Bananaman
Well-Known Member
Apologies in advance if I start to ramble on but having tried to avoid the morning rush hour traffic at the Hartpury end, we ran into Friday afternoon traffic with people heading to the coast for the weekend at t'other so our journey took about 61/2hrs insted of 5.
Henry was a good boy although not sparkly in the Advanced Medium but I wasn't disappointed in him..........it was the jockey.
It was a test which has two extra halts in it, one very nearly at the end in the canter section where you have to halt at A for 5secs then canter on again before going across the diagonal. For some reason, when running through it in my mind all morning, I kept forgetting that halt, but having watched a few tests had it firmly in my mind.
Yep, you've guessed it.............numpty here forgot it completely and went sailing by A, setting him up for an '8' change over X!
As soon as the bell went I knew exactly what I'd done, carried on cantering, put my hand up and circled round to A to do our halt!
I am pretty lucky in that I can usually learn tests very quickly and thoroughly and can count the number of times I've gone wrong on the fingers of one hand.
What a time to do it!
So then in the PSG I was so determined to not waste my time in the arena and to give it my best shot.
At the crutial moment when I needed to get ready, my friend had disappeared!
I had Henry in one hand and needed to get into the trailer to get my top hat and tails on and SHE HAD THE KEY!
I'm normally very meek and mild, but I guess competition stress has the power to make everything seem a major catastrophe and when she swanned up the hill, having been watching Jordan give out the first prize in an earlier comp, I had steam coming out of my ears!
Poor Kate!
Anyway, got changed, hopped on board and went to warm up.
H felt horrible, stiff and heavy and I was trying so hard not to take my earlier frustration out on dear H. However, I was aware that I was riding much more assertively than usual. Our turn to go came quicker than I would have wished but in we went.
One of the first moves is extended trot across the long diagonal. As we approached the far corner there was a black dustbin on its side just outside the boards being blown towards us.
I felt H hesitate just for a millisecond and I jammed my inside leg on and bent him away and bless his cotton socks, he didn't falter.
Anyway, the rest of the test went without a hitch, not perfect but no test ever is, but I didn't feel we could have done any better.
I was delighted to finish in the prize giving in both classes, 9th in the Advanced Medium and 6th in the PSG.
My friend Kate says she is going to go awol more often!!!
Met JLav in the arena walk and also met up with the lovely TOG, who had come over to see us. I really appretiated your support. Thank you, it means a lot.
Later that evening Taylored Equestrian hosted a brilliant HHO meet in her lorry.
It was great to meet her at last and also previous friends Tempi, The_carthorse (x2), Em_Bee, Teffy and Law. As you can imagine, it wasn't always PC and I for one am paticularly disappointed that TE's sponsorship didn't work out!
Other topics I will leave for others to divulge..........
Wine and Pringles for those still awake and just a quick photo of us in the Ad Medium before my very senior moment!
Pic courtesy of Imagepoint, permission granted.
Henry was a good boy although not sparkly in the Advanced Medium but I wasn't disappointed in him..........it was the jockey.
It was a test which has two extra halts in it, one very nearly at the end in the canter section where you have to halt at A for 5secs then canter on again before going across the diagonal. For some reason, when running through it in my mind all morning, I kept forgetting that halt, but having watched a few tests had it firmly in my mind.
Yep, you've guessed it.............numpty here forgot it completely and went sailing by A, setting him up for an '8' change over X!
As soon as the bell went I knew exactly what I'd done, carried on cantering, put my hand up and circled round to A to do our halt!
I am pretty lucky in that I can usually learn tests very quickly and thoroughly and can count the number of times I've gone wrong on the fingers of one hand.
What a time to do it!
So then in the PSG I was so determined to not waste my time in the arena and to give it my best shot.
At the crutial moment when I needed to get ready, my friend had disappeared!
I had Henry in one hand and needed to get into the trailer to get my top hat and tails on and SHE HAD THE KEY!
I'm normally very meek and mild, but I guess competition stress has the power to make everything seem a major catastrophe and when she swanned up the hill, having been watching Jordan give out the first prize in an earlier comp, I had steam coming out of my ears!
Anyway, got changed, hopped on board and went to warm up.
H felt horrible, stiff and heavy and I was trying so hard not to take my earlier frustration out on dear H. However, I was aware that I was riding much more assertively than usual. Our turn to go came quicker than I would have wished but in we went.
One of the first moves is extended trot across the long diagonal. As we approached the far corner there was a black dustbin on its side just outside the boards being blown towards us.
Anyway, the rest of the test went without a hitch, not perfect but no test ever is, but I didn't feel we could have done any better.
I was delighted to finish in the prize giving in both classes, 9th in the Advanced Medium and 6th in the PSG.
My friend Kate says she is going to go awol more often!!!
Met JLav in the arena walk and also met up with the lovely TOG, who had come over to see us. I really appretiated your support. Thank you, it means a lot.
Later that evening Taylored Equestrian hosted a brilliant HHO meet in her lorry.
It was great to meet her at last and also previous friends Tempi, The_carthorse (x2), Em_Bee, Teffy and Law. As you can imagine, it wasn't always PC and I for one am paticularly disappointed that TE's sponsorship didn't work out!
Other topics I will leave for others to divulge..........
Wine and Pringles for those still awake and just a quick photo of us in the Ad Medium before my very senior moment!
Pic courtesy of Imagepoint, permission granted.
