All Aboard the Good Ship Baydale... *vids*

Baydale

Baydale

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...that has been travelling through rough seas. :p

More warts and all stuff from me, just in case you think life in Baydale Land is all rosy, all the time. ;)

Friday was a big day and also a long day as not only was it my birthday, but my first outing on blue-and-white Ralph this season at Lincoln with Jooopiter doing his dressage and showjumping too. I have sat on Ralph twice in the last 3 months but he's been for lessons and I was confident that he'd be bright but obedient......wrong! :eek: He was mental and disobedient, at one point planting himself and hopping up and down on the spot, grunting, because I wouldn't let him put his ears in my mouth. :mad: I tried cantering for the best part of 20 minutes in the hope that I'd wear him out, and whilst he got better, he still did his sewing machine impression in the test with the odd don't-tell-me-what-to-do moment. Hmmmm. I set my sights low and hoped to be the right side of 40 (my mark, not my age :p).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_fnH0DbkMc&list=UUITXXFxUhnZR0e7eK5tJsmw&index=1&feature=plcp

We walked the course before I showjumped and thought it all looked ok, saw Gamebird flying round on Fugly, then got on to warm up. Mr Clever Clogs was curling up and making it difficult to get a nice forward stride, resulting in him jumping like a teapot. :rolleyes: He really does need a bigger fence to make a copybook shape but hey, he jumped clear so I shan't complain. :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgGhyimGdLI&list=UUITXXFxUhnZR0e7eK5tJsmw&index=2&feature=plcp

A quick check of the score board showed that he scraped in with a 39, so a long, long way off the leader - Ruth Edge on 21. :eek: Oh well, I was determined to enjoy the cross country and off we set, his little legs going ten to the dozen. :D We had a "moment" at the first cut-out cow but a well-timed growl sorted that, and on we galloped. He had the cheek to try the same again at the double at 15, cheeky monkey, but thought better of it. :mad: All in all it was a confident clear, maybe just needing me to trust him more on a forward stride rather than adding one but as I said, I've not sat on him much lately and was mindful of his cheekiness.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=77WuL29hGho&list=UUITXXFxUhnZR0e7eK5tJsmw&index=3&feature=plcp

The plan now is another 100 then a Novice, if anyone has any suggestions? I'd thought of Richmond but would like to be at Chatsworth that weekend. Oh, and he was equal 8th but I got 9th as I went a bit too quick. :o

We then went and walked the Novice track - I'm not letting Ralph's owner come with me again as she said ""ooh that's big?" far too many times - then got Jup ready for stressage. He was really nice warming up and much more rideable when I went in, just had a couple of misunderstandings: he was lazy in the first medium trot, then thought we were walking not cantering, then did his usual lousy walk followed by pre-empting a walk pirouette. :confused: That sounds awful but bits of it were nice, honest:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBeYuaN04Eg&list=UUITXXFxUhnZR0e7eK5tJsmw&index=4&feature=plcp

The showjumping was running late but looked fine when I walked it, positively small as I'd made myself jump some big stuff at home earlier in the week. :p He was a little flat by then, must've been all that kicking and banging he'd been doing in the lorry all day, and I just lost the canter a little to the last line. I'm rubbish. :(

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AG5zeSXA4sE&list=UUITXXFxUhnZR0e7eK5tJsmw&index=5&feature=plcp

It turns out my muddled test merited a 32.5 - the judge used the full range of marks which is always good to see, there's nothing worse than getting safe 6's with very few comments - and I was 3rd after dressage (Ruth Edge in the lead again on 30). All to play for... :)

Back the next morning after an early alcohol-free night, and with my OH as stud man. ;) I walked the course again with a pupil of mine, sorted all my lines and distances, then got over there in plenty of time for a thorough warm-up. I'd heard a few having problems but tried to keep my PMA (positive mental attitude) as I set off. Toddy was walking the course as I got to the oxer at 2 - it was tempting to stop to get his autograph ;) - and after a spook at the first cut-out cow he was going nicely. Then we got to the step and corner and he was a bit looky, landing a bit flat and I was too slow to point and kick...that wasn't a corner to sit and wait too if your horse hadn't clocked it. :rolleyes: I was so annoyed with myself, grrrr. He was a bit spooky at the water, or more the stuff around it actually, ditto to the angled boxes at 13 and 14 when he was more focused on the U18 course-walkers that scattered as we approached. :mad: Then, his piece de resistance, was about 5 strides out from the big saw bench when he shot sideways, spooking at a pile of wood beside it. I was damned if I was going to let him get away with that so I yanked the right rein, got there on not the best of strides but he pinged over (see the Baydale is Busted thread for a photo).

Next the double of hedges which he jumped well, then got my line for meardsall_millie's fence , the wine glass - she was judging it, that's not a comment on her ability to consume wine.;) :D I saw a nice spot and he only bloody spooked and chipped one in, didn't he? I could hear a sharp intake of breath from m_m and L (horsemad12 I think), so I gave him a smack to remind him to keep his mind on the job before we headed for the coffin. I got my turn, got the canter bouncy but forward and he bl00dy dried up on me! I have it on good authority that I rode it correctly and I thought I had so I was a bit irritated, as you can imagine. I went through the straight way the second time as there seemed no point in taking the alternative and he was very sticky, so methinks I need to do some training before our next outing. He was still spooking over the last two fences and I'm guessing the "well done" I got from OldGit as I finished was more of a "well persevered". :p

Once I'd had a debrief with myself about it all I, or rather TarrSteps and I :), reached the conclusion that his behaviour is a combination of nerves and naughtiness and as it's the first time I've done things on separate days I'd probably underestimated the effect the calmer has on him in making him focus. So, lesson learnt and a reminder of how one should never get too big for ones boots even if one has won a rosette a week earlier. :p ;) :D

I drowned my sorrows at a Hunt ball that evening, dancing until the wee small hours and getting my own back on Jup by doing my late night check at 3.30am. Ha, that'll teach him. :D I've only got diet coke and a bit of scrummy birthday cake to offer if you've got this far, sor-ry if I'm a huge disappointment to you. :rolleyes:
 
I had one of those weekends too! On the plus side I had fun, so I kind of hope you did as well - sometimes it's just nice to be out there, which was the positive I took home with me!

Joop actually looks very uncheeky and particularly compliant and focused in the SJ - to the point that it rather looked like he thought he'd finished before the final line rather than it being anything you'd done particularly.

I had the world's sweetest cake yesterday and am suffering a consequent sugar low so will pass on cake!
 
Ah, here's the rest of the report! Joop clearly thought you were far too Grinny after last weekend :p Cheeky monkeys, the pair of them!

What calmer do you use on Joop out of interest? After being launched into orbit this weekend, I think that's next to add to my box of tricks (a rather empty box at the moment :eek: )
 
i thought that was the best Joop sj round i've seen actually, more 'freely forward and balanced to the fence' and less 'nice canter' kind of thing... does that make sense. real shame about the last line, it was a long way from the previous fence and i agree with Tilly, i think he switched off.
norty git xc but as someone v experienced and wise said to me yonks ago when i was bemoaning frustrating mistakes at Novice: they need to make the mistakes at N so they can cope confidently with the bigger stuff, he was right...
lurve Ralph, hope he has his dressage head back on next time.
 
What calmer do you have him on? The 2 day thing & consequent lack of focus makes lots of sense, little toad ;). To be fair it rode as strong a nov as I've jumped recently, and lots of experienced horses had an issue at the coffin.... Mite sends thanks to joooop for the carrots by the way, but needs more next time to avoid the time penalties!!!
 
And what's wrong with jumping like a teapot? We're quite athletic dontcha know :p

Do love the bouncy coloured ball and as for Jup, well what did you expect when asking him to perform 2 days running, we all know what men are like? ;) Fingers crossed for his next run :D
 
Cheeky monkey making you work that hard! The dressage looks great though, hope he chills over the XC.

For what it's worth R is always 'lookier' when the grass comes out which I always put down to a magnesium deficiency and up his magnesium calmer. Works on him so it might be an idea to try.
 
I hadn't realised it was your birthday so congratumalations from me. Ralph was as cute as ever and I watched Jup's SJing in the flesh and thought it was very good, even through my fog of despair. Sometimes they just don't jump high enough!!!

If you'd been around later and seen the bother the top guns had at the cows (one of whom lost a section after a major napping episode cost her 30+ TFs :() then you'd have been even prouder of them I think.

I thought it was quite interesting doing just the XC on Saturday - gave me an idea of what the horse might be like at a 3-day.

Bring Ralph to RIchmond on the Sunday - I've got it pencilled in for Fugly's first Novice and I'll be at Chatsworth on the Fri or Fri/Sat depending on whether I do the Nov or CIC* (ie. depending on whether I've managed to destress or possibly calmer-ise the horse! :rolleyes:).

deskbound said:
What calmer do you have him on? The 2 day thing & consequent lack of focus makes lots of sense, little toad ;). To be fair it rode as strong a nov as I've jumped recently, and lots of experienced horses had an issue at the coffin.... Mite sends thanks to joooop for the carrots by the way, but needs more next time to avoid the time penalties!!!
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I'm pleased someone else thought it was strong! There were 11 XC clears in our section :eek:.
 
I think it was well ridden at the wine glass - I did wonder why they gave us that fence!!

XC without all of the boring stuff first can result in a very different horse to what you are use to, even if you don't usually use a calmer.

Good luck for your next event.
 
Ralph is just edible, but you csn always rely on a pony to keep you guessing ;) Looking forward to his Novice debut :)

As for Joope, that is more than a bit annoying, tell him even Auntie K is cross with him, and he's the apple of my eye :o Interesting thoughts re the calmer, and agree it is better to find out now rather than wait till you've paid hundreds of pounds to be a at a three day. Really sorry we missed each other altogether, but it was rather one of those weekends, wasn't it?
 
Well done on the pony, don't think the step up to Nov is going to bother him too much :D.
As for Jupiter, I don't really know what to say - you must have been so disappointed, especially after the brilliant dressage. Is he well in himself now? My lot are never quite sure about using calmers and I think they've decided not to with Bert anymore to see if he can learn to calm himself down.
It's just one event in a whole season though, bound to be better next time :).
 
Belated Happy Birthday!!!

Ralphie G is super cute!

Lovely SJ round on Jooopiter. Shame about the XC but I guess at least there's (hopefully) something you can do to chill him out. Glad Bill isn't the only one who goes round XC with eyes on stalks spooking at the scenery. It really amazes me that horses still think they are prey animals, I mean honestly how often does a pile of wood actually get up and munch a horse? :rolleyes:
 
The title reminds me of a song that I think I'd better not share.... ;) :p

Thank you for posting a video of Ralph, I've never seen a tea pot jump before so am glad to know what one looks like ;) He might be cheeky but I rather like him! If I send you a self addressed envelope would you mind popping him in? :p

Poor old Jup he obviously used up al his good behavoir in the DR & SJing and just had to make up for it all XC :cool: However he is absoutely pinging in fine form in the 'Busted...' thread! May you should aim him at all fences on a not so good stride after a hard yank?...

IMHO the SJing looked a lot better, smoother and 'nicer' over all than your Sjing videos from last year.

Goodluck with the next outing and thanks for the cake!

ETS- :o :o belated Happy B-Day!
 
Sounds like a testing day for you, obviously Jup was just testing you as a birthday present ;)

The showjumping round looked grand - shouldn't complain with a clear, speaking from experience they are hard to come by :p
 
What a naughty Jupiter- but he is clearly very capable! And when else could you describe your OH as a "stud man"?!
 
Haven't watched the Jup vids but if Ralph jumps like your tea pot, can I have your teapot pls?.... Happy to swap it for an unused and unloved cafetiere (with as far as I know no showjumping talent) ;)

I think you did as good as could be expected in the dressage on him, he looked like he was 'on the brink' tee hee naughty rascal! :)
 
Gamebird said:
I'm pleased someone else thought it was strong! There were 11 XC clears in our section :eek:.
Click to expand...

I think I was walking while your section was running :o! One of those walks where you find the line, walk the striding and mutter to yourself "if you will go play with the grown ups..." while going a slightly paler shade (with no reference to the 5.30 alarm call) and recalling that it was definitely in August that I last jumped any angled rails, etc. Kudos to the course builder though, it rode beautifully - thankfully with cows littered around hacking, a few hanging out in a bush here & there presented no major issues ;)

Baydale: what about Aston mid week for Ralphie's Nervous debut? As for young Jooop, I hope he's feeling more contrite today :(.
 
Love Ralph he look greats fun.

Jups dressage and sj looks fab, so much more grown up, what a shame about the xc, looks like he likes to get the work done all on one day:)
 
SpottedCat said:
I had one of those weekends too! On the plus side I had fun, so I kind of hope you did as well - sometimes it's just nice to be out there, which was the positive I took home with me!

Joop actually looks very uncheeky and particularly compliant and focused in the SJ - to the point that it rather looked like he thought he'd finished before the final line rather than it being anything you'd done particularly.

I had the world's sweetest cake yesterday and am suffering a consequent sugar low so will pass on cake!
Click to expand...

Fun? :p I did but now that Competitive Baydale is back I had to work hard to put the character-building/learning experience spin on it. :rolleyes:

Well spotted re Jup's showjumping though, he was so compliant and soft that I didn't know what to do as he usually shoots off squeaking if you even shift a bit quickly. :p
 
now_loves_mares said:
Ah, here's the rest of the report! Joop clearly thought you were far too Grinny after last weekend :p Cheeky monkeys, the pair of them!

What calmer do you use on Joop out of interest? After being launched into orbit this weekend, I think that's next to add to my box of tricks (a rather empty box at the moment :eek: )
Click to expand...

Cheeky monkeys indeed, Ralph will be getting some calmer next time too as it was a tad embarrassing nearly being dumped in the dressage warm-up by 15hh of stroppiness. :o I use the Blue Chip Karma, just the evening before and morning of the event. I think it's probably better ie. stronger than the Crossgates AAA that was using and that I use myself for "focus".
 
kerilli said:
i thought that was the best Joop sj round i've seen actually, more 'freely forward and balanced to the fence' and less 'nice canter' kind of thing... does that make sense. real shame about the last line, it was a long way from the previous fence and i agree with Tilly, i think he switched off.
norty git xc but as someone v experienced and wise said to me yonks ago when i was bemoaning frustrating mistakes at Novice: they need to make the mistakes at N so they can cope confidently with the bigger stuff, he was right...
lurve Ralph, hope he has his dressage head back on next time.
Click to expand...

Great minds think alike as I did say that I'd rather be making my mistakes at this level....I was still very grumpy though. :mad: :p

Thanks though, I think I've almost got the right feel for showjumping and Lionel thought he just lacked a bit of power off the ground at that one.

Ralph is such a character, he has all Jup's cheek but in a smaller, more feisty package. :rolleyes:
 
icestationzebra said:
Go D! ;)

Sorry - couldn't help myself :D

Ralph was just reminding you that the small ones have plenty of attitude and Joops was clearly confused by splitting his eventing over 2 days! Still - all good practice for his first 3 day :D
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He's very handy with a spanner. :p

If nothing else I suppose I did learn something about Jup and how he needs managing so it wasn't entirely a wasted day. :rolleyes:
 
Santa_Claus said:
I wasn't the only one then who could only see the first paragraph for ages?

Shame about the XC but the dressage and SJ sound good from Joops :D
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I bet everyone thought I'd fallen asleep while I was composing this thread! :o

Two-thirds of it was ok, I'm thinking of breeding two more Jupiter lookalikes, one for each phase. ;)
 
deskbound said:
What calmer do you have him on? The 2 day thing & consequent lack of focus makes lots of sense, little toad ;). To be fair it rode as strong a nov as I've jumped recently, and lots of experienced horses had an issue at the coffin.... Mite sends thanks to joooop for the carrots by the way, but needs more next time to avoid the time penalties!!!
Click to expand...

Blue Chip Karma, as recommended by LD. I know it was a strong novice but he was capable enough, or he would have been if his mind had been on the job in hand instead of just galloping around madly and in random directions. :mad:

Did Mite not know that carrots are a superfood and if you eat enough you become turbo-charged? ;)
 
teapot said:
And what's wrong with jumping like a teapot? We're quite athletic dontcha know :p

Do love the bouncy coloured ball and as for Jup, well what did you expect when asking him to perform 2 days running, we all know what men are like? ;) Fingers crossed for his next run :D
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That expression is shamelessly stolen from TableDancer. :D Has she seen you jump? :p

Jup is having some bootcamp: dressage lessons, 2 x cross country schools and one lot of showjumping before his next one. No stone will be left unturned! :mad:
 
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