star
Well-Known Member
Last year's Badminton didn't exactly go to plan. We qualified for the 90, had been out winning at 100, did a great dressage for 27.8, clear SJ and then I went flying at the coffin which was way more than he had ever seen before.
So, the last year was spent doing much more in the way of XC schooling (having previously thought we had that phase pretty sorted) - we went and found as many coffins as possible, we practised jumping anything we could find on top of a slope or into water and I worked hard on my XC position and rider effectiveness. Last year's Regionals saw us fail to qualify at 90 but manage to do it at 100 on first attempt. The beginning of this year didn't go to plan with Monty getting a nasty kick to his stifle mid March and missing most of his prep runs. We managed a steady DC at SOE and then a really confident, fast DC at Hambleden though so felt as ready as we could be. Then the course photos went up a week before Badders and quite frankly scared the life out of me. Way more technical than anything I'd seen up to now. Still new to eventing having only started at 80 4yrs ago and the coffin looked even bigger and scarier than ever as well as all the other questions. Still, I figured the weather couldn't possibly be any worse than last year which might help.
Before we left:
My good luck bear from super sponsors West Kent Saddles
Oh, how wrong I was there! We went up on Monday lunchtime and the weather wasn't too bad but Tuesday brought heavy rain and high winds. Monty hates windy, rainy weather and so do I. I wouldn't normally bother riding him in those conditions. He can be so sharp and unpredictable.
Looking a little wild:
I had to be led from the stables to the warmup arena as he was napping so badly. He did the best test he could in the circumstances. I was really proud of how he held it together but it did feel like I was nursing him round and that he might explode at any second. Still disappointed with a score of 36.8 putting us way down the order. However, I wasn't there to win it and the jumping phases were quite enough challenge to just survive! Walked the XC course 3 times in total and it seemed to grow in size and difficulty each time! They had put quite a few alternatives in this year though so at least more of a chance of getting round and completing. Walked the SJ which was a full up 1.10m course with big square oxers and lots of related distances but we have done so much work with Chris Burton on my SJ that I felt quite happy with the course.
Sleepless night on Tuesday as the rain beat on the horsebox roof and I almost wished they might call it off the next day (absolute de ja vu to the previous year!). Went to tack up for SJ in the dry and suddenly the heavens opened, the rain was horizontal and actually hurt as it whipped across your face. I had to be led to the SJ warmup but then he wouldn't do anything once in there, whipping round, rearing etc. The flags were flapping away and we were feeding off each other's nerves. I made a hasty retreat to the dressage warmup and tried to get him listening to me again. Pep talks from friends were failing and I was all set to go back to the stables and withdraw when I saw my boyfriend running across with Chris Burton who had come all the way across from the main site in the pouring rain to help me warm up. He got me to focus and with some determination get Monty to concentrate on a few practice fences. It wasn't ideal but in we went. He jumped his socks off but just got a bit long and flat towards the end and breathed on the last 2 rails. At this point Chris told me he expected nothing less than a clear round XC, he hadn't come all that way in the pouring rain for me to withdraw and to get on with it! Thank god for someone who I really respect giving me the kick I needed.
No idea how we knocked this down!
Wet and soggy:
https://youtu.be/tUXBRPaBLgY
We got changed for XC, determined to avoid the age long wait we had last year that wound him up no end. They announced XC was running 10mins late so we wandered over to be told the one before me had gone to the start which suited us fine. Quick pop over a warmup jump, one on the angle and off we went! Given we were out of the reckoning by a long way I opted not to run for the time and to take a couple of alternatives (one at the water and one at the huge left corner) to help ensure we got a clear round. I was still fully expecting not to get any further than the coffin. He felt really confident, aced the skinny brushes and the combination before the coffin and then it was coffin time. I told him to pay attention, I sat up, I gave him the biggest growl ever and before I knew it we were over!!! What a feeling.
https://youtu.be/-wj0PzE-wsQ
The rest felt like a breeze after that and we were through the finish with the biggest number of time pens ever but clear!!! What a high. So chuffed with the boy. Despite the terrible weather we achieved my aim of going clear round the XC. What a superstar he is!
fence 2 XC:
fence 5c - coming out of the water
fence 8 XC:
fence 9b - the 2nd of the skinny brushes:
https://youtu.be/jn9F8LvbFuY
fence 18 XC:
post XC love:
On Saturday after a few days of enjoying the Badders action we went for a hack round the estate with a couple of others and got the obligatory Badminton House photo!
through the ears shot:
And just because we can - it might have taken years to convince him to do a flying change but now he's got them he's showing off!:
https://youtu.be/bByJn-nCQdQ
So, the last year was spent doing much more in the way of XC schooling (having previously thought we had that phase pretty sorted) - we went and found as many coffins as possible, we practised jumping anything we could find on top of a slope or into water and I worked hard on my XC position and rider effectiveness. Last year's Regionals saw us fail to qualify at 90 but manage to do it at 100 on first attempt. The beginning of this year didn't go to plan with Monty getting a nasty kick to his stifle mid March and missing most of his prep runs. We managed a steady DC at SOE and then a really confident, fast DC at Hambleden though so felt as ready as we could be. Then the course photos went up a week before Badders and quite frankly scared the life out of me. Way more technical than anything I'd seen up to now. Still new to eventing having only started at 80 4yrs ago and the coffin looked even bigger and scarier than ever as well as all the other questions. Still, I figured the weather couldn't possibly be any worse than last year which might help.
Before we left:
My good luck bear from super sponsors West Kent Saddles
Oh, how wrong I was there! We went up on Monday lunchtime and the weather wasn't too bad but Tuesday brought heavy rain and high winds. Monty hates windy, rainy weather and so do I. I wouldn't normally bother riding him in those conditions. He can be so sharp and unpredictable.
Looking a little wild:
I had to be led from the stables to the warmup arena as he was napping so badly. He did the best test he could in the circumstances. I was really proud of how he held it together but it did feel like I was nursing him round and that he might explode at any second. Still disappointed with a score of 36.8 putting us way down the order. However, I wasn't there to win it and the jumping phases were quite enough challenge to just survive! Walked the XC course 3 times in total and it seemed to grow in size and difficulty each time! They had put quite a few alternatives in this year though so at least more of a chance of getting round and completing. Walked the SJ which was a full up 1.10m course with big square oxers and lots of related distances but we have done so much work with Chris Burton on my SJ that I felt quite happy with the course.
Sleepless night on Tuesday as the rain beat on the horsebox roof and I almost wished they might call it off the next day (absolute de ja vu to the previous year!). Went to tack up for SJ in the dry and suddenly the heavens opened, the rain was horizontal and actually hurt as it whipped across your face. I had to be led to the SJ warmup but then he wouldn't do anything once in there, whipping round, rearing etc. The flags were flapping away and we were feeding off each other's nerves. I made a hasty retreat to the dressage warmup and tried to get him listening to me again. Pep talks from friends were failing and I was all set to go back to the stables and withdraw when I saw my boyfriend running across with Chris Burton who had come all the way across from the main site in the pouring rain to help me warm up. He got me to focus and with some determination get Monty to concentrate on a few practice fences. It wasn't ideal but in we went. He jumped his socks off but just got a bit long and flat towards the end and breathed on the last 2 rails. At this point Chris told me he expected nothing less than a clear round XC, he hadn't come all that way in the pouring rain for me to withdraw and to get on with it! Thank god for someone who I really respect giving me the kick I needed.
No idea how we knocked this down!
Wet and soggy:
https://youtu.be/tUXBRPaBLgY
We got changed for XC, determined to avoid the age long wait we had last year that wound him up no end. They announced XC was running 10mins late so we wandered over to be told the one before me had gone to the start which suited us fine. Quick pop over a warmup jump, one on the angle and off we went! Given we were out of the reckoning by a long way I opted not to run for the time and to take a couple of alternatives (one at the water and one at the huge left corner) to help ensure we got a clear round. I was still fully expecting not to get any further than the coffin. He felt really confident, aced the skinny brushes and the combination before the coffin and then it was coffin time. I told him to pay attention, I sat up, I gave him the biggest growl ever and before I knew it we were over!!! What a feeling.
https://youtu.be/-wj0PzE-wsQ
The rest felt like a breeze after that and we were through the finish with the biggest number of time pens ever but clear!!! What a high. So chuffed with the boy. Despite the terrible weather we achieved my aim of going clear round the XC. What a superstar he is!
fence 2 XC:
fence 5c - coming out of the water
fence 8 XC:
fence 9b - the 2nd of the skinny brushes:
https://youtu.be/jn9F8LvbFuY
fence 18 XC:
post XC love:
On Saturday after a few days of enjoying the Badders action we went for a hack round the estate with a couple of others and got the obligatory Badminton House photo!
through the ears shot:
And just because we can - it might have taken years to convince him to do a flying change but now he's got them he's showing off!:
https://youtu.be/bByJn-nCQdQ