BeckyD
Well-Known Member
Last weekend (lovely, hot, sunny - dim distant memory now!) we toddled off (together with half my livery yard 
) to Carlton HT for a run round the 2'9". We've always had a silly stop at Carlton, usually at the smallest/most innocuous fence, so I went there armed with absolute determination that no matter what, we were going over every fence, first time, if it meant I had to get off and throw the ginger pony over. Anyway, it was hot and the warmup was like concrete, so I didn't bother jumping a warmup fence, but just let him see the horse in front of us set off (helps stop his nappy tendencies) and we were flying as soon as we landed from the first fence.
Bill knew his way round even though we followed a different path to normal. We had a dodgy moment at one of the small fences where he didn't jump it but just cantered over the top of it like it was a trot pole, plus he doesn't give small fences much room but skims them, which is a bit nerve-wracking!. I steadied for the corners as he goes a bit green and spooky at hedges/trees/fencelines. Launched himself off the step into water, then spotted our cheering contingent, whinnied at them and stopped Thankfully we were far enough in front of the next fence that I managed to wind him up and wiggle into it, then he was flying to the end. A minute over the time, but clear at last. Dead chuffed. It's taken me a year to get this clear round!!
A couple of pics:
http://www.ultimate-images.co.uk/cgi-bin/pro/emAlbum.cgi?c=show_image;p=carlton Open XC/Class 5-Intem Open 13-30 to 14-10 Camera 1;i=43;img=1227051-Car-op12-00894b.jpg
http://www.ultimate-images.co.uk/cgi-bin/pro/emAlbum.cgi?c=show_image;p=carlton Open XC/Class 5-Intem Open 13-30 to 14-10 Camera 1;i=44
http://www.ultimate-images.co.uk/cgi-bin/pro/emAlbum.cgi?c=show_image;p=carlton Open XC/Class 5-Intem Open 13-30 to 14-10 Camera 2;i=20;img=1227051-Car-op12-00990c.jpg
So, a XC lesson with Baydale was lined up for Thursday at Keysoe, and it was fab. Bill started as spooky/tense/worried as usual, but settled down eventually and did some super jumps. I actually think it was the best XC lesson I've ever had I finished brimming with confidence and so excited about the Keysoe HT.
On Sunday, I walked the Keysoe HT 90cm course and thought there were a couple of questions (corner, plus jump before water, which Bill usually has to stop and figure out for a while) but apart from that it was a super course and well within our abilities. Sadly it wasn't to be! I was due to start XC at 1.36, so I got to the warmup at 1.06, to allow 20 mins for walking/chilling time, then 10 mins trotting/cantering/ 3 warmup jumps, then walking until we can go. Unfortunately they were running at least 40 mins late. As I was due to be first on course in the 90cm, I waited around, as Bill was being a bit of a twerp in the warmup, bucking and squealing and shooting off, and I thought a bit more time walking at the start would settle him. Kept going over to the board to check how many to go, but it was taking forever.
Then found that they'd opened up the list to start the 90cm, but weren't doing it in drawn times order, and because I hadn't been there to put my number down as I was on the other side of the field, walking Bill, I was wayyyyy down the list. I was furious! By this point I'd been sat on Bill over an hour and had at least another half hour to go. At this point I should have gotten off and gone back to trailer. No-one else in the 90cm was warmed up and ready, just me, but they still wouldn't let me go first.
Almost 2 hours to the minute after starting my warmup, I was finally started XC. Bill immediately napped back to the start box. That set the tone. He napped/spooked his way over the first 3 fences, I gave him a couple of reminders to go forwards, but he just wasn't locking onto anything at all. Stopped at 4, then sort of slid into it and launched himself, on the 2nd attempt. Did the same at the next fence - see the photos:
http://www.everybodysmile.biz/cgi-bin/public.cgi?form_status=order_image&img=img_0291d{256-Rebecca Dacre Ballyduff Bill.jpg&anc=p208_0001_es&ss=1&imgcat=256-Rebecca Dacre Ballyduff Bill
By this point I was sure we were going to have a nasty accident so I tried to get him thinking forwards and galloped him up to the chase fence, which he got into the bottom of and pretty much cat-leapt. Jumped the next fence lovely, then steadied for the turn and fence before water, which he sailed over, then through water lovely and over the palisade after. Then the napping started again, spooking left and right all the way to the next (TINY) fence, which he then skidded to a stop at - I slid up his neck, then he jumped across it sideways, leaving me dangling round his head. He turned and galloped for home, so I let go. Fortunately my OH, my farrier and friends were all watching and were able to catch Bill. Retired, wisely I think!
Gutted. XC demons definitely not laid to rest - this was by far our worst ever round. Was tempted afterwards to just give up jumping him. He's great at dressage. He's got a super jump but he just won't use it when it's needed. I need to get over the spooky/nappiness, and I need to find a way to get his anxiety levels down. he's just as bad hacking out - constantly thinking he's going to die from some tree attack. I obviously don't give him confidence, but I do try to ride quietly and confidently and I just feel a bit Maybe it was the horrendous warmup. He is a nappy wotsit and waiting around in one place doesn't help.
Will get some Blue Chip Karma and try it this weekend.
Sorry, that wasn't quick to read at all. It was quick to type though!
) to Carlton HT for a run round the 2'9". We've always had a silly stop at Carlton, usually at the smallest/most innocuous fence, so I went there armed with absolute determination that no matter what, we were going over every fence, first time, if it meant I had to get off and throw the ginger pony over. Anyway, it was hot and the warmup was like concrete, so I didn't bother jumping a warmup fence, but just let him see the horse in front of us set off (helps stop his nappy tendencies) and we were flying as soon as we landed from the first fence. Bill knew his way round even though we followed a different path to normal. We had a dodgy moment at one of the small fences where he didn't jump it but just cantered over the top of it like it was a trot pole, plus he doesn't give small fences much room but skims them, which is a bit nerve-wracking!.
I steadied for the corners as he goes a bit green and spooky at hedges/trees/fencelines. Launched himself off the step into water, then spotted our cheering contingent, whinnied at them and stopped Thankfully we were far enough in front of the next fence that I managed to wind him up and wiggle into it, then he was flying to the end. A minute over the time, but clear at last. Dead chuffed. It's taken me a year to get this clear round!!A couple of pics:
http://www.ultimate-images.co.uk/cgi-bin/pro/emAlbum.cgi?c=show_image;p=carlton Open XC/Class 5-Intem Open 13-30 to 14-10 Camera 1;i=43;img=1227051-Car-op12-00894b.jpg
http://www.ultimate-images.co.uk/cgi-bin/pro/emAlbum.cgi?c=show_image;p=carlton Open XC/Class 5-Intem Open 13-30 to 14-10 Camera 1;i=44
http://www.ultimate-images.co.uk/cgi-bin/pro/emAlbum.cgi?c=show_image;p=carlton Open XC/Class 5-Intem Open 13-30 to 14-10 Camera 2;i=20;img=1227051-Car-op12-00990c.jpg
So, a XC lesson with Baydale was lined up for Thursday at Keysoe, and it was fab. Bill started as spooky/tense/worried as usual, but settled down eventually and did some super jumps. I actually think it was the best XC lesson I've ever had
I finished brimming with confidence and so excited about the Keysoe HT. On Sunday, I walked the Keysoe HT 90cm course and thought there were a couple of questions (corner, plus jump before water, which Bill usually has to stop and figure out for a while) but apart from that it was a super course and well within our abilities. Sadly it wasn't to be! I was due to start XC at 1.36, so I got to the warmup at 1.06, to allow 20 mins for walking/chilling time, then 10 mins trotting/cantering/ 3 warmup jumps, then walking until we can go. Unfortunately they were running at least 40 mins late. As I was due to be first on course in the 90cm, I waited around, as Bill was being a bit of a twerp in the warmup, bucking and squealing and shooting off, and I thought a bit more time walking at the start would settle him. Kept going over to the board to check how many to go, but it was taking forever.
Then found that they'd opened up the list to start the 90cm, but weren't doing it in drawn times order, and because I hadn't been there to put my number down as I was on the other side of the field, walking Bill, I was wayyyyy down the list. I was furious! By this point I'd been sat on Bill over an hour and had at least another half hour to go. At this point I should have gotten off and gone back to trailer. No-one else in the 90cm was warmed up and ready, just me, but they still wouldn't let me go first.
Almost 2 hours to the minute after starting my warmup, I was finally started XC. Bill immediately napped back to the start box. That set the tone. He napped/spooked his way over the first 3 fences, I gave him a couple of reminders to go forwards, but he just wasn't locking onto anything at all. Stopped at 4, then sort of slid into it and launched himself, on the 2nd attempt. Did the same at the next fence - see the photos:
http://www.everybodysmile.biz/cgi-bin/public.cgi?form_status=order_image&img=img_0291d{256-Rebecca Dacre Ballyduff Bill.jpg&anc=p208_0001_es&ss=1&imgcat=256-Rebecca Dacre Ballyduff Bill
By this point I was sure we were going to have a nasty accident so I tried to get him thinking forwards and galloped him up to the chase fence, which he got into the bottom of and pretty much cat-leapt. Jumped the next fence lovely, then steadied for the turn and fence before water, which he sailed over, then through water lovely and over the palisade after. Then the napping started again, spooking left and right all the way to the next (TINY) fence, which he then skidded to a stop at - I slid up his neck, then he jumped across it sideways, leaving me dangling round his head. He turned and galloped for home, so I let go. Fortunately my OH, my farrier and friends were all watching and were able to catch Bill. Retired, wisely I think!
Gutted. XC demons definitely not laid to rest - this was by far our worst ever round. Was tempted afterwards to just give up jumping him. He's great at dressage. He's got a super jump but he just won't use it when it's needed. I need to get over the spooky/nappiness, and I need to find a way to get his anxiety levels down. he's just as bad hacking out - constantly thinking he's going to die from some tree attack. I obviously don't give him confidence, but I do try to ride quietly and confidently and I just feel a bit
Maybe it was the horrendous warmup. He is a nappy wotsit and waiting around in one place doesn't help.Will get some Blue Chip Karma and try it this weekend.
Sorry, that wasn't quick to read at all. It was quick to type though!
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