Cheer me up with your competition epic fails

So many but the one that sticks out in my mind... not walking my XC course properly at a ODE this summer, because I'd schooled around it the month before so thought I knew where I was going (was a PC event and they hadn't changed the course from the BE event, and I'd schooled around the BE course). Cue me missing out fence no 8 because I'm an idiot, and getting a TE. Taught me to walk my courses properly from now on, and I now take pics of each fence so I know I've walked them all!
 
Oh and Z tells a fab story about competing one of her (many) event horses for the first time at dressage - horse was very stressed, lost the plot and jumped the bonnet of the judge's car . . . judge's comments on the sheet were something alone the lines of: "what a jolly test, nice to see such enthusiasm, but perhaps stick to jumping :)"

P
 
PolarSkye said:
Oh and Z tells a fab story about competing one of her (many) event horses for the first time at dressage - horse was very stressed, lost the plot and jumped the bonnet of the judge's car . . . judge's comments on the sheet were something alone the lines of: "what a jolly test, nice to see such enthusiasm, but perhaps stick to jumping :)"

P
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Hehe, glad it's not just mine who's done that! Years ago, yellow pony and I were show jumping at a local event, practicing to see if he'd go back to BSJA after getting sour in a previous home. He took a dislike to the first fence (a 2'6" basic rustic), threw himself out the side door, took off with me and, when I tried to circle him to stop, he jumped the ring ropes and the judge's car in one giant leap. We were at the other end of the showground before I managed to pull up. I'm not sure who was paler, the judge or my poor mother!
 
Highlights include............
32% dressage test (conducted in one half of the school!)

Being eliminated at SJ-
Falling off at first fence (after winning class before)
Failing to get through the start gates (didn't even get to first fence)
Having fastest time at championship in JO- missed out a fence!

List is endless, weve all been there!
 
At my first showing show with my old boy he flipped out, bucked, took off at speed, jumped the string out of the collecting ring (his eyesight was better than his attitude at that point) and headed full pelt down a grassy bank before I managed to turn him around. Got him back to the warm up dripping in sweat, friend offered to get on him to try and resolve the situation, as soon as she had mounted he stopped dead, refused to be ridden, led, moved or backed up (all the while my Grandad calling helpfully from the ringside "try taking the handbrake off love, it worked last time!"). We ended up having to drag him from the ring, and spend the next 3 hours attempting to get him back on the lorry. Bless him....lovely lovely boy but he did noooot like showing.

Main disaster with new boy was in between jump two and three in an 80cm at Pachesham - he had PMT or a hangover or something, decided he wasn't going to play ball, swerved out of the exit of the school, sending me over his shoulder on to a metal fence and a bollard, kicking me on the way down and kindly rupturing my hamstring. And this is the well behaved one :p

At our first ODE I 'slightly' misjudged a canter circle in the dressage, leaving the QEII sized Buzz about three inches to turn in canter before the white boards, so instead he used his imagination in jumping the length of a board to remain almost in the school. How it wasn't seen or commented on by the judge i have no idea. Good warm up for the SJ though ;)
 
When was younger pony was quite strong, coming too fast for my liking towards the water jump (just a drop in) pony dead set on continuing!

ended up leaping into water, slipped on landing and pony and I both ended up under the water swimming - we both emerged from the water covered in green algae and soaked to the bone!

I did get back on and finished rest of course with a huge lump of algae hanging from my hat :o
 
Can think of loads though most memorable was when we were in the lead at BE event on a 22 dressage. Horse was a little tricky xc but had walked it and it was very straightforward so thought it would be a breeze. First fence was a very small simple brush, horse got hugely excited in start box rearing/bucking ect. Came flying out like a pro and then promptly dug his heels in and refused to go anywhere near first fence. Little git!
 
Oh, and at a HT recently, I jumped 1 and 2 perfectly, remembered my line and swung a wide left for the next lot of fences.. coming up to the 5th (hadn't presented, I was about 20m away) to see the fence judge yelling at me from his car... instead of going straight on, I'd swung my wide left one field to early and missed out an entire field, including fences three and four. I got so confused by the fact they'd put flags across part of fence 2 (the 100 and 80 fences), was trying to work out what was going on and completely forgot I was only on 2, not fence 4. Had to turn around and go back in the opposite direction.

The pony an absolute superstar, he jumped clear with a big smile on his face, but I am an idiot.
 
lots of things!!

this year though, I jumped the wrong side of the flags at a drop fence, then jumped the wrong side of the flags over a ditch. both times meant the jump was mahoosive!!

I decided I'd give up and go home at that point!
 
This would be over 30 years ago but...pretty big three day show, jumping the Junior Open, pony who was somewhat too strong for me locked onto a fence and jumped. Only problem was a double with a parallel out or the way we jumped it paralell from wrong direction, one stride to an upright! Whoops. It wasn't the only time we jumped the wrong fence but did have lots of successful days as well.
 
Twiglet said:
Main disaster with new boy was in between jump two and three in an 80cm at Pachesham - he had PMT or a hangover or something, decided he wasn't going to play ball, swerved out of the exit of the school, sending me over his shoulder on to a metal fence and a bollard, kicking me on the way down and kindly rupturing my hamstring. And this is the well behaved one :p
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I was there and remember thinking OUCH when you hit that fence.

P
 
I took my horse to an unaffiliated dressage competition for our first ever prelim test. It was all going well until we were on a circle at C in the canter. As we went from X to the track and around back to C my horse locked onto the perimeter fence. He bounced over the white boards and then leapt over the post and rail fence, right next to the judge's car.

We've improved somewhat since then...in dressage at least :D
 
Once at a 65cm class...refused every warm up fence, refused first fence twice, refused another fence twice, got eliminated but let me carry on, refused start of a double, jumped first half then ran out of second part and I fell off. Went home in shame. The next week, same class but this time I got ran off with twice and had to pull up to a dead stop twice in order to gain control. Then forgot to jump the last fence, que epic sharp turn back to it, almost crashing into wings.

Also once got 40% in a prelim. Awful!
 
At Little Downham this year the dressage judge made us have a vet check as our dressage was so dismal she thought the horse was ill. I told her he was always that reluctant to trot circles. .. ! any way he woke right up in the showjumping warm up, vet laughed at horses cleverness and we ended up coming 9 th at be100 with a fast clear xc!
 
So many! Pretty much all the above has happened to me in one way or another!!

But, I do remember being at Stonar Schools ODE, and in the pouring rain, on a very non dressage pony, trying to do dressage. All was going well, as well as expected, down the centre line, stop, salute, continue, C track right... BEEEP. So I stopped. Sure I knew I was right. After an age of me standing there in shock, the judge finally got out and asked what was wrong! I then said I had gone wrong as I got beeped, with a no you didn't, yes you did panto style argument! Only after that, did I realise it was the arena next to me that beeped. For my error, (and argument) I got something like 80penalities, = true shocker!
Never mind, I'm on a jumping machine, make up some places in the next phases. For the first time ever (and only time), pony had other ideas, and by fence 3 SJ I was elim. Well, should have stayed in bed that day!!
 
Soooooooo many

Falling off within 7 seconds of entering the ring at Devon county show...

Walking a course taking my pony showjumping for the first time and treating it as a schooling exercise, didn't walk the jump off as he was bound to stop...he flew round clear and I had to retire cos I didnt know the course....

Getting eliminated before I even entered a dressage arena, pony refused to go in....

Getting bucked off in a lap of honour in a hoys qualifier....

Pony kicked a paramedics car...

Oh god there are so many. But in all the years I've owned him, I'm pleased to say the good outweighs the bad!!!!!! :) :)
 
I've own some horses with a lot of character :D so I have a few epic fails..

- pony's first ever competition after her tendon injury (was dressage) at a venue she normally jumps at. Unfortunately they use the same buzzer for the start of a dressage test as well as the start of a jumping round- cue pony thinking she was jumping and leaping 3ft in the air and cantering off :(

-another dressage one, I was going to a canter circle and suddenly forgot where I was going so stopped dead, realised I had to circle at E (i'd just gone past!) so for some reason I thought 'must not turn a circle' and rein backed to e, then cantered my circle :o I don't think I even read the sheet! Wish I had now though !

- Oh another dressage fail.. (I should give up on dressage) my horse is normally very good and responsive when warming up, but at this particular point he decided he was going to charge around everywhere and had to be schooled on a death grip- (think a few different riders riding him had upset him- he's very sensitive! ) So he went in to the dressage ring, cantered on the spot and then charged out of the ring :o took a good month of intensive reschooling to get him out of that !

-When I first got my ISH he was scared of jumping and panicked, took him in the jumping ring at one of his first shows and he jumped the first fence, locked on to the arena fence and I hadn't got a choice about where I was going next! - over the arena fence and down the driveway. He did this 3 consecutive times before I eventually got him round a course !

-Passed out in mid air over a fence, landed on my head and was knocked out cold. Came round after a few minutes and concussion meant I couldn't move my arms or legs so I thought I was paralysed for a minute or two, scariest moment of my life.

-Jumping an amazing round at quite a bit charity event a few years ago, pony was on top form and going clear. I forgot the course on a related distance.. how that is possible I have no idea as the jump was right in front of me :( but I went round it instead.

-Was going round a course, there was a jump right in front of the seats where a lot of people were watching and pony refused, I went flying... and landed in clear view of everyone !

- Turned up on the wrong day to a show, was a dog agility show instead... How stupid did I feel with a trailer on the back?! Quickly made a phone call to see what other HORSE shows were on and re-routed :D

I could think of more, but I'm getting quite embarrassed at myself so I will shut up now :o
 
My worst I think are:
- Showing a racing Shetland in a M&M class. The person getting him ready shined his neck with baby oil. We all set off trotting and next thing I know I'm flying round overtaking everyone. The reins had got baby oil on them so I couldn't pull up. The judge kept asking me to stop, as if I had a choice in the matter. He eventually tired out and I had to leave the class. He did regularly win racing though and I never allowed baby oil near him again
- One of my first events with my pony, I was meant to be doing the 2ft3. I came through the woods and saw a fence with the right number on. It happened to be the 2ft9 coffin but we sailed over it anyway. Sadly we got eliminated both for error of course and because the cowbag wouldn't jump another ditch later on!
- Many embarassing times at Merrist Wood with the horse. He refused to leave the warm up and enter the arena. Every time I had to dismount in the warm up, walk him in to the arena and get a leg up. Everyone always looked very confused but he point blanked refused any other way.
- Same horse did not take to cross country. One particularly memorable time he stopped half way round the course. Not at a fence, just in the middle of the course. He refused to move for a good few minutes. Other horses flew by but he was quite content watching. We gave up eventing soon after.
I think judging by everyone's stories it is par for the course!
 
Daytona said:
Burgie 3 day event , I was in 5th place over night after the dressage, next day was steeplechase , I'd been round track one and was coming for the 2nd lap when for a reason unknown to me in a fast canter my horse decided to slam the anchors on resulting in me ending up wedges in the fence upside down and stewards pulling me out.......

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A photo just as the drama started to unfold lol
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WOW! That is one hell of a stop - the skid marks go back a mile!!

My best ever competition epic fail was when I invented Extreme Dressage. This was a Prelim 10, and my test proceeded as "Enter at A in working trot, after 2 strides, bolt up the centre line, veer right and jump the white boards. Proceed to gallop through the other 3 tests that were going on in same arena, causing mayhem in my wake, return to A and trot up the centre line to salute to the judge.

I was eliminated with the judge very kindly stating "I don't think you were in complete control through that movement!"
 
All with the same very naughty, self opinionated horse:

Henry deciding he couldn't be bothered with dressage so he jumped around to the left in the middle of a right rein circle and tried legging it to the gate of the indoor arena. What a shame the gates were closed and my mate was there to give me a leg up. Got an applause at the end of that test he was that awful and a score of about 40%.

Henry deciding he was in a really good helpfulood, and he knew which jump was next on the course. A parallel from the wrong direction. But hey he jumped it which was better than his normal antics of running out at every fence.

Henry deciding that he couldn't be bothered jumping one day at sj, sand as the. Gate was just comvienient to run to between two parts of a double we did that instead of the second part of the double.

Henry deciding dressage was boring and stooping on fee walk on a long rein to eat the grass in the arena.

Henry deciding he couldn't be bothered with one of the jumps at a hunter trial so went to run out. Big mistake Henry, there was a massive pos and three rail fence next to the jump, so we cleared that instead.

Henry deciding he knew which way to go in an endurance ride and having a tantrum a he thought he knew best. Then just to show me he was annoyed he set off as fast as possible in the direction I wanted to go in.

Henry deciding he didnt really fancy going around a BE90 xc course, and dumping me on h the landing side of the third fence. He then buggered off back to the lorry park. Worst off all, no dirt on my cream jods and no massive bruise to prove I'd fallen off.

Henry getting eliminated at his last dressage competition before he killed himself. Decided he couldn't be bothered that day and teied leggin t put of the arena, again.

And finally, on a different horse... ODE sj... Trigger was to busy groping out of the sj arena. Didnt see the tiny jump in front of him. I went sailing over his head steughtinto he jumps. Poles and wings came collapsing down on top of me and the steward came running over... I think they thought it was quite nasty. As it was I was happily extracting myself from the pile!
 
Oh god. I have more embarrassing tales than non-embarrassing.

* Eliminated at first fence for 3 refusals then bucked off whilst riding toward arena exit

* Working hunter pony class, had to jump a small fence at the end of a corridor they had made out of fence panels. I got bucked off cleanly over the fence panels, pony then carried on, jumped the little fence then came and double barrelled me when I tried to catch him.

* Lost control in JO and jumped a fence in the wrong direction, carried on and ran into string, which came with horse and dragged a whole lot of spectators over.

* doing a dressage test facing the hedge up one side of the arena. Managed to do almost all movements facing it. Including circles in reverse.

* Repeatedly galloping away from judge during one test every time we got to C

* missed SJ fence at BE

* jumped wrong fence SJ at BE

* Fallen off in front of first XC fence at BE

* Fell off several strides in front of 2nd fence at first go BSJA.

* prelim 4, jumped the patch of dead grass from a jump filler left lying there too long near X, on every trip up or down the centre line. Very neatly done, at least.

* Stopped in middle of first BD elementary, did a doodle in the air with my finger to figure out where to go next, then carried on.

Many many more too, as anyone who has seen my out takes video can testify to.
 
I, aged about 12, once borrowed a friend's pony (classic pony club Open eventer/hunter pony) for a tiny handy hunter course where we had to canter sedately around a tiny XC course then halt in a keyhole at the other end. Dear pony took over control as I was bloody useless, sedately cantered around the course, through the keyhole, and straight over the full wire fence at the end of the paddock.

She cleared it easily. I promptly fell off.
 
Went showjumping it was 2 phase got eliminated in first class couldn't remember the way thought I'll be alright in next class they won't change the course
they changed it walked the course twice still couldn't remember it got eliminated again missed a fence out what a idiot
I've also learnt the wrong dressage test trotted down center line and wondered why the bell rang when I tracked right instead of left
 
Oh I've had a few. Most become from me being super dopey

Not going through the flags at the end of a jump off- missed out on a ribbon. Then about 2 months later I missed the start flags!

Missed a jump on the Xc at my first ode

Got a 62 dressage at an ode. We didn't even do anything wrong!

Started sj before the bell
 
andytiger said:
Went showjumping it was 2 phase got eliminated in first class couldn't remember the way thought I'll be alright in next class they won't change the course
they changed it walked the course twice still couldn't remember it got eliminated again missed a fence out what a idiot
I've also learnt the wrong dressage test trotted down center line and wondered why the bell rang when I tracked right instead of left
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I see a pattern in your epic fails... :)

Personally, I don't have any fun story to share, as the rest of the posters on this thread. The closest that I can think of, is from a summer riding camp. The last day we had some fun sort of gymkhana games, but the pony that had been "mine" during the camp, was lame in the morning, so instead they put me up on a youngish pony, which was clearly out of my riding ability league. Let's just say that I steered and he decided the speed...

:)
 
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