Azabache
Well-Known Member
So first time that I have posted a report on here, but you couldn't make yesterday up, so thought I would share. Apologies that its somewhat long
It was our first time at ALW, so was feeling a mix of nerves and excited anticipation. I normally take the ease of hitching up as a sign of how my day is going to go. Well it took me several attempts, and when I finally hitched up, I hoped that my superstition was a silly nonsense and that my day was going to be a good one! A friend then came over to say morning and as I turned round to say hi, my sunglasses fell off my head and broke (bu**er, they weren't that cheap!) but thought nothing more of it. However I am now starting to question if breaking your sunglasses is like breaking a mirror, or maybe my hitching up theory is true after all..... I then tried to squeeze past the haynet in the trailer and some hay managed to poke straight into my eye, the air was blue and cue dramatics from me (I'm such a wimp when it comes to eyes). Not to worry I'm sure it will stop hurting in a minute. We set off and halfway down the M40, it occurs to me; did I leave the trailer keys resting on the hitch? Doh!
Arrived at ALW and found a nice quiet spot, next to a really friendly lady who was having a similar day - she'd forgotten her jacket! By now my eye was killing me. I did question if I should just turn around, but decided dressage with one eye was preferable to driving on the M40 doing my best Cyclops impression. Got my number and luckily I'd arrived with plenty of time so found the paramedic. He had a quick look and couldn't see anything. He gave me a saline wash to use throughout the day and proceeded to tell me that we are all bonkers to do eventing and told me about all the nasty eventing accidents he'd recently attended to, including Laura Colletts. Jolly good, feeling much more confident about the day now! Headed back to the trailer and got the GG off. He is normally the most cooperative, calm horse going at events, but not today and instead he decided to kick me. Air was blue again! Luckily he's not got hind shoes, so could have been a lot worse. I had to be up to the quota of 3 things going wrong by now.
As I got tacked up I realised that Id forgotten to put my watch on, so would have to pop my phone in my pocket, would be just my luck if that falls out! He warmed up ok and then it was time. Considering my horse has 40 gaits but none of them include a 3 time canter and that he really cant see the point of dressage, he did quite a nice test for him and we got 38. We had over 2 hours until the SJ and my eye was no better so decided to wander over to the secretary tent to see if Id be allowed to wear goggles for SJ and XC. Got the go ahead, and luckily one of the stands was selling some. Looked like a spoon but at least Id be able to ride with both eyes open now. Finally the time came to get on board and head over to the SJ warm up. Normally calm GG, decided that ALW is HQ for all horse-eating pixies and that they were lurking in every corner. I ended up needing to follow another horse just to get him into the warm-up arena. He reverted back to 4 yo GG;la la la too busy watching for nasty pixies to listen to you mum! By now I was starting to doubt my wisdom in carrying on and was riding with the handbrake on, so much so that he refused all 3 warm up fences at our first attempt. Had a word with myself to release the handbrake and it was time to head over. I was desperately trying to banish thoughts that itd be a miracle if we dont get eliminated. Id not had a chance to walk the course, but had watched some go round earlier so thought I knew it. As we went in I warned the steward that my round might be interesting. We approached the first fence with lots of vocal encouragement and blow me down, he cleared it! He then cleared the next 3 without hesitation. I was so surprised to have gotten this far that I had no idea where fence 5 was. We took a little tour of the arena, still couldn't see a bloomin no. 5 and eventually the steward shouted green and yellow. Found the fence and we managed to clear the remainder of the course. I was so thrilled that hed gone clear and had to smirk at the 38 time faults (and 4 for crossing my tracks).
Back to the trailer for a quick change and team talk with the GG to bring us both home safe. Off we set, hoping that my run of bad luck had ended. I so love that moment of the count down and the anticipation of what the next few minutes will bring. I've been working hard on getting a good start - normally mr laid back trots out, but not today he set off at a good gallop and taking me into the fences. Was really pleased at how well he was jumping and after promising him Id checked for crocodiles, he only momentarily hesitated at the water. All was going well and then he cat leapt at the bench. This happened to be captured by the photographer (not on line yet) and my lower leg ended up touching his tail almost, with me literally a foot out of the saddle. I did think that I was about to find out what its like for my air jacket to go off. Goodness know how, I managed to land back in the plate (perhaps my luck was changing). Off we continued, and popped the next few fences, he even listened at the corner to go left (he always prefers to jump to the right of fences). Was really enjoying myself, when suddenly my left stirrup gave way. What the hell do I do? As I had 42 SJ penalties I decided the sensible thing would be to pull up and try to reattach the stirrup. I just could not get the bloomin thing back on and could hear the commentator sounding puzzled that wed pulled up. Eventually after what felt like forever, I managed to get the stirrup back on, and we set off again. He continued to travel well and clear everything with ease, even managed to forget about those pixies under the bridge and galloped through the finish line. I just love that finish line feeling of them galloping on and knowing that you did it and are home safe! Needless to say we collected hefty time faults, but I didn't care as hed been such a good boy and cleared everything!
Due to his interesting collection of paces, I never expect to get placed; I always just go to have fun. I was really pleased with him as his dressage was pretty good for him and hed in effect gone clear in SJ and XC, none of the faults were down to him. I was also just so pleased to have finished in one piece, given the day I was having! I have to admit that I did double check all round the trailer before we set off and went the longer way home just because it had fewer right turns. I was so glad to get home to bed with no further incident. So does anyone know, does breaking your sunglasses bring your bad luck, like breaking a mirror?
Tea and Toblerone for reading this far. x
It was our first time at ALW, so was feeling a mix of nerves and excited anticipation. I normally take the ease of hitching up as a sign of how my day is going to go. Well it took me several attempts, and when I finally hitched up, I hoped that my superstition was a silly nonsense and that my day was going to be a good one! A friend then came over to say morning and as I turned round to say hi, my sunglasses fell off my head and broke (bu**er, they weren't that cheap!) but thought nothing more of it. However I am now starting to question if breaking your sunglasses is like breaking a mirror, or maybe my hitching up theory is true after all..... I then tried to squeeze past the haynet in the trailer and some hay managed to poke straight into my eye, the air was blue and cue dramatics from me (I'm such a wimp when it comes to eyes). Not to worry I'm sure it will stop hurting in a minute. We set off and halfway down the M40, it occurs to me; did I leave the trailer keys resting on the hitch? Doh!
Arrived at ALW and found a nice quiet spot, next to a really friendly lady who was having a similar day - she'd forgotten her jacket! By now my eye was killing me. I did question if I should just turn around, but decided dressage with one eye was preferable to driving on the M40 doing my best Cyclops impression. Got my number and luckily I'd arrived with plenty of time so found the paramedic. He had a quick look and couldn't see anything. He gave me a saline wash to use throughout the day and proceeded to tell me that we are all bonkers to do eventing and told me about all the nasty eventing accidents he'd recently attended to, including Laura Colletts. Jolly good, feeling much more confident about the day now! Headed back to the trailer and got the GG off. He is normally the most cooperative, calm horse going at events, but not today and instead he decided to kick me. Air was blue again! Luckily he's not got hind shoes, so could have been a lot worse. I had to be up to the quota of 3 things going wrong by now.
As I got tacked up I realised that Id forgotten to put my watch on, so would have to pop my phone in my pocket, would be just my luck if that falls out! He warmed up ok and then it was time. Considering my horse has 40 gaits but none of them include a 3 time canter and that he really cant see the point of dressage, he did quite a nice test for him and we got 38. We had over 2 hours until the SJ and my eye was no better so decided to wander over to the secretary tent to see if Id be allowed to wear goggles for SJ and XC. Got the go ahead, and luckily one of the stands was selling some. Looked like a spoon but at least Id be able to ride with both eyes open now. Finally the time came to get on board and head over to the SJ warm up. Normally calm GG, decided that ALW is HQ for all horse-eating pixies and that they were lurking in every corner. I ended up needing to follow another horse just to get him into the warm-up arena. He reverted back to 4 yo GG;la la la too busy watching for nasty pixies to listen to you mum! By now I was starting to doubt my wisdom in carrying on and was riding with the handbrake on, so much so that he refused all 3 warm up fences at our first attempt. Had a word with myself to release the handbrake and it was time to head over. I was desperately trying to banish thoughts that itd be a miracle if we dont get eliminated. Id not had a chance to walk the course, but had watched some go round earlier so thought I knew it. As we went in I warned the steward that my round might be interesting. We approached the first fence with lots of vocal encouragement and blow me down, he cleared it! He then cleared the next 3 without hesitation. I was so surprised to have gotten this far that I had no idea where fence 5 was. We took a little tour of the arena, still couldn't see a bloomin no. 5 and eventually the steward shouted green and yellow. Found the fence and we managed to clear the remainder of the course. I was so thrilled that hed gone clear and had to smirk at the 38 time faults (and 4 for crossing my tracks).
Back to the trailer for a quick change and team talk with the GG to bring us both home safe. Off we set, hoping that my run of bad luck had ended. I so love that moment of the count down and the anticipation of what the next few minutes will bring. I've been working hard on getting a good start - normally mr laid back trots out, but not today he set off at a good gallop and taking me into the fences. Was really pleased at how well he was jumping and after promising him Id checked for crocodiles, he only momentarily hesitated at the water. All was going well and then he cat leapt at the bench. This happened to be captured by the photographer (not on line yet) and my lower leg ended up touching his tail almost, with me literally a foot out of the saddle. I did think that I was about to find out what its like for my air jacket to go off. Goodness know how, I managed to land back in the plate (perhaps my luck was changing). Off we continued, and popped the next few fences, he even listened at the corner to go left (he always prefers to jump to the right of fences). Was really enjoying myself, when suddenly my left stirrup gave way. What the hell do I do? As I had 42 SJ penalties I decided the sensible thing would be to pull up and try to reattach the stirrup. I just could not get the bloomin thing back on and could hear the commentator sounding puzzled that wed pulled up. Eventually after what felt like forever, I managed to get the stirrup back on, and we set off again. He continued to travel well and clear everything with ease, even managed to forget about those pixies under the bridge and galloped through the finish line. I just love that finish line feeling of them galloping on and knowing that you did it and are home safe! Needless to say we collected hefty time faults, but I didn't care as hed been such a good boy and cleared everything!
Due to his interesting collection of paces, I never expect to get placed; I always just go to have fun. I was really pleased with him as his dressage was pretty good for him and hed in effect gone clear in SJ and XC, none of the faults were down to him. I was also just so pleased to have finished in one piece, given the day I was having! I have to admit that I did double check all round the trailer before we set off and went the longer way home just because it had fewer right turns. I was so glad to get home to bed with no further incident. So does anyone know, does breaking your sunglasses bring your bad luck, like breaking a mirror?
Tea and Toblerone for reading this far. x
. You must have slept well after all that!
I'd have said **** it I'm going home! LOL! Well done!