LEC
Opinions are like bum holes, everyone has one.
So sat in our nice warm offices emailing avoiding the inevitable work that we get paid for Spotted Cat and I thought it would be a good idea to conquer our fears of Sj in a throw ourselves in manner. We entered Dorset Show 2 classes a day for 3 days. If anyone has met SC and I we are the windiest people ever when it comes to SJ. For us Sj is a painful requirement in eventing in order to go XC.
My horse was a total star and I have learnt so much. I think I have finally got my confidence Sj. He has tried really hard for me for 3 days and even won his first money.
Thursday BN came 2nd with our first ever double clear. In disco had 4 faults.
Friday Disco 8 faults and tackled my first 1.10 class which was a 1.10 amateur class and seemed pretty big. Horse pinged and just had an unlucky 2 down. Louisa Lockwood went before SC and I and had 20 faults so we were not that confident!! SC and I celebrated tackling our mental barrier and becoming proper SJs (keep being told that anything under newcomers is not proper SJ!) by having a bottle of champagne!
Saturday a very unlucky day for both SC and I. My horse did a beautful clear and really helped me out as the ground was crap as it was tipping with rain. Sadly in the 2nd phase I had 5 time faults which was gutting as there were only 4 clears so if I had 3 time faults I would have come 5th. I could not have gone much faster as my horse will never turn like a SJ and in order to go clear he has to have wide turns. Was feeling totally deflated but SC said we should do 1.05 open to finish off and my horse pinged round in the pouring rain really jumping his socks off in crap ground. It was 2 phase and had a unlucky fence down in 2nd phase and a senior moment where I totally forgot the course so had 11 time faults but that was my fault!!
Was going to go to Midsomerset but horse has been stonking so he is now out in the field scoffing its brilliant to see his photos as his technique has improved so much.
Its a lovely place and we will probably go back next year. Just hope for better weather!! Novice now holds no fears for me because I know we can do it. Just got to keep the faith!!
So things I have learnt about SJ.
Single phase is minimum 12 fences and two phase is minimum of 14!
There are 3 main faults Sj from what we watched-
a) Rider is too far forward
b) Rider is not riding forward enough
c) Rider keeps keeps interfering (hooking)
My horse was a total star and I have learnt so much. I think I have finally got my confidence Sj. He has tried really hard for me for 3 days and even won his first money.
Thursday BN came 2nd with our first ever double clear. In disco had 4 faults.
Friday Disco 8 faults and tackled my first 1.10 class which was a 1.10 amateur class and seemed pretty big. Horse pinged and just had an unlucky 2 down. Louisa Lockwood went before SC and I and had 20 faults so we were not that confident!! SC and I celebrated tackling our mental barrier and becoming proper SJs (keep being told that anything under newcomers is not proper SJ!) by having a bottle of champagne!
Saturday a very unlucky day for both SC and I. My horse did a beautful clear and really helped me out as the ground was crap as it was tipping with rain. Sadly in the 2nd phase I had 5 time faults which was gutting as there were only 4 clears so if I had 3 time faults I would have come 5th. I could not have gone much faster as my horse will never turn like a SJ and in order to go clear he has to have wide turns. Was feeling totally deflated but SC said we should do 1.05 open to finish off and my horse pinged round in the pouring rain really jumping his socks off in crap ground. It was 2 phase and had a unlucky fence down in 2nd phase and a senior moment where I totally forgot the course so had 11 time faults but that was my fault!!
Was going to go to Midsomerset but horse has been stonking so he is now out in the field scoffing its brilliant to see his photos as his technique has improved so much.
Its a lovely place and we will probably go back next year. Just hope for better weather!! Novice now holds no fears for me because I know we can do it. Just got to keep the faith!!
So things I have learnt about SJ.
Single phase is minimum 12 fences and two phase is minimum of 14!
There are 3 main faults Sj from what we watched-
a) Rider is too far forward
b) Rider is not riding forward enough
c) Rider keeps keeps interfering (hooking)
