Freya the ex- racehorse's first ODE

rising_promise

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Hi everyone. I've posted a few things about Freya before but this was her first ODE and I've been planning this since I got her in November!! ;)

Just a bit of background to start you off. Freya is 5 years old. She's raced 27 times between the ages of 2 and 4 and I got her in November to hopefully retrain and event... that was the plan anyway!

This was her when she arrived. She finished racing April 2012 and then was let down for 6 months to chill before I got her.
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This is her now
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We've been slowly plugging away with her schooling and jumping. Going to lots of small competitions and she's been a star- winning lots of frillies including lots of red ones :)

Anyway, after taking her XC schooling a couple of times and her being brill, I decided to enter our RC ODE at a local venue to see if she took to it.

She's always been a chilled out cookie really and isn't phased by much (apart from sheep and maybe cows!) and generally does a nice dressage test. Nothing flashy at the moment as she's still unbalanced and on the forehand but we've won Prelims at unaff level so it's not too shabby. It was her first test on grass so I knew it would feel different for her but she did a nice relaxed test. Disappointed with a mark of 40.5 as this would be the lowest mark we've ever got but looking at the section, we were still in the top third and there was a 60 so think the judge just got out of the wrong side of bed!

Next was SJ. She's very careful for TB so I wasn't particularly worried and 2ft6 is within her comfort zone so she popped round for a nice clear. Link to vid on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151753604140141&set=vb.740160140&type=2&theater

Then onto XC. I had all the usual concerns- will she go out of the start box or nap to the others?! She's not really a nappy horse but you never know when they've not done it before do you. Well, what can I say but she was amazing! Flew round really confidently and I was over the moon!!Here's a vid of the first 3 jumps

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151753632930141&set=vb.740160140&type=2&theater

We came to the last 3 jumps being clear all the way and then I made a mistake with my line to a double and we missed the second part. I was so angry with myself because I completely overshot the turn and ended up jumping the first part on such an angle there was no way I was going to haul her over the second part so we cantered past it and represented, where upon she popped through neatly- and straight this time no thanks to me! Then came to 2 steps up 1 stride to a palisade where I'm just not sure she understood and stopped at the bottom, brought her back round and she hopped up and over happily then onto the water which was the last jump. Had a bit of a dither but went through, up the step and over some rails to finish. Vid of the water dither and finish

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151754631285141&set=vb.740160140&type=2&theater

Over the moon with her she just takes everything in her stride. Entered the unaff Pre Intro class at Borde Hill this weekend. Really excited about her future :)
 
Well done! :smile3: she is looking fab now, I hope you have fun with her! I'm at BH on Sat too, but in the last section so times will be quite late, good luck! :biggrin3:
 
Well done! :smile3: she is looking fab now, I hope you have fun with her! I'm at BH on Sat too, but in the last section so times will be quite late, good luck! :biggrin3:

Thank you :)

I'm last to go in Section D, the last 80 section so will be late too I would think. Hope the rain holds off!
 
She looks very happy with her new life. Its lovely when they have a nice outlook like she seems to have.
Well done on your progress so far
 
She looks very happy with her new life. Its lovely when they have a nice outlook like she seems to have.
Well done on your progress so far

Thanks Dixie.

She has such a great attitude to work. Always wants to please and tries her best with new things. I think she'll be really talented as she does have a fantastic attitude and will give anything a go.
 
She is just lovely!!

Yes, she is rather lush I must say :)

I am useless at report writing- realised I've forgotten to put the actual jumping photo in! Please forgive me looking awful though, don't quote know what happened to my position!
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And a dressage one from a couple of weeks ago because she's so pretty :)
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:D :D Well if my little Jim Jam follows in her hoof prints then I am going to be one very happy camper!! She looks absolutely superb, you have done a cracking job with her.... so apologies in advance for all the ear chewing I'm going to be doing over the next few months! Hopefully we will get the girls out together somewhere in the near future and they can share stories about their racing adventures and time with K :D
 
Lex, not sure we'll be at the same place at the same time- Jam looks like she'll be ready for Badders next year the way you two are going! :)

Thanks BeckyD, appreciate everyone's lovely comments about my little ginger ninja!
 
She looks fab. I just wanted to say thanks for posting this. I'm at the start of retraining my ex-racehorse so it's great to see what can be archived it just reaffirms that it all worth it. We're still at the trying to get her on the bit stage so a looooong way to go yet. Though she was trying really hard today.
 
Thanks DizzyMare. Its lovely producing any young horse but with an ex racer, i just feel a bit more proud that I've given her a chance to have another career and hopefully a happier life :)

Good luck with yours!
 
wow you have made such a change in her! Love the jumping shot she looks so pleased to be doing it - seems she is not your 'typical chestnut TB mare' :)
 
Thank you tobiano. She has her moments but generally is a very genuine young lady. Such a trier, cannot recommend a ginger girly highly enough!
 
You've done a fantastic job with her - she's gorgeous and a huge credit to you. You omitted to say that the double caused no end of problems on Sunday ;)

Great result and good luck at BH!

(oh and if she turns into a he, you know I've swapped her for my ginjaninja who is being a bu**er!)
 
She looks so keen and cute in that XC photo :) Clever ginger pony!

Well done, good luck at your next outing.
 
Thanks lolo, she is a very clever ginger pony.

Took her out for a hack tonight and she was full of it, very pleased with herself after Sunday I think :)
 
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