milliepops
Wears headscarf aggressively
Settle in, there are 3 days to report on here! 
The Welsh Champs show is my absolute nemesis, or has been up to now - I've qualified and tried to go for the last 2 years but Millie has taken the opportunity to injure herself each time - 2015 she did a check ligament, 2016 she was actually going into horspital for surgery on the day of the show... so 2017 we had a change of mount to see whether that would break the curse
We qualified in a rush at Severnvale just before the close of entries (that was a day to forget as it was sweltering and she (we) really hated the venue
but she did enough). A friend was qualified and feeling anxious so I thought we would tag along to support her. Plus the Mount Ballan area festival was running over the same weekend.. and we have regionals there next months so all in all, it seemed to make sense to get Kira into the scary main arena as many times as possible!
Friday
Up at sparrow fart on Friday, went to catch in and got a bit of a shock as Kira had sprouted the most ENORMOUS grass glands all over her face I'd swapped Millie and her into each other's paddocks the night before, there was a logic to it and they swap about quite frequently so I wasn't expecting that! prodded and poked her a bit and then decided if I just didn't look at them, they'd be gone by lunchtime, good bit of denial there.
rode Millie and then plaited Kira and packed the lorry. I wanted Friday to be just like any other show day for her, so we didn't check into the stables until she had done her tests. The warm up test was medium 61, she warmed up well but then we discovered we were expected to wait in the tiny collecting ring next to the arena entrance for 7 minutes before the test... just right to send your horse to sleep before the test.
I did my best to keep her awake and then had a jolly canter round the ring before starting 
I felt we had a pleasing effort in the test and the judge agreed, giving her 67% in good company, so some nice winter Q points picked up.
Very short gap between tests, especially with a change of arena, different warm up to trek to AND the 7 minute snooze break to factor in so we didn't get a great deal done - she was flagging at this point but tried hard in the AF test. By this time her grass glands had turned into floppy face boobs which was entertaining at least the stewards weren't too bothered by it!
I felt she was more rideable than at Kingswood in June, definitely did more of the work for herself and we had some nice comments about her being quick to the aids etc which had been the main focus of her work lately. So very pleased with her on day 1, 63% was enough for 5th place and through to a mounted prize giving in one of the big grass rings. She thought that was wonderful and we went round twice, egged on by the other placed riders... funny how other venues have been a bit sniffy about mounted prize givings but we're a game bunch in Wales obv, some were threatening to jump the derby fences
Checked into the stable and found we were in the stallion area :eek3: Consequently the stable door was so high she could barely see over it but she had a good roll and settled down to her haynet quite happily.
Saturday
Face boobs gone, Kira was looking like her usual self by this point :lol: She had eaten and drunk well overnight but was looking just slightly stressed about being away from home. We were on early for Medium 76 so plaited and headed off to the warm up under grey skies and a bit of drizzle (quite happy about that as jackets compulsory all weekend!)
2 stallions in a busy 20 x 40 warm up made for an interesting ride on my hormonal little powerhouse... she managed to contain herself just about, but there was some tail swishing and head snaking.. presented for the 7 minute snooze and then off to the test.
I HATE M76, it doesn't seem to flow and as it got dropped for regionals we hardly have to ride it anywhere these days, but she pulled off a decent test for 66% under a list 1 judge and 2nd place behind an extremely smart black stallion. Super chuffed with her, I felt she lacked a bit of "go" but this weekend was all about giving her an opportunity to soak up the atmosphere and learn to cope, so these little details are all part of it.
Nice frilly and £8 in the kitty :lol:
I zipped home to take Millie out at this point as she was stuck in her box at home, out of harm's way and then watched my friend ride her prelim before taking Kira out for a good graze to refuel
Sunday
All of us were feeling quite weary by this point, Kira was definitely feeling a bit of stress about being stabled in the hormone-zone, she gets these funny wrinkles under her eyes when she's struggling and I was pleased it was the last day.
Another day, another warm up arena and yes, the 2 stallions were there again...she wanted to just squeal and strike out so it was difficult to manage K at this point without using up all of her petrol keeping her busy - I tried not to get on too early so that we wouldn't have a long warm up as Medium 75 is quite intense and I knew she would run out of steam otherwise.
Started to get some classy feeling work and then off to the snooze pen... she was in a good place mentally by then which was the aim of the weekend and I'm so pleased we got to that point. Set off around the arena feeling good, got a little tight in the test again and then felt tired, but she kept trying with a bit of shoving along from me I was pleased with lots of the work, particularly the elements that I know she finds hard to stay "together" with when she's tired - the simple changes from counter canter were quite direct and balanced, the rein back stayed to the contact where she can dip down if she isn't thinking forward, she answered my aid for medium trot after the half passes... all good reactions and the walk stayed active where it can get really slow and sticky (though she stuck for a step in the second piri). So loads of really positive stuff that bodes well for the future.
[video=youtube;CbkrEAZRrN8]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CbkrEAZRrN8[/video]
Sunday's judge wasn't feeling it so 62% and 5th which dropped us out of the prizes for the champs but knowing what could have happened, I was super chuffed with her.
Another pretty plaque to add to our collection
Her relief when we loaded to return home was palpable... and she was very happy to be back with Millie and go out in the field
She has earned herself a quiet week to recover, and then it's back on the wagon... couple of advanced mediums at the end of next week... then elementary regionals back at Mount Ballan (will she remember what she's learnt???) and then on to Beacons for an AF at advanced medium, just for kicks really but all good experience.
She's such a funny horse, by the time she is ready to do a PSG at home she will just about be brave enough to pull off an Elementary well at a show... but that's just who she is, can't hold it against her
The Welsh Champs show is my absolute nemesis, or has been up to now - I've qualified and tried to go for the last 2 years but Millie has taken the opportunity to injure herself each time - 2015 she did a check ligament, 2016 she was actually going into horspital for surgery on the day of the show... so 2017 we had a change of mount to see whether that would break the curse
We qualified in a rush at Severnvale just before the close of entries (that was a day to forget as it was sweltering and she (we) really hated the venue
but she did enough). A friend was qualified and feeling anxious so I thought we would tag along to support her. Plus the Mount Ballan area festival was running over the same weekend.. and we have regionals there next months so all in all, it seemed to make sense to get Kira into the scary main arena as many times as possible!Friday
Up at sparrow fart on Friday, went to catch in and got a bit of a shock as Kira had sprouted the most ENORMOUS grass glands all over her face
I'd swapped Millie and her into each other's paddocks the night before, there was a logic to it and they swap about quite frequently so I wasn't expecting that! prodded and poked her a bit and then decided if I just didn't look at them, they'd be gone by lunchtime, good bit of denial there.
rode Millie and then plaited Kira and packed the lorry. I wanted Friday to be just like any other show day for her, so we didn't check into the stables until she had done her tests. The warm up test was medium 61, she warmed up well but then we discovered we were expected to wait in the tiny collecting ring next to the arena entrance for 7 minutes before the test... just right to send your horse to sleep before the test.
I did my best to keep her awake and then had a jolly canter round the ring before starting I felt we had a pleasing effort in the test and the judge agreed, giving her 67% in good company, so some nice winter Q points picked up.Very short gap between tests, especially with a change of arena, different warm up to trek to AND the 7 minute snooze break to factor in so we didn't get a great deal done - she was flagging at this point but tried hard in the AF test. By this time her grass glands had turned into floppy face boobs which was entertaining
at least the stewards weren't too bothered by it!I felt she was more rideable than at Kingswood in June, definitely did more of the work for herself
and we had some nice comments about her being quick to the aids etc which had been the main focus of her work lately. So very pleased with her on day 1, 63% was enough for 5th place and through to a mounted prize giving in one of the big grass rings. She thought that was wonderful and we went round twice, egged on by the other placed riders... funny how other venues have been a bit sniffy about mounted prize givings but we're a game bunch in Wales obv, some were threatening to jump the derby fences
Checked into the stable and found we were in the stallion area :eek3: Consequently the stable door was so high she could barely see over it but she had a good roll and settled down to her haynet quite happily.
Saturday
Face boobs gone, Kira was looking like her usual self by this point :lol: She had eaten and drunk well overnight but was looking just slightly stressed about being away from home. We were on early for Medium 76 so plaited and headed off to the warm up under grey skies and a bit of drizzle (quite happy about that as jackets compulsory all weekend!)
2 stallions in a busy 20 x 40 warm up made for an interesting ride on my hormonal little powerhouse... she managed to contain herself just about, but there was some tail swishing and head snaking.. presented for the 7 minute snooze
and then off to the test. I HATE M76, it doesn't seem to flow and as it got dropped for regionals we hardly have to ride it anywhere these days, but she pulled off a decent test for 66% under a list 1 judge and 2nd place behind an extremely smart black stallion. Super chuffed with her, I felt she lacked a bit of "go" but this weekend was all about giving her an opportunity to soak up the atmosphere and learn to cope, so these little details are all part of it.
Nice frilly and £8 in the kitty :lol:
I zipped home to take Millie out at this point as she was stuck in her box at home, out of harm's way
and then watched my friend ride her prelim before taking Kira out for a good graze to refuel
Sunday
All of us were feeling quite weary by this point, Kira was definitely feeling a bit of stress about being stabled in the hormone-zone, she gets these funny wrinkles under her eyes when she's struggling and I was pleased it was the last day.
Another day, another warm up arena and yes, the 2 stallions were there again...she wanted to just squeal and strike out so it was difficult to manage K at this point without using up all of her petrol keeping her busy - I tried not to get on too early so that we wouldn't have a long warm up as Medium 75 is quite intense and I knew she would run out of steam otherwise.
Started to get some classy feeling work and then off to the snooze pen... she was in a good place mentally by then which was the aim of the weekend and I'm so pleased we got to that point. Set off around the arena feeling good, got a little tight in the test again and then felt tired, but she kept trying with a bit of shoving along from me
I was pleased with lots of the work, particularly the elements that I know she finds hard to stay "together" with when she's tired - the simple changes from counter canter were quite direct and balanced, the rein back stayed to the contact where she can dip down if she isn't thinking forward, she answered my aid for medium trot after the half passes... all good reactions and the walk stayed active where it can get really slow and sticky (though she stuck for a step in the second piri). So loads of really positive stuff that bodes well for the future.[video=youtube;CbkrEAZRrN8]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CbkrEAZRrN8[/video]
Sunday's judge wasn't feeling it so 62% and 5th which dropped us out of the prizes for the champs but knowing what could have happened, I was super chuffed with her.
Another pretty plaque to add to our collection
Her relief when we loaded to return home was palpable... and she was very happy to be back with Millie and go out in the field
She has earned herself a quiet week to recover, and then it's back on the wagon... couple of advanced mediums at the end of next week... then elementary regionals back at Mount Ballan (will she remember what she's learnt???
) and then on to Beacons for an AF at advanced medium, just for kicks really but all good experience.She's such a funny horse, by the time she is ready to do a PSG at home she will just about be brave enough to pull off an Elementary well at a show... but that's just who she is, can't hold it against her
