H-J
Well-Known Member
After Dougal poor SJing attempt at Little Downham due to lack of concentration I was slightly apprehensive about yesterday but also excited to see if it had made him grow up a bit and if my SJ lessons the last 2 weeks had paid off!
We set off probably a little late yesterday considering its round half the M25 on a week day
cue ALOT of traffic
aimed to get there for 9am (dressage at 11am) but arrived at 9.50am, so thought dont panic do dressage then run round the XC course after!
Never been to BCA but on 1st impressions thought it looked lovely, nice big dressage warm up space. Shame my horse did not want to play ball
I think the dressage saddle must be pinching he warm up awful, ears back, running difficult to stop
I was very unhappy as he had been so soft and nice at home, went up too see that I had 2 to go so dashed back to the lorry to change to my jump saddle, cue lovely soft pony!!
Yey, so went in and did a sweet test, 2nd canter trans was a bit iffy and the last CL & halt wasnt great but was very pleased with 35.8
Ran the XC course (luckily it was quite short!
) and thought it was lovely, couple of questions for him, a skinny ish fence to a ditch, and a largeish pheasent feeder to a step down then to a corner (with alternative) but had decided to go straight.
Onto the SJing and he started to hammer it down
put my new fluffy noseband on
and off we went. He warmed up a treat couldnt have asked for better not close to a thing. I went over to see how many I had to go and I now had 16
I was told b4 I warmed up I had 10
Thankfully a certain number wasnt there 5mins later and I nipped in!! He was super, giving them plenty of air and not looking at a thing! Came round to a double of uprights at 5 and he was running on a bit, I thought the filler woul dback him off a bit but it didnt
so he brushed the 2nd one out with his hind, then cleared the big oxer at 6, then onto 7 the planks and stupid stupid mum over checked and made him wollop it out in front - am so angry with myself!!
he was then super down to the down hill double with a bright octopus in it and cleare the last oxer for 8 faults - so much better then 8 down last week!
Now to the fun bit, he warmed up a little green, jumping the 2foot warm up log HUGE! Was was a bit
, but he got into the start box and whizzed round! He felt like such a pro and made it feel easy peasy
Took a stride out at the skinny brush and flew the ditch, then bowled up to the pheasent feeder, popped it, stride to the drop off and on a turn to the corner, he then cantered through the water and pooped th elast 2 for a clear inside the time
Am so so pleased with him he ate the XC up and feels easily ready for PN but is only Intro standard SJing at the mo!! He was impeccibly behaved all day as usual and had such bad weather on his jump phases but just knuckled down and tried his best
He ended up 12th .3 from 10th
so hopefully we can squeeze a placing b4 the season is out! We have Pulborough intro Sat and Borde Hill the weekend after
Here's some pics of him at the brush and ditch combo. permission obtained by photographer
He has completely changed colour lately! And you can see the rain in the pics and me soaked! What do you think? Any CC welcome
The fish brush....
http://s84.photobucket.com/albums/k20/ho...t=DougalBCA.jpg
In between (huge pony stride!
)....
http://s84.photobucket.com/albums/k20/ho...=DougalBCA3.jpg
And the ditch (my fave)....
http://s84.photobucket.com/albums/k20/ho...=DougalBCA2.jpg
We set off probably a little late yesterday considering its round half the M25 on a week day
Never been to BCA but on 1st impressions thought it looked lovely, nice big dressage warm up space. Shame my horse did not want to play ball
Ran the XC course (luckily it was quite short!
Onto the SJing and he started to hammer it down
Now to the fun bit, he warmed up a little green, jumping the 2foot warm up log HUGE! Was was a bit
He ended up 12th .3 from 10th
Here's some pics of him at the brush and ditch combo. permission obtained by photographer
The fish brush....
http://s84.photobucket.com/albums/k20/ho...t=DougalBCA.jpg
In between (huge pony stride!
http://s84.photobucket.com/albums/k20/ho...=DougalBCA3.jpg
And the ditch (my fave)....
http://s84.photobucket.com/albums/k20/ho...=DougalBCA2.jpg