madhector
Well-Known Member
What a fantastic day!!!
Really early start, got up at 4.30 to feed and muck out, then off we set to Carlton, left 3 hours to get there but actually only took 2 and a half so got there with loads of time.
Walked the XC and was a little concerned about my steering in the hackamore, lots of tight turns and lots of turning right (J doesnt turn right
) The water looked very nasty, so decided to go the long route as J can be a bit sticky at water anyway. Thought it looked quite testing overall, but not nasty.
Decided to lunge him before the dressage and then hopped on for 10mins, he felt great and had we gone when we were supposed to think he would have done a super test, but was delayed a bit so he got a bit flat and bored and started p***ing about so had to really grab hold and ride him. So the first half of the test was very on the forehand, but he was sweet and soft so I was happy. His first canter transition was lovely, first time he has done a decent one in a test. Finished on a score of 38.5, and got some lovely comments, main issue being him being too low which is easily fixed
On to the SJing....
On went the hackamore, and we warmed up, he was jumping huge
Only did a couple as it was so hot, then went in and he was a star, jumped a lovely round, with just one moment at no. 4 where he had a nap, but jumped it from a standstill and cleared it.
Finished clear
He felt like a different horse jumping as you should be able to see from these photos, definitely loves the hackamore..
Then after a rest in the shade we set off for the XC warm up. He suddenly went a little wild
Warmed up and had some pretty impressive bucks and leaps, jumped out of his skin but was a little scary
Decided to give it a go and pull up if I had no control.
Off we set, he shot out of the start box (got the hang of that now
) and over no. 1
Locked onto no 2 from miles away..
Had a look at no.3 (scary log into the dark) but jumped it well, then had some very interesting steering through the woods, and nearly jumped the intro fence on the way out as he locked on and went
, managed to avoid it (just!) and jumped no. 4, had difficulty getting back round to no. 5 but made it after doing an emergency stop and jumped nicely down the steps. Then on no.6 (looked like a sofa) which he had a look at but jumped nicely. No. 7 was a decent skinny log, and I just couldn't turn, he just locked onto it and there was no stopping him, jumped it on the most ridiculous angle (would never dream of asking a inexperienced baby to jump such a skinny on an angle like that!) but he seemed happy enough! Then thought about pulling up tbh as steering was non existent and brakes were failing a bit too, but he did the double with the ditch so nicely we carried on up the hill, jumped everything after that on an angle as couldn't steer to get him straight
Did the long route into the water with lots of kicking and flew over the scary basket fence...
Then over the last to finish clear!!!! First double clear, and with a not too awful dressage
Had 8 time faults though as I never truly pushed him XC as would never have been seen again! Plus we had a few wide turns
So so pleased with him, he jumped like a stag, and really think we have improved some much in the SJing. Obviously need a bit back in for the XC though
Bought this pic of him as just loved his expression...
Finished 13th
Sorry, such a long report! But had a lot to fit in
Really early start, got up at 4.30 to feed and muck out, then off we set to Carlton, left 3 hours to get there but actually only took 2 and a half so got there with loads of time.
Walked the XC and was a little concerned about my steering in the hackamore, lots of tight turns and lots of turning right (J doesnt turn right
Decided to lunge him before the dressage and then hopped on for 10mins, he felt great and had we gone when we were supposed to think he would have done a super test, but was delayed a bit so he got a bit flat and bored and started p***ing about so had to really grab hold and ride him. So the first half of the test was very on the forehand, but he was sweet and soft so I was happy. His first canter transition was lovely, first time he has done a decent one in a test. Finished on a score of 38.5, and got some lovely comments, main issue being him being too low which is easily fixed
On to the SJing....
On went the hackamore, and we warmed up, he was jumping huge
Finished clear
He felt like a different horse jumping as you should be able to see from these photos, definitely loves the hackamore..
Then after a rest in the shade we set off for the XC warm up. He suddenly went a little wild
Decided to give it a go and pull up if I had no control.
Off we set, he shot out of the start box (got the hang of that now
Locked onto no 2 from miles away..
Had a look at no.3 (scary log into the dark) but jumped it well, then had some very interesting steering through the woods, and nearly jumped the intro fence on the way out as he locked on and went
Then over the last to finish clear!!!! First double clear, and with a not too awful dressage
So so pleased with him, he jumped like a stag, and really think we have improved some much in the SJing. Obviously need a bit back in for the XC though
Bought this pic of him as just loved his expression...
Finished 13th
Sorry, such a long report! But had a lot to fit in
