charlimouse
Well-Known Member
The hospital had banned me form riding for 6 weeks 
. However I calculated Norton Disney to be 6 weeks and 1 day since my accident, so that meant I could ride, right 
???? Serious lack of preparation (including my horse having only jumped once since August) meant I was to be found mane pulling and trimming, and generally trying to make a hairy beast presentable in the dark. This was going OK, until I fell off the step stool (it is about 3ft high!) staight into a muddy puddle. Ouch! I can assure you no alcohol was involved! Not a good start!
So today I was up at some ungodly hour, and off we went to Norton Disney. Walked the XC and it was lovely, really well presented and some interesting questions Jem hadn't seen before. Then hopped on for the dressage. Warmed up nicely, and Jem did a lovely test
. All good................... Or so I thought. Unfortunately the judge didn't agree, and we got 37.5 . In every comment box the only thing written was croup high. Well that is her conformation I can't change the way she is built (her croup is over an inch higher than her withers!) barring putting built up shoes infront ! Most judges see this, but this one seemed unable to see that she is physically built like that. In fact watching the video back it was actually very uphill in her paces !
So onto the SJ, Jem jumped ok, just knocking down the smallest fence on course. The off we went XC. Set off well over 1 (brush roll) and 2 (rails in hedge), angled the pallisade at 3, and good over the rolltop at 4. 5 was the first question, a log, landing in a hollow related distance up to a solar panel fence, which was no problem for Jem. Then on to the corner a 6 which we skipped over and down to the sawbench at 7. 8 was a log, turning up a slope to an hanging log related distance down the hill to a skinny log at 9. Got a bit close to 8b, but through safely. Over the road on to the oxer at 10, then a sheepfeeder at 11. 12 was a bouce up 2 steps, which Jem just cantered up, then down the slope to a hedge at 13. Back across the road, we came to a red roll top (looked like a gun cartridge), 2 strides to a ditch. Jem hopped straight over and off we set for a nice gallop up to the chaser fence, which Jem took in her stride. Steadied up for the skinny brightly coloured barrels at 16, and off to the trekaner. Jem was a bit sticky, and I got a little ahead of her. Not the prettiest, but we made it to the other side still together, and clear. Then down to 18 which was a pallisade to wall on 3 slightly curving strides, then 3 more curving strides to a table at 19. Jem flew over foot perfectly, and then headed over the white house at 20 to finish inside the time
. Not bad considering how under prepared we were, and i'm happy now I have had another run before the season ends.
So all in all I have had a mixed season. Typical the season is over, now I am fixed. Now need to work out ways to relieve the boardum (sp?) on these long dark winter nights..........................
. However I calculated Norton Disney to be 6 weeks and 1 day since my accident, so that meant I could ride, right ???? Serious lack of preparation (including my horse having only jumped once since August) meant I was to be found mane pulling and trimming, and generally trying to make a hairy beast presentable in the dark. This was going OK, until I fell off the step stool (it is about 3ft high!) staight into a muddy puddle. Ouch! I can assure you no alcohol was involved! Not a good start!So today I was up at some ungodly hour, and off we went to Norton Disney. Walked the XC and it was lovely, really well presented and some interesting questions Jem hadn't seen before. Then hopped on for the dressage. Warmed up nicely, and Jem did a lovely test
. All good................... Or so I thought. Unfortunately the judge didn't agree, and we got 37.5 . In every comment box the only thing written was croup high. Well that is her conformation I can't change the way she is built (her croup is over an inch higher than her withers!) barring putting built up shoes infront ! Most judges see this, but this one seemed unable to see that she is physically built like that. In fact watching the video back it was actually very uphill in her paces !So onto the SJ, Jem jumped ok, just knocking down the smallest fence on course. The off we went XC. Set off well over 1 (brush roll) and 2 (rails in hedge), angled the pallisade at 3, and good over the rolltop at 4. 5 was the first question, a log, landing in a hollow related distance up to a solar panel fence, which was no problem for Jem. Then on to the corner a 6 which we skipped over and down to the sawbench at 7. 8 was a log, turning up a slope to an hanging log related distance down the hill to a skinny log at 9. Got a bit close to 8b, but through safely. Over the road on to the oxer at 10, then a sheepfeeder at 11. 12 was a bouce up 2 steps, which Jem just cantered up, then down the slope to a hedge at 13. Back across the road, we came to a red roll top (looked like a gun cartridge), 2 strides to a ditch. Jem hopped straight over and off we set for a nice gallop up to the chaser fence, which Jem took in her stride. Steadied up for the skinny brightly coloured barrels at 16, and off to the trekaner. Jem was a bit sticky, and I got a little ahead of her. Not the prettiest, but we made it to the other side still together, and clear. Then down to 18 which was a pallisade to wall on 3 slightly curving strides, then 3 more curving strides to a table at 19. Jem flew over foot perfectly, and then headed over the white house at 20 to finish inside the time
. Not bad considering how under prepared we were, and i'm happy now I have had another run before the season ends.So all in all I have had a mixed season. Typical the season is over, now I am fixed
. Now need to work out ways to relieve the boardum (sp?) on these long dark winter nights..........................
!
