HufflyPuffly
Well-Known Member
Thought I'd do a comp report as not done one in ages, though on my own so no action shots I'm afraid. Little Skylla will be a whole 7 years old this year 
oops, so she is being tasked with working for her crust and going and doing more now she's grown somewhat of a bum in and can canter for more than 5 strides without deciding it's too much like hard work.
Went to a new venue to test out the no spooking policy we have (after Topaz I am a firm believer in no horse should be that bonkers about life), and I could say we smashed it, but then you could look up our scores 😂. Actually managed to arrive on time (new years resolution to stop being on the last min 1:1 so far
), and asides from a suspicious branch and some very suspicious looking fluffy toed chickens, Skylla was as bold as brass 🤓.
We seem to have kicked most of our napping issues to touch, but I need to find the right warmup strategy for her now. As I didn't give her enough time for the first test as I was thinking about the stamina for the second one, and so she wasn't really on it for either of them! Not sure if I should just stick with one test or keep trying and building up her stamina at shows, as I think it's more the mental buzz than fitness?
First test N28, and the short warmup meant she wasn’t quite through enough to be properly connected (and the mirrors in the main arena were amazing, horses kept appearing for Skylla to peer at 😂) but overall she did a sweet test. The serpentine's were fairly fluid and upwards transitions were nice, we did flail a bit through the first counter canter (trying to peer out of the open doors, nosy parker that she is) but the second was much better 🤓.
Fluffy Skylla (I know I should re-clip her but omg I hate clipping so much!):
Fluffy chickens:
Only 40 mins between tests so a short break and then back on. Really worked the lateral work to get the thoroughness in the second warmup, but I think she got a bit mentally tired and afterwards I discovered a bit rub ☹ï¸, so we got a bit of pouty Skylla. I could tell she was getting a bit ratty so just stretched her out before going into the second test N30,. This one she she felt much more with me, but a little bit cocky 🙈, Skylla knew exactly what was about to happen and she was all over it, hoomans she's got this so just shh right? It felt a mix of going the right way with nice engagement and positive movement, but also Skylla taking the bit and taking over, with me trying to subtly not let the judge notice Skylla bogging off 🙈. She may have also snook a sneaky change in, as I’m pretty sure no trot happened in the first canter-trot-canter over the diagonal 🙈, and I may have finished on a new low even for me with only having one foot in the stirrups 🙈🙈🙈. The last medium canter, pull up and then trot was not to Skylla’s liking, so I did the salute of shame minus a peddle 😂, I figured I only had to navigate the center line and it would upset her more faffing to get it back. In Skylla’s defence I think the bit rub was bothering her ðŸ¤ðŸ¤·ðŸ¼â€â™€ï¸*.
However positives:
No spooking (I know she doesn't but I will always celebrate this lol).
We managed to walk in both tests 🙌ðŸ».
In my eyes (and Skylla’s, she’s going with eventing scoring so therefore she totally did better than the other horses) she did brilliantly for her.
Overall I’m pleased and I think as we move up the levels she will shine more, my trainer has said medium would be the place to bring her out, but I do like to keep their toes in a bit.
I did good right?
Actually looking like a normal horse now, no more Skylla-von-yak/ llama:
Somewhat undeserved rosette in BD's quest for enough sections for everyone to get one (I think I was second of two in the silver section, with a good mix of bronze competitors scoring much better than us).
*mum says it’s being generous to excuse naughty behaviour 😂🙈, poor baby Skylla 😜.
oops, so she is being tasked with working for her crust and going and doing more now she's grown somewhat of a bum in and can canter for more than 5 strides without deciding it's too much like hard work.Went to a new venue to test out the no spooking policy we have (after Topaz I am a firm believer in no horse should be that bonkers about life), and I could say we smashed it, but then you could look up our scores 😂. Actually managed to arrive on time (new years resolution to stop being on the last min 1:1 so far
), and asides from a suspicious branch and some very suspicious looking fluffy toed chickens, Skylla was as bold as brass 🤓. We seem to have kicked most of our napping issues to touch, but I need to find the right warmup strategy for her now. As I didn't give her enough time for the first test as I was thinking about the stamina for the second one, and so she wasn't really on it for either of them! Not sure if I should just stick with one test or keep trying and building up her stamina at shows, as I think it's more the mental buzz than fitness?
First test N28, and the short warmup meant she wasn’t quite through enough to be properly connected (and the mirrors in the main arena were amazing, horses kept appearing for Skylla to peer at 😂) but overall she did a sweet test. The serpentine's were fairly fluid and upwards transitions were nice, we did flail a bit through the first counter canter (trying to peer out of the open doors, nosy parker that she is) but the second was much better 🤓.
Fluffy Skylla (I know I should re-clip her but omg I hate clipping so much!):
Fluffy chickens:
Only 40 mins between tests so a short break and then back on. Really worked the lateral work to get the thoroughness in the second warmup, but I think she got a bit mentally tired and afterwards I discovered a bit rub ☹ï¸, so we got a bit of pouty Skylla. I could tell she was getting a bit ratty so just stretched her out before going into the second test N30,. This one she she felt much more with me, but a little bit cocky 🙈, Skylla knew exactly what was about to happen and she was all over it, hoomans she's got this so just shh right? It felt a mix of going the right way with nice engagement and positive movement, but also Skylla taking the bit and taking over, with me trying to subtly not let the judge notice Skylla bogging off 🙈. She may have also snook a sneaky change in, as I’m pretty sure no trot happened in the first canter-trot-canter over the diagonal 🙈, and I may have finished on a new low even for me with only having one foot in the stirrups 🙈🙈🙈. The last medium canter, pull up and then trot was not to Skylla’s liking, so I did the salute of shame minus a peddle 😂, I figured I only had to navigate the center line and it would upset her more faffing to get it back. In Skylla’s defence I think the bit rub was bothering her ðŸ¤ðŸ¤·ðŸ¼â€â™€ï¸*.
However positives:
No spooking (I know she doesn't but I will always celebrate this lol).
We managed to walk in both tests 🙌ðŸ».
In my eyes (and Skylla’s, she’s going with eventing scoring so therefore she totally did better than the other horses) she did brilliantly for her
. Overall I’m pleased and I think as we move up the levels she will shine more, my trainer has said medium would be the place to bring her out, but I do like to keep their toes in a bit.
I did good right?
Actually looking like a normal horse now, no more Skylla-von-yak/ llama:
Somewhat undeserved rosette in BD's quest for enough sections for everyone to get one (I think I was second of two in the silver section, with a good mix of bronze competitors scoring much better than us
).
*mum says it’s being generous to excuse naughty behaviour 😂🙈, poor baby Skylla 😜.
eeeek
