Hopalong's 2010 (MAJOR photo overload!)

FigJam

FigJam

Well-Known Member
Joined
1 May 2005
Messages
5,716
Location
West Lothian, Scotland
teamhopalong.blogspot.com
Ok, so it is exceedingly quiet at work today and I am very bored. To pass the boredom, I’ve been looking through all my photos (of which I seem to have millions- thanks Mr FigJam! :D ) from this year with Hopalong. I have been wanting to put together a photobook of the year, so was picking out a selection of my favourites to put in. I’ve managed to whittle the selection down to 195 through the season…! :o

So I thought I’d be a little self indulgent and post up some of my favourites- along with a few howlers to entertain you all and prove that I am not always smiling nicely for the camera and definitely not always getting it right- poor Hopalong is a saint of a pony to put up with me on board, these photos will prove that.

So- first thing of the year was Arena Event at Howe CC, BE90 height.

Good;
ArenaEvent1402-2.jpg


Bad- getting a stride in the bounce! (but she managed to jump it from here AND leave it up! Cat in a previous life I reckon);
ArenaEvent1402-8.jpg


Next was my RC DR/SJ show at Kingsbarn EC. Managed a 3rd in the stressage (and there was more than 3 in the class…!) and some red ribbons in the jumping. :)

Good;
AlmondRC1303-25.jpg


Bad- the usual pokiness style of dressage that is our “trademark” :rolleyes:
AlmondRC1303-12.jpg


We then took part in our first ever team XC with _April_ and her friend at Duns Castle. A lot of fun!

Good;
DunsHeidi5.jpg


Bad- getting too close to the rail at the top of the bank after the water!
DunsHeidi2.jpg


We then went to Montrave HT and did the 3ft course as prep for going to our first BE of the year. Very muddy and way over the time, but clear so happy! :)

Good- over the first;
Montrave27.jpg


Bad- taking a mahoosive leap out of the water near the end and leaving me looking less-than-stylish…!
Montrave9.jpg


Next was our first BE of the year- Kirriemuir BE90. 1 pole SJ left us in 11th place and just away from the ribbons, grrrr!

Good;
KirrieMuir22.jpg


Bad- both of us with our “Huffy” dressage faces on!
KirrieMuir5.jpg


Then onto Scone BE90. A double clear jumping but rubbish dressage!

Good;
Scone240410008.jpg


Bad- getting far too close to the last SJ but cat-Hopalong getting me out of trouble. She got big pats for this!
Scone240410013.jpg


Auchinleck BE90 was next and I am so pleased it ran this year as it’s a lovely event. :) My enthusiasm may be aided by coming 4th here and qualifying for a RF…! ;) Hopalong flew round the XC and we had a blast- the XC at Scone and the XC here feeling so easy were what persuaded me to think about giving BE100 a bash.

Good- taking a flyer at the tyres! :D
Auchinleck34.jpg


Bad- more pokeynose! (although this dressage was our best score of the season, and there were a couple of “ok” pics from it! ;) )
Auchinleck9.jpg


So with thoughts of BE100 in mind, we went to Hendersyde Park for a lesson with Les Smith to make sure we were up for the challenge.

Good- after a couple of failed attempts, we did our first ever “jump” into water (ok… so it was only a 10” palisade on top of the step, but it made the drop feel very big and both Hopalong and I took a small amount of Les shouting to convince us we could do it! ;) ). This photo sums up how happy I was after doing it. (jump in background)
Hendersyde13.jpg


Bad- Hopalong “offering” for me to try it without her. ;) Mr FigJam a little disappointed I think that we stayed together and I didn’t go swimming. :p
Hendersyde25.jpg


Scotsburn BE100- our first BE100. Clear SJ but one silly run out XC where I was too busy thinking about the big ditch as part B of coffin to concentrate properly on part A, a simple rail. Still annoyed with myself for this as it’s our only ever jumping fault XC at BE.

Good;
ScotsburnPN39.jpg


Bad- I was aiming for the right hand “half moon”, Hopalong decided on the last stride to re-route to the left hand side one and led to a rather amusing expression on my face!
ScotsburnPN27.jpg
 
We then had a lesson with “Saint Gatherer” around the Oatridge BE course. She was really good, even though it was raining and muddy which “Princess Hopalong” doesn’t really like.

Good;
Oatridge12.jpg


Bad- her preferred “style” at this fence was to get deep and then go “up”, which was really uneccessary since it was one of the larger ones on the course…! :rolleyes: ;)
Oatridge18.jpg


Hopetoun BE100- a dressage to forget (got beeped by the judge and it was HER who was wrong, not me, hmph!), a cheeky run out SJ (left all the poles up and should have been the first half of our first BE100 DC) and a scary “1st person out on the XC” scheduling, but clear and she felt fab. :D

Good;
Hopetoun033.jpg


Bad- most of the dressage photos from this event are along these lines! If she could have put her hooves in her ears and gone “la la la, can’t hear you”, I think she would have done! ;)
Hopetoun006.jpg


Next was Eglinton BE100. After walking the XC the day before, I was convinced it was beyond us. Big hedges (three of them making full use of the “Max height + 20cm” rule), big ditches… but Hopalong was fab and it stands as the course I feel completing clear has been our biggest achievement this year. :)

Good (yes… THIS photo AGAIN!!!)
Eglinton35.jpg


Bad- no idea what my position is all about here! :o
Eglinton28.jpg


At the end of July we went to our RC’s Senior Camp. A really fun weekend.

Good- one very hyper (but fab!) pony in the SJ lesson (in the XC field with only a snaffle bit… had to work a little harder than normal to get control!)
AlmondCamp28.jpg


Bad- big gurny face trying to contain Hopalong’s excitement!
AlmondCamp02.jpg


Next on the schedule was Strathallan BE100. Really nice to go back as it was our first ever BE event last year.

Good;
Strathallen16.jpg


Bad- getting a duff stride into a decent sized open corner… cat-Hopalong to the rescue again! (how she can jump from that spot I’ve no idea, but she cleared it completely!)
Strathallen24.jpg


Back to Scone again, this time to do the BE100. Hopalong not having the best of days with a very sticky SJ round. It was very hot (which as a cob-X she doesn’t do so well in) plus she’d lost a little condition without me realising. She felt better on the XC and it was our first BE100 DC. :)

Good;
SconePal043.jpg


Bad- poor Hopalong jumped the trakhener very nicely, there was no need for me to be so defensive and left behind! :(
SconePal039.jpg


Penultimate event was Drumclog BE100, the usual story of the season- dressage rubbish, annoying 4 faults SJ and fun XC!

Good;
DrumclogHeidi29.jpg


Bad- grump, grump, fight, fight! ;)
DrumclogHeidi2.jpg


Then last event of the year- the BE90 RF that we qualified for, held at Turnberry. Didn’t qualify, but had fun hooning around the smaller track. Still picked up an annoying 4 faults in the SJ, but XC was a blast and my “good” pic sums up the feeling! :D

Good;
Turnberry028.jpg


Bad- just looking like a bit of a numpty!
Turnberry003.jpg



Major photo overload, I’m sorry! (only a little though! :p ) A big thank you to all the people from here who have helped me along the way, Mr FigJam for trailing around after us and being so supportive and the biggest thank you to my wonderful little Hopalong.
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I hope she is back out having fun next year so I can bore you all with more photos. ;)
 
fab piccies, and very lucky having someone to take so many!

I think your 'bad' looks an awful lot like some of my good ones haha!
 
Hehe you've both had a fab 2010 :D

love her dressage 'face' something the Beastie is quite strong at too

she'll have to be back for 2011 as your pencilled in for the Novice at Eglinton - i've told you the bigger the hedge the better the jump........just think of that picture ;)
 
applestroodle- Do you think she just enjoys winding me up then rather than hating DR itself?! :rolleyes: I'm sure there were plenty worse stressage ones, but they didn't even make it onto photobucket! :o

dafthoss- she is the original "genuine & honest" jumping horse, a total super star and has taught me/put up with so much.

langside said:
... your pencilled in for the Novice at Eglinton - i've told you the bigger the hedge the better the jump........just think of that picture ;)
Click to expand...

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No danger!!! I would love to go back and do the PN again (minus the "loop" at the river crossing! ;) ) though.

I was hoping to attempt Strathallan Novice (since we jumped most of it with St Gatherer in the summer!) but that's a no go now even if she was back fit & fighting. At the moment, I'm trying to tell myself that having her well enough just to hoon around a couple of intros would do...
 
I love the photos, maybe I should wish my hubby was a photographer rather than a vet!!

I was at the fence talking to MR FJ when he captured you at Turnberry smiling after landing over the hedges. looked like you were having loads of fun.

Fingers crossed about hopalong and hopefully meet you at one of Saint David's lessons soon :)
 
Fab photos as always. Everything crossed her 'holiday' will have done the trick and she'll be out showing us how its done again soon :)
And you know once she's up and running you'll be itching to do a novice :D But as you've said, a happy healthy horse is the most important thing. Sx
 
measles- ha, my clothing and stylish being mentioned in the same sentence?! My sister would
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if she heard that! ;) Thanks though, I hope '11 is a good one for us all. :)

ArcticFox- hmmm... there have been times recently I've been wishing the opposite, we could swap for a bit?! :p Although adding up the cost of 195 photos were Mr FJ not my husband would be a little scary...! (even though Hopalong is doing her best to make it look like pennies compared to her vet habit...) bogpony reckons I need to do less chatting with Mr FJ while on the XC course after being in a similar place to you at Turnberry. :p

saz- cheers! I desperately hope you are right. Can't see us doing a novice now, but I guess you never know?! We'll just have to wait and see... you are right, happy healthy pony is most important. :) You and J have a fab year ahead I reckon. :D

Babybear- thank you. Will be you and Casper in a year or two's time?! :D
 
Fingers crossed your right. Although to look at him just now you would never believe he could haul himself round a XC! :) He's a big fat hairy beast :D But in a way Im pleased, hopefully we wont have the same issues as last year with it all dropping off in February and having to pump him full of feed!
I have a rough 'plan' in my head, Im just not telling him what it is :D
 
Saz-
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indeed as far as telling J about plans! ;) I look forward to lots of our HHO lot posting gushing reports about amazing seasons next year. :)

MissTyc- cheers! I love any excuse to show off pictures of Hopalong though, so it's more thanks to you for looking and replying. :D

bigboyrocky- if you search back my posts a little, there's a "Hopalong non-update" thread explaining more. She has been diagnosed with a stifle injury, but we're not sure how/why/what long term prognosis is at the moment. Had some box rest/Cartrophen treatment done and now waiting for a thaw to go back to specialist. Possibly an op needed if still lame and they think cartilage damage. Don't know if/what level of work she'll come back to- it's killing me not knowing! :( I'll update if/when we ever get back to vet...

Thank you. :) I still love that Eglinton pic the most- I've got the massive canvas print on my living room wall thanks to Mr FigJam. :D
 
Aw, that is so nice seeing you and Hopalong - and big thanks to Mr FigJam for his fab photos - having such a ball. You really do epitomise what's great about eventing and if there's any justice in this world I-Hate-Dressage-Hopalong will be right as rain and ready to rock BE in 2011. :D
 
I love her. :)

I want to make you both love dressage (okay, not loathe dressage) though 'cause you're not actually that far away from a good test. Why do you live so far away?

Fingers crossed for her prognosis and recovery (and a thaw so you can get going with whatever needs to be done).
 
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