MissDeMeena
Well-Known Member
Sorry, but i feel this isn't going to be the best report, as i picked up a bug up there, and still feel shattered now
hence can't think of what to write (and can't keep my eyes open)
Anyway, we arrived on Monday afternoon, at about 4:00pm, having left at 3:00am
What a long journey, although Ernie came off the lorry bouncing, the others looked a little weary/dazed. Passports and horses were checked by the FEI vet, before being shown to our stables.. After about an hour of sorting things out, i got some tack and took him for a 'quiet' hack, well Ernie was having non of that and squealed and cantered sideways most the way
(am now thinking, great, after 13hrs in the lorry, he can still get out and behave like this).. So over the next few days (Tues/Wed/Thurs) Ernie got ridden 3 times aday, although only for about 15/20mins at a time.. He gradually settled and by the time of our Dressage (4:00pm Thurs afternoon) he was going really rather well for him
Up till now our best ever mark out of the 3 CIC**s i'd done, was a 68, so to say i was thrilled to get a mark of 60 is an understatment, 8 marks better than ever before
CCI** and CCI*** rider briefing was on Wed morning, after which the course was open for walking, so i dashed straight off to walk it, before coming back for the trot-up (which he obviously sailed through
).. I walked the course a further 3 times
the last time being on the Sat. morning when the YRs were jumping it, and i have to say making a cock-up of the first water!! This put the wind up me in a big way, as i couldn't see how it should be ridden, same again for the second water
The general idea was to come in straight and strong, so come in straight and strong i did, but i forgot the small detail of steering and Ernie cantered straight past the skinny roll-top part C, It was a green mistake on my part, i had a fab ride round the rest of the course, although i finished shattered and felt like it had all gone by in a fast blur, all 9min and 18 seconds of it (the time it took me to get round) so i had 9 time faults, which was pretty fast when you consider i had a silly run-out and took the long option.
So Ernie was washed off at the finish and very quickly given the all clear from the vet to go back to the stable
Pizza was ordered in for everyone on Sat night, before an early night..
Early start on Sunday for the trot-up, which once again Ernie sailed through (with added sound effects this time
)
I walked the SJing and then went back to tack up.. he gave me another fab ride round the SJing to have an unlucky 1 down, and 2 time faults
i've never had time faults in the SJing, but was told after that the time is very tight at a CCI..
So all in all i'm pretty thrilled.. finished in the top half
and have been told to aim for Weston Park CCI** at the end of the season now.
Hope you don't mind 'mceeaw' and 'moon_drop' but i've nicked your video and picture???
(i'll try and add some more later)
mceeaw's video of the second water.. all morning the stride had been riding long, so i kicked on thinking it needed strong riding, and made up too much ground to the last part, but Ernie being the smart pony that he is, sorted it all out
[image]http://s162.photobucket.com/albums/t276/mceeaw/?action=view&current=Video-0011.flv[/image]
Moon_drop's pic of the third last fence, a large brush on the top of a large pimple.
[image]http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k199/moon_drop_2006/blair104.jpg[/image]
Anyway, we arrived on Monday afternoon, at about 4:00pm, having left at 3:00am
Up till now our best ever mark out of the 3 CIC**s i'd done, was a 68, so to say i was thrilled to get a mark of 60 is an understatment, 8 marks better than ever before
CCI** and CCI*** rider briefing was on Wed morning, after which the course was open for walking, so i dashed straight off to walk it, before coming back for the trot-up (which he obviously sailed through
So Ernie was washed off at the finish and very quickly given the all clear from the vet to go back to the stable
Pizza was ordered in for everyone on Sat night, before an early night..
Early start on Sunday for the trot-up, which once again Ernie sailed through (with added sound effects this time
I walked the SJing and then went back to tack up.. he gave me another fab ride round the SJing to have an unlucky 1 down, and 2 time faults
So all in all i'm pretty thrilled.. finished in the top half
Hope you don't mind 'mceeaw' and 'moon_drop' but i've nicked your video and picture???
(i'll try and add some more later)
mceeaw's video of the second water.. all morning the stride had been riding long, so i kicked on thinking it needed strong riding, and made up too much ground to the last part, but Ernie being the smart pony that he is, sorted it all out
[image]http://s162.photobucket.com/albums/t276/mceeaw/?action=view&current=Video-0011.flv[/image]
Moon_drop's pic of the third last fence, a large brush on the top of a large pimple.
[image]http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k199/moon_drop_2006/blair104.jpg[/image]
