EmmaChal
Well-Known Member
What a lovely setting-and fantastic xc course-ground was perfect. Dressage warm-up alittle tight, but large area to warm-up in behind the lorry park.
Missed the rain storm, so we were all dry!
Well, lets just say, not the best fun I've ever had. M warmed up well for the dressage, but completely lost it during our test for a rather dispondant 40.5-the judge did comment on his lack of attention-"not on your side today, very talented horse hence his attitude during test a real pity-you coped very well!" Ha-clung on more like!
A little slippery in the sj-ing ring due to torrential rain previously-poles flying especially on fence 4 and 8-so was prepared to ride a very calm and collected round. Again warmed up fine-probably alittle too early, but jumping well and taking off on correct stride when asked. Went into the ring and it was pretty horrible-very sluggish and sticky, had to hit him a few times as not responding to my leg at all-jumping from a standstill etc. So came out with 1 refusal and 2 poles down-12 faults. Since I've been riding him, he's nver touched a pole.
Got back to trailer and having only 1/2 an hour turnaround until xc, pondered whether to withdraw-he wasn't going well, and had sweated up quite abit pre-sj, but decided to crack on as he loves xc, and then if not feeling right retire. It was a lovely course-simple and inviting, jumps not big but flowed beautifully. So got down to the warm-up and he was in a real state-really sweated up, alittle nappy-but jumped OK in the warm-up. Had to really drive him on out of the start and I could just feel this wasn't going to be good. Probably if I was sensible I should have just thrown in the towel by fence 3 after our 3rd cat leap from a standstill, but part of me thought-keep going, keep going as he is a horse who gets better and better as he carries on. Came up to fence 5, collected him up as no 6 was at right angle corner if you jumped them as staright combination, saw my stride and ......nothing.....one refusal-got him over it the 2nd time, and 6, then pulled away with more energy, so i thought-oh good we've got it now, jumped 7 and 8 fine, carried on stickily, with what felt like not much in the tank between fences. Got to the 15th fence and again nothing there-he just didn't repond. So another refusal. Waited for horse behind to overtake me, then tried again as M will do anything with another horse in the lead, but nothing there-so retired. He really wasn't happy.
Back at trailer-washed him down, walked round to cool down and he was fine. Back home, ate his tea and owner said finished haynet, and fine turned out this morning.
So...not sure if this was just a bad day or if slight stomach ache or what. Before I was offered the ride on him his owner had his teeth, back, saddle all checked. Anyway, off over to his yard tommorrow evening to trot out, and see how he is.
Missed the rain storm, so we were all dry!
Well, lets just say, not the best fun I've ever had. M warmed up well for the dressage, but completely lost it during our test for a rather dispondant 40.5-the judge did comment on his lack of attention-"not on your side today, very talented horse hence his attitude during test a real pity-you coped very well!" Ha-clung on more like!
A little slippery in the sj-ing ring due to torrential rain previously-poles flying especially on fence 4 and 8-so was prepared to ride a very calm and collected round. Again warmed up fine-probably alittle too early, but jumping well and taking off on correct stride when asked. Went into the ring and it was pretty horrible-very sluggish and sticky, had to hit him a few times as not responding to my leg at all-jumping from a standstill etc. So came out with 1 refusal and 2 poles down-12 faults. Since I've been riding him, he's nver touched a pole.
Got back to trailer and having only 1/2 an hour turnaround until xc, pondered whether to withdraw-he wasn't going well, and had sweated up quite abit pre-sj, but decided to crack on as he loves xc, and then if not feeling right retire. It was a lovely course-simple and inviting, jumps not big but flowed beautifully. So got down to the warm-up and he was in a real state-really sweated up, alittle nappy-but jumped OK in the warm-up. Had to really drive him on out of the start and I could just feel this wasn't going to be good. Probably if I was sensible I should have just thrown in the towel by fence 3 after our 3rd cat leap from a standstill, but part of me thought-keep going, keep going as he is a horse who gets better and better as he carries on. Came up to fence 5, collected him up as no 6 was at right angle corner if you jumped them as staright combination, saw my stride and ......nothing.....one refusal-got him over it the 2nd time, and 6, then pulled away with more energy, so i thought-oh good we've got it now, jumped 7 and 8 fine, carried on stickily, with what felt like not much in the tank between fences. Got to the 15th fence and again nothing there-he just didn't repond. So another refusal. Waited for horse behind to overtake me, then tried again as M will do anything with another horse in the lead, but nothing there-so retired. He really wasn't happy.
Back at trailer-washed him down, walked round to cool down and he was fine. Back home, ate his tea and owner said finished haynet, and fine turned out this morning.
So...not sure if this was just a bad day or if slight stomach ache or what. Before I was offered the ride on him his owner had his teeth, back, saddle all checked. Anyway, off over to his yard tommorrow evening to trot out, and see how he is.
