Fiona
Well-Known Member
Picked Flo up from instructor's yard. Running a bit late by the time we got her plaited and loaded all her gear from her fortnight's stay. Fortunately event is less than an hour away and have been before, so can follow all the tiny directional signs. Thought FLo might have been pleased to see me, but no such luck. Perhaps she is sulking with me for sending her away to boarding school.
Had av relaxing day actually. Only one horse, v compact site so everything central. Times good, dressaged at 10.30, SJ 2.30, XC about 4.30.
Anyway her dressage looked good (much better than I could do anyway - I always let her poll come too low and we get on the forehand comments). Got a score of 39.5 and the only place she lost marks was the free walk where she stretched and then looked up again so only got a 5, rest 7's and a few 6's.
Hows this for a square halt (her head had come up just before this though).....
The SJ was in a gorgeous big indoor with a waxed surface, but v spooky for a youngster with a viewing gallery and lots of people standing about.
She jumped a lovely v relaxed clear. Same rhythm all the way through and she touched only the v last fence (which luckily stayed put). Two doubles, a one stride and a two stride.
XC was nice, really educational. The water is a river crossing, and because of the rain the last few days here it was higher than the max allowed so it was flagged as a hazard instead of a jump and there was a bridge beside it as an alternative. However there was a huge set of down steps at the end of the course which caused a lot of problems, as did the 2 logs on a bank which were jumped away from the collecting ring and parking.
She didn't have any problems though, and was v straight and accurate unlike some of the other youngsters.
After the dressage and sJ she was about 12th, so we waited for the results only a chance of a placing, but it turned out that the XC was more influential than I thought and couldn't believe it when OH came running over to say that she was 6th.
I know it's only an intro, but it was her first ever EI event (only third ever), and she's won 2 rosettes and a cup in the last 8 days. Some trip to boarding school!!! I would leave her a bit longer if I could afford it. So grateful to instructor for giving her such a lovely unstressed confidence giving day.
She's now in the field stuffing herself and telling the other 2 fatso's all about her adventures.
What a mammoth report (making up for last week I suppose as I was away and didn't see her compete). Days like this make the stress she puts me under a lot of the time worthwhile (she is an accident prone mare to say the least).
Well done all who got to the end.
Might be able to get link to pro pics later as I have forgotten their website address at the moment.
( a v relieved and pleased) Fiona
Had av relaxing day actually. Only one horse, v compact site so everything central. Times good, dressaged at 10.30, SJ 2.30, XC about 4.30.
Anyway her dressage looked good (much better than I could do anyway - I always let her poll come too low and we get on the forehand comments). Got a score of 39.5 and the only place she lost marks was the free walk where she stretched and then looked up again so only got a 5, rest 7's and a few 6's.
Hows this for a square halt (her head had come up just before this though).....
The SJ was in a gorgeous big indoor with a waxed surface, but v spooky for a youngster with a viewing gallery and lots of people standing about.
She jumped a lovely v relaxed clear. Same rhythm all the way through and she touched only the v last fence (which luckily stayed put). Two doubles, a one stride and a two stride.
XC was nice, really educational. The water is a river crossing, and because of the rain the last few days here it was higher than the max allowed so it was flagged as a hazard instead of a jump and there was a bridge beside it as an alternative. However there was a huge set of down steps at the end of the course which caused a lot of problems, as did the 2 logs on a bank which were jumped away from the collecting ring and parking.
She didn't have any problems though, and was v straight and accurate unlike some of the other youngsters.
After the dressage and sJ she was about 12th, so we waited for the results only a chance of a placing, but it turned out that the XC was more influential than I thought and couldn't believe it when OH came running over to say that she was 6th.
I know it's only an intro, but it was her first ever EI event (only third ever), and she's won 2 rosettes and a cup in the last 8 days. Some trip to boarding school!!! I would leave her a bit longer if I could afford it. So grateful to instructor for giving her such a lovely unstressed confidence giving day.
She's now in the field stuffing herself and telling the other 2 fatso's all about her adventures.
What a mammoth report (making up for last week I suppose as I was away and didn't see her compete). Days like this make the stress she puts me under a lot of the time worthwhile (she is an accident prone mare to say the least).
Well done all who got to the end.
Might be able to get link to pro pics later as I have forgotten their website address at the moment.
( a v relieved and pleased) Fiona
