FigJam
Well-Known Member
So we've finally made it to a real live ODE!
Went to a local PC ODE to do the intermediate (90cm) class.
Woke up to pouring rain- yeuch.
Made plaiting "interesting" as mane was sodden and super slippy. Managed to leave yard on time and even better, got car + trailer up the hill in the field where all lorries and plenty cars/trailers were being towed into under our own steam! Think Mr Tractor Man will have made a fortune today at £5/tow!
So firstly, dressage. Felt like an ok test, we do have problems keeping a consistent outline which needs worked on. We were doing BE PN101 and I guess the judge was looking for a much more consistent way of going at this level of PC. Quite disappointed to find I was bottom of my section (of 10) after dressage with 49 penalties, so 51%.
Marks were mostly 5's, with a couple 4's (one for the halt halfway through saying it was early and not square, my husband swears he thought it looked square, but maybe he's just trying to cheer me up?! I would also swear I got it bang on the letter A, but hey ho!)
Some dressage shots;
So a nice hour between dressage and SJ and as I was solo (hubby hanging around taking photos of others rather than grooming!), this was just perfect for getting sorted without feeling too rushed.
Ran out of weather "luck" while waiting to SJ- you can actually see the rain in the photo if you look close enough!
Princess Hopalong wasn't all that impressed with the super muddy conditions and was either trying to leap the muddy bits as well as the fences (in the warm up!) or get in close to be sure! (general theme in the arena)
Managed a lovely clear round, but very much thanks to her at a couple when rider was being a muppet! Only 3 clear rounds in the SJ for my class, so that at least dragged us up to 6th place at this point.
No.3 (really long grass- honest!);
No.5;
No.7;
Last fence- numpty rider pushed for a long one in, so landed short, but clever pony put in a "safety" tiny second stride (should have been a one stride double!) and tucked her toes up nicely to leave it up. I'm so lucky she's so clever and careful SJ!
;
So a wee chill out between SJ and XC (love this shot!);
And then ready to go. Due to the heavy rain we've had locally all week, one fence had been removed from a boggy part of the course and the course was not being timed due to half the course (which ran through woods) being so boggy, we were being asked to walk/trot through the worst areas. You really couldn't do anything but and you should have seen the colour of the horses when they finished- felt so sorry for the grey owners (April!!)
Had a lovely round, although a bit odd with the rythymn being so broken in the 2nd half.
Also meant that our "bogey fence"- gaping huge open ditch with running water through it in the darkest part of the wood- was a no-go as we'd just spent the last couple of minutes plodding/wading through sloppy/slippy mud, hadn't jumped anything in ages and only had a few canter strides to get going again.
We'd have had issues with this anyway, but I do think we'd have stood a better chance if we were in a rythymn and had more adrenalin up.
Took the "L" option after a first run out at it, so total of 35pen for the XC.
She jumped the other fence with a deep spooky ditch in front of it though, so 1 our of 2 better than none!
No.8- pheasant feeder, actually had a big gappy bit under, it's just the grass between hubby and fence was so long you can't see the true height!
No.9- "fan", got a horrid stride into this and got really close, grr! She picked up thought and although not stylish or comfy, job done!
No.10- corner, had a wee jink to the left but I think it was just to get a preferred take of point (from her point of view!), hence me being a bit squint!
Organisers were really good at getting results up and found we'd managed to climb another place to finish 5th!
(managed top half at least!
) If we'd gone clear XC we'd have been 2nd which is a shame and taking the L option originally would have got me 4th, but I'm glad I at least tried the ditch.
Pony recovered really quickly and is happy out with her pals again in the field. Roll on Strathallan Intro next weekend- please tell me there are no ditches with water?!
Woke up to pouring rain- yeuch.
So firstly, dressage. Felt like an ok test, we do have problems keeping a consistent outline which needs worked on. We were doing BE PN101 and I guess the judge was looking for a much more consistent way of going at this level of PC. Quite disappointed to find I was bottom of my section (of 10) after dressage with 49 penalties, so 51%.
Marks were mostly 5's, with a couple 4's (one for the halt halfway through saying it was early and not square, my husband swears he thought it looked square, but maybe he's just trying to cheer me up?! I would also swear I got it bang on the letter A, but hey ho!)
Some dressage shots;
So a nice hour between dressage and SJ and as I was solo (hubby hanging around taking photos of others rather than grooming!), this was just perfect for getting sorted without feeling too rushed.
Ran out of weather "luck" while waiting to SJ- you can actually see the rain in the photo if you look close enough!
Princess Hopalong wasn't all that impressed with the super muddy conditions and was either trying to leap the muddy bits as well as the fences (in the warm up!) or get in close to be sure! (general theme in the arena)
Managed a lovely clear round, but very much thanks to her at a couple when rider was being a muppet! Only 3 clear rounds in the SJ for my class, so that at least dragged us up to 6th place at this point.
No.3 (really long grass- honest!);
No.5;
No.7;
Last fence- numpty rider pushed for a long one in, so landed short, but clever pony put in a "safety" tiny second stride (should have been a one stride double!) and tucked her toes up nicely to leave it up. I'm so lucky she's so clever and careful SJ!
So a wee chill out between SJ and XC (love this shot!);
And then ready to go. Due to the heavy rain we've had locally all week, one fence had been removed from a boggy part of the course and the course was not being timed due to half the course (which ran through woods) being so boggy, we were being asked to walk/trot through the worst areas. You really couldn't do anything but and you should have seen the colour of the horses when they finished- felt so sorry for the grey owners (April!!)
Had a lovely round, although a bit odd with the rythymn being so broken in the 2nd half.
Took the "L" option after a first run out at it, so total of 35pen for the XC.
No.8- pheasant feeder, actually had a big gappy bit under, it's just the grass between hubby and fence was so long you can't see the true height!
No.9- "fan", got a horrid stride into this and got really close, grr! She picked up thought and although not stylish or comfy, job done!
No.10- corner, had a wee jink to the left but I think it was just to get a preferred take of point (from her point of view!), hence me being a bit squint!
Organisers were really good at getting results up and found we'd managed to climb another place to finish 5th!
Pony recovered really quickly and is happy out with her pals again in the field. Roll on Strathallan Intro next weekend- please tell me there are no ditches with water?!
