FigJam
Well-Known Member
So, following my "Drama Queen" post, after a mid-week panic and fat leg, Hopalong was back to normal and fit and well for today's arena event, phew. 
Since we were only doing the baby 80cm class, we were on pretty sharp and with a decent drive to get there, alarm went off pretty early. Mr FigJam had only just rolled into the house at 2am having been out last night, so had to be bribed out into the passenger seat with Lucozade and Irn Bru!
He managed to hitch up the trailer while I fed and booted Hopalong and then resumed snoozing in the passenger seat until we arrived!
Arrived in time for Mr FigJam to get stodgey brekkie roll and for me to walk the course. Got grief from Les Smith (who runs the days) for "pot hunting" in the baby class, but told him wonky donkey needed to ease back in, much as she'd much rather have been jumping the "proper" height classes!
We also haven't seen a skinny, corner, bounce or water tray since... a long time, so was hoping that enthusiasm would over rule any spookiness.
And it did!
She was very sensible in the warm up and walked around like a dope on a rope when waiting for our turn;
But she soon lit up when we moved to the indoor holding area and then into the main arena. Quick mooch past the water tray (with water in!) to let her see it (with predicted 
reaction from her) then we were off.
She decided the first fence was teeny and to add excitement, we could take a stride out, hence a rather amusing photo for you all to laugh at;
Gave a FlyingCoo approved growl at bright white planks as thought she may well back off, but popped over good as gold which meant the growl turned to a "good girl" quickly!
Flew round the rest of the SJ section easy peasy and finished on a nice big wheeee feeling jump;
Quick circle, listen for the bell then off on the XC phase. Wheeeee over the first;
And flew round the rest really nicely- did the bounce as a bounce (instead of a 1-stride double which she is prone to doing!), didn't bat an eyelid at the corner or skinny and although she had a look at the watertray, she never felt like she wasn't going to go.
So really fun double clear, yay! However, my setting up for the water tray/skinny just to be sure cost us a little as we ended up with 1 TF, grrrr. This cost us a frilly as with the 1 TF we were 9th (rosettes to 8th naturally!). Still, very happy with her feeling so good so not going to complain about the lack of frilly.
Lovely to catch up with applestroodle (and Dug of course!) and smurf while I was there.
Since we were only doing the baby 80cm class, we were on pretty sharp and with a decent drive to get there, alarm went off pretty early. Mr FigJam had only just rolled into the house at 2am having been out last night, so had to be bribed out into the passenger seat with Lucozade and Irn Bru!
He managed to hitch up the trailer while I fed and booted Hopalong and then resumed snoozing in the passenger seat until we arrived!Arrived in time for Mr FigJam to get stodgey brekkie roll and for me to walk the course. Got grief from Les Smith (who runs the days) for "pot hunting" in the baby class, but told him wonky donkey needed to ease back in, much as she'd much rather have been jumping the "proper" height classes!
We also haven't seen a skinny, corner, bounce or water tray since... a long time, so was hoping that enthusiasm would over rule any spookiness. And it did!
She was very sensible in the warm up and walked around like a dope on a rope when waiting for our turn;
But she soon lit up when we moved to the indoor holding area and then into the main arena.
Quick mooch past the water tray (with water in!) to let her see it (with predicted reaction from her) then we were off.She decided the first fence was teeny and to add excitement, we could take a stride out, hence a rather amusing photo for you all to laugh at;
Gave a FlyingCoo approved growl at bright white planks as thought she may well back off, but popped over good as gold which meant the growl turned to a "good girl" quickly!
Flew round the rest of the SJ section easy peasy and finished on a nice big wheeee feeling jump;
Quick circle, listen for the bell then off on the XC phase. Wheeeee over the first;
And flew round the rest really nicely- did the bounce as a bounce (instead of a 1-stride double which she is prone to doing!), didn't bat an eyelid at the corner or skinny and although she had a look at the watertray, she never felt like she wasn't going to go.
So really fun double clear, yay!
However, my setting up for the water tray/skinny just to be sure cost us a little as we ended up with 1 TF, grrrr. This cost us a frilly as with the 1 TF we were 9th (rosettes to 8th naturally!). Still, very happy with her feeling so good so not going to complain about the lack of frilly. Lovely to catch up with applestroodle (and Dug of course!
) and smurf while I was there. 
If not, I'm lopping them off and replacing with wheels/springs?! 
