Futurity Take 2... Wish me luck!

GinnieRedwings

GinnieRedwings

Well-Known Member
Joined
5 February 2009
Messages
1,181
Location
Norfolk
Visit site
I'm running this little lady bred by me, but now belonging to a friend at the Futurity at Writtle College in Chelmsford today:

picture.php


She's entered in 2 year old eventers. We have practised really hard and even hired an indoor school off site to try and prepare her for it and bless her she has not put a foot wrong. I just hope the evaluators like her... because I do!!!

With the rotten luck I've had with the foal this year, I could do with a few vibes sent my way... Vibes about 4pm today would be greatly appreciated ;)
 
Thanks everyone. We got a first premium, which was nice.

Gaia was unbelievably well behaved after travelling 2 1/2 hours by herself for the very first time and when confronted with unfamiliar environment, instead of panicking, just reverted to her training and got on with the job. The judge commented on her "workmanlike" attitude - which was great.

One thing however really really annoyed me, which was that the judges felt she lacked "presence" and that her attitude lacked vavavoom for eventing. This is I suppose one of my bug bears. The fact that we spent enough time training this 2 YEAR OLD horse to make her confident enough to get on with her job and still listen to us in a completely unfamiliar situation, where she spooked at nothing, behaved like an old pro and then walked straight back onto the trailer without batting an eyelid actually went AGAINST her.

If we had just pulled her out of the field and chucked her in that arena, where she would have grown to 18hh, snorted like a dragon and spooked at everything in sight, that would have somehow made her better suited for eventing? She has plenty of heart & vavavoom. She just does it in a controled manner, on command!!! which in my opinion is much safer on a cross country course - and she is scared of nothing!

Anyway, apart from that, I felt most of the less positive comments were very justified. One thing I would do diferently to show her at her very best on the day would be to hire a stable so that she had time to rest after the trip and also warm her up better before getting into the arena - she effectively was stood still with a little bit of walk in hand for about 5 hours prior to getting in (with grooming, plaiting, travelling then waiting to go in), which meant she was stiffer than he would have been normally.

Mad Arab Lady, was yours that stunning chestnut with 4 white socks? How did he do? x
 
Just got back from the Writtle Futurity with my two foals. One Welsh D cross TB , the other TB cross Welsh D cross TB . They both scored the highest vet score of the series so far, 9.5. The vet was commenting on how many youngsters have enlarged joints. Shows I'm on the right track with my breeding programme, and that the native /TB crosses can hold their own with the warmbloods.
One of my foals was highest scoring event foal, the other just below him and Reserve. They were also 4th and 5th highest score for the whole day. Was I chuffed!!!!
 
Thanks for that.I went there very pessimistic, because I thought he was very backward and rather weedy. Just goes to show how differently things turn out! Neither of them have been prepped at all, due to my having an operation, so didn't expect that result at all!
Pics of them both,
Cundlegreen Enquirer, Highest event score of 8.86

enquirermuffinbef.jpg


Cundlegreen Early Bird, Reserve highest score 8.82

DSC_0012.jpg
 
Some great results for the HHOers.:D
My foal changed from being uber confident, bordering on cocky at home to a scardy cat in the arena and didn't show himself to his advantage at all. Still awarded a 1st Premium though a bit lower mark than might have been if he'd not done an impersonation of an alpaca!:rolleyes:


I agree that some of the comments didn't tally with the brief on the sheet. EG Under Attitude for dressage it states they should be alert and attentive showing considerable interest in their surroundings. Mine got the comment of 'A bit nosey but good and workmanlike'.
Surely if he was nosey then he was 'showing considerable interest in his surroundings'?:confused:
 
We were there too with our event yearling - she got a higher 1st premium and highest score event yearling.

Very pleased as she has been imitating a seaside donkey recently - judges commented on her laid back attitude. To be honest if she were more laid back sometimes she'd be asleep. Just need to work on getting her to march out a little more in walk. In fairness she is kept at Writtle so probably didn't think anything of being there. I suspect that she'll be a bit livelier at Osberton in the In-Hand class next month.........!
 
Bedlam said:
We were there too with our event yearling - she got a higher 1st premium and highest score event yearling.
Click to expand...

Could you do a picture or a link to your yearling please, we wanted to take Spoon to Plumpton but couldn't. Would be interested to see yours. x
 
Will do - as soon as I can find some recent ones......I may wait until the pro pics are up from Writtle. May give you a better idea?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top