CAH7
Well-Known Member
Hello all 
Just a quick report from a beautifully run, sunshiney Homme House on Wednesday. No pics I'm afraid because I'm pants at technology (although there is one taken by my OH on my profile page in Albums).
So, Bog Pony is a Heinz 57 Irish boy, as honest as the day is long, although not necessarily built for speed
. We'd done our first 90 at Dauntsey in October, with a slow clear XC, nice stressage but 3 down SJ (all my fault!), then worked hard all winter improving our showjumping canter, had a good run in the 80 at Howick this spring, even bagging a rosette (yay!), and another positive run at Calmsden 80 in early August, sorted out those pesky XC time pens and reduced our SJ pole-bashing to just one each time out.
I'd begged so many favours to be able to even get to Homme House - being a slightly stressed working mum I had to negotiate late times, annual leave, childcare for two energetic boys, borrow BP back from my lovely sharer, bribe the OH to play groomie/photographer/Coach/navigator, pray for a vaguely clean BP after lying all night on his poo pillow, no twisted shoes/flat tyres/road closures (all of which have attempted to sabotage recent plans...).
Anyway, BP's white bits remained surprisingly clean, the sun shone, we made good time and performed an OK test. Big pats for BP and a sigh of relief that that bit was over. Eeek though, slightly intimidated by the huge SJ warm-up fences, I knocked back a good dose of Rescue Remedy, stormed round the SJ with two down - this is an improvement, honestly, I just need to really work on containing the canter now - so more big pats and a handful of polos for BP.
On to the most exciting bit!! An obligatory pre-XC banana for the lovely BP, quick warm-up, over to the start box, quick chat with the merry starter lady and off we went. I'd walked the quickest lines because I know we'll struggle to make the time otherwise, and had taken some advice from lovely experienced friends, as this was only our 2nd 90, to just ride it according to how BP felt, ie with Plan A and B. Right from the start he felt fab - positive, bold, locking on, not too strong - so I risked plan A, even up to the penultimate combination of sheep feeder to offset skinny brush, where I had to keep right along the tree line right up until the last minute so I could see my line out, then I pressed him on and over we went, three strides and out over the skinny. Lots of pats and "good boy!!"s and on to a chair with flowerpots on, which he didn't even blink at, then on, slightly keen (!), to a downhill hanging log, after which was the last tricky combination, a straightforward fence in, then 4 strides on undulating ground to a skinny. I just felt I should give him the best chance to jump this, having belted off down the hill, so took plan B, gave him a longer, better line in, popped in and out happily, then flew on to the last with huge grins, and just 0.4 time penalties Massive pats for the boy and two apples.
So, a big improvement on Dauntsey, lots still to work on, especially that SJ canter, but loving the Bog Pony for his generosity and sense of fun
Apologies for the lengthy saga! Many thanks for reading. Chocolate krispie cakes and a cappuccino if you go this far
Just a quick report from a beautifully run, sunshiney Homme House on Wednesday. No pics I'm afraid because I'm pants at technology (although there is one taken by my OH on my profile page in Albums). So, Bog Pony is a Heinz 57 Irish boy, as honest as the day is long, although not necessarily built for speed
. We'd done our first 90 at Dauntsey in October, with a slow clear XC, nice stressage but 3 down SJ (all my fault!), then worked hard all winter improving our showjumping canter, had a good run in the 80 at Howick this spring, even bagging a rosette (yay!), and another positive run at Calmsden 80 in early August, sorted out those pesky XC time pens and reduced our SJ pole-bashing to just one each time out. I'd begged so many favours to be able to even get to Homme House - being a slightly stressed working mum I had to negotiate late times, annual leave, childcare for two energetic boys, borrow BP back from my lovely sharer, bribe the OH to play groomie/photographer/Coach/navigator, pray for a vaguely clean BP after lying all night on his poo pillow, no twisted shoes/flat tyres/road closures (all of which have attempted to sabotage recent plans...).
Anyway, BP's white bits remained surprisingly clean, the sun shone, we made good time and performed an OK test. Big pats for BP and a sigh of relief that that bit was over
. Eeek though, slightly intimidated by the huge SJ warm-up fences, I knocked back a good dose of Rescue Remedy, stormed round the SJ with two down - this is an improvement, honestly, I just need to really work on containing the canter now - so more big pats and a handful of polos for BP.On to the most exciting bit!! An obligatory pre-XC banana for the lovely BP, quick warm-up, over to the start box, quick chat with the merry starter lady and off we went. I'd walked the quickest lines because I know we'll struggle to make the time otherwise, and had taken some advice from lovely experienced friends, as this was only our 2nd 90, to just ride it according to how BP felt, ie with Plan A and B. Right from the start he felt fab - positive, bold, locking on, not too strong - so I risked plan A, even up to the penultimate combination of sheep feeder to offset skinny brush, where I had to keep right along the tree line right up until the last minute so I could see my line out, then I pressed him on and over we went, three strides and out over the skinny. Lots of pats and "good boy!!"s and on to a chair with flowerpots on, which he didn't even blink at, then on, slightly keen (!), to a downhill hanging log, after which was the last tricky combination, a straightforward fence in, then 4 strides on undulating ground to a skinny. I just felt I should give him the best chance to jump this, having belted off down the hill, so took plan B, gave him a longer, better line in, popped in and out happily, then flew on to the last with huge grins, and just 0.4 time penalties
Massive pats for the boy and two apples.So, a big improvement on Dauntsey, lots still to work on, especially that SJ canter, but loving the Bog Pony for his generosity and sense of fun
Apologies for the lengthy saga! Many thanks for reading. Chocolate krispie cakes and a cappuccino if you go this far
