tigers_eye
Well-Known Member
What a day of excitement! After the mess with being withdrawn (when I didn't) and reinstated, and having 3 different sets of times.... We were nearly there and came to an 11ft bridge and I have a socking great hay-rack on my lorry and had to reverse back to a round-about with S holding up the traffic for me and go the long way round!
Went off to warm up for dressage, he was feeling quite bright and happy, very strong in the left hand but as I'm a bit crocked at the moment I can't pull back! Was riding in a saddle I don't like as mine is STILL at the saddlers. Went in, was ok but quite strong, and in the give and retake the reins he got a bit happy! Was expecting a score in the 40s, but turned out he got 34.6 which I was very surprised about! He even got an 8 for the simple change through trot!
Will put up photos later, but one of the things I have been struggling with is getting him in an "acceptable competition outline" - he prefers to go in what is technically an overbent outline, and I find I can have him more through whilst staying soft in my hand. Anyway, he's never felt very uphill, and this has been reflected in some judges' comments, and it doesn't really worry me what with him only being 5, but looking at the photos we're over-coming that.
Show jumped nicely, I was just a bit silly coming into the triple bar, saw a forward stride shall we say, then pulled him in the teeth to get him back for the gate, which predictabley he couldn't clear like that. Some fab pro photos, didn't buy onsite as the xc ones weren't back when we left but will get them. After the sj I was checking his studs and one front, where I'd only got one stud in (as the other hole was simply too small
) had only gone and snapped off - and he's only had them on 10 days
XC had made me gulp a bit, definately a step up from PN for him! The line worrying me most was 4-8, a big drop, the water in and out (saw one stop and one fall at water when walking it!), a very narrow big box, and a trakhener! Then there were some more skinnies later in the course. W is a very laid back chap, and has so far not been aat all wound up by start boxes, but he popped out today like a cork from a bottle! He was just brilliant - "GOOD BOY"s echoed along the valley as he went round! I hailed a cab at the trakhener, but he was fab at the first two skinnies and it was just at a double of narrow houses on a turn that he properly wobbled - but still went!
So anyway, very pleased, he finished 11th (having got 14.4 time penalties). He really felt a lot more grown up today and like he might be something special one day so very rewarding!
Went off to warm up for dressage, he was feeling quite bright and happy, very strong in the left hand but as I'm a bit crocked at the moment I can't pull back! Was riding in a saddle I don't like as mine is STILL at the saddlers. Went in, was ok but quite strong, and in the give and retake the reins he got a bit happy! Was expecting a score in the 40s, but turned out he got 34.6 which I was very surprised about! He even got an 8 for the simple change through trot!
Show jumped nicely, I was just a bit silly coming into the triple bar, saw a forward stride shall we say, then pulled him in the teeth to get him back for the gate, which predictabley he couldn't clear like that. Some fab pro photos, didn't buy onsite as the xc ones weren't back when we left but will get them. After the sj I was checking his studs and one front, where I'd only got one stud in (as the other hole was simply too small
XC had made me gulp a bit, definately a step up from PN for him! The line worrying me most was 4-8, a big drop, the water in and out (saw one stop and one fall at water when walking it!), a very narrow big box, and a trakhener! Then there were some more skinnies later in the course. W is a very laid back chap, and has so far not been aat all wound up by start boxes, but he popped out today like a cork from a bottle! He was just brilliant - "GOOD BOY"s echoed along the valley as he went round! I hailed a cab at the trakhener, but he was fab at the first two skinnies and it was just at a double of narrow houses on a turn that he properly wobbled - but still went!
So anyway, very pleased, he finished 11th (having got 14.4 time penalties). He really felt a lot more grown up today and like he might be something special one day so very rewarding!
