jxd
Well-Known Member
Well, Barry's first intro today - what a superstar (shame about his rider
)
Got up obscenely early this morning, as was second in my arena, and no time to walk xc between dressage and SJ. Arrived to blue skies and sunshine (thank goodness!), and hot-footed it round the xc course to get back and ready for dressage - unfortunately probably not paying quite as much attention as I should, which came back to haunt us later!!
Dressage was his best test so far - warmed up beautifully, and felt really on the ball - had only schooled once this week, but it suddenly seems to all be coming together as hes getting stronger.
Back for SJ, had a bit of a spook going into the ring - lots of boy scouts and a scary judges box! - but then jumped a lovely clear, didn't touch a thing, and was really listening to me today. Seriously helped me out at the double, where we were a bit off the oxer going in, but he turned himself inside out not to touch it for me!
Quick check of the scoreboard and found his dressage was 26.8, which was the best so far, so very chuffed!
xc - he was awesome!
He's only done the one unaff. event so far, where I took him steady and gave him plenty of time to have a look at everything, but kicked on today and he was very confident and straight..unfortunately had a bit of technical difficulty in the woods halfway round - on walking the course I hadn't appreciated that the intro competitiors could choose the left or right hand drop fence. We had 5 fences to jump on a pretty twisty line around the woods, and I found myself approaching what I thought was the PN drop on the LHS, so pulled up, wiggled round, and jumped the right hand drop. In my view I never actually presented at the LHS - unfortunately the jump judge thought different and gave us 20 penalties
I did query this later on, and made an objection, but judges decision final - so rather a shame and a lesson learnt!!!
We ended up 10th so just scraped in there to get a rosette!! Think a lot of people had time penalties, and also more problems xc than I thought there would be. Would have been 2nd but for our silly mistake..someone had a 24.something dressage! (and there was me happy to be sub-30!)
Couldnt be more pleased with Mr B though, he felt so much more grown up today, and took it all in his stride - looked very sleepy tonight though, bless him, but very pleased with himself (he still thinks he was double clear
)
Really not sure where to head now, there isnt another intro near enough to go to until Firle (can't do Mattingley unfortunately), so not sure whether to hang on until then, or to go to Brockenhurst PN, which I've heard isn't too tricky..thing is he is still on a learning curve and although very very genuine, still a bit green so I don't want to run into problems..decisions decisions!
Have some lovely pics - will post when on computer!
Got up obscenely early this morning, as was second in my arena, and no time to walk xc between dressage and SJ. Arrived to blue skies and sunshine (thank goodness!), and hot-footed it round the xc course to get back and ready for dressage - unfortunately probably not paying quite as much attention as I should, which came back to haunt us later!!
Dressage was his best test so far - warmed up beautifully, and felt really on the ball - had only schooled once this week, but it suddenly seems to all be coming together as hes getting stronger.
Back for SJ, had a bit of a spook going into the ring - lots of boy scouts and a scary judges box! - but then jumped a lovely clear, didn't touch a thing, and was really listening to me today. Seriously helped me out at the double, where we were a bit off the oxer going in, but he turned himself inside out not to touch it for me!
Quick check of the scoreboard and found his dressage was 26.8, which was the best so far, so very chuffed!
xc - he was awesome!
We ended up 10th so just scraped in there to get a rosette!! Think a lot of people had time penalties, and also more problems xc than I thought there would be. Would have been 2nd but for our silly mistake..someone had a 24.something dressage! (and there was me happy to be sub-30!)
Couldnt be more pleased with Mr B though, he felt so much more grown up today, and took it all in his stride - looked very sleepy tonight though, bless him, but very pleased with himself (he still thinks he was double clear
Really not sure where to head now, there isnt another intro near enough to go to until Firle (can't do Mattingley unfortunately), so not sure whether to hang on until then, or to go to Brockenhurst PN, which I've heard isn't too tricky..thing is he is still on a learning curve and although very very genuine, still a bit green so I don't want to run into problems..decisions decisions!
Have some lovely pics - will post when on computer!
