Go CS!!!! Swallowfield BD report:

Prince33Sp4rkle

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Well, we drove through rain, hail, sleet, snow and gale force winds en route :( The drive was punctuated with the occasional "uuuuurrrrgggh" from either myself or NMT as the weather got worse and worse....and worse......however 5mins from Swallowfield the rain cleared up and I actually did most of my warm up in sunshine :) (So as much as the gold stirrups are hated, they are now doubly lucky and here to stay lol!)

They were only running AM98 and of the 5 entries, 1 was Maria Eilberg and 3 were Eilberg pupils (one riding Torino!!!)......and me! :eek:

He warmed up really really well, nicely forward in to the contact and almost coming off the corner and going medium of his own accord (which is how I need him initially, he's so easy to sit back that he needs to take a good strong pull in the stretching work).

Only had one moment that made everyone (incl Ferdi E) gulp - gave him a bit of a reminder in a walk piri (for being a lazy half asleep toe rag) and he went absolutely vertical.......hung for a few seconds.....then somehow managed to go even higher without touching down, then hung there again before coming back to earth :mad: but took the resulting telling off in good humour and didn't do it again!

Didnt start the test too well, halted like a 3 legged laminitic camel, but pulled his socks up afterwards.....was pretty pleased with how I rode for once, all I could think was that if I didn't keep my reins short and my hands forward, NMT was going to take me in to a corner of the lorry park and beat me to a pulp!!!

Made a few green errors, jogged in the walk, not once, not twice but three times, and took several strides to hit his rhythm in the ext trot but I don't mind him being keen and sharp, just got to find the balance.

I let the walk piri's be a bit on the large side ;) and stupidly rode my 8m circles too big and overshot the CL in one HP, so still loads to improve on but it was so nice to come out a corner half halting instead of kicking like ******y!

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Was absolutely over the moon with 66.57% and 4th!!!! Woo hoo :D and we were within 4% of Torino, double woo hoo - not bad for a £1k ex racer!!!!

So just need 2 more Q points for regionals and will then be getting back in to the PSG groove. He's comfortably doing the canter piri's on the inter 2 line at home so hoping we wont have the same probs this year, as last.

Sunday lunch and trifle for all :)
 
Wooooooo! Well done:) going to be honest... Me no likely the stirrups ;) but if you're as superstitious as me they won't be going anywhere now:o
 
Well done :) he is such a lovely lovely boy!

I saw the times at swf and noticed you and Jemma in same class, I sometimes train with her (quite a while ago since I saw her) so was going to pop over and watch but thought I'd look like a lemon :D
 
He is looking great, I would be terrified to ride against people like that so well done!
I am not a fan of the gold stirrups however I think they would look better if you had gold spurs?
 
Wooo for CS. He is incredible and such a credit to you. Though I am a little disapointed there isn't any photos of his 'moment'. Been a while since we've seen him in vertical position!

:o:eek: at those stirrups. Even in the blurred pictures they appear to be luminous!
 
Lol I luuuuurve my stirrups, sorry guys!!!!

Thank you, really pleased with how he took the forwardness in to the ring with him.

Rachael- should have one to say hi, no lemon issues at all!!!

Think even NMT was a bit shocked in to slow-mo by the rear, she is usually very good at capturing them!!! A least he didn't follow it up with the broncing backward pirouette manoeuvre, as he oh so nearly dropped me doing that last week !!!
 
Are you feeling ok....there appears to be a distinct lack of dead sheep in your pics!! :D

Have to admit I am not a fan of the stirrups either...but well done on the result!
 
I love the stirrups!! He looks great! Does he still go with sheepskin anywhere under his saddle? I notice he doesnt gave a halfpad any more? :) well done on the placing too :)
 
Well spotted Saratoga, have had to have a gel pad Jiffle as he has decided he prefer the gel under saddle, not on his skin......but panic not, I will shortly be ordering a gel pad with sleepy trim!!!

Samsbilly it's neue shcule mors l'hotte :)
 
I bet you that you are starting a new fashion trend!! I give it a year before I see half a warm up class with gold (or various other color) stirrups!
;-)
 
Big well done! I'm going to describe this rubbishly, but he looks like there's about 3/4 of him in front of you. Does that make sense? Like he's SO uphill and using so much of his big engine he looks like he's verging on doing a wheelie. In a good way!! :D
 
I especially like the second of the indoors photos! He's looking ever bigger, badder, and generally happier! :)

Also LOL at the 3-legged laminitic camel. :D
 
The halt description is fab!

Well done on the score!

I kinda like the stirrups - not my choice but i dont think they look massively out of place, but then my news feed on fb has recently been clogged up with peeps getting all sorts of colour stirrups with their name on so im getting used to it now!
 
lol @ wheelie in a good way...................we dont want any wheelies in a bad way (or any more!!!)

thanks all, need to work on crossing all the T's and dotting the i's before the winters so hopefully the tiny bobbles are ironed out, but overall its starting to feel really nice and easy and like we can cruise round :)
 
I love reading your and NMT's posts, very inspirational, there's zero chance me and my little (never even made it to the track) ex-racer TB will ever hit the dizzy heights of elementary tests let alone AM or PSG (not due to him, but me), however, its really lovely to see TB's doing so well!

CS looks wonderful, and fab result! (hopefully he'll remember that standing on two legs is reserved for the humans next time!)
 
Choked on my tea reading the halt description!
He is looking super, and well done on a fantastic score - you should be very proud :-)
 
Cracking result I would have shriveled in fear at doing what you do against who you did!!!

Would normally hate the gold but I have to admit I like it (maybe you need more gold?) :D
 
in a way i think it made me pull my socks up and ride better, but the whole family is really lovely, NMT was having a bit of a laugh and a joke with Ferdi etc, so not too intimidating :)

thank you, am really really happy with how he went, couldnt have asked for more, half the mistakes were mine and the others were from trying TOO hard.
 
Love reading your reports and looking at the pics of CS! Inspiration for me and my ex-racer, not that we would ever in a million years get above Novice lol!!!
 
Well done on yet another successful outing.

I remember back in the early days how a tantrum from him would be the end of play; yet look at how you can pick him up and carry on after anything he tries now. All the hard work really is paying off :)

I read this thread when I first woke up this morning and the 3 legged lamanitic camel comment made me snort out loud scaring the bejeezus out of the kittens!!
 
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