madhector
Well-Known Member
Well that had to be the longest day ever!
Left home at 10ish, think it would take around 3 hours to get there, and we would be able to walk the Xc before the dressage. We got there at 2.45! Having spent a few hours sat on the m25. Had to get straight on for the dressage and he felt horrible. Really stuffy and heaving in my hands, not surprising after however long stuck on a lorry. he just sulked through the entire test, and our marks reflected that!
Then quickly ran round the XC, thought it looked like a decent PN with a few questions, one being a good sized jump before the water (very similar to Little Downham where J got eliminated) Was a little concerned we would have a repeat performance!
Got back and hopped on for the SJing, which I discovered was on a surface, Que my face looking a bit like this...
He warmed up perfectly, and didn't touch a single pole. We went in and he jumped a lovely round, just having 2 down when he ran on a bit, so I was really pleased with him
So much better than last week at the Jays
Then on to the XC. I had decided to go in just the nathe fulmar snaffle, having tried a waterford and found he backed off it too much, and the kineton just made him angry. He did one huge buck in the warm up, but was otherwise very well behaved. Went over to the start box and he was away...
Flew the first...
then over no. 2 which was a bit spooky, but he didn't even look, came to no 5 which was a decent rail/wagon type fence and he just pinged it! Then over the offset tyres which he did on a lovely angle and got the striding just right. Over a stile and then some bright blue barrels and then the trekener...
then on to the steps where the horse before us had got stuck, we were being waved at so I started to pull up, but then they waved us on so he had to canter past the horse and down the steps which had caused quite a few problems. Not to him though!
Then over the castle jump and onto a bank with a jump at the top. All of theses were very easy for him apparently
Then onto the dreaded water, really got him together and drove him forwards at this point, and at the last stride he saw the water and hesitated but a growl from me and he flew it and then cantered straight into the water and out up the step with no problems
Best he has been into the water.
Then we had to turn right to a drop fence, the intro course went left and there was a white tape separating the two. well my stupid fool of a horse locked onto the tape and only went and jumped it!
Found a gap and got back through to jump the drop nicely, then a skinny. The last 3 he just pinged to finish clear, well within the time and full of running
Just before the last..
and the last fence...
He was the second fastest in our section, even with the slight detour
I didn't once push him, but he just seemed to cover the ground really well. He didn't feel at all strong and we had excellent steering. He felt absolutely awesome and it was the best he has been XC yet
So not a great day on paper, but couldn't have been happier. We didn't get home though till half 11
and both me and J were exhausted! 8 hours driving plus competing is a bit much for me
Thanks for reading, sorry it was so long!
Left home at 10ish, think it would take around 3 hours to get there, and we would be able to walk the Xc before the dressage. We got there at 2.45! Having spent a few hours sat on the m25. Had to get straight on for the dressage and he felt horrible. Really stuffy and heaving in my hands, not surprising after however long stuck on a lorry. he just sulked through the entire test, and our marks reflected that!
Then quickly ran round the XC, thought it looked like a decent PN with a few questions, one being a good sized jump before the water (very similar to Little Downham where J got eliminated) Was a little concerned we would have a repeat performance!
Got back and hopped on for the SJing, which I discovered was on a surface, Que my face looking a bit like this...
He warmed up perfectly, and didn't touch a single pole. We went in and he jumped a lovely round, just having 2 down when he ran on a bit, so I was really pleased with him
So much better than last week at the Jays
Then on to the XC. I had decided to go in just the nathe fulmar snaffle, having tried a waterford and found he backed off it too much, and the kineton just made him angry. He did one huge buck in the warm up, but was otherwise very well behaved. Went over to the start box and he was away...
Flew the first...
then over no. 2 which was a bit spooky, but he didn't even look, came to no 5 which was a decent rail/wagon type fence and he just pinged it! Then over the offset tyres which he did on a lovely angle and got the striding just right. Over a stile and then some bright blue barrels and then the trekener...
then on to the steps where the horse before us had got stuck, we were being waved at so I started to pull up, but then they waved us on so he had to canter past the horse and down the steps which had caused quite a few problems. Not to him though!
Then onto the dreaded water, really got him together and drove him forwards at this point, and at the last stride he saw the water and hesitated but a growl from me and he flew it and then cantered straight into the water and out up the step with no problems
Then we had to turn right to a drop fence, the intro course went left and there was a white tape separating the two. well my stupid fool of a horse locked onto the tape and only went and jumped it!
Just before the last..
and the last fence...
He was the second fastest in our section, even with the slight detour
So not a great day on paper, but couldn't have been happier. We didn't get home though till half 11
Thanks for reading, sorry it was so long!
