MandyMoo
Well-Known Member
ETA: Apologies in advance. it's a long one - I have a talent for rambling! 
My mum and I decided to pop over to Vale View today for some showjumping and dressage trailblazers. Despite the absolutely FREEZING condition (and mild sprinkling of snow) we begrudgingly dragged ourselves to the yard to get the horses ready
Socks and Bugsy had been bathed yesterday and so were just groomed and plaited up this morning. It was so cold that they both had two rugs on in the lorry; a super thick thermatex AND a wool day rug, that would keep them nice and snug!!!
They both looked lovely and smart! (and warm!)
Arrived in plenty of time to book in for my showjumping classes, I decided to enter the 75cm and the 85cm again, as I feel comfortable at 85cm now and like to use 75cm as a warm up; I'm not quite ready to go straight in at 85 yet!!! Mum's dressage times were 2.12pm for the Prelim 13 and 4.18pm for the Novice 28.
Mum's dressage was not an amazing day on paper, she scored 54.7% in the Prelim because Bugsy was quite tense and spooky, but got a much better score of 57.8% (6th place) in the Novice, with a couple of 7's. The judge was marking quite low that day (the winner only had 64% I think), and even though she did unfortunately go wrong (twice!) in the Novice, (numpty mum!), Bugsy was going very nicely in it - probably the best he has gone because he was so soft and relaxed, but also forward and had a bit more ''oomph'' from his back end, so mum was chuffed to bits!
On to my showjumping, Socks was warming up like a lost child in the supermarket shouting for his mother. He has severe separation anxiety from Bugsy for some reason, he is never usually this bad atall, but he was truly awful, screaming at the top of his lungs every minute or so, head up, ears nearly up my nostrils - nightmare - you'd think he'd have got used to parties now!
I could definitely not get him to soften and relax so I decided to just concentrate on getting him forwards and off my leg and worked on some transitions. He eventually softened slightly, but his flatwork warm up was quite horrendous if I'm honest!!! However, when I got to the jumping part he was smashing, really taking me to the fences (he was rather lively and strong today!) and felt great over the warm up fences. My hands did suffer from the cold though and so at one point I couldn't really feel my reins...so it was a good job Socks wasn't too strong!! 
I jumped off to walk the course and it seemed a nice enough course, the jump off was up to height and a bit awkwardly twisty and turny, but nice enough. I popped Socks in second to go, so watched the first go round and then we were off. Popped round the first phase lovely and clear, so went straight into the jump off where Socks got a bit too keen so I ended up fiddling a bit and being a bit sticky to a couple of the bigger oxers, but Socks was an angel and was honest/sorted himself out so we came out with a double clear and decent time - I was grinning like a loon!
Ended up being placed 6th which I was happy with, as I didn't really take any short cuts, but we didn't exactly hang about on the scenic route so ended up with a half decent time! 
Had a bit of a wait before the 85cm so chucked his thermatex on and let him stand for a bit (where he rapidly fell asleep!! nose was basically on the ground and his neck was leaning on me...!!! I didn't appreciate being used as a neck rest so I jumped back on as the 85cm started and gave him another quick warm up). Went in about half way through the class in the 85cm, and popped round like a pro, Socks just breathed on the back rail of number 4, barely touched it, so ended on 4 faults, but I was pleased with how he felt and the way he was going. I was also chuffed that 85cm didn't seem daunting to me at all, which definitely shows my confidence is coming back, me and Socks will be flying round 1m40 in no time
haha! we can dream............
There was a photographer there as well so I will post the photo of me and Socks once it arrives!!
It was definitely a long day, but a good one! We departed Vale View just as the sun was finally setting and headed home in the dark after having a well deserved (and needed!) hot drink!
Horses are now home, fed and tucked up in bed! My next outing is Hargate next weekend
Hope you and your neds are well! Prosecco on offer to anyone who wants it?
My mum and I decided to pop over to Vale View today for some showjumping and dressage trailblazers. Despite the absolutely FREEZING condition (and mild sprinkling of snow) we begrudgingly dragged ourselves to the yard to get the horses ready
Socks and Bugsy had been bathed yesterday and so were just groomed and plaited up this morning. It was so cold that they both had two rugs on in the lorry; a super thick thermatex AND a wool day rug, that would keep them nice and snug!!!
They both looked lovely and smart! (and warm!)
Arrived in plenty of time to book in for my showjumping classes, I decided to enter the 75cm and the 85cm again, as I feel comfortable at 85cm now and like to use 75cm as a warm up; I'm not quite ready to go straight in at 85 yet!!! Mum's dressage times were 2.12pm for the Prelim 13 and 4.18pm for the Novice 28.
Mum's dressage was not an amazing day on paper, she scored 54.7% in the Prelim because Bugsy was quite tense and spooky, but got a much better score of 57.8% (6th place) in the Novice, with a couple of 7's. The judge was marking quite low that day (the winner only had 64% I think), and even though she did unfortunately go wrong (twice!) in the Novice, (numpty mum!), Bugsy was going very nicely in it - probably the best he has gone because he was so soft and relaxed, but also forward and had a bit more ''oomph'' from his back end, so mum was chuffed to bits!
On to my showjumping, Socks was warming up like a lost child in the supermarket shouting for his mother. He has severe separation anxiety from Bugsy for some reason, he is never usually this bad atall, but he was truly awful, screaming at the top of his lungs every minute or so, head up, ears nearly up my nostrils - nightmare - you'd think he'd have got used to parties now!
I could definitely not get him to soften and relax so I decided to just concentrate on getting him forwards and off my leg and worked on some transitions. He eventually softened slightly, but his flatwork warm up was quite horrendous if I'm honest!!! However, when I got to the jumping part he was smashing, really taking me to the fences (he was rather lively and strong today!) and felt great over the warm up fences. My hands did suffer from the cold though and so at one point I couldn't really feel my reins...so it was a good job Socks wasn't too strong!! I jumped off to walk the course and it seemed a nice enough course, the jump off was up to height and a bit awkwardly twisty and turny, but nice enough. I popped Socks in second to go, so watched the first go round and then we were off. Popped round the first phase lovely and clear, so went straight into the jump off where Socks got a bit too keen so I ended up fiddling a bit and being a bit sticky to a couple of the bigger oxers, but Socks was an angel and was honest/sorted himself out so we came out with a double clear and decent time - I was grinning like a loon!
Ended up being placed 6th which I was happy with, as I didn't really take any short cuts, but we didn't exactly hang about on the scenic route so ended up with a half decent time! Had a bit of a wait before the 85cm so chucked his thermatex on and let him stand for a bit (where he rapidly fell asleep!! nose was basically on the ground and his neck was leaning on me...!!! I didn't appreciate being used as a neck rest so I jumped back on as the 85cm started and gave him another quick warm up). Went in about half way through the class in the 85cm, and popped round like a pro, Socks just breathed on the back rail of number 4, barely touched it, so ended on 4 faults, but I was pleased with how he felt and the way he was going. I was also chuffed that 85cm didn't seem daunting to me at all, which definitely shows my confidence is coming back, me and Socks will be flying round 1m40 in no time
haha! we can dream............There was a photographer there as well so I will post the photo of me and Socks once it arrives!!
It was definitely a long day, but a good one! We departed Vale View just as the sun was finally setting and headed home in the dark after having a well deserved (and needed!) hot drink!
Horses are now home, fed and tucked up in bed! My next outing is Hargate next weekend
Hope you and your neds are well! Prosecco on offer to anyone who wants it?
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