ahml100
Well-Known Member
Well, what a fab way to get the season going! Alfie and I had already been to Aston for the BE90 which we completed with a double clear, though slightly more erratic that we normally want! - turns out he had been missing eventing even more than I had but with him brimming with confidence and making mince meat of the course, Swalcliffe BE100 was on the cards!
With a nice leisurely start to the day, dressage not being performed (massacred!) until 3.20, Alfie was able to spend the whole night and most of Saturday chilling in the field. Something I love being able to do as he is just happier being out 24/7 with the old hunter for company
The dressage, as every one will know, is not our strong point, to the extent my Spanish tutor sent me to Spain for 20 weeks to work for a Grand Prix rider under the pretence of learning Spanish as even she was getting embarrassed by our scores
I was really pleased though, the arenas and warm up was right next to the xc course but, to Alfies credit he barely acknowledged it and really concentrating on me. I was quietly confident with the test though, I have started to notice that I am tipping forward a lot so now I need to concentrate on pushing those shoulders back! He though stayed mostly calm and obedient and when I came out, I was hopeful for a score around the low 40/high 30 mark.
Onto the SJ, well, I knew that I would have no problem as he warmed up like a pro!-hocks underneath, waited patiently for each fence and flew each one like it was 2ft. We powered over the first and heading towards the 2nd, as you can see in the video, they announced my DR score. I was so shocked that we had scored so badly I completely dropped my reins and forgot the leg! luckily, Alfie was a little superstar, and somehow managed to clamber over the upright to keep it up! I then gave myself a mental kick up the backside and we jumped the rest of the course well to finish with a clear. Big pats for the boy!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXST8WA5vgQ
Knowing that with a dressage score of 44 was not going to get us anywhere near the placings, I decided just to go steady, especially as at Aston we had no brakes. However, he was amazing listened beautifully, did not pull or fight and jumped round the course making it feel so easy! (Video of first 3 fences below!).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVg-rYaHrkA
So another double clear, 2 more foundation points, one very happy horse and rider and maybe a novice on the cards (!)
Well done to everyone who has got this far and look forward to reading everyone elses reports!
With a nice leisurely start to the day, dressage not being performed (massacred!) until 3.20, Alfie was able to spend the whole night and most of Saturday chilling in the field. Something I love being able to do as he is just happier being out 24/7 with the old hunter for company
The dressage, as every one will know, is not our strong point, to the extent my Spanish tutor sent me to Spain for 20 weeks to work for a Grand Prix rider under the pretence of learning Spanish as even she was getting embarrassed by our scores
I was really pleased though, the arenas and warm up was right next to the xc course but, to Alfies credit he barely acknowledged it and really concentrating on me. I was quietly confident with the test though, I have started to notice that I am tipping forward a lot so now I need to concentrate on pushing those shoulders back! He though stayed mostly calm and obedient and when I came out, I was hopeful for a score around the low 40/high 30 mark.Onto the SJ, well, I knew that I would have no problem as he warmed up like a pro!-hocks underneath, waited patiently for each fence and flew each one like it was 2ft. We powered over the first and heading towards the 2nd, as you can see in the video, they announced my DR score. I was so shocked that we had scored so badly I completely dropped my reins and forgot the leg! luckily, Alfie was a little superstar, and somehow managed to clamber over the upright to keep it up! I then gave myself a mental kick up the backside and we jumped the rest of the course well to finish with a clear. Big pats for the boy!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXST8WA5vgQ
Knowing that with a dressage score of 44 was not going to get us anywhere near the placings, I decided just to go steady, especially as at Aston we had no brakes. However, he was amazing listened beautifully, did not pull or fight and jumped round the course making it feel so easy! (Video of first 3 fences below!).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVg-rYaHrkA
So another double clear, 2 more foundation points, one very happy horse and rider and maybe a novice on the cards (!)
Well done to everyone who has got this far and look forward to reading everyone elses reports!
