From ALW unaff 90cm ODe at the weekend (mini-report)

BeckyD

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Hi All

I wasn't going to bother doing a report as the results were a bit depressing. But, the pictures are lovely, and I wanted to share them because I think Bill looks lovely! Great pictures by the Julia Shearwood team. So here's a mini-report:

* Dressage - 39.5 remarkably generous for a duck-impeded test. Thank you to whoever moved them from my arena during my test :). Sadly Bill remained in "flight" mode.
* SJ - warmed up nicely, so I was a bit disappointed with a stop at the fence jumping towards the scary corner that had the spare jumps piled up. Otherwise ok, if a little fast (at least no TF). Nowhere near touching anything :).
* XC - started ok over 1st, then drifted right towards collecting ring, I didn't correct, so wiggly worm to 2 and 3, got over both with a lot of encouragement. Then flew round apart from a stop at 5a, 8a and 14a. Annoyingly jumped great on 2nd presentation. 19.2 TF not bad for 3 stops bearing in mind we be slow at the best of times :rolleyes:

Anyway, on to the good bit! The pictures!

Over fence 7:
http://www.equestrianphotography.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1591_2705_2707_2713&products_id=176935

and
http://www.equestrianphotography.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1591_2705_2707_2713&products_id=176936

Over fence 8a and 8b (stopped at 8a on first attempt):
http://www.equestrianphotography.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1591_2705_2708_2718&products_id=177347

http://www.equestrianphotography.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1591_2705_2708_2718&products_id=177348

Over fence 11:
http://www.equestrianphotography.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1591_2705_2707_2713&products_id=176937

That's the end of our season I think. I need to learn to ride him properly (as per my earlier posts) and get these refusals eradicated before next season. It's been utterly amazing getting to do these things - so many years I have dreamt of it and ok, this year hasn't been great in terms of results, but really I am happy just to be out and about. When you've had 9 years of lame horses, you take what you can get and are grateful for it ;)

Hotel Chocolat 40% milk chocolate to anyone and everyone (please stop me eating it!) :D
 
They are good snaps especially 8a - They always make a great shape over the ones they don't like lol

You've got ALLL winter to practice now :)
 
Ladylina83 - thank you! He does make a nice shape :) Hmm think we're going to need all winter! I have somehow managed to stop a jumping machine from jumping :o (only I could manage that).

mrogers - thank you - he's very scopey and he'd the jump the moon as long as it wasn't surrounded by ducks, or part of a combination, or indeed as long as I wasn't riding him at the time :rolleyes:

Positive thinking - we'll get through this blip!
 
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Thats for being negative :p
 
Lovely photo's, well done.

I reckon someone should suggest to ALW that they round up the ducks, pre-event, and serve them in pancakes with plum sauce to the jump judges for lunch !
 
Lovely photo's, well done.

I reckon someone should suggest to ALW that they round up the ducks, pre-event, and serve them in pancakes with plum sauce to the jump judges for lunch !

Thank you.

Completely agree, those s*dding ducks were everywhere! Bill started to imagine them as well - anything that moved he leapt away from, and decided to remain in flight mode constantly lest a rogue duck appear when he was least expecting it.

Poor people had them wandering across the XC course as well. Unfortunately I can't blame our XC errors on the ducks. Some others can, though, and really they're a bit of an unexpected hazard. Will now have to do a spot of duck-proofing before next season, on the presumption that a number of them will escape the crispy Peking duck fate.
 
Ladylina83 - thank you! He does make a nice shape :) Hmm think we're going to need all winter! I have somehow managed to stop a jumping machine from jumping :o (only I could manage that).

Positive thinking - we'll get through this blip!

Haha Nope you are looking at another one - at this moment in time I am petrified of a lump in the ground - my nerves and her excitement is resulting in nothing more than me landing on the floor or us going in the wrong direction ! I'm bringing my WH pony back into work after breeding and all was going well until she became fit and I realised I had actually forgotten how to ride - I need a serious battle plan !! - your lovely photos did nothing but make me feel inferior and resulted in desk sobbing (..... ok I'm being dramatic ......but only slightly )

You should be proud of yourself
 
Haha Nope you are looking at another one - at this moment in time I am petrified of a lump in the ground - my nerves and her excitement is resulting in nothing more than me landing on the floor or us going in the wrong direction ! I'm bringing my WH pony back into work after breeding and all was going well until she became fit and I realised I had actually forgotten how to ride - I need a serious battle plan !! - your lovely photos did nothing but make me feel inferior and resulted in desk sobbing (..... ok I'm being dramatic ......but only slightly )

You should be proud of yourself

Baby steps - it's the only way! You'll get a long way before you realise it. Oh, and Rescue Remedy - brilliant stuff. I think after time off riding it's easy to think you've deteriorated more than you have. Have faith :) Oh, and wear a body protector if bringing fresh horse back into work ;)

Thank you, I do appreciate what you've said, it makes me feel better as I do feel pretty rubbish at the moment, potentially spoiling a lovely horse with a heart of gold.
 
Baby steps - it's the only way! You'll get a long way before you realise it. Oh, and Rescue Remedy - brilliant stuff. I think after time off riding it's easy to think you've deteriorated more than you have. Have faith :) Oh, and wear a body protector if bringing fresh horse back into work ;)

Thank you, I do appreciate what you've said, it makes me feel better as I do feel pretty rubbish at the moment, potentially spoiling a lovely horse with a heart of gold.

I read something today ....

I don't believe in failure, because simply by saying you've failed, you've admitted you attempted. And anyone who attempts is not a failure. Those who truly fail in my eyes are the ones who never try at all. The ones who sit on the couch and whine and moan and wait for the world to change for them

I fell off last night for the 1st time in years and it has really dinted me +bruised my ankle got back on though and worked her - Have spoken to my instructor today and she is going to live there for a few weeks while I am away on holiday, work on getting her back into her job then we can work on me, at the moment I am going into a fence thinking allsorts ...the last thing I think is we are going over this and onto the next one ! Very frustrated with myself - thanks for listening
 
Well done B - you both look great. It will all come together, you have only been together a short while, I am just so pleased that you are getting a chance to do all of things that you have always wanted to do.

And in no way are you spoiling him - dont be daft woman!
 
CAH7 - thank you :)

CBAnglo - thank you! I still find myself thinking "Ronnie would never have done that" when Bill stops at something ;) But I know I shouldn't think that, and Bill is lovely and giving me so much fun and letting me do all these things I only dreamt of! :D

OneInAMillion - thank you! :)
 
I read something today ....

I don't believe in failure, because simply by saying you've failed, you've admitted you attempted. And anyone who attempts is not a failure. Those who truly fail in my eyes are the ones who never try at all. The ones who sit on the couch and whine and moan and wait for the world to change for them

I fell off last night for the 1st time in years and it has really dinted me +bruised my ankle got back on though and worked her - Have spoken to my instructor today and she is going to live there for a few weeks while I am away on holiday, work on getting her back into her job then we can work on me, at the moment I am going into a fence thinking allsorts ...the last thing I think is we are going over this and onto the next one ! Very frustrated with myself - thanks for listening

I like that quote!

Ouch - sounds painful! But sounds like a bit of boot camp at your instructor's yard will sort her out and get her back on the straight and narrow, then hopefully you will not have to worry about her, and concentrate on you instead. When I first started jumping after 2 years off it due to lameness problems of my last horse, I couldn't for the life of me figure out how a horse is supposed to get from one side to the other, with me on top. I had a complete mental freeze about the whole thing. Finally got my head round it watching SJ on tv :D After a few jumping sessions it started to feel normal again. I was over-thinking it before. You might be doing the same? Good luck, and hope your ankle recovers soon!
 
Yay well done, after a winter of practice you will be fab next yr!!! Don't forget to cheer me on Sunday!!! I need the encouragement!

I'll be cheering you on, don't worry!! And you'll be fine, you won't be needing the encouragement! She'll skip round there :D

Remember to wear her out about a bit before you set off so that you have brakes :)
 
What lovely photos - your horse is stunning and looks to be jumping beautifully. I'm sure with a bit more confidence and positive riding you will be getting those clears next year!

BTW, my daughter's horse fell in love with the ALW ducks whilst he was there earlier this year, although I must admit he didn't have to put up with them in his dressage arena or showjumping ring. However, we are seriously planning to buy a couple of ducks and build a duck house and pen in front of him stable to entertain him!:D
 
What lovely photos - your horse is stunning and looks to be jumping beautifully. I'm sure with a bit more confidence and positive riding you will be getting those clears next year!

BTW, my daughter's horse fell in love with the ALW ducks whilst he was there earlier this year, although I must admit he didn't have to put up with them in his dressage arena or showjumping ring. However, we are seriously planning to buy a couple of ducks and build a duck house and pen in front of him stable to entertain him!:D

Thank you! He's so lovely I just had to share the pictures. I'm very lucky :D

I can't believe your daughter's horse fell in love with the ducks! That's hilarious! His very own ducks - haha - now that is spoiling your horse ;) (in a nice way).

Unfortunately Bill's view on the ducks was that they were primed to attack, and he thought he could be brave for me and just snort a lot and roll his eyes in a menacing "little duck you come near me and I'll turn you into crispy shredded duck" fashion, until they started quacking all at once, at which point his bravery failed him and we had to run away quickly.
 
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