Baydale
Well-Known Member
Our hunters are a bit frustrated as there's been no autumn hunting yet and we've only been on hound exercise once, so we entered them, and ISZ's Jemima, for our hunter trial. George and I were going to do pairs on Bally and Jemima (Bally is 5yo, v bouncy and George needs to get back into jumping; Jemima needed a xc school before Burnham Market PN next weekend). Then I was going to take Fraser (hunter-turned-eventer-turned back into hunter) and Marty (cute 5yo, been xc schooling once and on hound exercise once) individually.
George and I looked at the course plan, walked the novice course (with me thinking how meaty some of the 2'9"-3ft fences were, but not uttering a word to George). I told her to shout if things weren't ok and we were going great guns over a chase fence when I heard that "umph" when the someone lands on the ground and gets the wind knocked out of them. Oops.
Bally had jumped it well but pecked on landing, catapulting George out of the saddle. It appears that Blonde Baydale had walked the novice team chase, not the novice hunter trial course. Oops number 2. (I'd love to have seen them try and stop us, as Bally is built like the proverbial brick outhouse and Jemima was on a mission.)
George was ok so I asked if I could carry on and if they would tell me where to go to jump the right fences (red numbers, not yellow numbers). That was a bit bizarre, but I was determined Jemima was not going to get away with only doing half the course, so we muddled round and she was a bit tank-like a couple of times, but new brakes should do the trick next weekend. Here she is:
http://www.belvoir-photography.com/photo1629680.html (click right arrow for one more)
Then I got on Fraser who OH had "warmed-up" (that involved riding him round, stopping to chat to his friends every 10 metres). I obviously had to ask someone to tell me what the first 10 fences were as we'd been jumping the wrong ones.
Fraser was brill, he did novices last season so it was a bit beneath him, hence his dangly legs ("make them bigger and I'll tuck up").
http://www.belvoir-photography.com/photo1629765.html (click right arrow)
By the time I got on Marty I knew the course - yay - but there were dozens of team chase teams warming up ready for their class. Marty was a bit befuddled, and we went every which way except forwards trying to get to the warm-up fence. After I'd done it three times I decided it was safer for everyone concerned to not do any more.
He set off really well, and I just let him go in a rhythm knowing that the hills would knock the stuffing out of him (all 5yo's think they're invincible don't they?). We couldn't make the 90 degree turn at 9 and 10, and then he was grumpy at me telling him to steady at the chase fence so ran through my hand and nearly splatted us all over it (right in front of everybody watching and warming up
), then he settled again, just running off once more but doing the coffin and rail and water really boldly. I was really chuffed with him and have all winter to persuade OH that eventing will make him a perfect hunter for him (any ideas/suggestions gratefully received).
Here he is:
http://www.belvoir-photography.com/photo1629861.html (click right arrow for another one)
I know he looks a bit manic but he's not really like that. As you can tell, our steering needs a bit of work and he jumps a bit hollow, but he is big and weak and about an inch higher behind that in front so I'll forgive him.
If you've got this far it must be g&t and kettle chips time - enjoy.
George and I looked at the course plan, walked the novice course (with me thinking how meaty some of the 2'9"-3ft fences were, but not uttering a word to George). I told her to shout if things weren't ok and we were going great guns over a chase fence when I heard that "umph" when the someone lands on the ground and gets the wind knocked out of them. Oops.
http://www.belvoir-photography.com/photo1629680.html (click right arrow for one more)
Then I got on Fraser who OH had "warmed-up" (that involved riding him round, stopping to chat to his friends every 10 metres). I obviously had to ask someone to tell me what the first 10 fences were as we'd been jumping the wrong ones.
http://www.belvoir-photography.com/photo1629765.html (click right arrow)
By the time I got on Marty I knew the course - yay - but there were dozens of team chase teams warming up ready for their class. Marty was a bit befuddled, and we went every which way except forwards trying to get to the warm-up fence. After I'd done it three times I decided it was safer for everyone concerned to not do any more.
http://www.belvoir-photography.com/photo1629861.html (click right arrow for another one)
I know he looks a bit manic but he's not really like that. As you can tell, our steering needs a bit of work and he jumps a bit hollow, but he is big and weak and about an inch higher behind that in front so I'll forgive him.
If you've got this far it must be g&t and kettle chips time - enjoy.
