Sarah_Jane
Well-Known Member
Where has the season gone? Sadly Larkhill was the last event for this season and I really wanted to end on a good note. Quite a relaxing event as we didn't start dressage until after 3 so we managed to catch up on some much needed sleep having collected my new Irish girl in the middle of Thursday night! (An introductory post to follow when I have some more pictures)
My first visit to Larkhill and I had been warned not to fall off as horses can disappear, never to be seen again. Walked the course and thought it was lovely had a few questions but not as technical as some we had done. Very open and forward track although a few places where you could easily make a mistake including skinnies at 5ab and a step up to a double of skinny roll tops at 10. Course pictures all here http://www.shoestringeventing.co.uk/course-pictures.htm
Pip was very full of herself and banging in the lorry not appreciating her late start. Lunged her for 20 minutes around lunchtime more for the peace and quiet factor than anything else!! Then went and did something I hate doing and spent money! Having put a hole in my hacking jacket out cubbing and being many years old it was definitely time for an upgrade! Horses in Sport had a very nice jacket at a reasonable price and even better machine washable. The problem was there were none in my size of 12 and the 14 was a little large, I was rather delighted to squeeze in a size 10!!!! Only problem is I can't afford to put any weight on, so no over doing it this winter.
So new jacket on and off to the dressage. It was the dreaded test 111 again. I thought overall it was better than at Dauntsey although she changed again in the right counter canter and the halts weren't established (a problem with teaching rein back) so I was disappointed with a mark of 41.5. I have to say watching it back on the video I can see so much need for improvement and places where the marks were lost. It is frustrating as I feel I should have improved this phase quicker but we now have a winter to work on it.
Dressage Test http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEgrPD5T2ik
Thanks for all the pictures to Nick Perry
Caught one of us looking like we know what we are doing! - Can you tell I am a bit down about the dressage!
Anyway I never heard the dressage score until we went cross country as we had a quick turn around to show jumping. The course was relatively straightforward and not the biggest yet clear rounds were not that frequent and in the final tally only about a third went clear. Pip jumped a nice round but although it doesn't show on the video we gave two fences a clout and had luck on our side as they stayed up resulting in a clear round.
Show Jumping http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPw0_ZPqqio
So we went to cross country knowing another point was well within our grasp.
As I was in the start box the commentator was saying next to start etc etc and then gave my dressage score which rather took the wind out my sails! Started over 4 simple fences before fence 5 a double of slightly off set narrow logs which she really locked onto and jumped great. Unfortunately in the video clip Mum loses us over 5 as we were quite a way from the camera.
XC video 1-6 ish! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9AvEyqynJE
Over the far side of the course there were some decent upright rails to a drop which she jumped very well, this was followed by a step up to two skinny roll tops, I fiddled a bit much into the step and lost my line but she was very honest and genuine and gave me no risk of a run out. A few simple ones before the video picked us up again at the brush to the corner where I was a bit defensive and added a stride to be safe, it may have ridden better on 4 strides. The water followed and she jumped well particularly as the setting sun was right in our eyes. A few straightforward fences to finish although we had a bit of a miss at the penultimate and we finished only 3 seconds over the time.
XC video 2 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytbydlpayjI
It was her most mature cross country round to date she made it feel very easy. So another point and although I ddn't expect a placing after our rotten dressage score we were good enough to be 8th. So a great way to finish the season and very excited about her in 2012. Will be working very hard on my dressage demons!
My first visit to Larkhill and I had been warned not to fall off as horses can disappear, never to be seen again. Walked the course and thought it was lovely had a few questions but not as technical as some we had done. Very open and forward track although a few places where you could easily make a mistake including skinnies at 5ab and a step up to a double of skinny roll tops at 10. Course pictures all here http://www.shoestringeventing.co.uk/course-pictures.htm
Pip was very full of herself and banging in the lorry not appreciating her late start. Lunged her for 20 minutes around lunchtime more for the peace and quiet factor than anything else!! Then went and did something I hate doing and spent money! Having put a hole in my hacking jacket out cubbing and being many years old it was definitely time for an upgrade! Horses in Sport had a very nice jacket at a reasonable price and even better machine washable. The problem was there were none in my size of 12 and the 14 was a little large, I was rather delighted to squeeze in a size 10!!!! Only problem is I can't afford to put any weight on, so no over doing it this winter.
So new jacket on and off to the dressage. It was the dreaded test 111 again. I thought overall it was better than at Dauntsey although she changed again in the right counter canter and the halts weren't established (a problem with teaching rein back) so I was disappointed with a mark of 41.5. I have to say watching it back on the video I can see so much need for improvement and places where the marks were lost. It is frustrating as I feel I should have improved this phase quicker but we now have a winter to work on it.
Dressage Test http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEgrPD5T2ik
Thanks for all the pictures to Nick Perry
Caught one of us looking like we know what we are doing! - Can you tell I am a bit down about the dressage!
Anyway I never heard the dressage score until we went cross country as we had a quick turn around to show jumping. The course was relatively straightforward and not the biggest yet clear rounds were not that frequent and in the final tally only about a third went clear. Pip jumped a nice round but although it doesn't show on the video we gave two fences a clout and had luck on our side as they stayed up resulting in a clear round.
Show Jumping http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPw0_ZPqqio
So we went to cross country knowing another point was well within our grasp.
As I was in the start box the commentator was saying next to start etc etc and then gave my dressage score which rather took the wind out my sails! Started over 4 simple fences before fence 5 a double of slightly off set narrow logs which she really locked onto and jumped great. Unfortunately in the video clip Mum loses us over 5 as we were quite a way from the camera.
XC video 1-6 ish! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9AvEyqynJE
Over the far side of the course there were some decent upright rails to a drop which she jumped very well, this was followed by a step up to two skinny roll tops, I fiddled a bit much into the step and lost my line but she was very honest and genuine and gave me no risk of a run out. A few simple ones before the video picked us up again at the brush to the corner where I was a bit defensive and added a stride to be safe, it may have ridden better on 4 strides. The water followed and she jumped well particularly as the setting sun was right in our eyes. A few straightforward fences to finish although we had a bit of a miss at the penultimate and we finished only 3 seconds over the time.
XC video 2 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytbydlpayjI
It was her most mature cross country round to date she made it feel very easy. So another point and although I ddn't expect a placing after our rotten dressage score we were good enough to be 8th. So a great way to finish the season and very excited about her in 2012. Will be working very hard on my dressage demons!
Well done on the shiny point and 8th place though 
