Ambers Echo
Still wittering on
I love the Chatsworth International Horse Trials. It's local to me. Pony club kids and Riding Club members dressage run for it every year and then stay on and watch so we always go. When they started the arena eventing there during the weekend I was desperate to enter but was nowhere near ready last year. But I went for it this year. It was quite an experience! I was originally planning to enter the AE90 on both Friday and Saturday but then my RI's horse was lame so I offered her the chance to ride Amber on the Friday. The thinking being that she would have a horse to ride and I would have a pathfinder.
On Friday we arrived through the iconic golden gates and immediately saw Lucinda Green going for a run with her dog. The setting was spectacular and as I was not riding it was great! I could relax, soak up the atmosphere, star-spot and enjoy the scenery.
Amber jumped confidently, just rolling a pole at the first element of the double for 4 faults and also had 4 time faults for going too fast. I can't find any results online but there were very few clears. I saw none at all! There had not been any by the time Amber went in after 20 riders either but not sure what happened later. It was a twisty, undulating, fully up to height and technical course and it was causing all sorts of problems. So I was thrilled.
Then on Saturday it was my turn. Amber going round the day before may not have been the best idea in the world though. She was absolutely full of it all the way down. Whereas on Friday she had been very chilled. It was about a 10-15 minute hack along the river down to the arena from the lorry park and she was a nightmare! Never known her like it. I thought there was something wrong with her - a thistle in a boot or a thorn in her mouth or something because she was just so unsettled. Now I believe it was sheer excitement as she knew exactly what was coming! I warmed up mostly in trot, did not dare jump more than a couple of X-poles and a small straight, and my kids were saying 'don't ride her, it's not worth it' which was not helping my nerves. So I thought I'd take her in, jump a couple and then retire if she did not settle.
She started off fairly sane although she rolled a pole at the first. Then she got faster and faster and by the final 2 of the show jumps was pretty much out of control. Eeeek. After the final SJ fence I had brake failure and almost exited the arena over the metal barriers and into the river. Oops. Fortunately Amber decided that was not a good idea and we set of on XC which she was a lot better on. So although it was a bit heart-in-mouth we also finished up on 4 jumping faults. I cant say I enjoyed it much though! (There may have been some swearing involved. Sorry Amber, sorry kids). Back to the drawing board on the 'learn to ride my horse' front.
After sorting out Amber and reloading her we watched a bit of the 4 star event, browsed some lovely shops but managed with some difficulty to resist enlarging the hole in my bank balance. And shared a buggy ride with Pippa Funnell resplendent in top hat and tails. All in all a very memorable day and I can't wait for next year! What an awesome place to compete. Feel very, very lucky.
On Friday we arrived through the iconic golden gates and immediately saw Lucinda Green going for a run with her dog. The setting was spectacular and as I was not riding it was great! I could relax, soak up the atmosphere, star-spot and enjoy the scenery.
Amber jumped confidently, just rolling a pole at the first element of the double for 4 faults and also had 4 time faults for going too fast. I can't find any results online but there were very few clears. I saw none at all! There had not been any by the time Amber went in after 20 riders either but not sure what happened later. It was a twisty, undulating, fully up to height and technical course and it was causing all sorts of problems. So I was thrilled.
Then on Saturday it was my turn. Amber going round the day before may not have been the best idea in the world though. She was absolutely full of it all the way down. Whereas on Friday she had been very chilled. It was about a 10-15 minute hack along the river down to the arena from the lorry park and she was a nightmare! Never known her like it. I thought there was something wrong with her - a thistle in a boot or a thorn in her mouth or something because she was just so unsettled. Now I believe it was sheer excitement as she knew exactly what was coming! I warmed up mostly in trot, did not dare jump more than a couple of X-poles and a small straight, and my kids were saying 'don't ride her, it's not worth it' which was not helping my nerves. So I thought I'd take her in, jump a couple and then retire if she did not settle.
She started off fairly sane although she rolled a pole at the first. Then she got faster and faster and by the final 2 of the show jumps was pretty much out of control. Eeeek. After the final SJ fence I had brake failure and almost exited the arena over the metal barriers and into the river. Oops. Fortunately Amber decided that was not a good idea and we set of on XC which she was a lot better on. So although it was a bit heart-in-mouth we also finished up on 4 jumping faults. I cant say I enjoyed it much though! (There may have been some swearing involved. Sorry Amber, sorry kids). Back to the drawing board on the 'learn to ride my horse' front.
After sorting out Amber and reloading her we watched a bit of the 4 star event, browsed some lovely shops but managed with some difficulty to resist enlarging the hole in my bank balance. And shared a buggy ride with Pippa Funnell resplendent in top hat and tails. All in all a very memorable day and I can't wait for next year! What an awesome place to compete. Feel very, very lucky.
I watched a fantastic video by Tim stockdale some years ago that showed a great exercise for rushy horses, worked a treat on my zoomy mare, I shall try to find it!
