Arena Uk amateur champs *long*

BroadfordQueen

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Well as you can proberbly tell by the early post, we didnt qualify for the grand prix day tomorrow
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Very dissapointed.

Arrived yesterday morning at 7:30am, found her stable and in she went (with a bit of coaxing- she didnt like the look of the scary portable stables!). Got All the stable stuff out of the trailer and bought some shavings etc etc. went and walked the course- seemed nice, good size, lovely arena, nothing too spooky. Found the running order- 77th to go out of about 110 starters- although i think about 5 or 6 didnt declare.

So watched the first 30 odd go- only about 5 or 6 double clears which really suprised us! lots of horses spooking at a scary double, and just alot of 4-faulters.

Got on and took her to walk/trot/canter in the outside school- which is MASSIVE! and she was totally barmy, what with the wind and all the things going on! Went in the indoor warm up which was abit mad... but she warmed up nicely (now developed a fear of horses cantering on the opposite rein to us- she just freezes and starts running backwards
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).

Went in the ring and she felt really nice and relaxed. Into the first fence- took a flyer! Round the corner to the second- found myself on the wrong leg but couldn't change in time so she was unbalanced and had it down- gutted. Flew the rest clear, jumped brilliantly and didnt even think about spooking at anything.

So abit gutted- found out there where 23 odd double clears (out of over 100!) so gutted as she SO easily could have qualified.


Anyway today was a speed class, and my final chance of qualification. Was 24th to jump today which was much better. Decided to go for it- all or nothing
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So we really went for it- jumped 1, galloped upto fence 2, super tight turn into 3, gallop onto fence 4 (a double)...got abit flat over 1st part and therefore had second part down. Sh!t. Go faster in hope of getting through with fastest 4 faults. Few more tight turns and then has number 7 down too- going too fast. Bugger. So we came home.

Would of almost deffinately won it had i gone clear- came away with second fastest time and i would of gone faster into the last few but i decided there was no point. Really, REALLY gutted.

She was a star though. Just decided not to pick her feet up. Typical, hasnt had a pole for ages. Having a rest from showjumping for a few weeks now and do some hunting (
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) and then do some bigger classes, eg. 1.10m/newcomers. Im not trying to make an excuse, but to be honest it was too small for her and she wasn't even putting any effort into it- we hired a show centre out on wednesday night and bung them up to 1.10m ish and she didnt touch a single pole.

thanks for reading
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I'm totally pleased with her, she was really good, just dissapointed with the thought of what *could* of happened had she kept the fences up.
but im sure im not the only person who is saying the exact same thing at the moment!
 
Interesting that you said your horse has developed a fear of others coming towards her - mine is like this too! Was there any specific incident which sparked your girlie's phobia? Coz with Elz, I just cant put my finger on it!
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Not that I know of, something could of happened to her in the past, but she is a nervous mare so it could just be nerves. she is fine if a horse comes from behind her and canters past, but iwhen she is trapped between the wall and another horse coming towards her she just freaks out! Caused abit of agro in the warm up but they should of been going the correct way anyways
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[ QUOTE ]
Indeed. I think that is SJ though
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Lots of hanging around and one fence down and that's it
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[/ QUOTE ]
Exactly what we said! Bring on eventing any day!
 
What rotten luck - it's so annoying when you know it could all have gone right and instead it goes wrong. SJ can be such a bummer - hope both of you enjoy the hunting
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Yeah they were, so in retrospect i was stupid to go so fast, could of qualified with a clear as she is fast anyway when im not even trying, so am mad with myself
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You must feel pleased though to know that you weren't outclassed or anything. Just unlucky on the day.

You now need to qualify for Blue Chip, I think the finals are at Hartpury this year.
 
yeah i wanted to but i cant jump the small classes as i have won too much money
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so would have to do the 1.10m (power championships) which is a pretty big thing for us at the moment! Maybe next year
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