vam
Well-Known Member
I thought I would do a report of my weekend, mainly because Im dead chuffed and want to share. There was a post recently where the general consensus was that low level show jumping has some of the worst riders so I apologise now if I offend anyone! 
After our success the other month (read, got round, stayed on horse, didnt die or pass out,) I thought I would venture back to Coombelands as its now my local venue and see if we can repeat out success.
Didnt start off very well as discovered loads of sleepy wasps in the lorry thanks to a wasp nest nearby. Had to take the lorry down near the stables to flush them out and that was apparently very exciting for young Jools who got very impatient to get going. Loaded and started scrapping which she hasnt done the last couple of trips out, she travels fine thou.
Got to venue only for her to really start up again, not ideal as she didnt really settle once off (its a hard choice, leave her to get on with it and get herself in a tizz and potentially hurt herself and damage the lorry or get off like she wants). She didnt really settle off the lorry either, normally she just eats but where we parked there was no other horses really although she could hear them over the hedge in warm up and in the rest of lorry park. Plan for future is to park near others so she can see them and she should settle more on the lorry, she has to learn to stand as its not always possible to tie up outside.
Anyway after going backwards and forwards between the ring and the lorry I finally got to walk the course for the 80cm. When I went last time is was a nice course, nothing massive, this time I came out thinking it looked bigger than an 80cm but put that down to not having my eye in after not competing for so long. Got tacked up without too many dramas (thankfully I had just got her bridle on when someone trotted though the lorry park past us, I think it might just be me that finds it a bit rude. Im getting old and grumpy I think). Got flung on and we were off. Didnt have many until me so went straight into the warm up. Now my mare is not known for being excitable so I was quite surprised when I put my leg on I had turbo power. Canter was forward (and not quite what I wanted at the time but Ill use what I get!) she was coming back to me ok but half halts where not as good as I would have liked (homework for us).
I, however, could not see a stride for toffee, Im rubbish at the best of times but I had a couple of right old flyers. My fab oh calmly asked was I looking at the fence? Yes I was. I know not to and I know if I do my canter and stride goes to pot. Kick up the butt and much better jumps, you know actually taking off at the right point and not looking like Im haling a cab.
Off we went into the ring and she jumped a lovely round for me, still lacking half halts and still some questionable strides but she was forward and even when she had a real wobble at one, went off my leg. Super pleased with her and we somehow managed 6th. Mainly because the first section had all the wizzy ponies!
80cm vid http://youtu.be/eSkv0_YwNHc
I entered the 90cm because last time the 80cm looked small and I thought the 90cm would be doable, I now think they were having an easy day that day as I walked the 90cm and came out thinking I might just go home! I was bigger than a lot of BNs Ive jumped but again I have been out of the game for 3 years so figured it was me being a wuss. That is until my oh overheard a few others come out and say it was a really big 90cm, it didnt really make me feel any better thou. The first part was ok but the jo looked nearer 1m than I would have liked. My main wobbles where, we havent been training over anything that big, its our second show together, her second ever, she hadnt done a 90cm before. So overall I wasnt keen!
Decided I would jump the first part and see how we go, number 10 which was in the jo was a double with an oxer in and looked big to me and the last was a triple bar which I have issues with so was happy to pull up after 9. Warmed up quickly as I managed to get in early, I dont think I had her listening as well as I would have like but she was forward which I what I wanted.
Of course she was a star. Popped round and made it all feel easy. Rolled a pole at 8 which was the first fence of the jo, I sat like a lemon staring at the fence hoping something would happen, obviously it didnt and we got deep and she didnt clear it. Jumped over 10 fine, had a bit of a communication error round the corner going to 11 as she thought we had finished when I brought her back to trot as she had gone disunited but she jumped 12 easily. Big pats and smiles.
90cm vid https://youtu.be/EYjibaRTO14
She was still a bit of a twit back at the lorry, I was knackered so I was hoping she might be a bit pooped out, clearly not!
One of my flyers, living up to the show jumping persona!
Better, thankfully
Big smiles
No more for us this year, trainer has seen the vids and has ideas on what we need to work on so will just concentrate on training until New Year, Ill then give her an easy time of it and bit of time off during the bad weather with the aim of coming out raring to go in spring. Do love my little mare even if she is an impatient pain in the butt.
After our success the other month (read, got round, stayed on horse, didnt die or pass out,) I thought I would venture back to Coombelands as its now my local venue and see if we can repeat out success.
Didnt start off very well as discovered loads of sleepy wasps in the lorry thanks to a wasp nest nearby. Had to take the lorry down near the stables to flush them out and that was apparently very exciting for young Jools who got very impatient to get going. Loaded and started scrapping which she hasnt done the last couple of trips out, she travels fine thou.
Got to venue only for her to really start up again, not ideal as she didnt really settle once off (its a hard choice, leave her to get on with it and get herself in a tizz and potentially hurt herself and damage the lorry or get off like she wants). She didnt really settle off the lorry either, normally she just eats but where we parked there was no other horses really although she could hear them over the hedge in warm up and in the rest of lorry park. Plan for future is to park near others so she can see them and she should settle more on the lorry, she has to learn to stand as its not always possible to tie up outside.
Anyway after going backwards and forwards between the ring and the lorry I finally got to walk the course for the 80cm. When I went last time is was a nice course, nothing massive, this time I came out thinking it looked bigger than an 80cm but put that down to not having my eye in after not competing for so long. Got tacked up without too many dramas (thankfully I had just got her bridle on when someone trotted though the lorry park past us, I think it might just be me that finds it a bit rude. Im getting old and grumpy I think). Got flung on and we were off. Didnt have many until me so went straight into the warm up. Now my mare is not known for being excitable so I was quite surprised when I put my leg on I had turbo power. Canter was forward (and not quite what I wanted at the time but Ill use what I get!) she was coming back to me ok but half halts where not as good as I would have liked (homework for us).
I, however, could not see a stride for toffee, Im rubbish at the best of times but I had a couple of right old flyers. My fab oh calmly asked was I looking at the fence? Yes I was. I know not to and I know if I do my canter and stride goes to pot. Kick up the butt and much better jumps, you know actually taking off at the right point and not looking like Im haling a cab.
Off we went into the ring and she jumped a lovely round for me, still lacking half halts and still some questionable strides but she was forward and even when she had a real wobble at one, went off my leg. Super pleased with her and we somehow managed 6th. Mainly because the first section had all the wizzy ponies!
80cm vid http://youtu.be/eSkv0_YwNHc
I entered the 90cm because last time the 80cm looked small and I thought the 90cm would be doable, I now think they were having an easy day that day as I walked the 90cm and came out thinking I might just go home! I was bigger than a lot of BNs Ive jumped but again I have been out of the game for 3 years so figured it was me being a wuss. That is until my oh overheard a few others come out and say it was a really big 90cm, it didnt really make me feel any better thou. The first part was ok but the jo looked nearer 1m than I would have liked. My main wobbles where, we havent been training over anything that big, its our second show together, her second ever, she hadnt done a 90cm before. So overall I wasnt keen!
Decided I would jump the first part and see how we go, number 10 which was in the jo was a double with an oxer in and looked big to me and the last was a triple bar which I have issues with so was happy to pull up after 9. Warmed up quickly as I managed to get in early, I dont think I had her listening as well as I would have like but she was forward which I what I wanted.
Of course she was a star. Popped round and made it all feel easy. Rolled a pole at 8 which was the first fence of the jo, I sat like a lemon staring at the fence hoping something would happen, obviously it didnt and we got deep and she didnt clear it. Jumped over 10 fine, had a bit of a communication error round the corner going to 11 as she thought we had finished when I brought her back to trot as she had gone disunited but she jumped 12 easily. Big pats and smiles.
90cm vid https://youtu.be/EYjibaRTO14
She was still a bit of a twit back at the lorry, I was knackered so I was hoping she might be a bit pooped out, clearly not!
One of my flyers, living up to the show jumping persona!
Better, thankfully
Big smiles
No more for us this year, trainer has seen the vids and has ideas on what we need to work on so will just concentrate on training until New Year, Ill then give her an easy time of it and bit of time off during the bad weather with the aim of coming out raring to go in spring. Do love my little mare even if she is an impatient pain in the butt.
