SpottedCat
Well-Known Member
Well, back home after a fabulouso day at Charlton Park - very sad it is the last one ever.
Dressage, we will gloss over that and reflect on the fact that as I went in straight after Harry Meade I was always going to look shabby! 42, which is average for us, and TBH the comments were all about engagement, which is not consistent at home so I can't expect it to be at an event really. The judge did say we were a happy partnership though, which is nice (my winning smile down the CL clearly was noted this time!!).
SJ - jumped beautifully until fence 6, when he just lost focus, came in a bit backward and had it, then I smacked him as the oxer at 7 was ig and on a long stride - he had it with his back feet (lazy!) and one down in the triple, which was not riding well all day as the distances were very odd in it. We consoled ourselves with the thought that the first half was lovely, the nicest he has gone, and that Daisy Dick also had 3 down!
Then XC. Having walked it (highlight of the day - as I was pondering the bounce, WFP said hello to me - yes, I am very sad!), I decided that today was the day to ask him all the questions, as were so far out of the running I would mind less about a 20 if it were educational. Well he stormed round - 1 and 2 were v easy, 3 was a double of roll tops with the second on a curving line - came back beautifully and skipped through, 4 a big rail oxer - flew it, 5 a palisade with drop on landing, I bought him back and he came back too much so a growl got him over, then the bounce - he got through but it surprised him! Then the water, skipped over the rail bold as brass, through, up the step ond over the log without me doing much at all! Then a bullfinch into the woods which backed him off a bit, trakhener out, which he looked at but popped nicely. Long gallop across a field to a corner (rails) with a pheasant feeder on a sharp left after it. They were numbered seperately so you could circle, but no need for that, and on o the hay wagon. Then a rail with a 90 degree turn to a skinny house, easy as you like, double of tables then 90 turn to a triple brush, flew through, a big downhill hedge (hunting seat adopted for reasons of security by rider!), log, double of logs (angled first one, straight to second one), a table and home!
He was absolutely awesome - I thought last weekend was good, but this was even better! He was so easy to ride, there was none of our usual 'haul, kick and hope for the best' round curving lines, he came back easily and went direct at every fence. I was so pleased with him, as CP is not small! Came home with 15 time, which considering the last 2 have had 30, is a massive improvement. Good pony!
Dressage, we will gloss over that and reflect on the fact that as I went in straight after Harry Meade I was always going to look shabby! 42, which is average for us, and TBH the comments were all about engagement, which is not consistent at home so I can't expect it to be at an event really. The judge did say we were a happy partnership though, which is nice (my winning smile down the CL clearly was noted this time!!).
SJ - jumped beautifully until fence 6, when he just lost focus, came in a bit backward and had it, then I smacked him as the oxer at 7 was ig and on a long stride - he had it with his back feet (lazy!) and one down in the triple, which was not riding well all day as the distances were very odd in it. We consoled ourselves with the thought that the first half was lovely, the nicest he has gone, and that Daisy Dick also had 3 down!
Then XC. Having walked it (highlight of the day - as I was pondering the bounce, WFP said hello to me - yes, I am very sad!), I decided that today was the day to ask him all the questions, as were so far out of the running I would mind less about a 20 if it were educational. Well he stormed round - 1 and 2 were v easy, 3 was a double of roll tops with the second on a curving line - came back beautifully and skipped through, 4 a big rail oxer - flew it, 5 a palisade with drop on landing, I bought him back and he came back too much so a growl got him over, then the bounce - he got through but it surprised him! Then the water, skipped over the rail bold as brass, through, up the step ond over the log without me doing much at all! Then a bullfinch into the woods which backed him off a bit, trakhener out, which he looked at but popped nicely. Long gallop across a field to a corner (rails) with a pheasant feeder on a sharp left after it. They were numbered seperately so you could circle, but no need for that, and on o the hay wagon. Then a rail with a 90 degree turn to a skinny house, easy as you like, double of tables then 90 turn to a triple brush, flew through, a big downhill hedge (hunting seat adopted for reasons of security by rider!), log, double of logs (angled first one, straight to second one), a table and home!
He was absolutely awesome - I thought last weekend was good, but this was even better! He was so easy to ride, there was none of our usual 'haul, kick and hope for the best' round curving lines, he came back easily and went direct at every fence. I was so pleased with him, as CP is not small! Came home with 15 time, which considering the last 2 have had 30, is a massive improvement. Good pony!
