BE80 and I feel clueless

Loads of good advice here, I'd definitely seek out the help from the trainers on site, friends have done some BE80s and found them really helpful.

Look forward to hearing all about it :) Good luck!
 
Well I am back from the course walk. People assure me it rides better than it walks! It seems huge and spooky to me. Big wide tables, hanging logs, weird pink and white fence at number 5, lots of napping potential at number 9 and a huge brush drop jump to finish off. Why on earth did I imagine this would be a nice confidence giving start to our season!!!!!

And breathe....

I need to remember: we are there for experience. I have jumped higher than the biggest fence on the course on her from trot. She is bold, brave and willing. I can ride. And whatever happens we will learn lessons and move on......

Levrier - I am a full member. I planned to event at least once a month all season and I thought you were limited to 4. I hadn't realised when I joined that 80s were unlimited on a ticket. But Kelsall is running a WL so I prob would have been ballotted out too.
 
Still buzzing. I made so many silly errors but she did her job so well. And she seemed to be having so much fun. I think she would would have happily gone round the XC all over again!!

Plus loads to take away for next time: chiefly LEARN THE BLINKING TEST AND SJ COURSE!!!!

I honestly did know them but my brain leaves my head when I get into the ring. Does that improve with practice?

The most beautiful horse in the world:

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Ambers Echo said:
Still buzzing. I made so many silly errors but she did her job so well. And she seemed to be having so much fun. I think she would would have happily gone round the XC all over again!!

Plus loads to take away for next time: chiefly LEARN THE BLINKING TEST AND SJ COURSE!!!!

I honestly did know them but my brain leaves my head when I get into the ring. Does that improve with practice?

The most beautiful horse in the world:

31084121_1644737448942101_2743552190487638066_n.jpg


30762700_1644750595607453_1955091924504804563_n.jpg
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Ahh well done!! Would love a full report of your day x
 
scats said:
Ahh well done!! Would love a full report of your day x
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I've reproduced a blog I did below. Sorry it's a bit long!! But you did say 'full report" :D

Well it’s official. I wasn’t eliminated, I have a score (albeit rather a big one!!) therefore I have successfully negotiated a BE Event with my awesome orange pony-partner. I am, she is, we are EVENTERS. Woop woop. I am so happy with her I could cry. In fact I have. Alongside the silly grin that keeps breaking out over my face.

Her dressage was as good as I could expect it to be really.

She did nothing wrong and our marks ranged from 5.5 to 7. (The judge described her as a ‘smart horse’ which I assume refers to her innate qualities and not my imperfect turn out skills – she only has half a mane after a winter of full necked rugs and she wasn’t plaited. And she bathed in mud all day yesterday!) So anyway, SHE did nothing wrong. Her ditzy driver however did go wrong. TWICE. Quite impressive especially as the only course error I made was getting to the final centre line. (Yes wrong at the same place. Yes twice).

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Then show jumping – she was forward and keen but not totally out of control which is always nice. She had 4 faults. Her ditzy driver however went wrong. Argggghhhhh. I was setting her up nicely for number 8 as I went merrily past number 7 and had to circle back. Oh dear. Still we were never going to trouble the leader board anyway and so I was far more interested in how she went than where we came. And she was great.

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That meant the dreaded XC was up next. And I was absolutely terrified.

My confidence about doing this was at a high after a great XC clinic last week. Amber was amazing as ever. Bold, honest and jumping HUGE – youtube clip to demonstrate!


And then I walked the course. Jumps seem a lot bigger when you aren’t looking down at them from a 16.2 powerhouse of a horse! I felt sicker and sicker as I went past number 3 (huge table), number 5 (weird pink thing), number 7 (big hanging log downhill), numbers 9 & 10 (skinny related distances), number 14 (ski jump), number 19 (huge brush with a drop the other side). Oh ******.

I went home, poured a huge glass of red. Then went to bed and tossed and turned all night, waking up before 5am feeling sicker than ever. I just could not see how Amber would jump them all – never having seen any of them before. Just 3 stops and we would be out.

She was completely wild on the warm up. I jumped one log and she tanked off on landing so I decided to leave it and just walked her round. Nerves were not improved by a 40 minute delay on the course when a rider came off. Then another 10 minute course delay a few horses later. Sobering reminders of the stakes we are playing with in this game. By the time I was walking over to the start box I had pretty much decided I was never, ever putting myself through this again. My aim to not be eliminated had morphed into a simple wish to come home safe.

And then my awesome horse just took off and flew everything as if she has been doing this all her life. Not one moment of hesitation or doubt. It was very clear pretty quickly that she was going to jump whatever she was presented to. All I had to do was get her in front of each fence vaguely straight! Not that that was entirely straightforward! She was very, VERY keen. I did a fair amount of trotting into things, especially downhill as she was not wearing studs. The time was irrelevant today.

First BE80 and no XC jumping faults! I am humbled and amazed by this horse. And I can’t wait for our next run! So it looks like I will be putting myself through it again after all!!

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I enjoyed it far more than Weston Lawns and I honestly think Amber did too. There was plenty of energy and spirit around but no chaos and carnage! The odd horse had the odd moment but nothing at all like the levels of out-of-control disobedience as at Weston Lawns which was a great relief. She was lively and somewhat challenging to contain but there was no sense at any point that she was stressed/overwhelmed. Quite the opposite – she seemed to be having a whale of a time! Sunshine helped too of course….

Roll on Somerford..... :p:p
 
Great report! :D very well done. Now you've got that out of the way and had a good run (even with a few pilot errors) hopefully you'll have your head in a better place next time and then you'll remember your way :p

Lovely pics too, gotta love an orange ;)
 
well done! Great photos. I did look out for you, but there where quite a few big gingers, felt a bit odd to go around asking who everyone was !

Glad you had a great day. I felt so sorry for the little girl on the pony who was held up on the course. We gave them a massive cheer when they completed. They actually looked totally unfazed by it.
 
Asha said:
well done! Great photos. I did look out for you, but there where quite a few big gingers, felt a bit odd to go around asking who everyone was !

Glad you had a great day. I felt so sorry for the little girl on the pony who was held up on the course. We gave them a massive cheer when they completed. They actually looked totally unfazed by it.
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I was in the warm up arena during the stop. Not sure what happened out there? I didn't see anything. But must have been very hard to those who were already on the course when they were stopped. But not nearly as hard as for whoever had the accident :-(
 
scats said:
Fantastic report, very well done. I’ve been there all day today spectating... and my Dad’s just asked me if I want another event horse...
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I wish my dad would ask me that sort of question! He always asks why I bother with animals at all as they are a very expensve tie and he can't really see the point!!!
 
Well done, so pleased you got round and had fun xc even if the first two phases were more of a challenge!!! the box driver sounds like a gem, it is really tricky being on your own, not that I wanted to make too much of it before you went but it makes so much difference having someone with you.
 
Amazing!! Massive massive congratulations - super orange flyer that she is.

Although, looking at the sj pics, I really think you should have let her know that you weren't entered in the 100 class :D
 
Lévrier;13761971 said:
I am keeping it a closely guarded secret so I can pretend it never happened if we totally mess up :D :D :D Not long now though :o
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Haha! Good luck and looking forward to hearing all about it. x
 
DabDab said:
Amazing!! Massive massive congratulations - super orange flyer that she is.

Although, looking at the sj pics, I really think you should have let her know that you weren't entered in the 100 class :D
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Thanks so much. Super orange flyer is a brilliant description. Might nick that!
 
No advice as I haven't done BE, but good luck!

My aim it to get out to a BE80 this year, but reading yours is making me nervous!!!

Have fun, and report back :)
 
Buy or don't buy......

Part of me feels like I have already got loads of pictures but then this fence scared the life out of me so it's nice to see Amber making it look small and easy!

Oh link to the official pic doesn't work anyway. Sorry!!
 
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