Queenbee
Well-Known Member
So some of you will have read my 'licking my wounds' threads, about the loss of my beautiful Ebony 4 years ago this month... It was my expectation that Beast and I would be going to an evening SJ event last Wednesday (a day before the 4 year marker). I was really looking forward to it as it would have been a fab distraction and also a great way to remember my girl, going out, competing and having fun. Anyway's I got my dates wrong, it is normally a fortnightly event but there was an extra week on this one and as such the event was tonight.
Our last outing (and the first since he has been home from 7 weeks training) was a bit bat poo crazy TBH! Beast had grown out of his much needed martingale... to say I had no brakes in the two clear rounds was quite possibly the biggest understatement in 2016!! I had absolutely no control and the tom thumb he had gone so well in at home in practice was useless and quite frankly caused more problems than did good! So after borrowing a breastplate and changing to a dutch gag, he did go well... but a few mistakes/glitches were made and we had one down in the 2ft 3 jump off and 2 knocks (both my fault) in the 2ft 6, however, he was so much smoother and consistent and at the end of that day, I felt positive, I had found the right bit and had a good 'feel' for him after his 7 weeks away.
Now, before I go further, I should perhaps fill you in 2 years ago I did some clear rounds at a show with beast and had absolutely NO BRAKES!!! Last year our only jaunt on grass ended with elimination at jump one - I really do not blame the beast on this, he was the best he has ever been entering a new showground, but the first jump was a bloody imposing green wall... it really unnerved him - and a lot of other horses in the class (which was only 75cm and so very much within his ability). His only foray on grass since then was with Clare (his trainer) at a local BSJA event, he was entered into the 70cm class, but most of the jumps were 80, he did really quite well, pretty much powered around jumps 1-6 but then wobbled and she quite rightly pulled him, jumped an easy jump and took him out. Afterwards, she recommended studs for the beast. My main point - he has little experience on grass, and even less confidence, no studs as I opted to go without this time as my expectation was that the next 6-8 weeks competitions would be predominantly on a school surface and if it was grass - I would only jump in dry conditions and because of his strength, enthusiasm and speed - would never jump too high without them.
Today our motley crew of 4 horses, owners, family and supporters rocked up at a local evening SJ event. Every SJ event we have been to here has been in the outdoor school and our expectation for this event was no different. Turns out that the local BSJA had been there last weekend and they opted to keep the course (on grass) for tonight. Despite all of our clan having FB and the club having posted earlier of their intention, none of us had seen it -those who could have had studs did not bring them and in all honesty (the weather was not awful but it had rained and made the grass wet and slippy) had I seen it I would have pulled beast from going.
However, since I was there (had paid for transport and had purchased a lovely new hunting martingale and riding boots) I decided to at least take him around the clear round and assess everything, I have to say, the ground where we were to jump turned out to be much better than the other field where we parked... a little bit of bite from the rain but drier grass so beast did not slip.
Urrgh is all I can say, he is a bungling cookwamble when he goes competing, has a bit of separation anxiety when his buddies join him. When its just him and YO's very level headed boy - its nothing really, but add more and it gets worse. Today he rode in the trailer with a friends mare, by the time he unloaded he was all about her, and quite frankly an eejit! I walked him down the track to our normal warm up area to mount and he was a bistard! You know those Arabs... when the do that virtual full of beans upwards trot on the spot... yeah, thats the one!!! We had folks offering to hold him, give me leg ups and club the little beggar over the head, anyhooooow - I got on, second I was in the saddle he was still pingy but I felt in control and we did a teensy warm up (although when your horse is threatening rear/buck/nap like a moron - a 2ft class is a better warm up for him!)
CR 1 - was very much us feeling our way around, Knowing his gung-ho attitude, I rode pretty darn defensive, I had a tight hold on the powerhourse (too tight) and I looked at jumps that were slightly churned up and that definitely affected the beast as we had 2 stops at the two jumps I worried about (Doh!!) still, we circled and took them fine the second time!
CR 2 - was as it should be, a clear round! Having the confidence that the ground and Beast were compatible - no slips or slides, I could be less defensive, I gave a lot more over the jumps with my hands, it was a fab round and he felt great.
So, we entered the 2ft 3 class, at my guestimate there were approximately 20, perhaps even 25 in the class. Jump's 1-6 were the same as the CR - Then we had jumps 7 through to 10 and then straight in to 1-5 for the jump off.
1&2 are missing from the video and I am ashamed that I set him up badly for three - there was a lot of ground churn at that jump and I should not have checked him so late! We jumped clear 1-6, jumps 7 &8 were towards the exit and pretty unassuming so in my head they were fine, 9 was away from home and two spotty planks, but seeing it I felt him pick up and just sat and supported him... As we got to 10 (one he had not seen so far and the last of the main course) I thought: 'there is no way we are messing this up and kicked on...
So we went clear and the buzzer sounded for jump off. Last week out I let him down, when we got to the jump off I did not 'open him up' and just let him go and support him, I pushed him on... he went flat. This week I just dropped my reins enough that he knew he could go at his optimum 'full steam' and didn't he just!!
We had a double clear, and I know - we could easily have tackled the 2ft 6 or 9 and done well but for me, it was about gaining his confidence on grass so he had the biggest pats and was loaded and set off for home. I stayed behind, I had seen some excellent rounds from some fab pit stop *turn on a sixpence* ponies, but I had a feeling we would have got at least a placing as he really went nicely. I went off to help raise the jumps for the next round and to put it in a socially acceptable way - you could have blown me down with a feather when we were called into first place!!!!
We got a gawjus 1st place rosette, and a double clear qualifier for cricklands in august!!! Eeeekskie (roadtrip!!!)
His video is not the prettiest, as I said I messed him around at the first jump (jump 3) in the video, he is a battler and always will be, but the change in him from 7 weeks away is awesome! My powerhouse is now a POWERHOUSE!! He shortens and lengthens his stride, he may not look like he listens but I can say he certainly does, he is hard to ride and handle, but you can check him, he does the business and is such a courageous boy... could not be more proud.
A week late, but a fab day out, and a very unexpected amazing outing on grass!!
our round...
https://www.facebook.com/emily.beech3/videos/1235406246469748/
Our last outing (and the first since he has been home from 7 weeks training) was a bit bat poo crazy TBH! Beast had grown out of his much needed martingale... to say I had no brakes in the two clear rounds was quite possibly the biggest understatement in 2016!! I had absolutely no control and the tom thumb he had gone so well in at home in practice was useless and quite frankly caused more problems than did good! So after borrowing a breastplate and changing to a dutch gag, he did go well... but a few mistakes/glitches were made and we had one down in the 2ft 3 jump off and 2 knocks (both my fault) in the 2ft 6, however, he was so much smoother and consistent and at the end of that day, I felt positive, I had found the right bit and had a good 'feel' for him after his 7 weeks away.
Now, before I go further, I should perhaps fill you in 2 years ago I did some clear rounds at a show with beast and had absolutely NO BRAKES!!! Last year our only jaunt on grass ended with elimination at jump one - I really do not blame the beast on this, he was the best he has ever been entering a new showground, but the first jump was a bloody imposing green wall... it really unnerved him - and a lot of other horses in the class (which was only 75cm and so very much within his ability). His only foray on grass since then was with Clare (his trainer) at a local BSJA event, he was entered into the 70cm class, but most of the jumps were 80, he did really quite well, pretty much powered around jumps 1-6 but then wobbled and she quite rightly pulled him, jumped an easy jump and took him out. Afterwards, she recommended studs for the beast. My main point - he has little experience on grass, and even less confidence, no studs as I opted to go without this time as my expectation was that the next 6-8 weeks competitions would be predominantly on a school surface and if it was grass - I would only jump in dry conditions and because of his strength, enthusiasm and speed - would never jump too high without them.
Today our motley crew of 4 horses, owners, family and supporters rocked up at a local evening SJ event. Every SJ event we have been to here has been in the outdoor school and our expectation for this event was no different. Turns out that the local BSJA had been there last weekend and they opted to keep the course (on grass) for tonight. Despite all of our clan having FB and the club having posted earlier of their intention, none of us had seen it -those who could have had studs did not bring them and in all honesty (the weather was not awful but it had rained and made the grass wet and slippy) had I seen it I would have pulled beast from going.
However, since I was there (had paid for transport and had purchased a lovely new hunting martingale and riding boots) I decided to at least take him around the clear round and assess everything, I have to say, the ground where we were to jump turned out to be much better than the other field where we parked... a little bit of bite from the rain but drier grass so beast did not slip.
Urrgh is all I can say, he is a bungling cookwamble when he goes competing, has a bit of separation anxiety when his buddies join him. When its just him and YO's very level headed boy - its nothing really, but add more and it gets worse. Today he rode in the trailer with a friends mare, by the time he unloaded he was all about her, and quite frankly an eejit! I walked him down the track to our normal warm up area to mount and he was a bistard! You know those Arabs... when the do that virtual full of beans upwards trot on the spot... yeah, thats the one!!! We had folks offering to hold him, give me leg ups and club the little beggar over the head, anyhooooow - I got on, second I was in the saddle he was still pingy but I felt in control and we did a teensy warm up (although when your horse is threatening rear/buck/nap like a moron - a 2ft class is a better warm up for him!)
CR 1 - was very much us feeling our way around, Knowing his gung-ho attitude, I rode pretty darn defensive, I had a tight hold on the powerhourse (too tight) and I looked at jumps that were slightly churned up and that definitely affected the beast as we had 2 stops at the two jumps I worried about (Doh!!) still, we circled and took them fine the second time!
CR 2 - was as it should be, a clear round! Having the confidence that the ground and Beast were compatible - no slips or slides, I could be less defensive, I gave a lot more over the jumps with my hands, it was a fab round and he felt great.
So, we entered the 2ft 3 class, at my guestimate there were approximately 20, perhaps even 25 in the class. Jump's 1-6 were the same as the CR - Then we had jumps 7 through to 10 and then straight in to 1-5 for the jump off.
1&2 are missing from the video and I am ashamed that I set him up badly for three - there was a lot of ground churn at that jump and I should not have checked him so late! We jumped clear 1-6, jumps 7 &8 were towards the exit and pretty unassuming so in my head they were fine, 9 was away from home and two spotty planks, but seeing it I felt him pick up and just sat and supported him... As we got to 10 (one he had not seen so far and the last of the main course) I thought: 'there is no way we are messing this up and kicked on...
So we went clear and the buzzer sounded for jump off. Last week out I let him down, when we got to the jump off I did not 'open him up' and just let him go and support him, I pushed him on... he went flat. This week I just dropped my reins enough that he knew he could go at his optimum 'full steam' and didn't he just!!
We had a double clear, and I know - we could easily have tackled the 2ft 6 or 9 and done well but for me, it was about gaining his confidence on grass so he had the biggest pats and was loaded and set off for home. I stayed behind, I had seen some excellent rounds from some fab pit stop *turn on a sixpence* ponies, but I had a feeling we would have got at least a placing as he really went nicely. I went off to help raise the jumps for the next round and to put it in a socially acceptable way - you could have blown me down with a feather when we were called into first place!!!!
We got a gawjus 1st place rosette, and a double clear qualifier for cricklands in august!!! Eeeekskie (roadtrip!!!)
His video is not the prettiest, as I said I messed him around at the first jump (jump 3) in the video, he is a battler and always will be, but the change in him from 7 weeks away is awesome! My powerhouse is now a POWERHOUSE!! He shortens and lengthens his stride, he may not look like he listens but I can say he certainly does, he is hard to ride and handle, but you can check him, he does the business and is such a courageous boy... could not be more proud.
A week late, but a fab day out, and a very unexpected amazing outing on grass!!
our round...
https://www.facebook.com/emily.beech3/videos/1235406246469748/
