only_me
Well-Known Member
Well, my main aim for billy this year was to try and qualify for the irish pony club championships (IPCC), which was quite a big ask at the beginning of the year, as he was still a bit suspicious of water!
Anyway, we managed to qualify for the IPCC which was fab!
Now this is a warning the report may be long 
Some of you may know that billy has been turbo charged this week, combination of too fit and feeling very well 
but it is great to see that he is feeling well!
Headed down to Tattersalls on Tuesday, as the dressage and showjumping were on and then the xc was on the Wednesday
Dressage test I dont like, it is BD20 which has 20m circles straight into 12m, and a canter-trot-canter transition in a 20m circle- quite a big ask for billyphant. He hadnt been playing ball prior to going down, so was very that he settled and waited for me to ask for upwards trans instead of shooting off in his preferred direction 
But he performed a very nice test, relaxed and supple and behaved. So was very happy to discover that we had scored 30 (judge even asked how he was bred!) to be in the lead after dressage! We even got a lovely rosette and prize on the Tuesday evening for the best dressage.
The showjumping was directly after the dressage, which I shall glance over as not very interesting other than my poor riding as usual which left us with 2 down, although I was just glad that we didnt go hurdling Very annoyed with myself, as they were very stupid mistakes that I made, but hey ho, its eventing!
So billy then had to go into the stable at tats, which was stressful enough considering he has been living out 24/7 since april! He was very happy though as he had lots of hay and straw to munch on.
He also spent the night well, well covered in poo
The the xc
Well, when I first walked it I first went and thought maybe a bit strong for us! The second time I walked it,it looked better, just needed forward accurate riding and would be a good track to test how he has come on!
First fence he ballooned, so he got a little tap to remind him to jump forwards not up, much better over the haycart and flew the trakener, sharp left to a palisade, sharp right to a very scary open ditch with back rail, a typical Tattersalls ditch which was full of water and algae He was getting into his stride now.
Next was the first question of the course, which caused quite a few problems. Jump a roller straight up a hill, down steep bank and up to a skinny log on top of the hill, 2 strides to a skinny log slanted left just opening the door
He popped the roller sweetly, was a bit shocked by the steep decline and broke into trot, picked up canter and jumped the log at the top lovely, found the 2 strides easy and never thought about running out What was really nice was that as we jumped the 2nd log, I said good boy and someone standing behind the tape said good girl 
Next was the very tricky combination (for us!) into what is normally the first water but had been drained, drop into dark 2 strides to skinny sloping log pile 3 curving strides to a hanging log which had been placed on the turn, again an open invitation to run out.
Billy surprised me to jump it foot perfect, never wavering off his line and really keen and happy!
Then over a coal cart, long gallop to rail to another rail, sharp right to a devils dyke ditch/trakener type fence which was very scary but he sorted himself out.
Then there was a very difficult squirrel combination narrow log 2 short strides to a very skinny log, completely open on the right side!
Believe me, it is skinnier in real life than in the photo!
But billy was very good, locked on from the very start and jumped very sweetly through.
Next was a big log straight into the water, yes, landing into the water Billy has never done that before, as you dont expect to jump straight into water at PN level but he was a superstar, didnt back off one bit and launched into orbit over the fence!
Then straight into the second water where he popped over the hanging log
Over flower box, and then into the next combination which he was very very good and made it very easy! (ABC green)
Flew the rest and home 20seconds under the time! He was an absolute superstar, so pleased with him and he made it feel so very easy!
Very pleased to finish 3rd, not bad for a 5 year old! Won some lovely prizes and beautiful rosettes
Thanks for reading, pizza is up for grabs
Anyway, we managed to qualify for the IPCC which was fab!
Now this is a warning the report may be long Some of you may know that billy has been turbo charged this week, combination of too fit and feeling very well but it is great to see that he is feeling well!Headed down to Tattersalls on Tuesday, as the dressage and showjumping were on and then the xc was on the Wednesday
Dressage test I dont like, it is BD20 which has 20m circles straight into 12m, and a canter-trot-canter transition in a 20m circle- quite a big ask for billyphant. He hadnt been playing ball prior to going down, so was very
that he settled and waited for me to ask for upwards trans instead of shooting off in his preferred direction But he performed a very nice test, relaxed and supple and behaved. So was very happy to discover that we had scored 30 (judge even asked how he was bred!) to be in the lead after dressage! We even got a lovely rosette and prize on the Tuesday evening for the best dressage. The showjumping was directly after the dressage, which I shall glance over as not very interesting other than my poor riding as usual which left us with 2 down, although I was just glad that we didnt go hurdling
Very annoyed with myself, as they were very stupid mistakes that I made, but hey ho, its eventing!So billy then had to go into the stable at tats, which was stressful enough considering he has been living out 24/7 since april! He was very happy though as he had lots of hay and straw to munch on.
He also spent the night well, well covered in poo
The the xc
Well, when I first walked it I first went
and thought maybe a bit strong for us! The second time I walked it,it looked better, just needed forward accurate riding and would be a good track to test how he has come on!First fence he ballooned, so he got a little tap to remind him to jump forwards not up, much better over the haycart and flew the trakener, sharp left to a palisade, sharp right to a very scary open ditch with back rail, a typical Tattersalls ditch which was full of water and algae
He was getting into his stride now.Next was the first question of the course, which caused quite a few problems. Jump a roller straight up a hill, down steep bank and up to a skinny log on top of the hill, 2 strides to a skinny log slanted left just opening the door
He popped the roller sweetly, was a bit shocked by the steep decline and broke into trot, picked up canter and jumped the log at the top lovely, found the 2 strides easy and never thought about running out
What was really nice was that as we jumped the 2nd log, I said good boy and someone standing behind the tape said good girl Next was the very tricky combination (for us!) into what is normally the first water but had been drained, drop into dark 2 strides to skinny sloping log pile 3 curving strides to a hanging log which had been placed on the turn, again an open invitation to run out.
Billy surprised me to jump it foot perfect, never wavering off his line and really keen and happy!
Then over a coal cart, long gallop to rail to another rail, sharp right to a devils dyke ditch/trakener type fence which was very scary but he sorted himself out.
Then there was a very difficult squirrel combination narrow log 2 short strides to a very skinny log, completely open on the right side!
Believe me, it is skinnier in real life than in the photo!
But billy was very good, locked on from the very start and jumped very sweetly through.
Next was a big log straight into the water, yes, landing into the water
Billy has never done that before, as you dont expect to jump straight into water at PN level but he was a superstar, didnt back off one bit and launched into orbit over the fence!
Then straight into the second water where he popped over the hanging log
Over flower box, and then into the next combination which he was very very good and made it very easy! (ABC green)
Flew the rest and home 20seconds under the time! He was an absolute superstar, so pleased with him and he made it feel so very easy!
Very pleased to finish 3rd, not bad for a 5 year old! Won some lovely prizes and beautiful rosettes
Thanks for reading, pizza is up for grabs
