Baydale is Blonde, it's official - Knaptoft Report

Baydale

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I hope no-one thought I was suicidal when they saw the big E on bdwp, as I had a really good day.
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Yep, before you think I've lost the plot completely, all that happened was that I had a real blonde (or senior) moment showjumping and went merrily cantering past a fence.
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Oops, I've not done that before and won't plan on doing it again. Maybe I overdosed on the AAA and it chilled me out so much I forgot how to count. Whatever, enjoy a chuckle at my expense as I'd hardly be devastated by the experience, would I?
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First things first though: Saturday saw me and the little ginger one doing 5yo BYEH. He was very chilled, even after a bit of a bundle in the warm-up when three or four horses set each other off and Tino and I were stuck in the middle of them, cowering. He did a nice test, bit of a spurt into one canter when a quad bike came past, but otherwise really sweet and settled: 25 out of 35 for that.

Photos by kind permission of Imagepoint Event Photography
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In to showjump and he was a bit inattentive at a couple, so we had a few Tino specials. Despite leaving them all up, he got a lousy mark - his unique style is a bit lost on the judges but I've never sat on anything so intent to get to the other side and leave them intact, so I was pleased. *whispers 22 out of 40* This was the best photo:
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Conformation: he got 12 out of 15, much better than last time but I think him muscling up and filling out has made him look much better without tack on.

So, GT_02 and I were chuffed with him, and we've put the new photos on his ad and reduced the price to try and get some movement on that front.

Sunday was HH's day, his first such day for 9 weeks when he whacked his stifle at Brigstock. Understandably he was delighted to be in circulation again
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, and my normally sufficient 30mins dressage warm-up was woefully inadequate. He entertained himself the whole way through the test, with a Jemima-like bum shimmy in our two jog (walk) half circles, a couple of dodgy shoulder-in's and some v "active" medium canter circles, all accompanied by me, struggling like the Captain of the QE2 without a rudder. "A little jolly" was one of the comments, so 34.1 wasn't too bad I suppose.

Showjumping: after all the rain it was so muddy and slippery, and whilst it was later in the day and had dried out a bit, it was still pretty yucky. I did my short, sweet warm-up and went in, thinking forward, positive thoughts. All was going well and I was still thinking positive thoughts when I was a bit off the treble going in, so he tightened behind and had that but then jumped the rest well, so well that I cantered past our next fence and to the double - thinking to myself "that's a bit odd, going straight from a double to a treble?"
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I then was a bit too forward to the oxer in, and couldn't shorten him enough to get out, so had that down. Then heard I was TE'ed for missing a fence out, doh
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, but they'd ask the steward if I could go xc.

Here's him, starting to look more like he should:
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Thankfully they did as he was fantastic cross country.
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Sorry for the smiley over-use, but words cannot explain how much fun this horse is xc; he just loves doing it, it never occurs to him he can't do it, therefore as his passenger, that's fine with me.
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This is his "pointy-eared" face, when he's clocked the fact that there is something else to jump, and soon-ish.
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And he didn't care about the mud, which OH was pleased about seeing as he thinks he still might get him as a hunter. Hmmm, might have to reconsider that deal later in the season.
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Don't know what reward you get for reading all this drivel, as I'm about to get in the car for the 2hr drive home. Great.
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If you can hang on a while I'll open a bottle of berry cider and some cashews when I get home.
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great photos!
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the ginger is looking loveley may i say
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and we've all had blonde/senior moments
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haha never mind about that. sounds like you had a fab time and you definitley have some fab photos
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xx
 
brilliant, HH looks fantastic, at least you got your 'blonde' moment out of the way on a day when you didn't do a 12 dressage or something...!
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please tell your OH that HH is not going to be a hunter, he has Far More Important things to do with himself (and you) for the next 10 years...
Tino looks really good, can't believe you've had to reduce his price?!
 
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Well done, so glad it's not just me that gets a big fat E for missing out sj's!

[/ QUOTE ]

And Jack
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Glad you got to go xc and end on a high
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Well done (bar missing a sj!).

Both looking stunning.

My first thought when I read
Thankfully they did as he was fantastic cross country. Sorry for the smiley over-use, but words cannot explain how much fun this horse is xc; he just loves doing it, it never occurs to him he can't do it, therefore as his passenger, that's fine with me.

Was there goes OH plan of his fancy new hunter!! lol!

Well done & big pats & mints allround!

I will have to join your drinking later as have to go plait a mare & foal up! Best not have them wonky
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All I can say is, HH is just the most scrumptious of horses ever
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**stamps feet* I want, I want, I want.

As for the E, oh well, at least HH can't read
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He looks in superb condition and very very concentrated on his cross-country! Re Tino sorry if this is disheartening but everything I took those people to see 2 months ago is still on the market
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Well that's more like it (HH that is, not you, you numpty
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). That 'dedication' in the rain on Wednesday seems to have paid off
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.

Tino is looking super. They ought to be lining up to take that little chap off your hands
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What makes your OH think he can have HH as a hunter?? Is he mad, or just delusional?

What great pics, wish I could do a 'jolly' dressage and get 34
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Fiona
 
Whoops! Glad you still got to go XC. He looks fab and I love his ears!

Tino looks much better too now he's getting more strength. Hope he sells soon.

I thought my 1h15min trek home from work was long but it seems nothing compared to your 2hr trek!
 
I know of one horse (and quite a few riders) who would happily miss out all the show-jumps if they could so only missing one is neither here nor there. Good thing they let you go XC or HH would never have forgiven you. Tino looks very elegant - and fancy marking him down for the way he jumped when he cleared them all, what a cheek! Can you tell I have no idea what BYEH involves
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Very pleased to hear you and the horses enjoyed yourselves - it's what BE is for I believe and yes please to berry cider (I like the raspberry one)
 
Ohhh whooopsy - ha, well nevermind we all something dim from time to time at least thats yours out the way for quite a while. Tino looks much improved, a lot stronger.

HH looks great- but he always does! So glad they let you go XC otherwise there wouldnt have been many smiles about.

Next stop Hartpury??
 
Sorry as I'm lost due to special circumstances so won't ask any stupid questions...
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but these two look terribly scrummy to me
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Baydale, you look great and like you're having so much fun in those pics !

Everyone is entitled to a blond moment, Baydale ! The worst type is the 'senior blond' (recurrent) type moment which you are NOT likely to experience yet
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Great report (as ever
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) and HH just looks as if he is loving every minute - that's great (whispers....what is AAA?
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Was gutted for you as HH looked awesome, but glad you enjoyed the day and took the many positives out of it. He looked as though he was having the time of his life XC and he makes me smile everytime I see him - he embodies what it is all about
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Lovely pictures
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I love the expression on HH's face! So glad you got to go XC - so is HH by the looks of things!
 
Thanks everyone, HH was worried you'd have forgotten about him while he's been away
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; and Tino says thanks for the appreciative comments too.
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OldGit, maybe it was payback time for me taking the mickey out of you for your failing eyesight.
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Kerilli, I think OH is happy that he is the threat that keeps HH on the straight and narrow.

Sarah_Jane, it's so unlike me, so I hope that's why you assumed it was a TE.
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wizoz, I thought you'd gone off big show hunter-type horses of late?
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Rosiefan, yep, I don't think you've quite got the hang of how the BYEH classes work. And you're in luck, it's the raspberry one, what impeccable taste you have.
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lizzieb1985, make that a three hour trek home tonight, as some thoughtful lorry driver had parked his truck across both the northbound and southbound carriageways of the A1.
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Joss, Hartpury it is, with a quick combined training tune-up this weekend to hopefully build some more confidence.

Blackeventer, don't worry, you've got enough on your plate without worrying about keeping up with my stuff. And I'm not far off a senior blonde moment I reckon.
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Hornby, AAA is a homeopathic calming remedy from Crossgates Bioenergetics (pm k9h for details), works on me and on the horses.

ISZ, you've hit the nail on the head there, he has such fun doing it and therefore so do I.
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Well you did a fab job!

I have just got in after leaving home at 6.30 am!

So hope there is some rasberry cider left!...
 
Cracking stuff Baydale, I heard it was rather tacky so don't blame you at all for skipping a SJ - you were just saving wear and tear....
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Great to hear you sounding infinitely more positive about the HH SJ, and he looks such a dream XC that it is worth the perseverance tenfold!

Shame that the ginger one is not fully appreciated - yet - but the right person will turn up.

DB.
 
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