measles
Well-Known Member
It's been a while since I posted as A has been studying hard for exams with a conditional offer for university and B had a very bad chest infection and so riding wasn't an option (he has a history of pneumonia 
).
Over the last few weeks 9yo B has been getting his pony Bobby fitter again and out to a few unaffiliated shows where they have had fun and a fair amount of success. B particularly likes the local SJ schooling evenings where he gets to charge around and beat the adults
So, we all agreed last week that he might be ready to face the challenges of BS with Bobby and they were both duly registered on the very good value Pony Club offer. I did wonder why I was putting myself through it though as I was nervous for him as the week progressed while he was oblivious and had complete confidence in his pony.
Saturday dawned bright and sunny, and off we went to jump at his first BS show. By the time he had walked the course (commenting on how square and wide the fences were) and got his pony ready the warm up had become really quite busy and B worries when he can't get a clear line to his fences. I encouraged him to use the space creatively and he did until someone cut him up coming to the oxer and he ended up at it with 2 backward strides. Bobby should have stopped but being Bobby jumped, but from nothing, and B flew through the air and I'd like to say bounced but landed with a thud Not quite the start I had anticipated and I had a conscious swallow down the nerves and jollied him back on. To be fair to B he was really more concerned that he might have frightened his pony coming off, and grateful that he hadn't stopped
The class was single phase and so after a couple of confidence building fences and another refresher about what single phase is off he headed into the ring. When B started competing I told him that, along with visiting the secretary at the end of the day to say thank you, you should always acknowledge the judge and he remembered and trotted in, nodding to the judges box. I must admit to having a little almost well up moment.
B has been taking on board my encouragement to get a good canter and set off over the first fence as he means to go on and this he did, jumping clear and immediately setting off around the jump off section as fast as he could. My instructions had been to have fun and only do what he felt he wanted to, but he seems to have inherited a competitive gene from somewhere. I wonder how that could be?
He was delighted to find himself in second place in good company and he stayed there, so one very happy little boy.
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We walked the course for the next class and it was the biggest 2 phase track he had jumped, with the jump off being a real step up for them. I was very grateful when Bobby had a fence in the first phase, the first fence he has had at a competition since we got him, and B could come out on a high having jumped but not having to tackle the "huge" last fence!
One very happy small boy, smug pony having had lots of pats and mum who finally started breathing again around 6pm last night!
).Over the last few weeks 9yo B has been getting his pony Bobby fitter again and out to a few unaffiliated shows where they have had fun and a fair amount of success. B particularly likes the local SJ schooling evenings where he gets to charge around and beat the adults
So, we all agreed last week that he might be ready to face the challenges of BS with Bobby and they were both duly registered on the very good value Pony Club offer. I did wonder why I was putting myself through it though as I was nervous for him as the week progressed while he was oblivious and had complete confidence in his pony.
Saturday dawned bright and sunny, and off we went to jump at his first BS show. By the time he had walked the course (commenting on how square and wide the fences were) and got his pony ready the warm up had become really quite busy and B worries when he can't get a clear line to his fences. I encouraged him to use the space creatively and he did until someone cut him up coming to the oxer and he ended up at it with 2 backward strides. Bobby should have stopped but being Bobby jumped, but from nothing, and B flew through the air and I'd like to say bounced but landed with a thud
Not quite the start I had anticipated and I had a conscious swallow down the nerves and jollied him back on. To be fair to B he was really more concerned that he might have frightened his pony coming off, and grateful that he hadn't stopped The class was single phase and so after a couple of confidence building fences and another refresher about what single phase is off he headed into the ring. When B started competing I told him that, along with visiting the secretary at the end of the day to say thank you, you should always acknowledge the judge and he remembered and trotted in, nodding to the judges box. I must admit to having a little almost well up moment.
B has been taking on board my encouragement to get a good canter and set off over the first fence as he means to go on and this he did, jumping clear and immediately setting off around the jump off section as fast as he could. My instructions had been to have fun and only do what he felt he wanted to, but he seems to have inherited a competitive gene from somewhere. I wonder how that could be?
He was delighted to find himself in second place in good company and he stayed there, so one very happy little boy.
We walked the course for the next class and it was the biggest 2 phase track he had jumped, with the jump off being a real step up for them. I was very grateful when Bobby had a fence in the first phase, the first fence he has had at a competition since we got him, and B could come out on a high having jumped but not having to tackle the "huge" last fence!
One very happy small boy, smug pony having had lots of pats and mum who finally started breathing again around 6pm last night!
