lex2501
Well-Known Member
I just thought I would update you on Billy's mission to get to the Grassroots champs. After a disappointing time at West Wilts for our first RF where the dressage was not good enough, and a wild SJ round resulted in 2 poles down, we went off to Munstead 100. I have really struggled with Billy's feet over this wet summer and they had really deteriorated in the week before Munstead. This coupled with firm ground left me with a stuffy Billy who wasn't enjoying the ground at all. After a poor dressage by his standards, and stops in the SJ warm up and 2 poles down yet again, I withdrew knowing that he was not a happy chappy.
The farrier came out a couple of days later and said he wasn't surprised that his performance has deteriorated. Thankfully he managed to get pads on him and get his feet looking much better so I have kept Billy on a surface over the last couple of weeks and the physio gave him the all clear 1 week prior to RF no.2 at BCA.
So off we went, with the wonderful Star acting as groom/support
He did a good test, but he is never going to set the world alight with his complete lack of a trot! We got 33.5 which was a little disappointing, as we spent all of last year, and the beginning of this year consistently in the 20's. Looking back over videos we aren't doing anything different so not sure what's going on. 
He warmed up beautifully for the SJ - jumping his socks off. We couldn't get him to touch a pole despite going higher and wider. In we went, he fell over fence 1 so I gave him a kick. He shook his head at me, and towed me round for 2 down... again. Totally careless.
So we now only have 1 RF left... Broadway in 2 weeks and I am not feeling too hopeful now that Billy seems to have completely lost his bounce.
We have been jumping much bigger than 90 at home so we are beginning to wonder if he has lost respect for smaller fences. We are taking him schooling over courses over the next couple of weekends to try and fix it but please keep your fingers and toes crossed for us.
Any words of wisdom?! So galling to know that he had 3 RFs last year, and 4 this year and it looks like we won't be going to Badminton
The farrier came out a couple of days later and said he wasn't surprised that his performance has deteriorated. Thankfully he managed to get pads on him and get his feet looking much better so I have kept Billy on a surface over the last couple of weeks and the physio gave him the all clear 1 week prior to RF no.2 at BCA.
So off we went, with the wonderful Star acting as groom/support
He did a good test, but he is never going to set the world alight with his complete lack of a trot! We got 33.5 which was a little disappointing, as we spent all of last year, and the beginning of this year consistently in the 20's. Looking back over videos we aren't doing anything different so not sure what's going on. He warmed up beautifully for the SJ - jumping his socks off. We couldn't get him to touch a pole despite going higher and wider. In we went, he fell over fence 1 so I gave him a kick. He shook his head at me, and towed me round for 2 down... again. Totally careless.
So we now only have 1 RF left... Broadway in 2 weeks and I am not feeling too hopeful now that Billy seems to have completely lost his bounce.
We have been jumping much bigger than 90 at home so we are beginning to wonder if he has lost respect for smaller fences. We are taking him schooling over courses over the next couple of weekends to try and fix it but please keep your fingers and toes crossed for us.
Any words of wisdom?! So galling to know that he had 3 RFs last year, and 4 this year and it looks like we won't be going to Badminton
Maybe this year he didn't fancy ending his season in september so wanting to squeeze in an October run?! If it doesn't happen then Murphy and I can crack on at Intermediate, and we can work towards some Novices with Billy as that's the level we are at home 
