only_me
Well-Known Member
First things first - I don't think I have ever been wetter when riding a horse than the past month. I had a choice of wet, moist or damp of jodhpurs, my coat has been thoroughly tested and billy has become a lover of mud for the reason that it simply helps with the waterproofing. Also sorry for the unimaginative title 
One thing the rain is good for is practicing water jumps whilst on the road! Downsides include being unable to ride in the arena (submerged) or in field (awaiting cut - although at this stage lucky to get silage) and therefore having to travel everywhere to be able to jump. But we have had some super lessons in the rain!
Most events have been cancelled here, either due to very wet ground or not being able to cut the fields so there is enough land to go xc on! But luckily Ballindenisk was added to the calendar to enable those entered for the international in a few weeks to have a run before hand. I thought Billy and I could head down (nice little short trip of just under 6 hours) and have a good run out and where luckily able to catch a lift with his breeder/trainer.*
As we hadn't been out for a good while we thought Best to go cross-country schooling beforehand and we have a blast! Here are some photos, we are trying to gallop properly but due to wet slippy ground and a twisty course we were unable to practice, but still had fun putting different fences together and jumping angles etc
Billy was a little shell shocked going to the event - the longest he has ever been travelling is 2 and half hours but in that time became very attached to his New mates
we were also first on again - out of 3 novice runs we have been first to go twice...*
Dressage was ok, nothing too special and having been working on his suppleness and obedience (ie not letting him cheat and change instead of having to work correctly!) felt better than the 32.5 we got but don't really mind as was still up there after dressage!
Turns out didn't really matter if judge agreed with us or not - we certainly werent in the running after the show jumping the course was on a hill, slippy and very technical - it was the advance course lowered. Excuses excuses the bare truth is that while all that certainly didn't help our cause I rode like a spaced out muppet and held too much to have 4 poles down. Pretty sure though that billy didn't see the plank on top of the bicycle though as that went flying but at least I wasn't the only one to have 4 and there was few clears over the course. Can chalk that round down to experience and put it in our piggy bank 
frustrated at myself more than anything, as I know it's all me that is letting this part down!
After a long while to contemplate our progress so far I have come to conclusion that I can't expect the earth from a greenish 6 year old - he is no flash in the pan and will take time to mature & develop.*
The xc course was a really good galloping course, proper big fences that needed attacking but with plenty of technical stuff to keep the brain engaged. I haven't the best track record at Ballindenisk as although having been there twice on last horse for the 1* have never managed to complete the xc!!*
billy got a rude awakening at the first which was a decent enough log thing, long gallop to the second which caused more problems that I thought, quite upright and in your face bamboo jump. Billy popped it no problem and then on to the next, another in your face table (coal cart) - somehow bill caught his front leg boot on the fence and it came off (rather that than his leg!).
Spot the whoopsie!!
http://s2sphotos.com/equuspix/index.php?do=photocart&viewGallery=10737#image=142371
http://s2sphotos.com/equuspix/index.php?do=photocart&viewGallery=10737#image=142372
Galloped over to the next combination, angled skinny 2 shortish strides to a step up/ramp no problems
Sharpish right hand turn to two big tables which were on an angle, billy was awesome here and made it feel very easy
http://s2sphotos.com/equuspix/index.php?do=photocart&viewGallery=10737#image=142368
*gallop over to next combination, rail to quite a large drop 3 strides to a skinny brush, billy was a bit green at the drop but popped down it and was sweet over the skinny.
Long gallop uphill to a strange corner/ditch brush on an angle - this was my favourite fence as billy just flew this
No problems through the water and flew the rest of the course without any problems, so so pleased with him as he just got better and better as he went round and was jumping out of his stride confidently, stayed true to the skinnys and galloped on nicely
http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x148/actonbendino/ab803373.jpg (note the lack of boot!)
Thanks for reading can offer you hot cross buns? Tesco values finest
*
One thing the rain is good for is practicing water jumps whilst on the road! Downsides include being unable to ride in the arena (submerged) or in field (awaiting cut - although at this stage lucky to get silage) and therefore having to travel everywhere to be able to jump. But we have had some super lessons in the rain!
Most events have been cancelled here, either due to very wet ground or not being able to cut the fields so there is enough land to go xc on! But luckily Ballindenisk was added to the calendar to enable those entered for the international in a few weeks to have a run before hand. I thought Billy and I could head down (nice little short trip of just under 6 hours) and have a good run out and where luckily able to catch a lift with his breeder/trainer.*
As we hadn't been out for a good while we thought Best to go cross-country schooling beforehand and we have a blast! Here are some photos, we are trying to gallop properly but due to wet slippy ground and a twisty course we were unable to practice, but still had fun putting different fences together and jumping angles etc
Billy was a little shell shocked going to the event - the longest he has ever been travelling is 2 and half hours but in that time became very attached to his New mates
we were also first on again - out of 3 novice runs we have been first to go twice...*Dressage was ok, nothing too special and having been working on his suppleness and obedience (ie not letting him cheat and change instead of having to work correctly!) felt better than the 32.5 we got but don't really mind as was still up there after dressage!
Turns out didn't really matter if judge agreed with us or not - we certainly werent in the running after the show jumping
the course was on a hill, slippy and very technical - it was the advance course lowered. Excuses excuses the bare truth is that while all that certainly didn't help our cause I rode like a spaced out muppet and held too much to have 4 poles down. Pretty sure though that billy didn't see the plank on top of the bicycle though as that went flying but at least I wasn't the only one to have 4 and there was few clears over the course. Can chalk that round down to experience and put it in our piggy bank frustrated at myself more than anything, as I know it's all me that is letting this part down!After a long while to contemplate our progress so far I have come to conclusion that I can't expect the earth from a greenish 6 year old - he is no flash in the pan and will take time to mature & develop.*
The xc course was a really good galloping course, proper big fences that needed attacking but with plenty of technical stuff to keep the brain engaged. I haven't the best track record at Ballindenisk as although having been there twice on last horse for the 1* have never managed to complete the xc!!*
billy got a rude awakening at the first which was a decent enough log thing, long gallop to the second which caused more problems that I thought, quite upright and in your face bamboo jump. Billy popped it no problem and then on to the next, another in your face table (coal cart) - somehow bill caught his front leg boot on the fence and it came off (rather that than his leg!).
Spot the whoopsie!!
http://s2sphotos.com/equuspix/index.php?do=photocart&viewGallery=10737#image=142371
http://s2sphotos.com/equuspix/index.php?do=photocart&viewGallery=10737#image=142372
Galloped over to the next combination, angled skinny 2 shortish strides to a step up/ramp no problems
Sharpish right hand turn to two big tables which were on an angle, billy was awesome here and made it feel very easy
http://s2sphotos.com/equuspix/index.php?do=photocart&viewGallery=10737#image=142368
*gallop over to next combination, rail to quite a large drop 3 strides to a skinny brush, billy was a bit green at the drop but popped down it and was sweet over the skinny.
Long gallop uphill to a strange corner/ditch brush on an angle - this was my favourite fence as billy just flew this
No problems through the water and flew the rest of the course without any problems, so so pleased with him as he just got better and better as he went round and was jumping out of his stride confidently, stayed true to the skinnys and galloped on nicely
http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x148/actonbendino/ab803373.jpg (note the lack of boot!)
Thanks for reading can offer you hot cross buns? Tesco values finest
*
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