kerilli
Well-Known Member
Wow, what a day. Katys first event for 11 months, so, very excited to be out and about again (me, not her, hopefully). Her Imprint shoes (Jimmy Choos) were reglued on Tuesday, she had shiatsu yesterday, jeez. High maintenance lady. Civilised start (even had time to poo-pick fields this morning, so left with halo shining brightly.) Madame Katy was pretty chilled when we got there (hadnt given her valium, I promise), more interested in stuffing grass than leaping about - great. She is tricky on the flat, and my new plan is to mooch about for 20 mins in walk, letting her take it all in, incorporating a lot of lateral work in walk to loosen her up, and then to do about 30 mins of trotting and cantering non-stop (not my favourite way of schooling by any means) until she gets knackered enough to say Oohhh, okaaaay, Ill relax and let you ride me. Great plan, scuppered by the fact that they were running 15 mins early. The pathetic Universal Pleaser in me came out, when actually I should have been Difficult Archbitch from Hell Competitor and refused to go 1 second before my allotted time. Oh, well, should know better by now.
So, very nice test (for her), as good as I could have hoped for, but we needed the extra 10 mins to get real co-operation. She was pretty calm, a bit quick but nothing like last year (when she went like a hysterical giraffe on speed), arguing in trotwork so not making a very nice picture, but no tantrums, no inexplicable applications of turbo, very nice in canters (got a 7 for each canter circle with give-and-retake, woo hoo.) Calm and relaxed in walk. Really nice test to ride actually, first time Ive done it number 102. We got a fully deserved 41. Nice, fair, justified comments from judge: A well prepared test, but horse needs better ground cover and lift to the steps. I cant quite work out why we got a 5 for the final halt (perfectly square, according to vid.) Oh, well. Cest le dressage.
Then had ages to socialise and walk the course, which was almost identical to last year, only 2 skinnies, a little bit of everything, absolutely wonderful and really educational. Since this was the first time since last July that Madame has a. got her feet wet, and b. seen a ditch (shes mad-keen enough on xc, I dont think she needs xc schooling, it makes my job easier if something backs her off!) I was happy. The sum total of my prep for the xc was to jump a skinny in the school twice on Thursday *hangs head in shame*
Didnt get a chance to walk sj, prob a good job as it stops me over-analysing it. I didnt even pay attention to how many strides people were getting in, as it makes no difference to me and Madame, I need to just ride what I see at the time, shes so keen she often runs through whatever distance or stride pattern Ive planned anyway, and if I know how many strides I was meant to do, I stress about it!
Strict warm-up, 1 x pole from walk, 1 upright of about 3, medium parallel, walk around for ages, 1 big upright (which I managed to get her to tap out behind, exactly the plan but hard to do it right I wanted her to feel it, but not hit it hard enough to frighten herself.) She was pretty reasonable in warm-up, apart from angry get OFF me headtossing after fences when I thwarted her desire to accelerate.
Best friend (who events at Intermediate level) helped me warm up and restricted her comments to Jeeeeeez shes difficult and Christ, shes so delicate, shes like porcelain, you darent touch her. Nice to know it looked as good as it felt !!
Went in with no particular expectations (bearing in mind that at BSJA on Tues we were clear in first class and had 6 down in the next ) and gaily singing Nelly the Elephant" in my head (thanks Gamebird, it DOES work), and somehow we managed to go clear, and she genuinely did not touch a pole. It was a bit quick (as ever), and I got her a bit deep to a couple, and was a bit off a couple, and we overshot two turns and had to double back a bit (argh), but she tried really really hard not to touch them. Maybe she needs me to ride like that to keep her guessing and trying! Not a round I am proud of at all but somehow it worked. Best friend and OH speechless with disbelief when we came out. Me too. (Well, nearly.)
On to the best bit. Put on new EXO, complete with RP shoulderpads and LG helmet, I was told I looked just like an American Footballer. First time Ive sat in the saddle with Exo on nothing like preparation, huh? No probs, forgot it was there instantly, totally comfortable.
Stood in the shade for ages at the start as they were taking numbers down, not sticking to times. Madame slightly hysterical about cantering around close to others (xc warm up there is very narrow) so jumped each practice fence once just to remind her what brown solid fences are, and left it at that. Finally called over, counted down to 5, Oh, hold on, is that one of those Exos, hold on, Ill have to count you down again. Starter told the controller, I made a mental note to point it out next time, oops.
Argh, Missy starting to get really upset by now, brain no longer connected to legs, in that lovely way tbs can do. I really thought she was going to do a Tankers Town on me. Wouldnt go forward, quite good at going sideways/backwards or standing still bent round like a banana. Hmm.
30 secs again. Managed to get a walk circle going, and wandered vaguely into start box on 3, 2, 1. Ha. Got her.
Had a great round, a few squabbles about speed, she was fab and really enjoyed it. Launched into water like a pro, didnt even look at ditch below trak. Trotted to sunken road and easily made the 1-stride distance (had heard a Novice had bounced it and didnt really fancy that.) The only one we disagreed about was the last, she was busy attaining warp speed, I was busy saying no, really, thanks, come here you and Id definitely seen another stride when she went airborne. Oh, well, just the one misser/disagreement.
Considering the Exo weighs quite a lot I was expecting it to slow her down a bit, but I honestly dont think she noticed the extra weight at all.
Finished on dressage score, amazingly, and NOT the fastest time in our section. (Im quite proud of that!) No rosette (dr not good enough obv) but I was so happy with her it really didnt matter. She is definitely the bravest thing I have ever sat on, and has a great jump when she gives herself time to use it, so if I can keep her sound, I have high hopes!
I think Id better book her into Champneys for a week if I ever want to get a rosette though !
Pina Coladas and Pringles if you got this far !
Pics and vids to follow tomorrow, too knackered to upload them now!
So, very nice test (for her), as good as I could have hoped for, but we needed the extra 10 mins to get real co-operation. She was pretty calm, a bit quick but nothing like last year (when she went like a hysterical giraffe on speed), arguing in trotwork so not making a very nice picture, but no tantrums, no inexplicable applications of turbo, very nice in canters (got a 7 for each canter circle with give-and-retake, woo hoo.) Calm and relaxed in walk. Really nice test to ride actually, first time Ive done it number 102. We got a fully deserved 41. Nice, fair, justified comments from judge: A well prepared test, but horse needs better ground cover and lift to the steps. I cant quite work out why we got a 5 for the final halt (perfectly square, according to vid.) Oh, well. Cest le dressage.
Then had ages to socialise and walk the course, which was almost identical to last year, only 2 skinnies, a little bit of everything, absolutely wonderful and really educational. Since this was the first time since last July that Madame has a. got her feet wet, and b. seen a ditch (shes mad-keen enough on xc, I dont think she needs xc schooling, it makes my job easier if something backs her off!) I was happy. The sum total of my prep for the xc was to jump a skinny in the school twice on Thursday *hangs head in shame*
Didnt get a chance to walk sj, prob a good job as it stops me over-analysing it. I didnt even pay attention to how many strides people were getting in, as it makes no difference to me and Madame, I need to just ride what I see at the time, shes so keen she often runs through whatever distance or stride pattern Ive planned anyway, and if I know how many strides I was meant to do, I stress about it!
Strict warm-up, 1 x pole from walk, 1 upright of about 3, medium parallel, walk around for ages, 1 big upright (which I managed to get her to tap out behind, exactly the plan but hard to do it right I wanted her to feel it, but not hit it hard enough to frighten herself.) She was pretty reasonable in warm-up, apart from angry get OFF me headtossing after fences when I thwarted her desire to accelerate.
Best friend (who events at Intermediate level) helped me warm up and restricted her comments to Jeeeeeez shes difficult and Christ, shes so delicate, shes like porcelain, you darent touch her. Nice to know it looked as good as it felt !!
Went in with no particular expectations (bearing in mind that at BSJA on Tues we were clear in first class and had 6 down in the next ) and gaily singing Nelly the Elephant" in my head (thanks Gamebird, it DOES work), and somehow we managed to go clear, and she genuinely did not touch a pole. It was a bit quick (as ever), and I got her a bit deep to a couple, and was a bit off a couple, and we overshot two turns and had to double back a bit (argh), but she tried really really hard not to touch them. Maybe she needs me to ride like that to keep her guessing and trying! Not a round I am proud of at all but somehow it worked. Best friend and OH speechless with disbelief when we came out. Me too. (Well, nearly.)
On to the best bit. Put on new EXO, complete with RP shoulderpads and LG helmet, I was told I looked just like an American Footballer. First time Ive sat in the saddle with Exo on nothing like preparation, huh? No probs, forgot it was there instantly, totally comfortable.
Stood in the shade for ages at the start as they were taking numbers down, not sticking to times. Madame slightly hysterical about cantering around close to others (xc warm up there is very narrow) so jumped each practice fence once just to remind her what brown solid fences are, and left it at that. Finally called over, counted down to 5, Oh, hold on, is that one of those Exos, hold on, Ill have to count you down again. Starter told the controller, I made a mental note to point it out next time, oops.
Argh, Missy starting to get really upset by now, brain no longer connected to legs, in that lovely way tbs can do. I really thought she was going to do a Tankers Town on me. Wouldnt go forward, quite good at going sideways/backwards or standing still bent round like a banana. Hmm.
30 secs again. Managed to get a walk circle going, and wandered vaguely into start box on 3, 2, 1. Ha. Got her.
Had a great round, a few squabbles about speed, she was fab and really enjoyed it. Launched into water like a pro, didnt even look at ditch below trak. Trotted to sunken road and easily made the 1-stride distance (had heard a Novice had bounced it and didnt really fancy that.) The only one we disagreed about was the last, she was busy attaining warp speed, I was busy saying no, really, thanks, come here you and Id definitely seen another stride when she went airborne. Oh, well, just the one misser/disagreement.
Considering the Exo weighs quite a lot I was expecting it to slow her down a bit, but I honestly dont think she noticed the extra weight at all.
Finished on dressage score, amazingly, and NOT the fastest time in our section. (Im quite proud of that!) No rosette (dr not good enough obv) but I was so happy with her it really didnt matter. She is definitely the bravest thing I have ever sat on, and has a great jump when she gives herself time to use it, so if I can keep her sound, I have high hopes!
I think Id better book her into Champneys for a week if I ever want to get a rosette though !
Pina Coladas and Pringles if you got this far !
Pics and vids to follow tomorrow, too knackered to upload them now!
