archoak
Well-Known Member
It didn't just rain - it poured
5am start to be at yard to feed Duke, day starts badly as Jack manages to fall over a small wall and sprain his ankle
Get to Borde Hill at 9 in torrential rain, can't believe not cancelled and with hindsight we should have withdrawn but hey ho.
Dash round course, Jack limping and halfway round realise I have a wet foot, great one leaking Dubarry
so I spend rest of day with a plastic bag inside my boot. Course slippery but not too boggy but some really horrid lines especially to 8a and 10b and really bright vegetables at 14
Dressage not too bad considering horrid slippy ground and Jack going wrong, score of 39.1. Then showjumping - the warm up was awful, told Jack to just jump a couple and kept my eyes closed when he did expecting him to be a heap on the landing side, actually jumped quite well so felt confident to go into the ring (or ice rink as turned out), watched 4 round of which 2 retired and one eliminated, horses just stopping and sliding into jumps. They had the first 2 down, Duke not listening at all, 3 OK and then slid into 4 and jumped from standstill so then decided jack knew best and jumped the oxer and gate beautifully, had a wobble a the brush but catleaped over and had down. Had middle of treble down but as this was the first time had jumped one, were very pleased with him - so 20 faults
I should have withdrawn before xc but it had stopped raining and a friend had gone clear earlier and said it was fine if you were steady. Had a long hold up as a horse fall at second water, OH said horse went right over and poor girl was soaked, water very deep and muddy
but both OK. So they set off - jumped first 5 fine, then lost sight and commentator says ' Jack has decided to dismount but no penalties as inbetween jumps so Mum starts running in general direction then hear ' but he's back on and has cleared the Mitsubishi arrowhead with no problems, phew
(Chicken wire around a bush on track, Duke went one way and Jack the other). They jumped the horrid flower trellis Ok and then got to horrid line at 8a and Duke runs out, Duke and Jack have never had a xc penalty so think this was a big shock for Jack, cleared it no problem on 2nd attempt, then at 10b, narrow corner he does the same thing so Jack takes the alternative but jumps the first part (10a) again
and is eliminated for jumping same obstacle twice but carries on (don't think he realised) and Duke stopped at the vegetables (not surprised he thinks they are very scary and have no place on jumps
), completes without further mishap, fab at 2nd water. They looked so muddy and dejected at the end, Jack learnt a lesson the hard way today but at least they came home safe and sound
Heard commentator say that it was amazing people being placed on scores of 180 - not really considering the awful conditions, wish they had cancelled, I learnt a lesson too, Duke is only a baby and did not feel confident with the more technical striding as he was sliding around and next time would withdraw him. Well done if you got this far - red wine and Dominos pizza reward - well that's what I'm having
5am start to be at yard to feed Duke, day starts badly as Jack manages to fall over a small wall and sprain his ankle
Dash round course, Jack limping and halfway round realise I have a wet foot, great one leaking Dubarry
I should have withdrawn before xc but it had stopped raining and a friend had gone clear earlier and said it was fine if you were steady. Had a long hold up as a horse fall at second water, OH said horse went right over and poor girl was soaked, water very deep and muddy
Heard commentator say that it was amazing people being placed on scores of 180 - not really considering the awful conditions, wish they had cancelled, I learnt a lesson too, Duke is only a baby and did not feel confident with the more technical striding as he was sliding around and next time would withdraw him. Well done if you got this far - red wine and Dominos pizza reward - well that's what I'm having
