miss_c
Well-Known Member
Taking more than one horse to a 'party' is a novel experience for me as until recently I have only had a 3.5t box and with Genie (15hh of muscle) weighing 540kg when fully fit I simply would have been overweight with a second cob on board! I am loving having my 7.5t lorry "Barney".
So today we went to one of my favourite local venues - Avon Riding Centre for the Disabled. It's a fantastic low key and chilled out atmosphere, and I have met some great people there. It was the perfect place to take Cathael Fanfare ("Pondy") for her first outing of 2014, and for her second and third ever tests. Quiet warmup with never more than 6 allowed in, and a lovely big (but slightly spooky) indoor school.
First up was the Intro with Pondy, riding RDA 1b. A few green moments, first of all when she saw that there was a CAR in the arena, and especially when Fanfare went down the centre line and almost stopped dead when she realised there were PEOPLE in the car (It must have eaten them whole!)! On the whole I felt it was a nice relaxed test and she just called once to Genie towards the end.
"Mum... why is there a car in here?"
"MUM!!! THERE ARE PEOPLE IN THERE!!!!"
Halting like a pro!
On to the Prelim and poor Fanfare had to go back in and warm up which she was rather bemused about. Everything was kept very relaxed and easy - quick trot and canter on each rein then walked round as she was tired. Went into the test and she was much more chilled out about everything, called once before it started and then relaxed and got on with the job.
Straight out of Fanfare's test, quick tack change and jumped on Genie. She worked really well, but went down the centre line of her test and was turbo charged! Still obedient, but very VERY forward and I felt it was more of a case of containing her and making it look easy. Still, they certainly couldn't say that she lacked impulsion!
Genie didn't get to go back to the lorry, but instead had to go back in the warm-up to work in for the Novice. She was much better in this test and I was able to ride her more.
So... results...
Was AMAZED to find Fanfare had won the Intro on 81.11%! Rather generous I think but absolutely over the moon with her.
In the Prelim Genie scored 72.5% and would have won but she was HC. Good pony!
Fanfare's Prelim.... My jaw hit the floor! She came SECOND on 70.42%, only 2 marks behind 1st!
Genie also won the Novice on 73.57% - she's really starting to feel more rideable and established at this level now and I am thrilled with her.
Well... what can I say?! You know it's a good day at the office when the worst score of the day is 70.42% and the worst placing is 2nd! We were joined by G-I-T after Genie's Prelim who helped myself and my 'substitute' (but excellent!) groom get the girls ready to go home. Fanfare stood good as gold on the lorry with a haynet while Genie worked, and on the whole the day was an enormous success!
Back home and as the weather was so gorgeous the girls got their first time out without rugs this year.
Thank you so much for reading! Please help yourself to Yorkie 'MAN SIZE' buttons!
*miss_c prays the pictures aren't giant sized*
So today we went to one of my favourite local venues - Avon Riding Centre for the Disabled. It's a fantastic low key and chilled out atmosphere, and I have met some great people there. It was the perfect place to take Cathael Fanfare ("Pondy") for her first outing of 2014, and for her second and third ever tests. Quiet warmup with never more than 6 allowed in, and a lovely big (but slightly spooky) indoor school.
First up was the Intro with Pondy, riding RDA 1b. A few green moments, first of all when she saw that there was a CAR in the arena, and especially when Fanfare went down the centre line and almost stopped dead when she realised there were PEOPLE in the car (It must have eaten them whole!)! On the whole I felt it was a nice relaxed test and she just called once to Genie towards the end.
"Mum... why is there a car in here?"
"MUM!!! THERE ARE PEOPLE IN THERE!!!!"
Halting like a pro!
On to the Prelim and poor Fanfare had to go back in and warm up which she was rather bemused about. Everything was kept very relaxed and easy - quick trot and canter on each rein then walked round as she was tired. Went into the test and she was much more chilled out about everything, called once before it started and then relaxed and got on with the job.
Straight out of Fanfare's test, quick tack change and jumped on Genie. She worked really well, but went down the centre line of her test and was turbo charged! Still obedient, but very VERY forward and I felt it was more of a case of containing her and making it look easy. Still, they certainly couldn't say that she lacked impulsion!
Genie didn't get to go back to the lorry, but instead had to go back in the warm-up to work in for the Novice. She was much better in this test and I was able to ride her more.
So... results...
Was AMAZED to find Fanfare had won the Intro on 81.11%! Rather generous I think but absolutely over the moon with her.
In the Prelim Genie scored 72.5% and would have won but she was HC. Good pony!
Fanfare's Prelim.... My jaw hit the floor! She came SECOND on 70.42%, only 2 marks behind 1st!
Genie also won the Novice on 73.57% - she's really starting to feel more rideable and established at this level now and I am thrilled with her.
Well... what can I say?! You know it's a good day at the office when the worst score of the day is 70.42% and the worst placing is 2nd! We were joined by G-I-T after Genie's Prelim who helped myself and my 'substitute' (but excellent!) groom get the girls ready to go home. Fanfare stood good as gold on the lorry with a haynet while Genie worked, and on the whole the day was an enormous success!
Back home and as the weather was so gorgeous the girls got their first time out without rugs this year.
Thank you so much for reading! Please help yourself to Yorkie 'MAN SIZE' buttons!
*miss_c prays the pictures aren't giant sized*
