Michen
Well-Known Member
Firstly I am well aware of my absolutely shocking position and hands especially in the XC photo. It wasn't a very pretty round and I am not usually hanging onto the poor things gob like that I promise! Nerves were back with a vengeance for our first 90 so I certainly wasn't at my best (which isn't very good anyway!!!). Pictures brighten the post so you'll just have to be kind
We got a 39. something at our first BE in May (second worst in the section) and then improved with a 35, following by a 36.3. This weekend we actually managed to get the worst score in the entire section and even left the dressage arena half way through the test when he decided he would much rather be in the SJ ring "over there" and quite literally cantered out over the boards. To make matters worse in my panic and relief that it was over instead of turning around and walking out of the gap like any other normal/sane rider would do, I simply walked him over the dressage boards right next to the judges box at the end to get out as quickly as possible. What was I thinking!!!We just about managed to stay sub 40 and truthfully I was a bit disappointed as the bits of the test in between I thought were much improved. Ah well! We are moving to a new yard in a few weeks with a decent working school so no excuses after that.
A lovely and very honest SJ round from B for one pole down (delighted as this is the first time either of us have every done an SJ round at 90). Would love to know why I was so uneven in the saddle but frankly can't remember!
XC... Flew the dreaded corner. Unfortunately I nearly forgot the hanging log a few strides before the water and didn't set him up for it very well (or at all really). I felt him back off and just sat there doing nothing, he jumped it with his front feet but not the back! Completely my fault and I feel bad for ruining his immaculate XC record. Popped it fine the second time, I then managed to go the wrong way so got plenty of time penalties for getting back on track. Made sure I rode every fence after that and he made absolutely nothing of any of the meaty, wide 90 XC fences. He really couldn't have cared less about the height and looking at the photos (non of which are remotely pretty!!) he is clearing them all with more than enough to spare.
He's not the easiest to ride XC, the more confident he's got the more nosy he has become and he's spending half his time looking at fence judges, cars, over into the distance. It's not spooking exactly it's more curiosity, and it's resulting in him getting deep into fences ano me really having to use rein to get his head pointing where we are meant to be going. However we have some tips to sort that out so hopefully that will improve and we will be a bit more rhythmic meaning less shoddy photos of me riding like a lemon!
Anyway what a super super boy. At the end of January I was terrified to do a 70 SJ, I would never in a million years of thought we would be doing a 90 so soon especially as he is as inexperienced as I am.
We got a 39. something at our first BE in May (second worst in the section) and then improved with a 35, following by a 36.3. This weekend we actually managed to get the worst score in the entire section and even left the dressage arena half way through the test when he decided he would much rather be in the SJ ring "over there" and quite literally cantered out over the boards. To make matters worse in my panic and relief that it was over instead of turning around and walking out of the gap like any other normal/sane rider would do, I simply walked him over the dressage boards right next to the judges box at the end to get out as quickly as possible. What was I thinking!!!We just about managed to stay sub 40 and truthfully I was a bit disappointed as the bits of the test in between I thought were much improved. Ah well! We are moving to a new yard in a few weeks with a decent working school so no excuses after that.
A lovely and very honest SJ round from B for one pole down (delighted as this is the first time either of us have every done an SJ round at 90). Would love to know why I was so uneven in the saddle but frankly can't remember!
XC... Flew the dreaded corner. Unfortunately I nearly forgot the hanging log a few strides before the water and didn't set him up for it very well (or at all really). I felt him back off and just sat there doing nothing, he jumped it with his front feet but not the back! Completely my fault and I feel bad for ruining his immaculate XC record. Popped it fine the second time, I then managed to go the wrong way so got plenty of time penalties for getting back on track. Made sure I rode every fence after that and he made absolutely nothing of any of the meaty, wide 90 XC fences. He really couldn't have cared less about the height and looking at the photos (non of which are remotely pretty!!) he is clearing them all with more than enough to spare.
He's not the easiest to ride XC, the more confident he's got the more nosy he has become and he's spending half his time looking at fence judges, cars, over into the distance. It's not spooking exactly it's more curiosity, and it's resulting in him getting deep into fences ano me really having to use rein to get his head pointing where we are meant to be going. However we have some tips to sort that out so hopefully that will improve and we will be a bit more rhythmic meaning less shoddy photos of me riding like a lemon!
Anyway what a super super boy. At the end of January I was terrified to do a 70 SJ, I would never in a million years of thought we would be doing a 90 so soon especially as he is as inexperienced as I am.
Last edited:
