Vickijay
Well-Known Member
So after Bugs first ODE last weekend going so well I decided to get him out to some hunter trials before winter set in too much. I entered Kingsclere with the aim of not doing any walking (we walked into the water at Pachesham) and as little trotting as possible (we trotted a fair few there too, hence our 48.5 xc time! It was his first go though and he is very green!)
We got there and walked the course and it all seemed ok. I was saddened to see that there was a funny narrow gate thing to go into and through which meant the plan for no walking was ruined from the get go as there was no way he could organise himself to go down the slope, round the corner and through the narrow bit in trot!!
We got down to the coffin and the ditch was pretty spooky. It was rather deep for a baby pony who has only jumped 2 little, shallow ditches, but there was an alternative of a corner on a curving line to a little upright. I thought I would probably go for the corner, this was cemented by watching about 5 people fall off at the ditch! This caused some delays so we went back for a snooze. Luckily Bug seems to be super chilled so he just had a sleep in the truck too!
I tacked up and went down. He had a mooch round on the buckle, then had a trot and a canter round and took it all in. He had to have a look/snort at the warm up jump as it was pretty spooky rubber matting attached to a frame, but when I suggested jumping over it all was well and he popped over!
Then it was our go. I wondered if he would be a bit more excited at the start after going XC last week...not really!
Once we got organised we cantered, yes cantered, out of the start! No trotting for us this time!!
These photos proves that, despite my diet, I still have some lbs to loose in the bum area!!!!!!!
There was a bit of the course that I was worried about because there was 2 fences going out, right next to 2 fences coming home (if you haven't been to Kingsclere you basically go out in a straight line, turn round at the top and come back in a straight line) I had my fingers crossed that we wouldn't meet anyone coming home as we were going out as I thought that was a pretty big ask for a baby pony to go it alone when another horse was coming back home. I cantered towards the fences and there wasn't 1 horse coming towards the jumps heading home...there were 2! Bug was a superstar about it and didn't even consider the idea of not going! You can hear me on the hatcam saying "come on Bug, we don't need them" or something equally as stupid!!
He carried on and jumped everything sweetly. We had to trot to 2 little rails that were on an angle but apart from that we cantered everything.
Did the corner brilliantly, although he didn't expect me to turn him to the 2nd bit so that looks funny on the headcam!!
He wobbled a bit coming up and down the steep slopes on the way home. Baby, wobbly pony, no back shoes + very steep up and downs made some pretty extreme wobbling but he jumped well and finished the course clear. I should add my BF took all the photos, he even managed to get us all in the shots!!
Heres the video of the hatcam, you will laugh at me chatting to him, hopefully you will see what I mean about the other horses going the other way, its at 1min40.
[video=youtube;b69b3w1jLlc]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b69b3w1jLlc&feature=youtu.be[/video]
So proud of him, we were too slow for a rosette but it doesn't even matter at the moment. Im just super proud of him and how well he is taking all this new stuff that is being thrown at him.
Ive been in a dilemma all week because someone I know has asked if I might thing about selling him to someone that a few of my friends know that would be a super home, if she liked him obviously! Its a real dilemma because I had thought about selling him about now, but now Dottie is broken Im torn.
On one hand, if it was too the right person it would free up some time. Winter will be busy if he stays as Dotties rehab is pretty hardcore with tons of walking. But if he goes then Ill have nothing to do anything with. Friends have offered me horses, but its not really the same. Also if he goes then Ill have nothing to jump/compete for over a year, that's a bit depressing. Ill have Dotties sister to ride next summer but shes massive and so I doubt she will do too much. I just don't know what to do...
Plus the biggest thing is that if I keep him he will probably go lame tomorrow and if I sell him he will never take a lame step in his life and go at least 2* lolll. I know this isn't true but it feels like it is!!
So any thoughts on that would be great, although I doubt anyone can really tell me what to do, it would be nice if they could.... maybe I should just do a poll on a post and let the forum decide!!!
Ill share some funny Grottie pics, she has been allowed to go out for some grass on the rope, shes been enjoying it...
Anyway, thanks for reading x
We got there and walked the course and it all seemed ok. I was saddened to see that there was a funny narrow gate thing to go into and through which meant the plan for no walking was ruined from the get go as there was no way he could organise himself to go down the slope, round the corner and through the narrow bit in trot!!
We got down to the coffin and the ditch was pretty spooky. It was rather deep for a baby pony who has only jumped 2 little, shallow ditches, but there was an alternative of a corner on a curving line to a little upright. I thought I would probably go for the corner, this was cemented by watching about 5 people fall off at the ditch! This caused some delays so we went back for a snooze. Luckily Bug seems to be super chilled so he just had a sleep in the truck too!
I tacked up and went down. He had a mooch round on the buckle, then had a trot and a canter round and took it all in. He had to have a look/snort at the warm up jump as it was pretty spooky rubber matting attached to a frame, but when I suggested jumping over it all was well and he popped over!
Then it was our go. I wondered if he would be a bit more excited at the start after going XC last week...not really!
Once we got organised we cantered, yes cantered, out of the start! No trotting for us this time!!
These photos proves that, despite my diet, I still have some lbs to loose in the bum area!!!!!!!
There was a bit of the course that I was worried about because there was 2 fences going out, right next to 2 fences coming home (if you haven't been to Kingsclere you basically go out in a straight line, turn round at the top and come back in a straight line) I had my fingers crossed that we wouldn't meet anyone coming home as we were going out as I thought that was a pretty big ask for a baby pony to go it alone when another horse was coming back home. I cantered towards the fences and there wasn't 1 horse coming towards the jumps heading home...there were 2! Bug was a superstar about it and didn't even consider the idea of not going! You can hear me on the hatcam saying "come on Bug, we don't need them" or something equally as stupid!!
He carried on and jumped everything sweetly. We had to trot to 2 little rails that were on an angle but apart from that we cantered everything.
Did the corner brilliantly, although he didn't expect me to turn him to the 2nd bit so that looks funny on the headcam!!
He wobbled a bit coming up and down the steep slopes on the way home. Baby, wobbly pony, no back shoes + very steep up and downs made some pretty extreme wobbling but he jumped well and finished the course clear. I should add my BF took all the photos, he even managed to get us all in the shots!!
Heres the video of the hatcam, you will laugh at me chatting to him, hopefully you will see what I mean about the other horses going the other way, its at 1min40.
[video=youtube;b69b3w1jLlc]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b69b3w1jLlc&feature=youtu.be[/video]
So proud of him, we were too slow for a rosette but it doesn't even matter at the moment. Im just super proud of him and how well he is taking all this new stuff that is being thrown at him.
Ive been in a dilemma all week because someone I know has asked if I might thing about selling him to someone that a few of my friends know that would be a super home, if she liked him obviously! Its a real dilemma because I had thought about selling him about now, but now Dottie is broken Im torn.
On one hand, if it was too the right person it would free up some time. Winter will be busy if he stays as Dotties rehab is pretty hardcore with tons of walking. But if he goes then Ill have nothing to do anything with. Friends have offered me horses, but its not really the same. Also if he goes then Ill have nothing to jump/compete for over a year, that's a bit depressing. Ill have Dotties sister to ride next summer but shes massive and so I doubt she will do too much. I just don't know what to do...
Plus the biggest thing is that if I keep him he will probably go lame tomorrow and if I sell him he will never take a lame step in his life and go at least 2* lolll. I know this isn't true but it feels like it is!!
So any thoughts on that would be great, although I doubt anyone can really tell me what to do, it would be nice if they could.... maybe I should just do a poll on a post and let the forum decide!!!
Ill share some funny Grottie pics, she has been allowed to go out for some grass on the rope, shes been enjoying it...
Anyway, thanks for reading x
Sounds like a great, confidence building outing for him!
I love baby/green horses but I'm feeling like having a little break from until doing Bellie. Constant wobbling round, planning your weeks and so many new situations where you wonder how it will go and how much you will need to grab the neckstrap!!
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