Five have Fun in Bedfordshire - Keysoe Report with vids

Baydale

Baydale

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Well, when I say five have fun, it was more like two had fun in Bedfordshire and the rest of us wished we'd stayed in bed. :p

To set the scene, I spent all day Friday in Boston chemo suite having my loading dose of Herceptin - they keep you there all day just in case you have a reaction to the first one - but I was fine....or I was until I went to bed (at 9pm, unheard of for me :eek:) in readiness for the 4am alarm. I spent all night either in a muck sweat or freezing cold, not sure whether I felt sick because I hadn't eaten or if I needed to eat to stop me feeling sick. :( Oh well, that's what energy drinks are for, innit? :p

So, SuperFran and loaded the Cheeky Boys and Big Fat Marty and were on the road by 5.15, arriving in plenty of time for an 8.18 dressage with BFM. This was to be his first Novice since our major smash xc schooling last August (me: 3 broken ribs, him: battered ego) and I hadn't realised how much of a mental block I had about "us". His dressage started off ok, but then he turned into someone worthy of a place on Strictly Come Dancing, shaking his booty and doing some nifty moves behind in canter:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhF5ZTKxDXo

I reckoned 38/39, but no, it was a whopping 42 and I was last after dressage - oh well, there's a first time for everything. :rolleyes:

The showjumping was the usual Keysoe standard: bright, atmospheric and lots to look at. I'd had to swap from the Universal to a snaffle after he jumped so badly in the week, so I had no idea how he was going to be (not that it mattered with that dressage score, other than I have to report back to Lionel every time I've been somewhere).:o I tried to be as quiet and subtle as I could and he just had one down. Feel free to marvel at his wacky technique...:D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Os1H4xPhmgM

I must admit the cross country made me a little nervous, particularly as I had him in the snaffle (ears in your mouth and not looking at the fence scares me way more than not having much in the way of brakes :o). I'd decided I had to let him just run and jump, as over-riding makes him worse than under-riding iykwim. I planned to go straight at the double of corners as I thought that would disturb him less than me trying to jump and turn/circle before the second (separately-numbered one). So off we set, fences 1, 2 and 3 were ok:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zfLKutm4BLg

A double of boxes at 5, oxer over a ditch at 6 (not what you want to hear, that someone's horse is stuck on it as you go over to warm up for xc :eek:), then log to big triple brush - all going well at this point :D - to the water at 10 (you'll be amazed he could get his tummy through the flags at the C part;)):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AykTH4uEf7o

Off down the hill to the double of corners, people scattering as they felt the earth shake. I got a good turn, good stride to it and bleurgh, he just didn't lock on. So much for the under-riding rather than over-riding theory eh? :rolleyes: Irritatingly he then jumped the long route (right-hand corner, turn, left-hand corner) really well, but who's to say that if I'd tried that first he wouldn't have had the same problem. :confused: Got back in the groove and he was feeling good again, so just the new coffin and I was almost home. He was disunited on the turn, sorted himself a bit late so we didn't really have The Coffin Canter but I was chilled with it as he's not ditchy (famous last words), but he wasn't focused on the fence at all and stopped, shoved me up his neck, then knelt on the fence as I was just thinking about sitting up and that jink plopped me off. Oops! It was such a pathetic one I slid off with my PointTwo still attached and managed to unclip it without it going off. :D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N03dlBb6Ync

He was cute the second time though:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srkPdkkpJYg

So, lessons learnt were:

- don't take anything for granted :rolleyes:
- less isn't always more :p
- sit up, you floppy lump of lard :mad:

Bizarrely I was pleased to have got over my mental block with him and pleased with how he coped with most of the course, so at least I know where I am with him and what needs to happen from now on. :)

The Cheeky Boys next, or should that be The Cocky Boys, as it seems a week on Propell had turned them into little monsters. :mad: Jup did an ok test, just threatening to turn tail and run each time we came past the judge's car:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EX38yH9siyI

I was a bit irritated with him but SuperFran said it looked quite nice, so 37.5 was probably fair enough. Does he look tight through his back btw?

Cal came off the lorry with that certain swagger of one who knows what it's all about and views himself as an Eventing God. He strutted over to the warm-up, eyed the others with disdain and then proceeded to go so beautifully as to convince me we'd cracked it. Hmmm, he then decided dressage was for losers, so tried to do everything but what he was supposed to.:mad: You can see me getting annoyed and Pony Club kicking him to get him to go forward to the contact - classy, eh? :rolleyes:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N716uT5w9es

The judge very generously gave us 36.

He was a nightmare in the sj warm-up as it was really busy, and I don't think I got a straight stride the whole way round the course. When he's like that he doesn't make distances very well, so it wasn't unreasonable to try and get 5 in a 4 stride related, or it wouldn't have been if I'd sat up quicker, doh. :o

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edIKuBr3g3E

So one down and a time fault too. :(

Jup felt like he was promising me a clear round, just to cheer me up, but then we had Monster Alert at the wall, he got a smack for that which sent us hurtling round to the last fence on a less than perfect stride so he took that one out at the knees. He knew he shouldn't have done it but he just can't help himself some days: :mad:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1TxluCI1lU

I was onto the energy drink by now as I was starting to flag, so with a chat and a wave to Thistle and B, off I set xc on Jup. I almost forgave him for being a tinker in the showjumping as he hooned round, not even checking for ditch monsters (like he'd dare, after the showjumping!) He jumped the chair to pimple really well:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=De8SQSbnTEk

Scooted over the trakehner, coffin etc:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zo2jrx1XClg

And cantered through the water beautifully:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWI7N3ABSGQ

All in all a round to be happy with (says she, trying to put a positive spin on an otherwise rubbish day :p).

Finally Cal's turn to have some fun and boy oh boy did he feel confident! :eek: I'd put him in the nathe Cheltenham gag and it just made balancing him so easy and instant; in fact, I feel sure I should have won the prize for who could get the most strides between the chair and the pimple, as I got such an instant reaction from him. :p No vid of him I'm afraid, as SF went back to the lorry to clean tack while there was a long hold, so you'll have to take my word for it that I rode less like a numpty for that round. ;)

So there you have it, a bloomin' long day, not much to show for it other than bags under my eyes and some embarrassing video. Marty gets the Teacher's Pet prize this week as he had moments of feeling really super xc, so that made me very happy. :D

I can offer you Dr Karg's Sunflower and Emmental crispbreads and water - pathetic offerings, I know, but Ma Baydale appears to be on strike and I must have done the Tesco order when I was having a fat day as there were no biscuits or yummy things at all. :rolleyes:
 
Talking about Ma Baydale - you promised me collecting ring cake!

Great to see you on Sat, the long hold at least meant we had time for a chat. Hope you feel a bit more 'pingy' now and the herceptin is doing it's job.
 
Hello! I can't believe I'm replying on the first page instead of the last :eek: :D - blame the thunderstorm as I've scuttled inside to hide and eat for an hour (chilli - not a patch on your OH's but slightly less incendiary!) before braving the last two to school.

You do have some entertaining days, don't you? I'm very pleased that you and Marty are NBFs but I think that Jup should get the 'top marks for effort' SJing prize. Why tap a fence when you can take it out with your knees? ;)

I'm willing to believe you on Cal's XC round and like the idea of a nathe C Gag - an iron hand in a velvet glove? Top marks, and a fabby report! :D :D

Where next?
 
I saw you flying round the course on all three of the lovely bay boys, jup is very deep isn't he!! Marty was going so well till the corners and shame about the plop off!!! Have to day thought cal looked like a dude!!! Hope your feeling better
 
I'll pass on the crispbread, thank you, and go for some of those Kettle Chips I know you've got hidden away somewhere, along with some gin from that massive bottle - the tonic is, as always, optonal ;)

Ummmm, sounds like the loading dose made your day a tad more challenging than the walk-in-the-park it would otherwise have been, only involving a 4.30 start and three green baby boats to steer around a tough XC :p Hope your keel is returning to even...

The CBs sound like they had very solid days which is always pleasing when it is under somewhat adverse circumstances and the XC looks to have caused carnage :o They do, after all, take their job of constanty reminding you that patience is a virtue and "Enjoy the Journey" very seriously indeed :D As for Marty, great that you have got the first one back under your belts, you can build from here easily enough. And would have been far more annoying on a day when the judge had swooned and given him a 25.... Still, LAST?? Respect, I never thought you had it in you, girl :D :D
 
You are, quite simply, superwoman. How on earth you do all you do and ride so beautifully. I'm having a humble moment.

Every thought about taking up SJ? Turn up at 1pm, have lunch, pootle round some fences and go home? Much more appealing than all that rain! :D
 
Bless 'little' Marty, so glad you feel like you are getting back in the groove with him! He definitely deserves the TPs for not being a cocky boy (despite the Dressage freestyling!)

Disappointed at no Cal XC video, I'm starting to rather like him, but you know who's my fav ;) Despite his blatent lack of effort! :rolleyes:

I'm just about to tuck into Pork Chops and rather a lot of other comfort food, so I'll pass on the healthy schmuck :p Trying to feed myself up before Chef (also known as OH) disappears off to SA for 10 days and leaves me to fend for myself! :eek: :D
 
"I like BIG BUTT's and I cannot lie" sprang to mind when I clicked on Marty's dressage and saw him sache down the centre line :D Lovely to see him so svelte like ;):p

I think it looked like you had your work cut out for you, none of them looked especially easy and that was such a graceful dismount :D

Could not see anything especially wrong with Jup, he has a twee canter imo, doesn't really use himself behind, much like Boo :rolleyes:

Still, gotta give it to you girl, I think we should rename you Superwoman :D:D
 
A v v QR as I'm supposed to be doing something *important* at work :rollseyes: - blimey Moppy, a bit of herceptin then a day of pony wrestling - you haven't cottoned on to the concept of the weekend being for rest, have you ;) :D. No vid watching for us still hard at the coal face, but I'll save them for later in the week when I'm really down in the dumps, as the bay boys are so cheery that they always raise a smile.

Good stuff for Smarty, and nice to have the CBs being just casual enough to let you know that they're bored, and fancy an upgrade :p. I know, I know, you wanted prizes :rollseyes: but they're better at N, and you get points too, waaaaaay better :D
 
Ah your reports always make me chuckle! I think 9 lots of riding in one day is a hell of a lot, and adding on nasty drugs can't help. I do love some of the replies, whoever said Jup was deep (I'm guessing girth, not mentally) cracked me up, as did TD's reply which I scan-read as you having 3 baby goats to ride!

I must ask what posessed you to give the Cheeky Boys Propell?! Isn't that rocket fuel??!
 
drat you wizoz, now i'm going to have 'I like big butts and I cannot lie' running through my head every time i see Marty Pants. considering how happily he skipped over the fence before the water, i can totally understand your 'relaxed and trusting' moment to the coffin. the GIT.
i thought Jupe's jumping looked great, except that his 'last fence of the National' approach to the final sj was spectacularly unhelpful of him, i don't think i've ever seen you on a misser before, didn't know you had it in you. anyway, it woke him up before the xc, so all good.
Cal looked back to being an opinionated muppet in the sj i thought, but i'm glad he got it together and started listening a bit xc, nice pony-wrangling equipment there.
i suspect you're having more Empty Saddle Moments this winter and spring than over the last 20 years put together... those druqs really have affected your stickability, so pls can i suggest super-sticky breeches, I've found some and am a total convert. since i'm reliably informed that druqs like those feel like a big dose of 'flu x 1000, BIG respec'.
 
You gave the Cheekles Propell?! Nutter! I can't help but think of Kevin and Perry at their first rave......:D

Not sure where you get your energy from, perhaps you have been swigging the Propell too? Sounds like a good educational day - sometimes you learn the most about your horses on days like this. Where to next?
 
icestationzebra said:
You gave the Cheekles Propell?! Nutter! I can't help but think of Kevin and Perry at their first rave......:D
QUOTE]

LMAO that is exactly what I was thinking, like the time somebody told me to 'oat Touchy up' the day before an event. I just a more energetic and randomly directional horse than before!
Sounds like a day someone 'less demanding' would be pleased with, eh Kermy? ;)
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Baydale is there any chance I can hire you to come to competitions with me and give me a firm slap round the face before every phase to remind me I have no excuse to ride like a dingbat?! If there's a movement forming to grant you official superwoman status count me in :o
 
I think I'll join TD in searching for your Kettle Chips and gin which I know you'll have hidden away somewhere ;)

You gave the Cheeky Boys Propell?? Are you tired of living?? What the heck possessed you?? :eek:

So all things considered - drugs for you and speed (well it may as well have been) for the boys, it was a pretty good day. So pleased Smarty Pants has got his mojo back, he really is a dude. :)

At least you got to go XC...... :(
 
meardsall_millie said:
I think I'll join TD in searching for your Kettle Chips and gin which I know you'll have hidden away somewhere ;)

I think she keeps her Gin in her grooming kit.....

You gave the Cheeky Boys Propell?? Are you tired of living?? What the heck possessed you?? :eek:

I've heard of low boredom thresholds but this more like limbo dancing under poles of fire wearing a suit made of straw :D

So all things considered - drugs for you and speed (well it may as well have been) for the boys, it was a pretty good day. So pleased Smarty Pants has got his mojo back, he really is a dude. :)

At least you got to go XC...... :(
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Oh no! What happened? Is Jaffa Cake ok?
 
Most of us mere mortles would struggle with 3 in day and you manage a day after a day in hospital - totally mad!

I wish the propell would have some effct on Sarnie I try it by the gallon and it still the most laid back lazy toerag out!

Marty doesn't look easy well none of them do but a difference between cheeky and plain unhelpful. Hoping to see you in action at Houghton :D Can even offer a groom service if you need it (dressage allowing!)
 
Thistle said:
Talking about Ma Baydale - you promised me collecting ring cake!

Great to see you on Sat, the long hold at least meant we had time for a chat. Hope you feel a bit more 'pingy' now and the herceptin is doing it's job.
Click to expand...

Ah, yes, about the cake.....it didn't travel well so SF had to put it out of its misery. :o :D Sorry, I'll bring some when I come and visit HectorGasBag.

Was great to catch up with you and B, even if you got your ear bent by other competitors. :p I'm hoping my ping is back for next weekend although I've roped OH in to drive oop north as we're out partying the night before. :D
 
Gamebird said:
Hello! I can't believe I'm replying on the first page instead of the last :eek: :D - blame the thunderstorm as I've scuttled inside to hide and eat for an hour (chilli - not a patch on your OH's but slightly less incendiary!) before braving the last two to school.

You do have some entertaining days, don't you? I'm very pleased that you and Marty are NBFs but I think that Jup should get the 'top marks for effort' SJing prize. Why tap a fence when you can take it out with your knees? ;)

I'm willing to believe you on Cal's XC round and like the idea of a nathe C Gag - an iron hand in a velvet glove? Top marks, and a fabby report! :D :D

Where next?
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Hurrah for Gamebird making a front page appearance, good effort. :D

You could never accuse me of living a dull life, could you? And it seems to be all or nothing with my lot, s**t or bust, death or glory. :rolleyes: Richmond next weekend with the Baydale Seniors as my cheerleaders. ;)
 
Blimey i thought I had a tough day with a 4.30 alarm and two to event! But all those drugs and three?! You are amazing!! Hope not bruised from the unscheduled dismount!
 
lui23456 said:
I saw you flying round the course on all three of the lovely bay boys, jup is very deep isn't he!! Marty was going so well till the corners and shame about the plop off!!! Have to day thought cal looked like a dude!!! Hope your feeling better
Click to expand...

Thanks, lui23456, I'm feeling much better, even after a long day at work today. That did make me laugh about Jup being deep - very polite of you and yes he is, but not in a deep and meaningful way, that's for sure. :p It was definitely a character-forming day with Marty but bits really inspired me. And yes, Cal is definitely a dude, he's so confident now. :D
 
TableDancer said:
I'll pass on the crispbread, thank you, and go for some of those Kettle Chips I know you've got hidden away somewhere, along with some gin from that massive bottle - the tonic is, as always, optonal ;)

Ummmm, sounds like the loading dose made your day a tad more challenging than the walk-in-the-park it would otherwise have been, only involving a 4.30 start and three green baby boats to steer around a tough XC :p Hope your keel is returning to even...

The CBs sound like they had very solid days which is always pleasing when it is under somewhat adverse circumstances and the XC looks to have caused carnage :o They do, after all, take their job of constanty reminding you that patience is a virtue and "Enjoy the Journey" very seriously indeed :D As for Marty, great that you have got the first one back under your belts, you can build from here easily enough. And would have been far more annoying on a day when the judge had swooned and given him a 25.... Still, LAST?? Respect, I never thought you had it in you, girl :D :D
Click to expand...


Damn you, TD, I'd put the gin and Kettle Chips out of sight and out of mind in my efforts to restore my body to temple status. :p Mind you, by the time I walk to the kitchen I've forgotten what I've gone for... :o You'd have laughed at me giving myself a good talking to on Jup when I hooked to a couple of fences early on, but I was having to really concentrate by that point.

Do I get Dunce's Corner points for being last after dressage, rebel with a cause and all that? I didn't think I had it in me either, so maybe it's just a phase I'm going through? ;) :D
 
Wow! Are you sure you weren't on the Propel :confused::p Don't know where you get your energy from!! If that is your bad day it sounds pretty good to me!!:cool:
I think Marty would meet his match in B in the big butt stakes mind you! Have fun at Richmond. We are giving it a miss as would be 4 in a row but still have not spent my vouchers from August!!
 
measles said:
You are, quite simply, superwoman. How on earth you do all you do and ride so beautifully. I'm having a humble moment.

Every thought about taking up SJ? Turn up at 1pm, have lunch, pootle round some fences and go home? Much more appealing than all that rain! :D
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Awwww thanks, measles, but I rode like a numpty mainly and I won't be showing Lionel the vids as I know he'll be disappointed in me. :rolleyes:

Funny you should say about taking up showjumping as I'm just filling out a form for a bit of Cevin Z for our broodmare. ;) I wouldn't be able to afford to buy one so I thought I'd try and breed one instead. :)
 
kirstyhen said:
Bless 'little' Marty, so glad you feel like you are getting back in the groove with him! He definitely deserves the TPs for not being a cocky boy (despite the Dressage freestyling!)

Disappointed at no Cal XC video, I'm starting to rather like him, but you know who's my fav ;) Despite his blatent lack of effort! :rolleyes:

I'm just about to tuck into Pork Chops and rather a lot of other comfort food, so I'll pass on the healthy schmuck :p Trying to feed myself up before Chef (also known as OH) disappears off to SA for 10 days and leaves me to fend for myself! :eek: :D
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I'm really looking forward to Marty getting back out there regularly - he could be Teacher's Pet for a while if TP points are gained for trying hard. There'll be Cal vid from next weekend, definitely, as Pa Baydale is a dab hand with the camcorder. :D

OMG at you being home alone for 10 days. :eek: Could he not cook you some meals to go in the freezer? ;)
 
wizoz said:
"I like BIG BUTT's and I cannot lie" sprang to mind when I clicked on Marty's dressage and saw him sache down the centre line :D Lovely to see him so svelte like ;):p

I think it looked like you had your work cut out for you, none of them looked especially easy and that was such a graceful dismount :D

Could not see anything especially wrong with Jup, he has a twee canter imo, doesn't really use himself behind, much like Boo :rolleyes:

Still, gotta give it to you girl, I think we should rename you Superwoman :D:D
Click to expand...

Now look what you've done, wizoz, that's stuck in my head and I'll be singing it endlessly. Very apt though. :D

They were all a bit tricky one way or another, but I'll know to lay off the Propell in future. Saying that, I don't know what Marty's excuse was as he'd not had any...:mad:
 
deskbound said:
A v v QR as I'm supposed to be doing something *important* at work :rollseyes: - blimey Moppy, a bit of herceptin then a day of pony wrestling - you haven't cottoned on to the concept of the weekend being for rest, have you ;) :D. No vid watching for us still hard at the coal face, but I'll save them for later in the week when I'm really down in the dumps, as the bay boys are so cheery that they always raise a smile.

Good stuff for Smarty, and nice to have the CBs being just casual enough to let you know that they're bored, and fancy an upgrade :p. I know, I know, you wanted prizes :rollseyes: but they're better at N, and you get points too, waaaaaay better :D
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I can rest during the week, weekends are for pony partying. :D You'll titter when you see the vid of me plopping off, I know you will. :rolleyes: And if you don't mutter "little beggar" under your breath whilst watching Jup showjump I'll be surprised.

I'll reserve judgement about N and prizes and all that stuff that I dream of :p until I've got next weekend out of the way. :D
 
tigers_eye said:
Ah your reports always make me chuckle! I think 9 lots of riding in one day is a hell of a lot, and adding on nasty drugs can't help. I do love some of the replies, whoever said Jup was deep (I'm guessing girth, not mentally) cracked me up, as did TD's reply which I scan-read as you having 3 baby goats to ride!

I must ask what posessed you to give the Cheeky Boys Propell?! Isn't that rocket fuel??!
Click to expand...

My threads always seem to bring out the battiest of the Mad Old Bags, and the wittiest of responses - nothing to do with me, I'm sure, just the circumstances. I was LOL-ing when I read them all, so thanks everyone. :D

I *thought* that the CBs might need a bit of oomph as they've had a lot on lately and I didn't want them running out of gas.....I'll know not to be so stoopid in future. :rolleyes:
 
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