LauraBR
Well-Known Member
First hunter trial with new horse who can be a complete b*stard.
Well, on the way there I felt so sick with nerves that I thought I might actually BE sick
Feeling of sheer terror. Concentrated on visualising him clear the first few and then in my mind he'd throw one of his bronking episodes and p*ss off with me completely.
He was an angel in the warm up. At the starting line (we did novice and nanny first although neither of us had a clue really how badly behaved they would be- planned to spilt up if one of us got stuck) my friend said afterwards she looked at my face (grey and filled with dread) and actually thought I was going to bottle it there and then!!!!!!
SO- he refused the first. Twice. Friend carried on. Got him over it and he refused the second once, the third 3 times (had to stop and let others past- copped a lead off them
)... and THEN we kind of got into the flow (still following 3 ponies lol). He refused probably 50% of the jumps BUT we got over them all AND I didn't fall off AND I achieved my aim of getting him through the course- by hook or by crook!!!!!!!
Was estatic coming through the finishing line!
We were then down to do an indivdual round. By now nerves have gone and I'm riding much more confidently- aim to get eliminted less than 5 times over and not fall off.
WE ONLY MANAGED TO GO CLEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Worked my ass off and we had a foot perfect round- he was a STAR! Still can't believe it!
He didn't buck once all day
, the grackle did the trick brakes wise (quite nice control actually unless I really let him go in which case he was quite hard to get back again- found that when I jumped the last and bombed home- nearly ended up going round full course again) and the second time round I loved every second.
Rosiie & Lec- had your voices in my ear second time round (first time round too terrified to concentrate on anything other than keeping my heels down to sit dirty stops)- shoulders back, sit up 5 strides away... DID help steady him and helped me sit deep and tackle the fences better- thanks x
Must have been most vocal round ever... growled at him to get on before every jump and then bursted with sicky sweet 'good boys' all the way round!
Wonder how long this smile will last???
Next HT in a fortnight...
Well, on the way there I felt so sick with nerves that I thought I might actually BE sick
He was an angel in the warm up. At the starting line (we did novice and nanny first although neither of us had a clue really how badly behaved they would be- planned to spilt up if one of us got stuck) my friend said afterwards she looked at my face (grey and filled with dread) and actually thought I was going to bottle it there and then!!!!!!
SO- he refused the first. Twice. Friend carried on. Got him over it and he refused the second once, the third 3 times (had to stop and let others past- copped a lead off them
Was estatic coming through the finishing line!
We were then down to do an indivdual round. By now nerves have gone and I'm riding much more confidently- aim to get eliminted less than 5 times over and not fall off.
WE ONLY MANAGED TO GO CLEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Worked my ass off and we had a foot perfect round- he was a STAR! Still can't believe it!
He didn't buck once all day
Rosiie & Lec- had your voices in my ear second time round (first time round too terrified to concentrate on anything other than keeping my heels down to sit dirty stops)- shoulders back, sit up 5 strides away... DID help steady him and helped me sit deep and tackle the fences better- thanks x
Must have been most vocal round ever... growled at him to get on before every jump and then bursted with sicky sweet 'good boys' all the way round!
Wonder how long this smile will last???
Next HT in a fortnight...
