Aston PN report

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tigers_eye

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It was muddilicious! The promise of a bog was fulfilled, much to my delight as I was on Liberty, the ultimate bog machine! My poor OH was soaked from an early stage, and BBs went far above and beyond the call of duty in the face of awful weather as chief cheer-leader.

Gave him 10 (actualy probably 5) mins warm-up for the dressage, which was plenty enough for all concerned in steady, but not too heavy yet, downpour! Did quite a nice test, had my reins a lot shorter than I have done previously after seeing a video of us! Just fluffed one canter transition.

Went back to lorry and it started to rain in earnest. BBs went for a change of coat and to get a coffee to match the colour of the water running off the brown hat of my dad's that she'd found in the lorry! Went over to SJ, which they'd moved into the car park from the previous days. Bit of a cock up with the order meant I got crossed off before I went in and had to hang about (getting wetter), went in and splashed round, just got a bit sloppy at the end and had two down
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. I think he's got past the stage where he thinks everything merits a second look, and so I need to get over riding him so defensively, then maybe he'd have time to pick his feet up!

Time for a quick fag then on to xc. Again, stupidly wet! Just as I went to start there was a hold so more turning in circles in the rain. Set off, much better over the first than he has been, then just tore round like a proper horse
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! Over all 3 ditches no problem, the fence on the mound at 6 which the only horses I'd seen had stopped at, the two waters he just kept cantering at (don't think he realised they were any different to the puddles we'd been wading through)! Locked onto the corner, he was just fab! Made me think it wasn't so mad entering him in a Novice after all....

Don't know where we ended up as he wasn't in with a chance after being quite harshly marked for 37.5 and the two down, but actually come away so pleased because of the xc! Pics going in gallery, including a fab one of him trying to will polo's out of BBs pocket through the power of thought
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YAY i had such a great day, S makes me giggle with all his Fing and Blinding but he does love Liberty.

I really do think you need to purchase some wet weather gear for him tho
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I did see you sail past as i got the organiser to pull me out of the bog! they had to let the ropes down around the arena too LMAO!
Arse hole guy didnt rescue me in the range rover tho *SULK*

But i got my own back and over took you on the motorway
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Liberty was super cross country today, i just dont know what you were worried about! lol
 
Well done! Can't believe the extreme weather conditions the poor horses have had to contend with over the last few weeks!
 
Why didn't you send all the rain this direction, we have had none all weekend, and is is sorely needed.
Sounds like you had a great day despite the sogginess, and the pictures are brill. I wish my OH could take pics!!
Fiona
 
All I kept hearing on the news was severe weather warnings for Cornwall - but you didn't get washed out I hope?

Fiona - it's just one extreme to the other here, but it was a good thing they'd watered before and spiked as it all sank in and rode very well, just will be a lot of work for them to get it looking nice again.
 
Dam, missed you all again.
Definitely not nice conditions yesterday. i was only there for a couple of hours to help pupil and got soaked.
XC course seemed to be causing a lot of trouble which makes your clear even better
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SJ was certainly a muddle
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lol found them now!! they are fantastic!

hes been sound for ages, saddler didnt have a saddle to fit so she just reflocked his one and said it will do untill she can find another one (useless woman). still havent been on since we last spoke. but his condition is brilliant and vet is very pleased with his feet!! and hes for sale!
 
Why do you were consider you were harshly marked in the dressage? Not sure how eventing is marked v pure BD dressage ie is 37.5 equiv to 62.5%?

Looking at photos there are a couple of problems obvious which if addressed could improve your percentage? I'm happy to pm to expand but won't go into it on here.

Well done though and the jumping photos are lovely
 
Well, he's had marks from 31 to 37.5 for very similar tests in the last couple of months (and obviously the judge who gave him 31 was right
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). This time I shortened my reins up more as I'd had comments about them being too long, but this can lead to tension, particularly as he was quite bright. The judge picked up on it straight away and commented several times on tension in his neck. I find him a lot of horse to keep through and connected without him using the hand as a prop. If there's other stuff (preferably easily fixable
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) you can see feel free to comment on here! Do you judge?
 
As you have asked. I am a judge and in my opinion any horse who is tight through the neck, over the back and becoming overbent (as the photo's show, especially the canter one) and, as you mention, not working through from behind up into the contact would be very lucky to score 31.

As judges we are looking for firstly rhythm, then suppleness then contact, the situation you discribe leads me to think there are some problems with both suppleness and contact, which means it would be difficult for the horse to score fairly good marks consitently.

He is obviously an attractive horse with promise and if he was working over a softer back and neck stepping through from behind into a forward thinking contact I am sure he would do very well.
 
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