only_me
Well-Known Member
Just a short report on Billys Novice debut! 
Picked a nice local event, only 3 and half hours away... That meant quite an early start for us! Billy was very surprised to be getting fed when he looked as though he was still half asleep, he can look very dopey when he wants to
He warmed up really nicely for the dressage, lovely and supple and his medium trot effortless, he just picked up and sort of glided over the ground. His medium canter was not quite as gliding, although I was quite glad that we were walking when a pony warming up suddenly bolted up the field I didnt think Billy could get his tail any more over his back. We promptly moved into the other field, just in case the pony did it again. Billy was feeling in quite a cheeky mood now and took a dislike to bay horse, where he did a very strange buck/kick out to side at it since billy very very rarely bucks and never kicks out he was obviously feeling very playful
The test was BE110, which I do not like it was a very short test to ride and the small 2 loop serpentine to x felt very short and not great for showing off Billys balance He was a bit tense and tight through his back but some bits were nice, he got 8 for his first halt on centre line, which Im very pleased about, but he broke in the extended walk which cost us unfortunately. Ended up with 36.5, leaving us 7th after dressage.
Next up was the showjumping, which is my biggest weakness as I can panic when seeing long lines of fences, and it dosent help that at most novices there is a double and a treble! But, apart from seeing a COMPLETE miss at the triple bar which we brought down most of, he jumped really well, and gained confidence as he went around! So just the very very well deserved 4 faults. Im sure if Billy wasnt so honest and a real trier a normal horse would have stopped!!
Ps. The jump is actually a full up 1.10. It only looks smaller because it is on a hill, and I am riding the Gigantic billy
The cross country was really interesting, lots of different fences that Billy and I havent come across before! He was very naughty/cheeky in the warm up, he was being quite strong and bold, I think he knows what to expect now after showjumping Flew the flowerbed, saw a great shot to the second fence, the hogsback, galloped to the cottage and over, took a flyer at the parallel and then onto the first question, 2 logs on a hill with 1 stride between, sharp downhill to narrowish log. Billy was ace here, he read the question, worked out what he had to do and jumped it like he had been doing it all his life! Next up was the owl hole going into the woods, which I wasnt sure how he would react to, but I dont think Billy even registered there was a top on it
Through woods to a step up to skinny, which took him a bit by surprise but again, he read it and then worked out what he had to do. Over the zig-zag trakener, and towards the water. Jumped the loop log, down the step and then cantered through to jump the log on the way out. Saw perfect stride to the flowerbed and we flew over that, turned right up a steep hill to jump log on the top 3 strides to a brush skinny, which he had locked onto on the landing stride
Next up was the bed/table, then jumped a log going up the hill then quick steep step down which he read and understood, short gallop to the next water where he jumped the skinny in fab, through the water up the step and over the palisade like a pro! Jumped through the coffin really nicely and then perfect shot to the last and he was brill! Had just under 5 time penalties but not concerned about that as the aim was to jump well xc, which he did
Ended up 11th, which wasnt too bad for a first timer Very pleased with him, it never felt like a step too far, Billy relished the extra questions and although he was reading the fences, it was always a thought of how to jump, rather than how to avoid! So, so pleased with him
Please ignore my woeful leg position!! Work in progress, as always
http://www.mdpix.ie/galleries.asp?Month=5&Year=2012&ShowID=208#
Go to 2nd row from bottom and Bill is the middle one
And great celebrations as today was my final university exam and provided I pass (fingers crossed) I will be fully qualified Thanks for reading, offer of bulmers and half an éclair up for grabs
Picked a nice local event, only 3 and half hours away...
That meant quite an early start for us! Billy was very surprised to be getting fed when he looked as though he was still half asleep, he can look very dopey when he wants to He warmed up really nicely for the dressage, lovely and supple and his medium trot effortless, he just picked up and sort of glided over the ground. His medium canter was not quite as gliding, although I was quite glad that we were walking when a pony warming up suddenly bolted up the field I didnt think Billy could get his tail any more over his back. We promptly moved into the other field, just in case the pony did it again. Billy was feeling in quite a cheeky mood now and took a dislike to bay horse, where he did a very strange buck/kick out to side at it since billy very very rarely bucks and never kicks out he was obviously feeling very playful
The test was BE110, which I do not like it was a very short test to ride and the small 2 loop serpentine to x felt very short and not great for showing off Billys balance
He was a bit tense and tight through his back but some bits were nice, he got 8 for his first halt on centre line, which Im very pleased about, but he broke in the extended walk which cost us unfortunately. Ended up with 36.5, leaving us 7th after dressage.
Next up was the showjumping, which is my biggest weakness as I can panic when seeing long lines of fences, and it dosent help that at most novices there is a double and a treble! But, apart from seeing a COMPLETE miss at the triple bar which we brought down most of, he jumped really well, and gained confidence as he went around! So just the very very well deserved 4 faults. Im sure if Billy wasnt so honest and a real trier a normal horse would have stopped!!
Ps. The jump is actually a full up 1.10. It only looks smaller because it is on a hill, and I am riding the Gigantic billy
The cross country was really interesting, lots of different fences that Billy and I havent come across before! He was very naughty/cheeky in the warm up, he was being quite strong and bold, I think he knows what to expect now after showjumping
Flew the flowerbed, saw a great shot to the second fence, the hogsback, galloped to the cottage and over, took a flyer at the parallel and then onto the first question, 2 logs on a hill with 1 stride between, sharp downhill to narrowish log. Billy was ace here, he read the question, worked out what he had to do and jumped it like he had been doing it all his life! Next up was the owl hole going into the woods, which I wasnt sure how he would react to, but I dont think Billy even registered there was a top on it Through woods to a step up to skinny, which took him a bit by surprise but again, he read it and then worked out what he had to do. Over the zig-zag trakener, and towards the water. Jumped the loop log, down the step and then cantered through to jump the log on the way out. Saw perfect stride to the flowerbed and we flew over that, turned right up a steep hill to jump log on the top 3 strides to a brush skinny, which he had locked onto on the landing stride
Next up was the bed/table, then jumped a log going up the hill then quick steep step down which he read and understood, short gallop to the next water where he jumped the skinny in fab, through the water up the step and over the palisade like a pro! Jumped through the coffin really nicely and then perfect shot to the last and he was brill! Had just under 5 time penalties but not concerned about that as the aim was to jump well xc, which he did
Ended up 11th, which wasnt too bad for a first timer
Very pleased with him, it never felt like a step too far, Billy relished the extra questions and although he was reading the fences, it was always a thought of how to jump, rather than how to avoid! So, so pleased with him
Please ignore my woeful leg position!! Work in progress, as always
http://www.mdpix.ie/galleries.asp?Month=5&Year=2012&ShowID=208#
Go to 2nd row from bottom and Bill is the middle one
And great celebrations as today was my final university exam and provided I pass (fingers crossed) I will be fully qualified
Thanks for reading, offer of bulmers and half an éclair up for grabs 
