Cherryblossom
Well-Known Member
Sometimes I think that the fact that I got to grow up in the days of cantering on every bit of verge, jumping everything in sight, and hopping on horses while they're loose in the field has made me more laid back than a lot of what I read on here. However, even I have some standards, and I think I've just discovered my threshold!
I found myself at a loose end yesterday, so we boxed up the mare and took her to a local jump cross league at a professional competition yard. The course itself ran over two very undulating fields, and there was multiple occasions when you crossed your tracks.... Which is fine, as long as it's only you crossing tracks! Headed out around the course, and had a near miss, with someone jumping down the hill nearly on top of me! Thankfully their youngster stuck the breaks on just in time, as we couldn't see each other until we were about 2 strides away!
After the class, we found a vantage point and watched some of the next class. First, a girl came off at the water and hit the fence- lay for about 90secs before getting up, and as soon as she got on her feet they were shouting at her to move as another horse was approaching the fence! Following that, watched someone else jump through the water straight in front of someone who had set off and was about to take off to a jump perpendicular to the water... The horse swerved so sharply it lost its' footing and both horse and rider fell! Next thing, they're giving the girl a leg up and letting her continue on the course! She'd fallen at fence three, and we couldn't see 4/5/6/7, but as she came round to 8, her poor horse, either terrified or injured, went straight through it and demolished it, and then didn't pick up at all for 9 either and went down on his knees, sending her out the side door! And STILL they kept people coming- as the next horse rounded the corner, the helpers were gathering bits of broken wood and scampering out of the way!
And somehow when we got home, their Facebook was full of people thanking them for a fantastic evening! Am I becoming old and grumpy, or was this total and utter mayhem?
I found myself at a loose end yesterday, so we boxed up the mare and took her to a local jump cross league at a professional competition yard. The course itself ran over two very undulating fields, and there was multiple occasions when you crossed your tracks.... Which is fine, as long as it's only you crossing tracks! Headed out around the course, and had a near miss, with someone jumping down the hill nearly on top of me! Thankfully their youngster stuck the breaks on just in time, as we couldn't see each other until we were about 2 strides away!
After the class, we found a vantage point and watched some of the next class. First, a girl came off at the water and hit the fence- lay for about 90secs before getting up, and as soon as she got on her feet they were shouting at her to move as another horse was approaching the fence! Following that, watched someone else jump through the water straight in front of someone who had set off and was about to take off to a jump perpendicular to the water... The horse swerved so sharply it lost its' footing and both horse and rider fell! Next thing, they're giving the girl a leg up and letting her continue on the course! She'd fallen at fence three, and we couldn't see 4/5/6/7, but as she came round to 8, her poor horse, either terrified or injured, went straight through it and demolished it, and then didn't pick up at all for 9 either and went down on his knees, sending her out the side door! And STILL they kept people coming- as the next horse rounded the corner, the helpers were gathering bits of broken wood and scampering out of the way!
And somehow when we got home, their Facebook was full of people thanking them for a fantastic evening! Am I becoming old and grumpy, or was this total and utter mayhem?
