Navalgem
Well-Known Member
Hope the alliteration is ok, I'm not the best at it!
Well, I've been asked to ride a pony for a friend, who hasn't done much jumping before. She's been twice before jumping mini cr and cr happily so yesterday it was time to brave the Novice class.
Off we went into the cr and she seemed her happy self, very forward and keen but listening. I then got ready to walk the novice course and I would swear that fence 9 was higher than the 75cms it should have been and it was jumping towards a wall so not sure how she'd react to that. Anyway, I hopped on and after a nice warm up we went in. They'd changed the track slightly so fence 1 was now fence 8 and vice versa, which caused a slight problem (twice!) as Bunny had learned the track. She's very clever like that!
Getting to the first wasn't too bad, bit wonky off the corner but enough room to get straight before we jumped, she was then like a rocket and wanted to go round at 100 mph with me hanging on for grim death, but somehow I managed to steady her round corners and lots of half halts we went round at a fair lick but not breakneck. All was going really well until after fence 7 when she wanted to tank to what was fence 8 and I had to turn her much earlier, cue a bit of headshaking and a very wobbly turn but somehow we got there ok and cleared it, I needent have worried about fence 9, don't think she even noticed it and over fence 10 very nicely for a clear. Lots of praise (I probably sounded like a moron!) and huge pats and off to prepare for the jump off.
We were last to go in the jump off, to my huge relief as I knew if the others faulted we could go round the houses for a steady (haha!) clear, though I had worked out a couple of turns i might try that weren't too nasty. As luck (my luck at least) would have it, the competitors in front of me did fault so with 4 faults or a clear I'd win. She was a little confused as we set off to fence 4 in the jump off but went happily enough then i tried one of the nicer turns to fence 10, she almost came to a standstill (wasn't fence 5 next?!) but then off she went and jumped superbly for a clear and in the fastest time too!
The presentation was interesting as she waited for her rosette patiently enough, then immediately wanted it off, I presume it was tickling her cheek! she loved having a nice canter round but as I asked her to slow down, she tried to drag me to fence 5 backwards!! Obviously going in that arena means we jump, what do you mean we're not?! lol
Her owner was thrilled with her as was I, the only sobering thought that the only way from winning at your first proper show is down......
So now lots of grid work to slow her down a bit as she's sooooo keen, I don't think a stronger bit is the answer as she's quite soft in the mouth. She's just naturally sharp and quick thinking. I love her, wish my daughter was older!
video of her loose jumping: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CViljiEoQCg
and pic from last night taken on the car park after as we'd left the camera in the wagon!
Homebaked chocolate Brownies if you got this far, I'm afraid I've only tea to wash them down with at this time of day
Well, I've been asked to ride a pony for a friend, who hasn't done much jumping before. She's been twice before jumping mini cr and cr happily so yesterday it was time to brave the Novice class.
Off we went into the cr and she seemed her happy self, very forward and keen but listening. I then got ready to walk the novice course and I would swear that fence 9 was higher than the 75cms it should have been and it was jumping towards a wall so not sure how she'd react to that. Anyway, I hopped on and after a nice warm up we went in. They'd changed the track slightly so fence 1 was now fence 8 and vice versa, which caused a slight problem (twice!) as Bunny had learned the track. She's very clever like that!
Getting to the first wasn't too bad, bit wonky off the corner but enough room to get straight before we jumped, she was then like a rocket and wanted to go round at 100 mph with me hanging on for grim death, but somehow I managed to steady her round corners and lots of half halts we went round at a fair lick but not breakneck. All was going really well until after fence 7 when she wanted to tank to what was fence 8 and I had to turn her much earlier, cue a bit of headshaking and a very wobbly turn but somehow we got there ok and cleared it, I needent have worried about fence 9, don't think she even noticed it and over fence 10 very nicely for a clear. Lots of praise (I probably sounded like a moron!) and huge pats and off to prepare for the jump off.
We were last to go in the jump off, to my huge relief as I knew if the others faulted we could go round the houses for a steady (haha!) clear, though I had worked out a couple of turns i might try that weren't too nasty. As luck (my luck at least) would have it, the competitors in front of me did fault so with 4 faults or a clear I'd win. She was a little confused as we set off to fence 4 in the jump off but went happily enough then i tried one of the nicer turns to fence 10, she almost came to a standstill (wasn't fence 5 next?!) but then off she went and jumped superbly for a clear and in the fastest time too!
The presentation was interesting as she waited for her rosette patiently enough, then immediately wanted it off, I presume it was tickling her cheek! she loved having a nice canter round but as I asked her to slow down, she tried to drag me to fence 5 backwards!! Obviously going in that arena means we jump, what do you mean we're not?! lol
Her owner was thrilled with her as was I, the only sobering thought that the only way from winning at your first proper show is down......
So now lots of grid work to slow her down a bit as she's sooooo keen, I don't think a stronger bit is the answer as she's quite soft in the mouth. She's just naturally sharp and quick thinking. I love her, wish my daughter was older!
video of her loose jumping: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CViljiEoQCg
and pic from last night taken on the car park after as we'd left the camera in the wagon!
Homebaked chocolate Brownies if you got this far, I'm afraid I've only tea to wash them down with at this time of day
