Harrie123
Well-Known Member
Today we tackled our first ever BE novice! In my wisdom I picked Burnham Market (talk about being thrown in at the deep end!). Saying that I went XC schooling there at the beginning of the year with Emily Lochore so I was pretty comfortable with the place.
I am really pleased to be doing a more interesting dressage test, we have been doing some elementary tests at BD so Grim was pretty switched off in the BE100 tests. We went up to the warm up in good time its quite a hack, Pilgrim warmed up nicely, surprising considering I spent the whole time star struck by all the CCI3* riders warming up for their tests! Its hard to pay attention when you want to watch Nicola Wilson, Clayton Fredricks, Piggy French & Zara Phillips (to name a few) are looking so impressive! Pilgrims test was very obedient, although I sat and did nothing when we came above the bit in the medium canter. He thought a few strides of trot in the medium walk would hurry things up a bit (resulting in a 5 & a pity comment!) we did manage our first 8 in a BE test which I am super pleased with and it was for a halt which was a shock! Ended up with a respectable 35.5. More dressage lessons & rider concentration needed! Here is the video.. http://youtu.be/4eUhrc0TKoc
Onto the SJ! Now those of you that have read my previous report will know how horrible Pilgrim can be in the SJ (he naps, rears & buggers about before the first fence, after much huffing, puffing & a fall from me, he goes as if nothing has happened). Burnhams arena is spooky so I there was every chance of him being a bugger. I did a few false starts in the warm up backed up by a few smacks then I trotted into the arena, (I think the momentum of the canter can make is easier for him to do a dirty stop) and off we went! No naughtyness at all! I am really pleased with the round! My navigations skills werent up to much! I went the wrong way after the first fence!! Quickly corrected! I wasnt straight enough at the first double so that buggered up the distance so I had the second element down. Then I cut the corner on the dog leg from 6 to 7 so ended up on a half stride. Grim was ever so honest at the last double as I failed to use my brain! So I am chuffed with the 2 poles in what was our first novice which didnt have the best going. Here is the video.. http://youtu.be/gCkkpzzBt4Y
XC! I hadnt been to worried about this part (I was too busying hoping that I would get through the SJ), I walked the course the course the night before and it looked great! It was certainly big! With two jumps into water & some interesting combinations. Before I had time to worry we were off! The course rode brilliantly and Pilgrim was an absolute saint! I have to say it is the best fun I have ever had on a horse!!! He was awesome through all of the combinations, particularly C element of the first water, I didnt get a good enough canter through the water, but he sorted us out locked onto the hedge and popped over it, he had every opportunity to say no thanks & I wouldnt have blamed him. Same can be said for the corner at 11. He was super through the second water up over the house then the drop down to a skinny barrel at 15. He was particularly brilliant through the ditch complex, so intelligent, looking for the next obstacle without a ounce of backing off! Needless to say I had a massive grin on my face when we crossed the line, clear round our first ever novice! http://youtu.be/mYIYEU2JK8Y
Now I know why I persevere with him, he is the most brilliant horse I have ever sat on! Lets hope I get the same feeling at our next event! Nurstead!
I am really pleased to be doing a more interesting dressage test, we have been doing some elementary tests at BD so Grim was pretty switched off in the BE100 tests. We went up to the warm up in good time its quite a hack, Pilgrim warmed up nicely, surprising considering I spent the whole time star struck by all the CCI3* riders warming up for their tests! Its hard to pay attention when you want to watch Nicola Wilson, Clayton Fredricks, Piggy French & Zara Phillips (to name a few) are looking so impressive! Pilgrims test was very obedient, although I sat and did nothing when we came above the bit in the medium canter. He thought a few strides of trot in the medium walk would hurry things up a bit (resulting in a 5 & a pity comment!) we did manage our first 8 in a BE test which I am super pleased with and it was for a halt which was a shock! Ended up with a respectable 35.5. More dressage lessons & rider concentration needed! Here is the video.. http://youtu.be/4eUhrc0TKoc
Onto the SJ! Now those of you that have read my previous report will know how horrible Pilgrim can be in the SJ (he naps, rears & buggers about before the first fence, after much huffing, puffing & a fall from me, he goes as if nothing has happened). Burnhams arena is spooky so I there was every chance of him being a bugger. I did a few false starts in the warm up backed up by a few smacks then I trotted into the arena, (I think the momentum of the canter can make is easier for him to do a dirty stop) and off we went! No naughtyness at all! I am really pleased with the round! My navigations skills werent up to much! I went the wrong way after the first fence!! Quickly corrected! I wasnt straight enough at the first double so that buggered up the distance so I had the second element down. Then I cut the corner on the dog leg from 6 to 7 so ended up on a half stride. Grim was ever so honest at the last double as I failed to use my brain! So I am chuffed with the 2 poles in what was our first novice which didnt have the best going. Here is the video.. http://youtu.be/gCkkpzzBt4Y
XC! I hadnt been to worried about this part (I was too busying hoping that I would get through the SJ), I walked the course the course the night before and it looked great! It was certainly big! With two jumps into water & some interesting combinations. Before I had time to worry we were off! The course rode brilliantly and Pilgrim was an absolute saint! I have to say it is the best fun I have ever had on a horse!!! He was awesome through all of the combinations, particularly C element of the first water, I didnt get a good enough canter through the water, but he sorted us out locked onto the hedge and popped over it, he had every opportunity to say no thanks & I wouldnt have blamed him. Same can be said for the corner at 11. He was super through the second water up over the house then the drop down to a skinny barrel at 15. He was particularly brilliant through the ditch complex, so intelligent, looking for the next obstacle without a ounce of backing off! Needless to say I had a massive grin on my face when we crossed the line, clear round our first ever novice! http://youtu.be/mYIYEU2JK8Y
Now I know why I persevere with him, he is the most brilliant horse I have ever sat on! Lets hope I get the same feeling at our next event! Nurstead!
Well done- and well done for persevering with him, the cheeky sod!
Well done! 
