Rambo
Well-Known Member
We went to Felbridge on sunday for some BSJA...without being entirely certain what we would jump or on who
Decided to aim for 12:30 arrival and see what was happenning...it's a bit of a lottery there as to the numbers that might turn up. anyway, got there bang on to find the lorry park rammed and barely a space to park. Turns out they'd cancelled the saturday show so I guess some had switched days...and there were also some good money classes on later in the schedule too.
A quick reccie identified that the 1.05m Open was just finishing in the main ring with a NC to follow then the 1.10m Open after that. In Ring 2 they were well through the 90cms Am Qual.
So decided to enter Bo for the 1.10m Open and Trike for the 1m Novice in ring 2.
Some of you may be aware that I had been a little concerned about Bo during the week after we scared ourselves at home...so was hoping for a gentle stroll round with no drama. As for Trike, he was only put on the lorry as a last minute thing after his bad behaviour at Bexhill last time out and my statement that I would never BSJA him again
So, OH got on the Trike monster and started to walk him round while I walked the course. Unfortunately I was slow getting my number down so was last but one to jump. The course was okay...a couple of wall fillers that I thought he might spook at but not overly big. About the same time I heard them call the coursewalk for the NC's in the main ring....and thought I heard them mention the 1.10m too
I raced over and asked someone walking the course if it was a combined walk for both classes but was assured that no, it was just the NC. Phew...back over to watch some of the action in ring 2. OH informed me that Trike was being rather full of himself and had decided that today was a good day to remember how to buck ! Thought we'd gotten over that...but apparently now. I hopped on and gave him a quick canter round a few fences...sure enough...he had some attitude...but at least he was going forward reasonably well
Onto our round, and well, what can I say...he was fab...had a little spook at a ditch in the ring and a half look at a couple of other fences...but jumped clear
It got a little less stylish towards the end as we both got tired (i find him exhausting to ride both mentally and physically), but nonetheless, he jumped okay. There were 15 in the JO and they were paying 5 prizes so I decided I had nothing to lose by pushing on...he needs to go forward anyway so every round is like a JO lol! We were drawn 9th and there were only 3 DC's when we entered. Well, he made it 4 and although we weren't very quick I was pleased as he'd done everything i'd asked
I hoped we might cling on to a minor placing but in the end it wasn't to be and we finished about bth I think....still not bad for a horse that was eliminated at the 1st fence last time out
OH was trying out the new video camera so there is some footage of the first round...unfortunately she forgot to hit record for the JO
Now onto Bo...
Well, the 1.10m Open was just starting when I got off Trike...and you guessed it...it was a combined course walk earlier, so I had no idea where I was supposed to be going
It looked like a strong course and included a full water jump as the last fence and there were several related distances too. Bo warmed up well...if a little bolshy...but nothing to worry about. I should at this point say that Felbridge has never been a good venue for Bo and me...he just never settles in the main ring
Two horses before we went in there was a heavy fall at the water which required the paramedics and obviously delayed things a bit...then it was us. Entered the ring in a purposeful canter and had a quick look round at the fences we couldn't see from where we'd been watching
Then onto the first. He jumped 1 and 2 well enough albeit in a bit of an erratic rhythm...then round to number 3...a very rustic upright coming down hill. I set him up a little too much and he put down on me...so 1 refusal already
After what seemed like an age they rebuilt the fence and we jumped it second time, then onto 4 and 5...a double of upright to oxer then what thought was 4 strides to a solid oxer. I'd watched 1 horse go down that line on what looked like an easy 4
Bo popped through the double nicely...but in no time at all we were in trouble...at 4 strides we seemed a mile off the fence and I don't know why, but Bo must have read my mind and literally launched himself at the thing
Not surprisingly he crashed through it and so I decided there and then to retire him
This was exactly the sort of round I didn't want leading upto the fortnight we have ahead...bu99er
The moral of the story is...walk the course no matter what ! For those with a strong constitution here's the video...perhaps it should be called Scarey Movie 3 or something similar
So, off to Golden Cross for their derby show next weekend now...with no idea what to jump or on who
Decided to aim for 12:30 arrival and see what was happenning...it's a bit of a lottery there as to the numbers that might turn up. anyway, got there bang on to find the lorry park rammed and barely a space to park. Turns out they'd cancelled the saturday show so I guess some had switched days...and there were also some good money classes on later in the schedule too.
A quick reccie identified that the 1.05m Open was just finishing in the main ring with a NC to follow then the 1.10m Open after that. In Ring 2 they were well through the 90cms Am Qual.
So decided to enter Bo for the 1.10m Open and Trike for the 1m Novice in ring 2.
Some of you may be aware that I had been a little concerned about Bo during the week after we scared ourselves at home...so was hoping for a gentle stroll round with no drama. As for Trike, he was only put on the lorry as a last minute thing after his bad behaviour at Bexhill last time out and my statement that I would never BSJA him again
So, OH got on the Trike monster and started to walk him round while I walked the course. Unfortunately I was slow getting my number down so was last but one to jump. The course was okay...a couple of wall fillers that I thought he might spook at but not overly big. About the same time I heard them call the coursewalk for the NC's in the main ring....and thought I heard them mention the 1.10m too
Onto our round, and well, what can I say...he was fab...had a little spook at a ditch in the ring and a half look at a couple of other fences...but jumped clear
Now onto Bo...
Well, the 1.10m Open was just starting when I got off Trike...and you guessed it...it was a combined course walk earlier, so I had no idea where I was supposed to be going
So, off to Golden Cross for their derby show next weekend now...with no idea what to jump or on who
