Maybe I should take up dressage.... Hutton Novice

[Shrimp]

We seem to have hit a brick wall. Shall start from beginning after a 3 hour journey there:

Walked the course which wasnt overly huge, extremely well presented but did ask quite a few questions.

Dressage: Was glad to see that we were in an arena away from everything and everyone as so not to give Shrimp the chance to be a nosy bugger! I thought we did an ok test, better than last week (39.5) and I estimated about 36-37 ish.

Showjumping: walmed up ok but as we went in, he didnt have the same spark , he didnt try and wasnt really enjoying it. We got eliminated for too many refusals.

Am going to speak to RC in the morning to see what he says and have to decided to withdraw from Allerton and go right back down and do some mini showjumping and hunter trials (if you know of any, let me know) untill he starts enjoying himself again. Also will possibly get a blood test done to see if anythings wrong there.

Oh, on the up side, I went to check my dressage score before we left and guess what we got? 31.0! Which out of the scores that were up (which was most of them) was joint top! Was rather amazed as at our last three novices we got 39.5, 39.5 and 39.6 (consistent, eh?

) and I did stare at the score board for a while checking that it was a 1 and not a 7!

Left an SAE so i can see what the judge thought of him as she must have liked him.

Ah well, this sport isnt without its ups and downs, lets hope its up from now on

 

[Hattikins]

How fantastic about the dressage

at least you have a positive to take away from today

such a shame about the show jumping

- really hope he is ok and you get him enjoying himself again

 

[Fiona]

Poor shrimp. Sounds like he's definitely feeling below par for one reason or another. Has the ground got firm in your part of the world?? or could he have a virus. A friend's junior horse started to stop last summer, and turned out to have a reall nasty virus when they had it's bloods checked.
We had FLo's back checked this week after she had gone badly, and it was OK, but something else to rule out I suppose.
Best of luck to get to the bottom of it.
Fiona

 

[SpottedCat]

Well done on the dressage, but shame about the rest - maybe he does have a virus? All this damp weather this summer seems to mean there are a few about...

 

[Shrimp]

Fiona: the ground was pretty good and he warmed up well so I dont think it was that. We went to Somerford on Thursday and he didnt touch a pole SJ and was great on the XC so it could be like some sort of stage fright?! He got in the ring and just went 'no thanks'.

 

[Fiona]

Poor boy!!
Would really love to get into their heads sometimes, to find out what they're thinking. Still worth having some bloods done though, I don't think they are expensive.
Can't think of anything else, other than just doing PN height stuff for a bit to make sure he isn't having a confidence crisis. Nov fences look pretty big to me (I have only done intro this year).
Fiona

 

[TiaPony]

Well done on the dressage, sounds like he just needs to learn to enjoy his jumping once again with some small, fun things which you seem to have covered

Best of luck with him - hope his spark returns

x

 

[Shrimp]

Yeh, will probably do so.
I think we're going to go showjumping next weekend and do the British Novice so nice and inviting and perhaps the discovery depending how it goes. That should hopefully tell us wether its a competition thing, confidence or something else.

 

[DollyPentreath]

Poor Shrimp! Never mind Flic, same thing happened to me at Aston and I got a real bee in my bonnet about it. We reckon he was still feeling a bit below par as he'd had a virus that month. Def get a blood test to eliminate any other factors. Good luck at the BN, hopefully it was just a blip.

 

[applestroodle]

Hey what was the novice course like at hutton thinking of entering now witton is canceled? this season is really a non start. its still i while away yet and who knows what weather might do... well done ur dressage mark is super duper u should be very very chuffed!

 

[I_A_P]

thats such a shame but fantastic dressage well done!!

i know exactly how you feel about the whole ups and downs!!im currently on a real down!

 

[Shrimp]

It was really nice, not overly huge but did ask a fair few questions. There was an offset treble combination on 2 and 3 strides. The water was a rail, 3 strides to another rail which was nearly directly into the water followed by a small jump in the water. Then there was two narrow house things, then another treble combination but with a fair few strides inbetween followed by a key hole hedge, 5 strides to another key hole, 4 strides to a narrow. Basically it starts off not too bad but there are alot more questions in the second half. Oh and its all on a hill!