bit mean.
Pictures http://www.everybodysmile.biz/cgi-bin/public.cgi?form_status=order_image&img=EF10-T33_P15Q_0183{Class%201%20-%20Prelim%2015Q.jpg&anc=p2_0087_es&ss=183&imgcat=Class%201%20-%20Prelim%2015Q
Despite my varied scores at Prelim, Chilli's working well at home so I decided to attempt an unaffiliated Novice. They were running unaff' Prelim & Novice at home so we entered the N20, learn't the test & started practicing. Luckily the test had nothing too challenging & our medium trot is improving so I was quite hopeful. Anyway, the test felt fab & Chilli actually stretched in his FW & trot circle allowing the horse to stretch. Scored 68.8% & came 2nd. Big grins & a qualification for the Fearns Farm Champs at Aintree in Feb.
I then had a couple of weeks off dressaging & had a jumping lesson with Joe Whitaker 'cos he was doing a clinic at the yard last Tuesday. Chilli was ace! I'd been really worried 'cos he'd been bolting a bit recently. It started on a hack when he got cross being asked to stand & wait for the other horse so he set his jaw & ran. Luckily on a v.quiet lane going uphill & I managed to pull him up after a couple of hundred meters but had become a habbit if he felt a bit fresh/silly. Luckily he seems to have stopped of his own accord & is working normally. Anyway, we jumped everything nice & calmly. Had a couple of silly stops at a double the first time so Joe lowered it then put it back up once we'd sorted my riding out. Joe was really complimentary about us both. He said it was like watching a different horse & rider from when he last taught us about three months ago. As much as I hate to admit it, due to all the dressage/schooling our canter is much better & Chilli is much more willing to adapt his stride. No pics from the lesson 'cos I'd been worried it would be a disaster & banned cameras. Have got another one booked at the begining of August tho so will try & get some then.
Lastly, we did unaff' N20 again on Friday. Another nice test but I felt v.scruffy as I had a fairly early time so had rushed from work & not had time to plait up & Chillis mane needs pulling. Chilli was quite clean, thankfully, but had decorated his tail with half his bed so it took a while to make him presentable. Scored 66% this time which was good enough for 3rd.
Pictures of my scruffy donkey http://www.everybodysmile.biz/cgi-bin/public.cgi?form_status=order_image&img=EF10-T37_N20_0321{Novice%2020.jpg&anc=p4_0060_es&ss=156&imgcat=Novice%2020
Am off to Aintree for P19 on Wednesday so am hoping Chilli has overcome his fear of monsters who live under judges tables but I guess we'll find out.
Massive thanks for reading to anyone who got to the end. CC welcome on the pictures. This has turned into my version of war & peace. Sorry! Late night McDonalds & scented nail varnish (strawberry) to all of you. xx
We've been working very hard on our dressage & are feeling much more confident & relaxed now than we were three months ago & are regularly competing at BD Prelim. In the last six weeks we've ridden quite a few tests with some mixed results.
Firstly we rode P15 at Myerscough. I was expecting the test indoors so was a bit worried when we arrived to find we were going to be working in at one side of the outdoor & riding our test in the other side. Chilli didn't seem bothered by being outdoors & worked in nicely. I'd had a lesson the previous evening & worked on my transitions lots so really used these working in & it helped loads. Went into the test & everything seemed to flow nicely with just one iffy canter trans' & a wonky halt. Was pleased with a score of 63.04%.
Next I rode P15 again but at home (Arkenfield) this time. Despite working in fine & riding what I thought was a fairly average test we scored 51%. I was gutted (Chilli still got a polo so I don't think he was bothered) but my trainer had been there to watch the test & promptly screwed up my sheet & threw it in the bin. I wasn't the only one with a disapointing score or slightly odd sheet, in fact most people seemed unhappy with the judge. Trainer insists I don't dwell on it & as the judge wasn't local I doubt I'll have to ride under her again.
Next was Aintree & two tests this time, P15 then P19. P15 is my fave test & I HATE P19 & Chilli hadn't done two tests on one day before so I was hoping P15 would be good & wasn't too bothered about P19. Chilli worked in fantastically but as soon as we got into the arena for the first test he saw the monsters hiding under the table that the judges were sat at & his brain fell out. To say the test was interesting would be an understatement. All the work at the A end of arena was lovely & all the work at C was shocking (mainly 'cos I couldn't get within five meters of C). We scored our first ever 8 but balanced it out with a few 3's & 4's. This left us on 55.2% but thankfully not quite in last place. I'd have been gutted had it not been for the fact that the none spooky bits were lovely.
At the end of P15 I'd walked Chilli right down the centre line before leaving the arena in the hope that he'd realise that the monsters under the table were harmless & not bother in the next test. Wrong!! Unfortunatley his little TB brain could not recover itself so P19 was only slightly better with a score of 59.1%.
Pictures http://www.everybodysmile.biz/cgi-bin/public.cgi?form_status=order_image&img=EF10-T28_P15Q_0144{Class%201%20-%20Prelim%2015Q.jpg&anc=p2_0065_es&ss=161&imgcat=Class%201%20-%20Prelim%2015Q
Onwards & upwards to another test at home. A very uneventful test (P15 again) where I got cocky 'cos I've ridden the test loads & fluffed both canters, asking for the transitions upwards a bit late. That'll teach me to read thro my tests however well I think I know them. Score of 58% which, even with my mistakes, I thought was a bit mean.
Pictures http://www.everybodysmile.biz/cgi-bin/public.cgi?form_status=order_image&img=EF10-T33_P15Q_0183{Class%201%20-%20Prelim%2015Q.jpg&anc=p2_0087_es&ss=183&imgcat=Class%201%20-%20Prelim%2015Q
Despite my varied scores at Prelim, Chilli's working well at home so I decided to attempt an unaffiliated Novice. They were running unaff' Prelim & Novice at home so we entered the N20, learn't the test & started practicing. Luckily the test had nothing too challenging & our medium trot is improving so I was quite hopeful. Anyway, the test felt fab & Chilli actually stretched in his FW & trot circle allowing the horse to stretch. Scored 68.8% & came 2nd. Big grins & a qualification for the Fearns Farm Champs at Aintree in Feb.
I then had a couple of weeks off dressaging & had a jumping lesson with Joe Whitaker 'cos he was doing a clinic at the yard last Tuesday. Chilli was ace! I'd been really worried 'cos he'd been bolting a bit recently. It started on a hack when he got cross being asked to stand & wait for the other horse so he set his jaw & ran. Luckily on a v.quiet lane going uphill & I managed to pull him up after a couple of hundred meters but had become a habbit if he felt a bit fresh/silly. Luckily he seems to have stopped of his own accord & is working normally. Anyway, we jumped everything nice & calmly. Had a couple of silly stops at a double the first time so Joe lowered it then put it back up once we'd sorted my riding out. Joe was really complimentary about us both. He said it was like watching a different horse & rider from when he last taught us about three months ago. As much as I hate to admit it, due to all the dressage/schooling our canter is much better & Chilli is much more willing to adapt his stride. No pics from the lesson 'cos I'd been worried it would be a disaster & banned cameras. Have got another one booked at the begining of August tho so will try & get some then.
Lastly, we did unaff' N20 again on Friday. Another nice test but I felt v.scruffy as I had a fairly early time so had rushed from work & not had time to plait up & Chillis mane needs pulling. Chilli was quite clean, thankfully, but had decorated his tail with half his bed so it took a while to make him presentable. Scored 66% this time which was good enough for 3rd.
Pictures of my scruffy donkey http://www.everybodysmile.biz/cgi-bin/public.cgi?form_status=order_image&img=EF10-T37_N20_0321{Novice%2020.jpg&anc=p4_0060_es&ss=156&imgcat=Novice%2020
Am off to Aintree for P19 on Wednesday so am hoping Chilli has overcome his fear of monsters who live under judges tables but I guess we'll find out.
Massive thanks for reading to anyone who got to the end. CC welcome on the pictures. This has turned into my version of war & peace. Sorry! Late night McDonalds & scented nail varnish (strawberry) to all of you. xx