HotToTrot
Well-Known Member
I always said I'd never be one of "those" parents. The ones that bribe their kids with food. This was unnecessary, I thought sanctimoniously. Lazy, even. Not for me such base tactics and underhand wheezes; no, baby Rosie and I would have a wholesome, healthy relationship. I would be reasonable with her and she, in turn, would be reasonable with me. Then she hit the "Cling-on Phase". As soon as I left the room, she would scream and shriek, small face contorted in pure anguish. She'd settle only when I returned and picked her up, when she'd sniffle pitifully, little chest heaving in reproachful sighs, struggling to stifle the small tears welling up in her big eyes.
Clearly, this was not going to be conducive to my show jumping habit. Something had to be done. Chocolate brownies normally serve to make my world a better place, so could the same thing work for her? Armed with baby, horse and Thornton's finest, I set out for Norton Heath to test the theory.
When it came to crunch time, though, when I had to hand the baby and the brownies to the long-suffering secretary, I was torn. This had looked fine on paper, but could I really go through with it? Could I relinquish the love of my life, the centre of my world, just for a couple of rounds of show jumping? Parting with chocolate has never come easily to me, and now I was staring down the barrel of brownie-free afternoon, knowing full well that if I let them go now, there was no guarantee I'd ever see them again. I steeled myself. I'd come here to jump. We all sacrifice a lot to be able to compete in this sport, and who was I to think that I was the exception? I handed the brownies over in sorrow and watched forlornly as they set sail round the car park with the baby and the show secretary.
Since Vito has come back from his break, I've felt that I've been struggling to control him. He'll spook, run sideways, throw his head in the air and fall out through his shoulders. My instructor had suggested a martingale. I had resisted. Vito was Vito, I'd argued. Sure, he had his flaws, and yes, I'd prefer it if he didn't chuck his head about, but I didn't want to change him too much. If he felt restricted, I'd said, he may try some other evasion instead! But, my instructor had countered, if he can't see the fence because his head's so high then you're onto dangerous ground. By all means, he'd continued, have it on the looser side, it should only have an impact when his head gets dangerously high, but do consider it. But I didn't have any martingale stops, I'd protested. My instructor had looked at me levelly. I caved. I dug out a martingale and some stops.
I warmed up over a cross, nice and steady. I got him balanced and listening, bouncy and rhythmical. Into the 1.05 we went. He popped carefully round and we finished on a neat clear. We weren't in the money, but we finished somewhere and we qualified for something. I wasn't happy. What was that obedient round I'd just had? Now I had too much control! Vito's lovely and easy, but he's not always silky-smooth and I guess I'd describe our best rounds as "dynamic". Slightly on the faster side of perfect, with just a little pulling and resistance, enough to make me feel that I'm being taken to a fence.
http://s1362.photobucket.com/user/VivianePendleton/media/LN7_3845_zpsc712cd58.jpg.html
I'd intended to miss the Newcomers (as I'd have to have gone HC) and go into the 1.15m. Now, though, I wasn't sure. Was Vito feeling tired? 1.15 is out of my comfort zone and I wanted normal Vito back to do it, not this new, calm Vito. I hummed and hawed. I didn't really need to be jumping 1.15 yet, I reasoned. I'm planning to start the event season at Nov, and that's 1.10, so I had a little grace period before I needed to whack the fences up. I chickened out. Why push it? I'd not done 1.10 since his break, so let's go up in increments. I entered the Newcomers HC. I got a little more energy this time as I cantered round the ring, then I came to the first and I rode him forwards. Boom. This was it! We skipped, hopped and pulled our way round for a bouncy clear.
As I left the ring, regret set in. I should have done the 1.15! What a wimp I am. I tried to console myself that there was plenty of time, that it's better to build up to it slowly. I spent all of last season working up to doing 1.15, so perhaps I just need a little more prep this time round. Then the real fear started. Where were the brownies? Had they all gone? I jumped off Vito and ran to the secretary. Dived into the pram's basket, ignoring the baby. There were some left! All was not lost.
Clearly, this was not going to be conducive to my show jumping habit. Something had to be done. Chocolate brownies normally serve to make my world a better place, so could the same thing work for her? Armed with baby, horse and Thornton's finest, I set out for Norton Heath to test the theory.
When it came to crunch time, though, when I had to hand the baby and the brownies to the long-suffering secretary, I was torn. This had looked fine on paper, but could I really go through with it? Could I relinquish the love of my life, the centre of my world, just for a couple of rounds of show jumping? Parting with chocolate has never come easily to me, and now I was staring down the barrel of brownie-free afternoon, knowing full well that if I let them go now, there was no guarantee I'd ever see them again. I steeled myself. I'd come here to jump. We all sacrifice a lot to be able to compete in this sport, and who was I to think that I was the exception? I handed the brownies over in sorrow and watched forlornly as they set sail round the car park with the baby and the show secretary.
Since Vito has come back from his break, I've felt that I've been struggling to control him. He'll spook, run sideways, throw his head in the air and fall out through his shoulders. My instructor had suggested a martingale. I had resisted. Vito was Vito, I'd argued. Sure, he had his flaws, and yes, I'd prefer it if he didn't chuck his head about, but I didn't want to change him too much. If he felt restricted, I'd said, he may try some other evasion instead! But, my instructor had countered, if he can't see the fence because his head's so high then you're onto dangerous ground. By all means, he'd continued, have it on the looser side, it should only have an impact when his head gets dangerously high, but do consider it. But I didn't have any martingale stops, I'd protested. My instructor had looked at me levelly. I caved. I dug out a martingale and some stops.
I warmed up over a cross, nice and steady. I got him balanced and listening, bouncy and rhythmical. Into the 1.05 we went. He popped carefully round and we finished on a neat clear. We weren't in the money, but we finished somewhere and we qualified for something. I wasn't happy. What was that obedient round I'd just had? Now I had too much control! Vito's lovely and easy, but he's not always silky-smooth and I guess I'd describe our best rounds as "dynamic". Slightly on the faster side of perfect, with just a little pulling and resistance, enough to make me feel that I'm being taken to a fence.
http://s1362.photobucket.com/user/VivianePendleton/media/LN7_3845_zpsc712cd58.jpg.html
I'd intended to miss the Newcomers (as I'd have to have gone HC) and go into the 1.15m. Now, though, I wasn't sure. Was Vito feeling tired? 1.15 is out of my comfort zone and I wanted normal Vito back to do it, not this new, calm Vito. I hummed and hawed. I didn't really need to be jumping 1.15 yet, I reasoned. I'm planning to start the event season at Nov, and that's 1.10, so I had a little grace period before I needed to whack the fences up. I chickened out. Why push it? I'd not done 1.10 since his break, so let's go up in increments. I entered the Newcomers HC. I got a little more energy this time as I cantered round the ring, then I came to the first and I rode him forwards. Boom. This was it! We skipped, hopped and pulled our way round for a bouncy clear.
As I left the ring, regret set in. I should have done the 1.15! What a wimp I am. I tried to console myself that there was plenty of time, that it's better to build up to it slowly. I spent all of last season working up to doing 1.15, so perhaps I just need a little more prep this time round. Then the real fear started. Where were the brownies? Had they all gone? I jumped off Vito and ran to the secretary. Dived into the pram's basket, ignoring the baby. There were some left! All was not lost.
