Golden Cross Grasshoppers

Hattikins

Hattikins

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Took Hattie today for the grasshoppers intro class, there were 31 in the class so plenty of competition
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and what can i say - she was fantastic
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Jumped two lovely rhythmical clears, 2nd round was much better than the first owing to the advice i was given inbetween the two rounds - was sooo chuffed with her and was told my 2nd round was "copybook" - WOW
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So my mark sheet looked like this:
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So we got 87 out of 100 and missed out on 1st place by 1 mark!! 1st place was on 88
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Was a fab day and well worth it - am soo happy with my girlie
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Now trying to persuade my Mum that a 3 1/2hour drive to Warwickshire College for the Final wouldnt be so bad!!!!!!
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i know!! but i was beaten by a well known lovely girl on an older horse so im not complaining - to get a score even close to hers would have been fantastic so to be only 1 mark out was awesome!!
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now there's an idea - so if i run it on the telly and get my brother to record on his phone then could i get it on the web?? - what lead does he need to connect his phone to the PC??
 
Ummmmmm that I dont know, depends on his phone - most phones come with a USB cable these days though to connect with a PC - otherwise if you computer has built in bluetooth you could use that
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think he does have a cable actually - right well that will be my task for this evening - im sure my bro knows how to do it so you may just have a video to watch tonight or more likely tomorrow
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wow! Well done! walking on air? or merely floating on cloud 9!


so I can b**** was it won by a very local rider to golden cross?
 
Abbie that is a fab result hun! That hattie is going to be brilliant at eventing ! yay so pleased for you and a 10 for sttle and poition is fantastic!
Hope we can see a video!
 
Well done you! I was there too but did such an embarassing round it's not even worth mentioning
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I litreally just stormed around! Didn't see my sheet but must have been pretty nasty. I rode hammiehamlet's gelding who is lovely but the warm up format didn't suit him al all (he needs a lot of time to relax and entering a 12 minutes warm up aconsisting of jumping only didn't suit him at all
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I think I saw you in the warm up actually - a chestnut with big white face in your signature?) and thought what a lovely horse:)

As to advice from the trainers/judges - the trainer told me to sit light (stand in my stirrups) and cut the corners due to horsey snatching on the reins and being too eager. The judge told me to sit deep and ride good, round corners...

I wanted to take part to see how it is all organised; people were nice and it was an OK experience but I think it depended a lot on what sort of horse you rode on the day. If it was a well schooled horse and you went to confirm your training and get your position/style marked then it was a great opportunity. However, with horses that were not so prepared and not so rhytmic and not so stylish it was a hell of a confusion with the variety of advice from various sources.
I would go again with a horse I am a regular rider of and who I can ride well but I don't think it was as good a training idea as seemed to be advertised.
Sorry for such a long post!
 
oh thats a shame - did you go early or late on in the class - i watched most people jump so i would have seen you
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- im sure it wasnt that bad!!
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yup it was the chestnut with a big white face!!
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cant miss her can you
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[ QUOTE ]
I wanted to take part to see how it is all organised; people were nice and it was an OK experience but I think it depended a lot on what sort of horse you rode on the day. If it was a well schooled horse and you went to confirm your training and get your position/style marked then it was a great opportunity. However, with horses that were not so prepared and not so rhytmic and not so stylish it was a hell of a confusion with the variety of advice from various sources.
I would go again with a horse I am a regular rider of and who I can ride well but I don't think it was as good a training idea as seemed to be advertised.


[/ QUOTE ]

think you're absolutely right - i went there as you said to consolidate all the work ive done over the winter and see what accredited trainers thought so it was good for me and i respect both those trainers and they both gave me similar advice which was lucky
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I think it could have been better run as you say but then they said they are open to any suggestions to make it better for next year so i would email them with any ideas you have and it could be better than ever next year
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My time was 11:24 I think. A handsome dark bay gelding was my charge;) Literally;) I am becoming so rubbish without proper practise and no lessons that I am not so proud of my current riding. Funny thing by the way, that I got so bad being fairly good 10 years ago
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Such a regress.
Looks like your winter work paid well! I am a big supporter of style & performance classes and think they should be organised as often as possible. Too many times I see people just charging around, getting clear rounds and being happy to win (while they almost landed on the ground and caused their horses a hell of an experience).
Regarding Grasshoppers I think it would be nice if trainers/judges had a little conversation with a rider first. Ask for any current schooling problems, relationship with the horse, warm up routine. My friend's horse is best warmed up by proper work in trot and canter and yet she was told to walk and jump straight away. The horse I was on works best after longer, lower work out as he tends to shorten in his neck and 'come onto you' with his neck without actually engaging his quarters (i.e. lacks an impulsion but gathers speed). I think such little conversation could help to personalised the warm up a bit. I thought this routine identical for every single horse was a bit dissapointing.
Also, as I am an Instructor and I am always interested in improving my way of seeing mistakes (and correcting them!) it would be great if marks were given during the round or just after via the speakers (all style classes I ridden in in my native country were judged during the round with the judge commenting loud to the audience). I think it then becomes more of a coaching session for onlookers too
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The warm up could also be more 'corrections' orientated - I didn't hear the trainer correcting any position mistakes in a girl that sat rather badly and fall off twice in a few minutes. She was encouraged to retire from the competition.

Right, I know you cannot teach someone riding in 12 minutes and I agree it should have more of a brushing up character but like you said it is a chance to listen to an accredited trainer so as many advice as possible would be great.

I have much more thoughts but don't want to write an essey
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I think the initiative is great and it's fantastic they are interested in competitors' feedback.
 
Sapphire Girl - you didnt ride badly at all!!!! Wish i could get on a horse that i havent ridden for months, and produce a round like you did! At least you didnt try to run the judge over, or demolish any of the fences with your foot!
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Hamlet is having a naughty streak at the moment.... he has been bolshy all week!

Week of intensive schooling coming his way hopefully in time for Stilemans!
 
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