Baydale
Well-Known Member
Ok, I've nothing remarkable to report really but boy oh boy does it feel good to be back competing.
Yesterday was Marty's eventing debut. Quick recap on who Marty is: Irish 6yo bought last year as a hunter but....ahem....didn't settle terribly well
over the winter with me so OH had the brilliant idea (same brilliant idea that I'd had several months earlier, funnily enough) that he should go eventing to teach him some manners.
Marty's problem is that he can't keep his focus on one thing, then gets tense and rude when you ask him to not do that naughty thing - could be trying to put you in a hedge/ditch/over the edge of the school, depending on the situation. He's been out to a couple of small shows, lessons etc and been xc schooling twice (with Naomi who works for us on him, as he's her favourite), so of course it was a wise choice to ride him in my first event back.
Dressage: he's a bit weak although he moves well, but looks something akin to a prize heifer/show hunter at the moment. He tensed in the canter warming up and it was like Wall of Death round the warm up, but settle better in the ring and other than a fluffed halt and a break into trot early, I was pleased with him. He did the ODE at Cranwell and took off with me, only just staying in the arena, so anything had to be better than that.
Was pleased to get 35.5, plenty of room for improvement when he can stay consistently soft through his back and lighten his forehand.
We walked the course, and I was just about to get on to showjump....not v impressed to hear my name being shouted over the tannoy as they were waiting for me to jump (it was 20 minutes until my time
), and despite KatB's best chill techniques I was still a tad stressed. Again, as he's weak and his canter's not that great, he inverts over a fence. I know it will come with time but at the moment I'm just happy with a horse that's on my side and not taking off with his head in the air whenever I gently half-halt (no honestly, I do half-halt gently
). I had to ride him more forward than usual as his eyes were out on stalks, so he ran off head in the air to 2 and had that down, then got a bit deep to an oxer (lovely bottom wiggling - him, not me
- on the vid as I tried to straighten him on the approach) and had that too. Bless him, he's normally Mr I Am at home but he was starting to feel like Mr I'm Not Too Sure about the whole day at Keysoe.
I quickly got changed and went straight over to accost Thistle, XC Steward Extraordinaire, who seemed pleased to see me considering last time she saw me on a horse I was very soon off it and she rescued me from being ham-fistedly (made up word
) undressed by paramedics.
I popped a few warm-up fences, maybe one of them without him sticking his head up in the air and just going, then went to the start. After a cheery/queasy wave to Abi in the start box, off we set: no head up to the first fence, I swear I saw his nostrils on our approach to the second
, a lesser version of that to the decent oxer at 3 and then he must have decided if he runs to a deep spot it's harder work, so he started to settle (relieved is an understatement
). He spooked at the plastic sheep at 4, was fab over the corner at 5, carrot box at 6, came round to the water, trotted in, trotted up step and did a huge "eek" at the people the other side of the barrels that he'd only just spotted (dope), so a bit of an awkward wobble out of trot over that, then fab off the step to the skinny, ditto the next few until the coffin. I got my best coffin canter, or the best you can with a weak on-the-forehand 6yo, he popped in and went "holy s**t, you never told me there was a ditch there!", big twisty jump over it and an odd two and a bit strides to the skinny-ish rails out, but then fab up the steps to rail, chair and surprisingly cool about the pagoda fence to finish, albeit in a classic Marty-stylie inverted way - thanks KatB for pointing that out
, but the undercarriage was up so I was happy.
I'd just trundled round so wasn't too upset with 9 time and was really chuffed that he'd settled so well and not had too many head in the air moments. I'm sure his manners will come in time as bitting isn't an issue, just his attitude - kinda "don't tell me what to do
" - but I think that's borne more out of his early life as he's a really kind, lovely horse, just with a tad more strength of character than some.
Tea and biccies for those that've made it this far, get back in practice as I'm out again on Thursday with the Huge One.
Will post the link to the photos when they're up.
Yesterday was Marty's eventing debut. Quick recap on who Marty is: Irish 6yo bought last year as a hunter but....ahem....didn't settle terribly well
Dressage: he's a bit weak although he moves well, but looks something akin to a prize heifer/show hunter at the moment. He tensed in the canter warming up and it was like Wall of Death round the warm up, but settle better in the ring and other than a fluffed halt and a break into trot early, I was pleased with him. He did the ODE at Cranwell and took off with me, only just staying in the arena, so anything had to be better than that.
We walked the course, and I was just about to get on to showjump....not v impressed to hear my name being shouted over the tannoy as they were waiting for me to jump (it was 20 minutes until my time
I quickly got changed and went straight over to accost Thistle, XC Steward Extraordinaire, who seemed pleased to see me considering last time she saw me on a horse I was very soon off it and she rescued me from being ham-fistedly (made up word
I'd just trundled round so wasn't too upset with 9 time and was really chuffed that he'd settled so well and not had too many head in the air moments. I'm sure his manners will come in time as bitting isn't an issue, just his attitude - kinda "don't tell me what to do
Tea and biccies for those that've made it this far, get back in practice as I'm out again on Thursday with the Huge One.
