Elvis
Well-Known Member
So today was Elvis' second event since April, but also sadly the last of this season. It's such a shame we've got to wait 6 months before we continue his BE campaign, he's had all summer off recovering from an injury, so he was only fit enough to compete again last weekend. Oh well, lots of dressage, Showjumping and hunting this winter.
Now onto Larkhill, since Elvis is not ridden by me I make my own way to events to watch him. What I didn't realise is Larkhill is in the middle of Salisbury plains, and almost impossible to find with a sat nav. My mum had volunteered to come with me and offered to drive since I'd worked late the night before. So we set off at 6am (!) as Elvis had been drawn first for the dressage. As far as we could see there was no signage for Larkhill Horse Trials so after asking a very bemused army cadet for directions we trundled off across some fields, trying our best to avoid the chasms (pot holes). Eventually we located the elusive Larkhill horse trials and parked up.
As seems to be the pattern with any party Elvis gets to attend, the weather was horrible. Windy, rainy and generally dreary. He warmed up for the dressage well, especially considering the weather. H had made sure to spend plenty of time in canter, as last week he'd lost marks for hollowing in the canter trans and then remaining tense. The walk and trot work was good, probably more consistent than last week, his right canter trans was a bit hollow but quickly settled. H then asked for the left canter trans and Elvis leapt forward, humped and then broke to trot- ******! H quickly re-established the canter and then completed the rest of the test well. This tension and hollowing in the canter is really frustrating- he doesn't do it at home and he doesn't really do it in the warm up. H thinks it's Elvis' way of showing he's fresh/excited, he's a very chilled horse and doesn't really let the show atmosphere affect him in as much as he doesn't get spooky or nervous. Whatever the cause hopefully a winter spent doing dressage will sort the canter. He still managed a 34.5 dressage (0.5 better than last weekend) so was still in a good position competitively.
Onto the Showjumping, I looked at the course and just thought today won't be our day. The course was on really hilly terrain, of which Elvis has no experience. His weakest phase is Showjumping, he's simply a little too relaxed about it. There also weren't any scary fillers which can help him get in the air a bit more. Thankfully he jumped really well to have just one down, he's starting to show far more consistency in this phase now, it's all still very new to Elvis but his jumping rounds now consist of him jumping well and then being unlucky to have one down as opposed to being lucky to only have one down. I'm sure that more practice over winter will further improve this phase for Elvis.
Finally onto cross country, last weekend was his first time since April around a full set of cross country fences, he picked up 4.4 time penalties, which for his first event was fine. Today the plan was to kick on a bit more, when H walked the course he commented that it was really long and he suspected time penalties would play their part. It was kind of unknown territory how Elvis would cope with so much galloping and jumping, he's a very honest horse so will always try to jump, and H has made sure he's fit, but he never looks like he's moving particularly fast. Anyway, he posted a fantastic clear, H said he just locks onto whatever jump you put infront of him, he's really had very little practice over the variety of fences you find out competing, but he just keeps jumping. I was thrilled to find out he only picked up 1.2 time penalties, and as H had predicted time penalties were very influential. Few people managed to get inside the time, and many others had far more time penalties than Elvis so that's reassuring for the future, I think he's one of those deceptive gallopers, he doesn't look fast but he takes big strides and covers the ground.
So onto the results, he came 8th! His second event and he was placed! So a frilly and his first FP points. I am so pleased with him. He's still so new to all of this, and he's just cracked on with it all. I'm so excited for next season. I've had this horse 2 years and I love him to pieces, we've really been through some ups and downs, and I feel like it's all coming to fruition now.
No photos from today as I didn't buy any or take my own because of the weather but here's some schooling photos.
Now onto Larkhill, since Elvis is not ridden by me I make my own way to events to watch him. What I didn't realise is Larkhill is in the middle of Salisbury plains, and almost impossible to find with a sat nav. My mum had volunteered to come with me and offered to drive since I'd worked late the night before. So we set off at 6am (!) as Elvis had been drawn first for the dressage. As far as we could see there was no signage for Larkhill Horse Trials so after asking a very bemused army cadet for directions we trundled off across some fields, trying our best to avoid the chasms (pot holes). Eventually we located the elusive Larkhill horse trials and parked up.
As seems to be the pattern with any party Elvis gets to attend, the weather was horrible. Windy, rainy and generally dreary. He warmed up for the dressage well, especially considering the weather. H had made sure to spend plenty of time in canter, as last week he'd lost marks for hollowing in the canter trans and then remaining tense. The walk and trot work was good, probably more consistent than last week, his right canter trans was a bit hollow but quickly settled. H then asked for the left canter trans and Elvis leapt forward, humped and then broke to trot- ******! H quickly re-established the canter and then completed the rest of the test well. This tension and hollowing in the canter is really frustrating- he doesn't do it at home and he doesn't really do it in the warm up. H thinks it's Elvis' way of showing he's fresh/excited, he's a very chilled horse and doesn't really let the show atmosphere affect him in as much as he doesn't get spooky or nervous. Whatever the cause hopefully a winter spent doing dressage will sort the canter. He still managed a 34.5 dressage (0.5 better than last weekend) so was still in a good position competitively.
Onto the Showjumping, I looked at the course and just thought today won't be our day. The course was on really hilly terrain, of which Elvis has no experience. His weakest phase is Showjumping, he's simply a little too relaxed about it. There also weren't any scary fillers which can help him get in the air a bit more. Thankfully he jumped really well to have just one down, he's starting to show far more consistency in this phase now, it's all still very new to Elvis but his jumping rounds now consist of him jumping well and then being unlucky to have one down as opposed to being lucky to only have one down. I'm sure that more practice over winter will further improve this phase for Elvis.
Finally onto cross country, last weekend was his first time since April around a full set of cross country fences, he picked up 4.4 time penalties, which for his first event was fine. Today the plan was to kick on a bit more, when H walked the course he commented that it was really long and he suspected time penalties would play their part. It was kind of unknown territory how Elvis would cope with so much galloping and jumping, he's a very honest horse so will always try to jump, and H has made sure he's fit, but he never looks like he's moving particularly fast. Anyway, he posted a fantastic clear, H said he just locks onto whatever jump you put infront of him, he's really had very little practice over the variety of fences you find out competing, but he just keeps jumping. I was thrilled to find out he only picked up 1.2 time penalties, and as H had predicted time penalties were very influential. Few people managed to get inside the time, and many others had far more time penalties than Elvis so that's reassuring for the future, I think he's one of those deceptive gallopers, he doesn't look fast but he takes big strides and covers the ground.
So onto the results, he came 8th! His second event and he was placed! So a frilly and his first FP points. I am so pleased with him. He's still so new to all of this, and he's just cracked on with it all. I'm so excited for next season. I've had this horse 2 years and I love him to pieces, we've really been through some ups and downs, and I feel like it's all coming to fruition now.
No photos from today as I didn't buy any or take my own because of the weather but here's some schooling photos.
. First time I have ever walked a sj course in the dark too. I do love Larkhill though....
