Disaster day!

mat

mat

Well-Known Member
Joined
28 December 2006
Messages
2,097
Location
Gloucestershire
www.atmosphere-equestrian.com
Well it was my first show since the break, and I have to say I wish I didnt get out of my lovely warm bed this morning!

Got up nice and early as usual, plaited up, and Merlin looked stunning.
When we arrived it was tipping it down! I got on and went to warm up indoors. To say that Merlin was lit up would be an understatement! He was wild! and I very nearly came a cropper as he leapt across the warm up towards a poor unsuspecting lady on her mare!
I didnt really manage to warm up properly as I sent the whole time trying to just avoid other competitors, and to TRY some transitions...
by the time we went out to do our test the rain was now coming down in sheets.. GREAT!!
We got on with it, did the test, which was very wriggley and inatentive, and he was not really going forward into the contact... I knew the resons for that so wasnt realy too worried, just disappointed that I didnt get to warm up as we normally would! We got some fairly good scores but we where let down by a few 5's!
blush.gif
mostly for transitions down from canter etc.. We ended on 61%

The second test was better. but he was absolutely exhausted! (and so was I) He was much more steady in the contact, but still being a wuss about the rain so not very straight! We got 64.something..

Not great scores for him, but in the circumstances I wasn't too displeased (apart from the poor behaviour at the start)

Then..

We got trapped at the yard because the floods where so deep they came up to the windscreen of my 4x4!!!!

Have only just got home, and am very tired and wet. I am ready to go to bed and hope for a dry day tomorrow! LOL!!!
grin.gif


Fingers crossed I can get Merlin going better again before the regionals or we are DOOMED!!!
 
Oh dear, lol at least you came back in one peice and didn't crush anybody in the warm-up!!! I can't believe the rain, I want to get out and about but our school just can't cope with this amount of rain, I have no-where to ride atm, it is so annoying! I want a roof for it!!! I keep hiring out local indoor schools and hoping this rain stops but it doesn't look like it is in the near future!
Well done anyway, those scores are great considering it is your first time out again, and the freakish weather!!! I'm sure he'll be perfect for the regionals (if they are not cancelled LOL)
Good luck!!!
 
Oh dear. Something similar happened to me a few weeks ago. We started the test in driving rain and the horse spent more energy avoiding facing into the rain than actually doing the test. The rain got worse and worse, until the final halt, at which he actually swung his quarters into the rain. A day best forgotten.
You'll be fine for the regionals. It HAS to stop raining by then, surely????
 
Thanks hun, I wasnt too displeased really.. he got a few 5's but the rest where 6/7/8 so not too terrible.. just need to get the fluency!!
I think its partly due to the fact that the last 6 weeks has been like an extended dirty weekend for him, with all the mares that have visited him over that time!
wink.gif


I was surprised by the rain as it was glorious sunshine yesterday when I was sat on the grass at Hartpury watching the CDI!
 
Quote:
I think its partly due to the fact that the last 6 weeks has been like an extended dirty weekend for him, with all the mares that have visited him over that time!

LOL, I bet he's had the best time of his life!!! I bet it will be great when his offspring start growing up and competing!

I would be very happy if I got 6-8's mainly, My horse seems to get 8/9's then 3/4's LOL. This is when he get's bored and decides to take over for a movement! LOL he is far too clever for his own good!
When and where are you going for your regionals?
 
I've only got 3 weeks, I am doing Kingston Maurward! I am taking him out for a few sessions with my trainers to get him back into work mode before then so I am hoping to not look like too much of an idiot at my first regional!
 
Naww, you'll be fine, hopefully by then it may turn into summer??
I'm thinking about the winter season already LOL I love it when you've got clipped horses, and you compete indoor's, you never have to think about the weather or surface etc.!!
You look very professional anyway, so even if the worst comes to the worst you'll still look nice!!! I have all faith in you though, I am relying on you for the reports of the National Finals!!!!
 
Bad dress rehearsal........great performance! Is that the saying?
grin.gif


Thankfully you've still got three weeks to get his brain out from between his legs and into his head again!
blush.gif
grin.gif

Taking him out for the lessons should do the trick, fingers crossed!

Does he do live cover? I'm interested to know if it makes a difference if stallions that only do AI aren't as bothered by mares when they're out and about than those who know about 'the real thing'.
Of course, there are those who are always a handful and those that you'd never know were stallions but as a generalisation I'd love to know peoples experiences.
(Sorry to hijack your thread mat.....I'll start a post in Breeding.
blush.gif
)
 
smile.gif
no problem!! I think He only did one natural covering, right at the beginning of the season, its just been AI since then..

He is usually good as gold, and may as well be a gelding!! It is purely hormones and not behaviour!!

Fingers crossed for the great performance!!
 
Oh God!
crazy.gif
I didn't know you were competing yesterday or I wouldn't have rung you, sorry
frown.gif

Today you can write off yesterday and just look on to your next challenge. You've got plenty of time and the best trainers to help you so I'm sure you can nuke his brain between you!

Good luck today (don't suppose you'll get this in time) and with your upcoming lessons.
smile.gif
 
Id be really pleased to get 61% and 64%!! We did dressage today and got 56% in both and I thought my boy went really well...... We dont DO dressage though, its definately NOT our favourite disipline!
 
Well done with your dressage today! I think its great if you think he went well and is improving!

Problem with Merlin was just hormones, he is usually scoring in the high 60's or 70's

I did ride him today and he went like a dream (little git) so hopefully he has got his silliness out of his system and he can go bak to being a little star again!
smile.gif


Thanks for the message Law! Hopefully the lessons will do him good, it will give him a chance to go somewhere where there arent too many distractions, but somewhere different to look at....that is if we manage to get there!! every road between me and Aderro seems to be closed due to the flooding!!!!
blush.gif
 
This post made me laugh, especially Bananaman's comments about him getting his head out from between his legs
laugh.gif
laugh.gif
laugh.gif


They do say bad dress rehersal, good performance so let's hope that it right!

What tests did you do?

I can't believe the weather down there, it has not been too bad 'up north' for the first time in, ermmm, 8 weeks I think (i have lost count)
 
oh gosh, sounds like your day wasnt too great then! Altho theres nothing wrong with those scores.

i was watching the news this morning about all the floods in gloucester area and was wondering how you guys were coping
crazy.gif
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top