star
Well-Known Member
what a day!
Started with some serious XC driving! :shocked: Found my way to the right place and went through the gate onto the common land. There were 2 other trailers in front of me so just followed them. Turns out they had no idea where they were going and we did some serious off-roading - the sort of stuff you'd do on a 4x4 day, not with a trailer and horse on the back! We went through seriously deep puddles, on inclines and finished with the steepist hill in the world - Llewi must have been almost sat down! I wondered if we'd get up it - Surf has no probs but a serious test of my driving. Got to the top and there was no-one else there. Realised we were all lost in the middle of Barossa common - oops! Luckily the message must have got round as the kennelman came to find us. Made it to the meet with about 5mins to get ready - cue massive rush and just about made it!
Anyway, after all that madness, met up with Amy and we stood around chatting and Llewi was really good at standing and not rearing. Then set off on the first line. I actually had some control with the Cheltenham gag and Llewi seemed to be accepting it ok. We jumped some nice fences and all was good. Walked around chatting between lines and was having a lovely time.
2nd line also ok, getting a bit onwards bound but jumped some serious fences for us. That was after someone nearly had a nasty rotational fall at it when horse left a leg and nearly went down on her - not nice to watch that just before. Nearly bottled it but just followed the others. Brakes still intact at this stage.
3rd line all went wrong. He was getting silly and kept yanking the reins, tried hooking my fingers round the neckstrap and he yanked just as I was getting my knitting sorted and has done some damage to my right thumb - spent the rest of the line trying to hold him without using my thumb and failing miserably. He wanted to go flat out but this line was really windy and I wasn't comfortable going that fast. He'd already nearly lost his back end in the woods earlier and I could see him going down if I let him go his speed. We did manage to keep control for the first half and jumped some decent Intro sized fences but then just lost it completely - he was having complete temper tantrums, shaking his head violently and yanking me forwards - my new rubber reins gave me the grip i needed but he could still yank and just pulled me out of the saddle instead of the reins out of my hands. He only does it when I wont let him have his head but there was lots of downhill and bendy lines and I just couldn't risk him going that fast. Just coming to the last hill of the last line and someone somehow fell off in the puddle right in front of me, Llewi darted to the right to avoid her and I joined her. Didn't hurt myself at all, but got a faceful of muddy water and was completely soaked. Llewi bombed off up the hill after the rest - the photographer has a fab couple of pics of him jumping along with the field. He coudld easily have gone round but chose to jump - dont think anyone can say he doesn't enjoy his XC. Got back on at the top and walked back to the lorries - or should I say piaffed/passaged/cantered sideways.
Apparantly they settle the more you take them out? That's what everyone keeps telling me anyway!
So, a mixture of good and bad - I still had a good time and I will be going again on Boxing Day which is at Minley and is apparantly a bit flatter. Here's hoping it doesn't rain so much beforehand too!
Plans for the future:
One rein on the Cheltenham gag - 2 is too much to juggle
Plait him so his mane doesn't get in the way of me grabbing the neck strap
Started with some serious XC driving! :shocked: Found my way to the right place and went through the gate onto the common land. There were 2 other trailers in front of me so just followed them. Turns out they had no idea where they were going and we did some serious off-roading - the sort of stuff you'd do on a 4x4 day, not with a trailer and horse on the back! We went through seriously deep puddles, on inclines and finished with the steepist hill in the world - Llewi must have been almost sat down! I wondered if we'd get up it - Surf has no probs but a serious test of my driving. Got to the top and there was no-one else there. Realised we were all lost in the middle of Barossa common - oops! Luckily the message must have got round as the kennelman came to find us. Made it to the meet with about 5mins to get ready - cue massive rush and just about made it!
Anyway, after all that madness, met up with Amy and we stood around chatting and Llewi was really good at standing and not rearing. Then set off on the first line. I actually had some control with the Cheltenham gag and Llewi seemed to be accepting it ok. We jumped some nice fences and all was good. Walked around chatting between lines and was having a lovely time.
2nd line also ok, getting a bit onwards bound but jumped some serious fences for us. That was after someone nearly had a nasty rotational fall at it when horse left a leg and nearly went down on her - not nice to watch that just before. Nearly bottled it but just followed the others. Brakes still intact at this stage.
3rd line all went wrong. He was getting silly and kept yanking the reins, tried hooking my fingers round the neckstrap and he yanked just as I was getting my knitting sorted and has done some damage to my right thumb - spent the rest of the line trying to hold him without using my thumb and failing miserably. He wanted to go flat out but this line was really windy and I wasn't comfortable going that fast. He'd already nearly lost his back end in the woods earlier and I could see him going down if I let him go his speed. We did manage to keep control for the first half and jumped some decent Intro sized fences but then just lost it completely - he was having complete temper tantrums, shaking his head violently and yanking me forwards - my new rubber reins gave me the grip i needed but he could still yank and just pulled me out of the saddle instead of the reins out of my hands. He only does it when I wont let him have his head but there was lots of downhill and bendy lines and I just couldn't risk him going that fast. Just coming to the last hill of the last line and someone somehow fell off in the puddle right in front of me, Llewi darted to the right to avoid her and I joined her. Didn't hurt myself at all, but got a faceful of muddy water and was completely soaked. Llewi bombed off up the hill after the rest - the photographer has a fab couple of pics of him jumping along with the field. He coudld easily have gone round but chose to jump - dont think anyone can say he doesn't enjoy his XC. Got back on at the top and walked back to the lorries - or should I say piaffed/passaged/cantered sideways.
Apparantly they settle the more you take them out? That's what everyone keeps telling me anyway!
So, a mixture of good and bad - I still had a good time and I will be going again on Boxing Day which is at Minley and is apparantly a bit flatter. Here's hoping it doesn't rain so much beforehand too!
Plans for the future:
One rein on the Cheltenham gag - 2 is too much to juggle
Plait him so his mane doesn't get in the way of me grabbing the neck strap
