charlimouse
Well-Known Member
*Before anybody lynches me I have typed the title of this post with my tounge very firmly in my cheek 
*
So due to me feeling like a complete numpty in my showjumping recently, and feeling like Murphy is having to help me out big time at almost every fence, I bit the bullet and took full advantage of the BRC BS membership package, to get a bit more practice.
Things didn't get off to a good start, the day after I had sent in all the forms I had the worst jumping lesson of my life culminating in a lame horse, and a broken filler
! Not to be deflated, and with Murphy sound the next day (luckily he had just banged his knee 
!), my plans were able to be resumed. Gave him a jump yesterday just to make sure his little incident on Tuesday hadn't completely scared the $h*t out of him, and thankfully Murphy was back on form (although I had quite a severe case of over-riding-itis !).
True to form with the British weather, today it was pi$$*ng it down. Not to be deterred off we went. Of course when we arrived they were running late (these SJ'ers must be a hardier bunch than we eventers give them credit for!) So decided to enter the Discovery as I didn't want to be hanging around getting soaked, so although well within our capabilities I thought it would be good for us given our mishap during the week 
. Once the course was up I have to confess to being a little surprised at the technicality, compared to the BE SJ . A far more testing course than I had anticipated . Well I needn't have worried with Murphy on the case. After giving fence 1 a good tap (he is an eventer afterall !), Murphy jumped well for a clear round 
. Lots of pats for the clever horse, but then I was faced with the thought of a jump-off. Having never ridden Murphy in a jump-off, and not done any pure (unaffilliated) SJ for over 18 months, I decided to see what the other people were doing, and try to copy their turns. Of course I was drawn to go in second (there were 9 in the jump-off), so ideas of watching the others scrapped, I decided to take the tightest turns possible (first to go in jump-off was E'd, so not helpful !). Off we set, taking the 3rd fence on an angle to get a very tight turn inside another fence, down to the treble. Turning in the air back to an oxer, then another tight turn back to an upright to finish. So a double clear, even more pats for Murphy . Waited and watched the others go, it quickly became apparent I had thrown down a very large gauntlett . With poles flying, and horses missing their turns as they were all chasing my time. Nobody could come close, and clever Murphy ended up winning by over 5 seconds 
! Not bad for an eventer , especially a slow one at that 
! Won £30, which is a luxury for somebody used to the BE prize funds !
I'm scared to confess I may be converting(albeit alongside my eventing). I've even planned our second BS outing fort he end of next week. Game on ..............................................
*So due to me feeling like a complete numpty in my showjumping recently, and feeling like Murphy is having to help me out big time at almost every fence, I bit the bullet and took full advantage of the BRC BS membership package, to get a bit more practice.
Things didn't get off to a good start, the day after I had sent in all the forms I had the worst jumping lesson of my life culminating in a lame horse, and a broken filler
! Not to be deflated, and with Murphy sound the next day (luckily he had just banged his knee !), my plans were able to be resumed. Gave him a jump yesterday just to make sure his little incident on Tuesday hadn't completely scared the $h*t out of him, and thankfully Murphy was back on form (although I had quite a severe case of over-riding-itis !). True to form with the British weather, today it was pi$$*ng it down. Not to be deterred off we went. Of course when we arrived they were running late (these SJ'ers must be a hardier bunch than we eventers give them credit for
!) So decided to enter the Discovery as I didn't want to be hanging around getting soaked, so although well within our capabilities I thought it would be good for us given our mishap during the week . Once the course was up I have to confess to being a little surprised at the technicality, compared to the BE SJ . A far more testing course than I had anticipated . Well I needn't have worried with Murphy on the case. After giving fence 1 a good tap (he is an eventer afterall !), Murphy jumped well for a clear round . Lots of pats for the clever horse, but then I was faced with the thought of a jump-off. Having never ridden Murphy in a jump-off, and not done any pure (unaffilliated) SJ for over 18 months, I decided to see what the other people were doing, and try to copy their turns. Of course I was drawn to go in second (there were 9 in the jump-off), so ideas of watching the others scrapped, I decided to take the tightest turns possible (first to go in jump-off was E'd, so not helpful !). Off we set, taking the 3rd fence on an angle to get a very tight turn inside another fence, down to the treble. Turning in the air back to an oxer, then another tight turn back to an upright to finish. So a double clear, even more pats for Murphy . Waited and watched the others go, it quickly became apparent I had thrown down a very large gauntlett . With poles flying, and horses missing their turns as they were all chasing my time. Nobody could come close, and clever Murphy ended up winning by over 5 seconds ! Not bad for an eventer , especially a slow one at that ! Won £30, which is a luxury for somebody used to the BE prize funds !I'm scared to confess I may be converting
(albeit alongside my eventing). I've even planned our second BS outing fort he end of next week. Game on ..............................................
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