_jetset_
Well-Known Member
I took Grace over to Cockshot to do the Prelim and Novice... I was umming and ahhing about whether to go because the weather has been so awful and it was outdoors, but it looked a bit brighter this morning so off we went
When I unloaded Grace I noticed she had quite a deep cut on the inside of her leg. There were no marks on her travel boots so she must have done it when she caught her leg being a prat in the stable because she knew we were going somewhere and just wanted to poo everywhere whereas I wanted to put her boots on
Anyway, I trotted her up and she looked sound. I decided to tack up and see how she felt under saddle (we put a plaster on my my first aid kit in the car - wish I'd had a camera, she looked ridiculous
). She felt ok when I got on her, but the warm up was quite busy and it is the first time she has been to Cockshot so she was staring at everything and put in one big spook at... wait for it... a fence post
She felt quite lazy today (not normally a problem) but she has had quite a busy week with a lesson with Spencer on Thursday then one with Jo on Friday... unfortunately it was just the way they had fallen
She warmed up quite nicely for the Prelim but felt a little on the forehand. As soon as we got up to the arena (it is VERY open) she was just boggling at everything. She didn't really spook, just decided the plant pots that were the markers were Grace eating monsters and should be watched and snorted at at all time, the judge's car may jump out at her and she could see all the horses warming up below.
She did an ok test but wobbled on her centre (being too nosy) and then I had the BIGGEST sneezing fit in history half way through the test and as soon as it finished walked her to Andy and threw her at him while I ran to the toilet to get a tissue. I have no idea where it came from, but I had tears streaming down my face
She came 6th with 64.17%. Not our best result but I was pleased with her because it was all new.
Then we warmed up for the Novice... she felt lazy still, but a bit more uphill now she had done the first test. But by the end of the warm up I was beginning to wish that I had tried some spurs on her in the week just for that little bit of extra elevation and impulsion when she is beginning to tire. However, we went in and she did a lovely test. Just a few errors as she didn't really show much medium work (that is when I thought the spurs would have just given her that little bit extra) but her canter work was nice and she received a lot of 7s. She came 4th with 64.87% which then takes us to 5 BD points
It is only her second Novice and she got more than 1% better than her first attempt last week, so I am thrilled with that!
She's a very tired pony tonight and is having a well deserves day off tomorrow
When I unloaded Grace I noticed she had quite a deep cut on the inside of her leg. There were no marks on her travel boots so she must have done it when she caught her leg being a prat in the stable because she knew we were going somewhere and just wanted to poo everywhere whereas I wanted to put her boots on
Anyway, I trotted her up and she looked sound. I decided to tack up and see how she felt under saddle (we put a plaster on my my first aid kit in the car - wish I'd had a camera, she looked ridiculous
She felt quite lazy today (not normally a problem) but she has had quite a busy week with a lesson with Spencer on Thursday then one with Jo on Friday... unfortunately it was just the way they had fallen
She warmed up quite nicely for the Prelim but felt a little on the forehand. As soon as we got up to the arena (it is VERY open) she was just boggling at everything. She didn't really spook, just decided the plant pots that were the markers were Grace eating monsters and should be watched and snorted at at all time, the judge's car may jump out at her and she could see all the horses warming up below.
She did an ok test but wobbled on her centre (being too nosy) and then I had the BIGGEST sneezing fit in history half way through the test and as soon as it finished walked her to Andy and threw her at him while I ran to the toilet to get a tissue. I have no idea where it came from, but I had tears streaming down my face
Then we warmed up for the Novice... she felt lazy still, but a bit more uphill now she had done the first test. But by the end of the warm up I was beginning to wish that I had tried some spurs on her in the week just for that little bit of extra elevation and impulsion when she is beginning to tire. However, we went in and she did a lovely test. Just a few errors as she didn't really show much medium work (that is when I thought the spurs would have just given her that little bit extra) but her canter work was nice and she received a lot of 7s. She came 4th with 64.87% which then takes us to 5 BD points
It is only her second Novice and she got more than 1% better than her first attempt last week, so I am thrilled with that!
She's a very tired pony tonight and is having a well deserves day off tomorrow
