Eventers - what to do after a rubbish day?!

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Broomsticks

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Hi everyone,

Please can i have some friendly advice after a terrible day? Sorry it's a bit of a long and rambling report!

Went to urchinwood today to do the be100. It was our first 100 after coming 3rd in the only two be90's we've done at glanusk and west buckland. Pony has been going so well all summer that I was really excited about the step up. booked the day off work and have been looking forward to today for ages.

It poured with rain all day, did what i thought was a sweet test only to find out after walking xc that I got 37.5 and was near the bottom, normally we are in the top 6! I thought I must have taken a wrong turn or something, but put it behind me and thought nevermind, now onto the fun stuff! The xc was quite big but very straight forward and I was really looking forward to it.

Next was SJ, the course was full-up but quite fair, and on a slope so not ideal. the 90's had gone in the morning and the course and warm up were very boggy. The course included some very scary fillers - the down-hill pink pigs oxer was causing mayhem and there were some planks on a downhill slope before, with a huge slippy muddy area on take-off. SJ is normally our strongest phase so i thought I'd trot past the pigs on the way in and go for a nice sensible clear!

She warmed up nicely, despite being a foot deep in mud. Went into the ring and she did a massive spook at both the planks and the pigs. Jumped one and two nicely, spooked before the planks at 3 but got over clear and then ran-out at the pigs. A slap on the bum and we were over the second time. Then came round to an uphill double, oxer to an upright, where I saw a long one, but due to the sticky mud we didn't quite make it, hit the back rail of the oxer and ran out of the second part as we were on no kind of jumpable stride! went round again and ok the second time but still had it down, and then finished the course nicely, but ended up with 20 jumping pens and 17 time :( came out of the ring and one of her fetlock boots was down round her ancle which couldn't have helped matters!!

decided not to go XC, as nothing to be gained, and now feeling totally gutted for ruining her great BE record! She has jumped quite a few dc in disco and jumped some byeh 5year olds last year on grass which are all around 1.00m so i don't think it was the height or lack of experience, it just all went t*ts up today.

Now in a dillema as wanted to enter pontispool be100 in two weeks but unsure if i should go back to 90 for a confidence run?? anyway we're both new to this game and i was wondering how you guys all put the ***** days behind you?! feels like the end of the world but i guess we need the bad days to make the good ones!

(ps - if anyone can tell me how to post pics i will show you my loevly girlie in action!)
 
Bad days eventing seem to be my specialist subject. First things first as Baydale said to me when my season went to pot "you've only spoilt her record if you were going to sell her for mega bucks". If the ground was bad this might be the problem see what the going is likely to be next time, but in the same way "one swallow does not a summer make", one ****** up doesn't make a bad season!!!! In short ***** happens
 
I was jump judging today at Urchinwood and the ground was pretty horrid in places. At the coffin could not understand why people were making such a meal of it until I walked over and saw the state of it as it was a massive puddle, ditch which was almost overflowing and horrible going on the landing of part c. Personally my horse has always done a rubbish test at Urchinwood as you warm up in one field get them settled then have to move. The sjing is always tough as the cross country is so soft. The course builder is well known for being quite tough! I only ever go to Urchinwood as the low cost of diesel (its my closest BE) balances out the 1980s feel of it.

Go to Pontispool. The Sjing is up to height and fairly tough but its held on the arena, the cross country is always nice.
 
From an eventing mummy of a 15 year old JRN/N rider, **** does happen, and bad days do come, but remember that unless you are selling your horse, what the hell does it matter? If you feel seriously bad with your confidence then take a step back. My daughter has done this with the step up from BE100 to Novice and it worked for her. As long as you are safe and feel happy then why worry about it. I do feel that people get far too anal about their BE records. My friend has just sold her very so so mare with an even more so so BE record. The price reflected all of this, but when people checked the mares record they did not call back. Reason? She had loads of stops, retirements and so so dressage scores. She was sold as a happy hack/fun horse/riding club stuff, so who really gives a dam.

My daughter had a cricket score in the sj at the PC Nationals a couple of weeks ago and got elminated. Yes she was sore for a day or so, but what the hell, we've entered her for Pontispool Novice and she will just get on with it. Its hard and when you are new to it, but that the game you are in.

I agree the weather was vile there, I work in a nearby village and it poured with rain non stop. Anyway, go and have a nice hot bath, a glass of wine and something nice for supper, put it all down to experience and relax. Good luck for your next event.
 
Oh dear - the conditions sound really horrible and probably contributed to her not going so well in the SJ and possibly the dressage too although as you move up the judge expects more I gather. I'm with Old Git and Baydale on the blot on the record bit - not an issue unless you're planning to sell on.
As for dropping back a level - if you feel really battered by the experience today you probably should, otherwise probably not.
Sorry not to be more helpful. Whatever you decide, good luck next time out and it'll be fine I bet you :)
 
If its any consolation my daughter won her section at BE100 at Urchinwood last year, and got several other placings at BE100 thereafter, and went a bit downhill towards the end of the season. This year it has been mixed, mostly good and she has got six points on her mare, and is now fairly well established at Novice, but christ its been a journey. Check the record on Fine Feathers and you will see what I mean. We also dont intend to sell our mare as she is one in a million. At the end of the day its only a leisure activity, no matter how seriously we take it, we are not pros who make a living at it, so just enjoy it.
 
thank you so much everyone, i fell much better already!! especially appreciate your feedback Lec, good to get a locals view as i have only ever been to quite 'polished' events! don't think I'll be heading back to urchinwood in a hurry tbh!

Going to go bsja on the weekend and see where we are confidence wise, if she jumps well then maybe my princess mare just doesn't like the rain!! :)
 
I suspect you need to drop down a level the reason I say this is because you did not go cross country, it being your first be100 I would have been determined to give it a go, if only to school round at a sedate pace just to give my horse and myself the experiance.

I did one be100 the only one my horse has currently done last year, we had a worse dressage than you, we had a cricket score sj one down and a refusal plus time, but I was determined to give the cc a go and it was one of the most upto height cc in the area ( tetton ) .

Call it cc schooling.


I did then step back down though until I got the dressage and sj back on track, but I did so knowing I could do the cross country.
The fact you didn't suggests to me that you are pushing yourself too quick, what is the hurry, unless your horse is for sale don't push it.
 
try and learn from today... practise lots of showjumping before pontispool. dressage is only someone's opinion! there are always **** days in eventing and in any sport! good luck at pontispool, let us know how you get on...:)
 
We all have rubbish days believe me, I have been on the rollercoaster of ups and downs that you get with BE for a few seasons now. Even the top riders have days they would like to forget. This is just how it is with horses and eventing. Irs ok to be disappointed though sometimes.
I do think there is alot of pressure to move up the grades and keep a good BE record. I agree with the who cares attitude. Unless you are selling your horse which you arent then it really doesnt matter. Just put it down to experience and move on. It is about enjoying yourself after all. If you feel you need a confidence boost again do BE90 and then move up again. Noone will think any less of you!
 
being someone who's got a lot of R's and E's on the record and now a lot of W's! who honestly gives a flying fools cake about it!

Ok it looks horrid - i look at mine and cringe sometimes and think how can i be such a god awful rider or i rode like a complete t*t there or something just kinda makes me more positive about it like im not going to go out and get the same again today [but usually i do ;)] i haven't succesfully completed an event since Munstead last september. Almost a year now. Dear god.

I go home, moan a bit [it does help] have a shower, something to eat unpack lorry ect. and do horses and go to bed. Tomorrow is another day.

chin up - s**t happens.
 
Don't rush to do BE 100 just because you think you should. I had lots of people telling me I should do a BE100, but a mate who competes at 2 star level said, you will know when you are ready. She was right, when I walked my last BE90 I thought how small it looked and I wished I had entered the BE100. So the next event after that I entered the BE100, we had a great day, I wasn't worried about the height of the show jumps, or any of the x country fences. I just wanted to get round clear, which we did and with in the time. Now I'm looking forward to my next BE 100 next weekend. Good luck what ever you decide.
 
Thank you to everyone who took the time out to reply to my original post. On saturday we went out do the BE100 at monmouth and I thought it would be nice to let you all know how we got on.

Pony has been in SJ boot-camp for the last week and I was really nervous setting off. Thankfully the sun shined for us and we did a nice test for 32 which put us about 7th.

Onto SJ, now i wasn't sure if we had an issue here or whether my princess mare just didn't like mud, rain and fetlock boots round her anckles! She warned up a bit stuffy, but went into the ring and flew round like she normally does, que a clear round and one very happy Broomsticks!!

Then onto the XC which seemed like a proper test (afterall it was only our 3 BE XC!), there were 5 or 6 combo's, including a few ditches, step ups and downs, the water looked like a dingy bottomless pit, and it didn't seem to be for the faint hearted or beginner in my (not very experienced!) opinion.

Anyway the perky pony flew round clear inside the time and I finished second to Austin O'connon which I obviously didn't mind too much!!!

So delighted to have my pony back and to ahve such an amazing result, and also to restore my confidence that we definately didn't step up to early. I ahve just learnt a lesson that next time it pours with rain for 24hours before the event and doesn't stop all day we will stay nicely tucked up in bed!!

thanks for reading, i will post a proper report in CR with some pics tonight :)
 
My Old Leighlin gelding is rather sensitive and bright. He hates getting his feet wet, so I expect it's a family thing.
Great result at Monmouth and justifies your confidence in moving her up.
 
Another success story and well done you getting placed at only your 2nd BE100, champagne all around. Thats what makes the bad times bearable.

We were at Monmouth as well - didnt do as well as you, Mini TX was 11th in Section G of the Novice, but hey it was a good day and the competition was pretty stiff.
 
thanks all!!

Especially Siennamum, nice to know it could be an inherant trait, she is certainly bright and was just probably p'eed off with being out in the rain all day and thought b*gger this I want to go home! do you have any more nuggets of wisdom about the old leighlin prodigy?
 
Well done MiniTX on a fab result!!! There were certainly enough pro's about at monmouth, and I am in awe that anyone is brave enough to do that massive drop off at the top of the hill followed by the skinny, that looked serviously downhill and scary!!

I loved the event and it was great for spectators too as they could see loads of the XC from the trade stands and lorry park. Thoroughly reccomend to all :)
 
Broomsticks said:
thanks all!!

Especially Siennamum, nice to know it could be an inherant trait, she is certainly bright and was just probably p'eed off with being out in the rain all day and thought b*gger this I want to go home! do you have any more nuggets of wisdom about the old leighlin prodigy?
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I would love to understand his rankings as an eventing sire. He has 3 advanced horses off the top of my head and lots out doing well at intro/Pn/N. Mine is fun to have around, full of character, very playful, bit sharp, HATES standing around, but lots to like. Mine makes a lovely shape over a fence, but is still too green to really tell how he'll turn out. There's another OL horse owned by a forum member - Megabeast, though I think she's off games at the moment. Legend also has a full sister to mine who is pretty much the same.
 
Broomsticks said:
Well done MiniTX on a fab result!!! There were certainly enough pro's about at monmouth, and I am in awe that anyone is brave enough to do that massive drop off at the top of the hill followed by the skinny, that looked serviously downhill and scary!!

I loved the event and it was great for spectators too as they could see loads of the XC from the trade stands and lorry park. Thoroughly reccomend to all :)
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Have just shown her this thread and she just looked at me, shrugged and said it was ok and anyway, her mare helped her out! Bonkers or what, it was vile.

We love Monmouth as well, nice drive, lovely venue. She was 4th last year at the BE100 she entered, so nice memories all around and will definitely be back next year doing the N or ON if out of points.
 
siennamum said:
I would love to understand his rankings as an eventing sire. He has 3 advanced horses off the top of my head and lots out doing well at intro/Pn/N. Mine is fun to have around, full of character, very playful, bit sharp, HATES standing around, but lots to like. Mine makes a lovely shape over a fence, but is still too green to really tell how he'll turn out. There's another OL horse owned by a forum member - Megabeast, though I think she's off games at the moment. Legend also has a full sister to mine who is pretty much the same.
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Yep, mine's an OL. Very similar in character to Siennamum's. She's on box rest at the moment with PSD and undergoing shockwave therapy and is spending most of her time looking for ways to entertain herself. Since being off she's become a barometer, she gets stressy and a couple of minutes later it starts raining! Bags of character, generally calm and chilled out but when she's bad she's very very bad. Ie incredibly sharp! She's taken some time to come good, I believe she was overfaced before I had her and it's been a long slow journey to get her right jumping. Ironically we jumped our first BE double clear at West Buckland and I was discussing my plans to go PN with her this season with my friend/vet two days later at the yard, went to tack her up, got on and and she was lame :( Went from being happy as anything to being in the depths of despair.

But she's a very kind mare, although gets bored easily, tremendous personality and very "bright".

Like SM I would love to know where OL ranks as he has a huge number of his progeny eventing. If you put Trefeinon into BE you get a long list of horses and I would imagine that a significant number don't have Trefeinon in their names. Virtually every event you go to he has horses he's sired there. Was one at Highclere recently, can't remember the name now but it didn't have Trefeinon in the name.

Is there any way of getting a list of horses registered with BE that are by a particular sire? Would love to know.

One thing I think is typical of the Trefeinon horses that are bred at the stud out of their mares is they tend to be quite light, and if anything like mine are not a great fan of being stabled. In her case it's probably a result of spending the first four years of her life out on the hills.

ETA huge congrats on your placing at Monmouth, any more events planned this year?
 
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here she is, hope this works as haven't posted pics before! ..

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