Is this too much, too soon???

[_MizElz_]

I have posted oodles of times about Elz and I having just had the most amazing XC schooling session (our first ever, and also first time jumping properly in 6 years!)

Well, suffice to say I now have 'the bug' - I just want to get out and jump again! And it just so happens that there is a hunter trial on at our yard on Sunday...

The HT starts over the 2'6 course, so I had ruled out the thought of doing it as we only jumped 2'3-2'6 at the weekend, and I would consider 2'6 to be the biggest we will ever do now...and therefore something to work towards. However, one of my friends at the yard is now trying to persuade me to do the 2'6 pairs with her, as her partner has let her down...

Do you think it's too soon? On the up side, Ellie and I have jumped many of the fences on the 2'6 course for fun whilst hacking. Not all of them, but quite a few. Ellie is also good friends with my mate's horse, and has already proven that she is happy to follow him (we had a lovely time jumping round part of the course on Friday!) On the down side...we wont know the exact route of the course until Saturday, and there are quite a few fences I would not feel at all comfortable jumping if they were to feature (think tricky combos, drop fences etc.) Also...I am a chicken and I dont want to suddenly let my friend down on the day with an attack of the collywobbles.

Thoughts, anyone? In a way it seems a lovely opportunity as Ellie will have someone to follow for her first proper XC experience....I just worry that it's a bit big for our first time

 

[reindeerlover]

I don't think it's too soon but it depends on how competitive your friend is- I have taken youngsters around pairs XC courses before and nobody has seemed to mind if we miss out any scary or particularly complicated fences. If she wants to win explain that you are not the right person but if she just wants the experience tell her you'll do it! I insist

 

[_MizElz_]

I don't think it's too soon but it depends on how competitive your friend is- I have taken youngsters around pairs XC courses before and nobody has seemed to mind if we miss out any scary or particularly complicated fences. If she wants to win explain that you are not the right person but if she just wants the experience tell her you'll do it! I insist

Oh gosh, that's a good idea! I hadnt thought of that....we'd get a technical elimination if I missed a fence but they wouldnt stop us going on, would they??

I think she'd understand if I said I couldnt guarantee we'd jump everything...that may well be the way forward! She did the pairs at the last HT with someone else and said afterwards it had never been in her mind to try to win....so defo a possibility!

 

[benson21]

I don't think it's too soon but it depends on how competitive your friend is- I have taken youngsters around pairs XC courses before and nobody has seemed to mind if we miss out any scary or particularly complicated fences. If she wants to win explain that you are not the right person but if she just wants the experience tell her you'll do it! I insist

Absolutely ditto this! If your friend is just doing it for fun, then you missing out some jumps and therefore getting eliminated wont make any difference. Otherwise, if your horse has jumped some of these fences on her own before, why not go into the individual class, .

 

[_MizElz_]

Absolutely ditto this! If your friend is just doing it for fun, then you missing out some jumps and therefore getting eliminated wont make any difference. Otherwise, if your horse has jumped some of these fences on her own before, why not go into the individual class, .

I'm a bit too scared to go it alone! The ones we've done on our own have only been 2ft or smaller....we got the courage to follow my friend over some of the 2'6 ones the other day though! So I think Pairs is best for this time. There are HTs and ODEs later in the year that start at 2ft, so we can do them on our own as a starting point!

I have just texted her to ask about doing the non-competitive pairs.....!!!!!

 

[benson21]

[
I have just texted her to ask about doing the non-competitive pairs.....!!!!![/QUOTE]

let us know the answer!!!

 

[MontyandZoom]

agree with everyone else At my first HT I did the pairs with Tedster from HHO. We were so busy following her me and Zoomy didn't even look at the jumps! If you poo yourself, just go around it......although methinks that you and Ellie will fly round