henryhorn
Well-Known Member
Time at last to write the report.
We arrived and discovered they had forgotten our request for a stallion box, but the stable manager was so pleasant and he settled in a normal box so we stayed put. A bit shocked at the size of the place, it's enormous with numerous rings/arenas/showers/loos etc and the main arena looked fab.
We put everything away, C plaited him by the light of our Lidl lantern (good buy, if you see them get one) and we staggered through the darkness to order a restaurant meal. I suppose the fact there was only one light one should have warned us, it was closed, so we felt our way back to the box and I cooked beans on toast.
Our box takes some effort to turn into a sleeping one, so by 11pm we had removed all the junk to the horse bit and settled down to sleep. Good job we went to bed early as at 4 am several dogs belonging to one of the other competitors started barking (she allowed three of them to roam the entire time she was there, nice woman but bloody inconsiderate as they were a bit agressive towards other dogs on leads), then other boxes began arriving around 5.30am so I got up and fed Chocolate, who had managed to rub his plaits due to millions of midges.
C got ready for the dressage, and with fifteen mis to go first checked with the steward of the single arena where to go, she was sent up to the main arena where four arenas were laid out. Reported to the collecting ring steward, was told arena four and went off to work in. I checked too so I could get in place with the camera. dead on time she presented, was told by the main steward, no she should be at the original arena.
She shot back there to see her slot had gone, I ran behind ready to video and they let her in second..
He did a good test (should be on the vid clip) and I reckond 30 or less.
We then went back to the box and I was sat reading the paper when a flurry of activity outside revealed Miss de meena on her knees (well bent down) putting Chocx jumping boots on..C had gone off to check fence 12 as lots of people were having run outs and had little time to spare, so MDM good girl she is stepped in and was helping her despite having her own horse to compete. (black mark for HH, keep note of the times) She went off to the main arena, was just about to start as they had moved all the fence numbers, and a girl arrived who had been held up in traffic and was in the Novice. C had to wait whilst she jumped the round minus numbers, then went in and jumped a lovely clear round. At this point the announcer said 35.2 dressage score, and I thought I had misheard him, but on checking the scores (half were up) it was correct.
I got back to the box to see C with a face like thunder at her score, which relaxed when I told her at that point only she and Terry Boon had those marks and were in the lead!
On to the XC, she's never been first to go before, and the Novice had caused lots of problems,, as you will see from the vid, he was hesitant over the first (huge jump for a first fence I thought) then did the second in fine style..(!)
After that he flew round with no problems at all.
This was marred by the announcer saying he had aquired 20 faults SJ, and all day he kept giving the leaders without mentioning him at all..
C washed him off, we put him away and she went off to the sec armed with the camera to prove he had jumped clear. This was soon rectified on the board but at the end of the day the announcer again said the provisional results leaving her out..
There was just one horse who could have beaten us, and we did start to get very excited at the thought of winning, but at the last minute they wrote up she had gone clear on 33 dressage and we had 35.2...
To be second in a class that stiff was a real achievment however, and we were thrilled. the sad bit was the winner was actually entered in the Novice, but after walking the course that morning had trnsferred to our section
Not sure what to do with him next really, we have Aldon on Friday and that's a stiff course too, but there is a long time before next spring and now, so all winter to decide. He did prove he has the ability to jump much higher fences, but whether an inexperienced 17 year old next year should be moved up a level I don't know.
With the new feed regime and the supplement he is sound and very fit, but with so many good young horses coming on I don't know if C has the time to do that many.
She is also being approached by lots of people to school their horses on the flat for them, and as she loves doing that and it pays that will have to be fitted in as a priority.
The new stables should be in within the month and at last a viable business for her may be possible. I also decided by hook or by crook next season we will take two horses to events every time if possible, it's got to be easier going round a XC course second time round, giving you a better chance.
It was great as usual to meet fellow H and Hounders. MDM and Cheeky gorl, MissDM's grey is fabulous in the flesh, if anyone is looking for a horse do go and view him, he's stunning believe me!
CG was a great support too, always cheeful and a pleasure to see her. I thought she may have been in with a place but Charm decided to have a stop XC..Most people did have stops or fences down all day by the results, so Chocx was a good boy..
He is currently pacing up and down his fence , it actually does him a power of good because not only does it make him fit, it removes any stiffness after a competition..
See you at Aldon folks... sad it's the last of the season...
here is the link to the video
http://media.putfile.com/bjip-69
quick edit, for some reason everything has speeded up on the vid....sorry, don't know why!
We arrived and discovered they had forgotten our request for a stallion box, but the stable manager was so pleasant and he settled in a normal box so we stayed put. A bit shocked at the size of the place, it's enormous with numerous rings/arenas/showers/loos etc and the main arena looked fab.
We put everything away, C plaited him by the light of our Lidl lantern (good buy, if you see them get one) and we staggered through the darkness to order a restaurant meal. I suppose the fact there was only one light one should have warned us, it was closed, so we felt our way back to the box and I cooked beans on toast.
Our box takes some effort to turn into a sleeping one, so by 11pm we had removed all the junk to the horse bit and settled down to sleep. Good job we went to bed early as at 4 am several dogs belonging to one of the other competitors started barking (she allowed three of them to roam the entire time she was there, nice woman but bloody inconsiderate as they were a bit agressive towards other dogs on leads), then other boxes began arriving around 5.30am so I got up and fed Chocolate, who had managed to rub his plaits due to millions of midges.
C got ready for the dressage, and with fifteen mis to go first checked with the steward of the single arena where to go, she was sent up to the main arena where four arenas were laid out. Reported to the collecting ring steward, was told arena four and went off to work in. I checked too so I could get in place with the camera. dead on time she presented, was told by the main steward, no she should be at the original arena.
She shot back there to see her slot had gone, I ran behind ready to video and they let her in second..
He did a good test (should be on the vid clip) and I reckond 30 or less.
We then went back to the box and I was sat reading the paper when a flurry of activity outside revealed Miss de meena on her knees (well bent down) putting Chocx jumping boots on..C had gone off to check fence 12 as lots of people were having run outs and had little time to spare, so MDM good girl she is stepped in and was helping her despite having her own horse to compete. (black mark for HH, keep note of the times) She went off to the main arena, was just about to start as they had moved all the fence numbers, and a girl arrived who had been held up in traffic and was in the Novice. C had to wait whilst she jumped the round minus numbers, then went in and jumped a lovely clear round. At this point the announcer said 35.2 dressage score, and I thought I had misheard him, but on checking the scores (half were up) it was correct.
I got back to the box to see C with a face like thunder at her score, which relaxed when I told her at that point only she and Terry Boon had those marks and were in the lead!
On to the XC, she's never been first to go before, and the Novice had caused lots of problems,, as you will see from the vid, he was hesitant over the first (huge jump for a first fence I thought) then did the second in fine style..(!)
After that he flew round with no problems at all.
This was marred by the announcer saying he had aquired 20 faults SJ, and all day he kept giving the leaders without mentioning him at all..
C washed him off, we put him away and she went off to the sec armed with the camera to prove he had jumped clear. This was soon rectified on the board but at the end of the day the announcer again said the provisional results leaving her out..
There was just one horse who could have beaten us, and we did start to get very excited at the thought of winning, but at the last minute they wrote up she had gone clear on 33 dressage and we had 35.2...
To be second in a class that stiff was a real achievment however, and we were thrilled. the sad bit was the winner was actually entered in the Novice, but after walking the course that morning had trnsferred to our section
Not sure what to do with him next really, we have Aldon on Friday and that's a stiff course too, but there is a long time before next spring and now, so all winter to decide. He did prove he has the ability to jump much higher fences, but whether an inexperienced 17 year old next year should be moved up a level I don't know.
With the new feed regime and the supplement he is sound and very fit, but with so many good young horses coming on I don't know if C has the time to do that many.
She is also being approached by lots of people to school their horses on the flat for them, and as she loves doing that and it pays that will have to be fitted in as a priority.
The new stables should be in within the month and at last a viable business for her may be possible. I also decided by hook or by crook next season we will take two horses to events every time if possible, it's got to be easier going round a XC course second time round, giving you a better chance.
It was great as usual to meet fellow H and Hounders. MDM and Cheeky gorl, MissDM's grey is fabulous in the flesh, if anyone is looking for a horse do go and view him, he's stunning believe me!
CG was a great support too, always cheeful and a pleasure to see her. I thought she may have been in with a place but Charm decided to have a stop XC..Most people did have stops or fences down all day by the results, so Chocx was a good boy..
He is currently pacing up and down his fence , it actually does him a power of good because not only does it make him fit, it removes any stiffness after a competition..
See you at Aldon folks... sad it's the last of the season...
here is the link to the video
http://media.putfile.com/bjip-69
quick edit, for some reason everything has speeded up on the vid....sorry, don't know why!
