jxd
Well-Known Member
What a fab day - its the first event this season not only that I havent got wet (admittedly this is only my 4th event), but that the sun actually shone! It was a beautiful day and a really lovely parkland event.
Had an early start so was up at the yard at 5.30, with Barry doing a very good impression of a dead donkey..in fact he was flat out and lying so still he did almost worry me, but soon sprung up when he realised there might be food bribery involved!
No mishaps on the way there, walked the course, everything looked dandy, and had plenty of time to tack up and pootle over to dressage.
Wow, he was a star in his dressage!
felt so so much better than last week, so much more elevated (thankyou Mr lorry driver who hurtled past the warm-up area!), and the last ten mins of my warmup something really just clicked, and he felt really engaged/uphill. I went sitting trot for the first time, as had done so in my lesson this week, and just means I can feel and react to him a bit quicker before he gets away from me, as he a fairly decent sized fellow! Anyhow, did his best test to date, transitions were much improved, just one moment in canter, but the rest felt fab
Got ready for SJ pretty much straight away and trundled down, having an exciting moment passing the commentators box and SCARY tannoy on the way. He actually felt very lethargic warming up, possibly he was feeling the heat, but was jumping sweetly.
Was pleased with my round in that he did jump well, a little annoyed with myself though, as I just let him bowl on a little to an oxer, 2nd part of related distance 4-5, and he just rubbed it behind - in fact didn't even realise he'd had it until they called my 4 at the end - mum said it fell about 2 strides after the fence, so luck obviously wasn't on our side! Having said that, after walking the course and predicting lots of clear rounds, I think there was only about 8 in my section. The ground was fairly undulating, and one line in particular seemed to be causing quite a bit of grief - so not particularly up-to-height, but some clever course-building..
An hour to XC, and then we got on with the best bit! He was super-cool
Looked at nothing, and gave me a fab feel, so can't wait to get out teeth into some PN courses now!
We had a loooong wait to prize-giving, but we ended up 2nd, so very happy
He had 3rd best dressage on 30.5, so not our best mark but its all relative - my judge literally gave me ALL 7s bar one, all the way down my sheet, and wrote some lovely comments - but to my mind there should have been some differentiation in there - the trotwork at the beginning felt so mega was hoping for some 8s, and I would have expected a 6 for my one blip in canter
So very clever pony yesterday, and he'll do his first PN now at Munstead, and then either S of England or Pulborough before I go back to uni- the latter is closest, but is literally the day before my term starts, so not sure on that one..
Goodluck to those out today
Looks like the weather is going to be lovely again! (I'm off for a garden/BBQ/Pimms party
)
Had an early start so was up at the yard at 5.30, with Barry doing a very good impression of a dead donkey..in fact he was flat out and lying so still he did almost worry me, but soon sprung up when he realised there might be food bribery involved!
No mishaps on the way there, walked the course, everything looked dandy, and had plenty of time to tack up and pootle over to dressage.
Wow, he was a star in his dressage!
Got ready for SJ pretty much straight away and trundled down, having an exciting moment passing the commentators box and SCARY tannoy on the way. He actually felt very lethargic warming up, possibly he was feeling the heat, but was jumping sweetly.
Was pleased with my round in that he did jump well, a little annoyed with myself though, as I just let him bowl on a little to an oxer, 2nd part of related distance 4-5, and he just rubbed it behind - in fact didn't even realise he'd had it until they called my 4 at the end - mum said it fell about 2 strides after the fence, so luck obviously wasn't on our side! Having said that, after walking the course and predicting lots of clear rounds, I think there was only about 8 in my section. The ground was fairly undulating, and one line in particular seemed to be causing quite a bit of grief - so not particularly up-to-height, but some clever course-building..
An hour to XC, and then we got on with the best bit! He was super-cool
We had a loooong wait to prize-giving, but we ended up 2nd, so very happy
So very clever pony yesterday, and he'll do his first PN now at Munstead, and then either S of England or Pulborough before I go back to uni- the latter is closest, but is literally the day before my term starts, so not sure on that one..
Goodluck to those out today
