MEGA PIC OVERLOAD SORRY! SLM as first Be90?

kerryflower

kerryflower

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Well after an amazing Easter weekend away at SLM I thought I’d do a little write up. After a crappy few weeks stressed with boring uni work and splitting from the OH I decided I needed to get away for some intensive pony time! So myself and a few friends went to SLM for the weekend. It was fantastic. Am even more sickeningly infatuated with the orange pony now and I’m sure my friends family and colleagues are sick to the back to teeth of the name Ollie LOL :D

So the first day we had my instructor come to teach. I did SJ first...boring! It is our weakest phase I suspect due to the fact I find it boring and the pony knows they fall down so isn’t exactly vigilant about picking his toes up! General feedback from the lesson was that I need to keep the canter full of energy but without letting him get long and flat. Also I need to really concentrate on maintaining the rhythm and not folding so soon. By then end of the weekend I did feel like I had a definite feel for the right canter and he was jumping better probably because I was thinking forwards and not jumping 10 strides before him!

Then onto the fun stuff!! XC :D He was brilliant! Considering he is only just rising 6 and only ever done XC with me he really is sooo confident and genuine. I am happy to admit that after my last horse who was a VVV dirty stopper it has taken a while for me not to brace myself for a stop and to trust the horse to jump. But Ollie has really filled me with soooo much confidence and I really feel like we have clicked :D Again general feedback was that I need to attack fences more and not “fiddle” before the jump as we get to close on a short stride. Again, by the end of the weekend I really felt him taking them in his stride and me letting him. Instructor pushed me out of my comfort zone of 90cm max height. She had us jumping some monsters just to prove that the horse was more than capable and willing if I let him. We jumped jumps I would normally look at think dream on!! And we jumped them well. Sooooo pleased with Ollie as most of my new found confidence is through his amazing attitude <3

Soooo have entered the BE90 at SLM but a little bit scared as some people seem to think it isn’t good for first timers. Although we did Urchinwood last year we are still very new to this BE lark (both Ollie and I have only done that one at Urchinwood). What are general opinions on SLM be90? We are happy jumping bigger than 90cm and water, steps, skinnies (if I don’t ride like a muppet!) and jumping on angles. Just don’t want to ruin the confidence by over facing us at first comp of season??

Have included my pics of weekend....apologies for the overload...trigger happy not the word!! I know my lower leg still needs to be a bit more forwards but it is VASTLY improved from last year where it was practically swinging back to his tail :P

White chocolate and raspberry easter egg to all who got this far!!

Boring SJ- he didn’t knock a pole but makes me laugh how over jumping is soooo not his style. He literally jumps as high as he needs to get over. Minimun energy effort required LOL
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Onto the fun stuff!
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Got a bit close...bad pilot!!
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Then got it right :)
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Mega chuffed &#61514;
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A bit of a sequence &#61514;
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Group photie
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well considering most of those XC jumps are PN and even a few Novice fences I think you will be fine with the intro ;)

I did SL as my first ever BE and went double clear and thought it rode really well. Yes it was up to height but it flowed nicely. :)
 
Thanks SC. TBH I find it really hard to judge how big fences are and how big 90cm is. I can never tell which would be in which and my instructor wouldn't tell me until I had jumped them. I would never have done them if she said they were 100s let alone novices! Am happy to admit that I am rather clueless to BE as only ever doen one at urchinwood last year so have in my mind it's practiclaly Badminton compared with the ODE's and Hts local to me lol. Nice to know that it isn't too tricky as a first time out event though :)
 
yep the pheasent feeder and roll tops are both def novice fences, and the log/brush pile is novice if before/after water ;) Think tiger trap poss is as well, can't quite remember. pretty much all rest are basically PN fences as well ;)

obviously key with competition is stringing them all together and riding as a course but as said although up to height (although 90 will seem small compared to those fences ;) ) it almost always flows well.
 
What lovely pictures! You both look like you're enjoying yourselves and the first few SJ jumps are huge! Also many of those XC jumps are way bigger than 90, so I'm sure you'll be fine :D Good luck and enjoy!
 
Great pictures! Looks like you'll have great fun at BE (from someone who's never evented!) Good luck ;D
 
Thanks all for your comments. I felt really comfortable about entering it as know the jumps etc but got scared by people raising eyerows at me entering as first one of season and 2nd ever one for both of us. As I said I find it hard to judge how big the 90 ones would be. Totally agree with you SC in taht it's tying them all together that is the true test! Good to know that it flows well and not toooo scary for me more than him!
To be honest as long as we get around confidently and safely with smiles on both our faces I don't care if we come last! Just want us to enjoy and be safe. It's a real novelty for me to have a horse who I can consider entering so to complete it will be thrilling!

Out of interest what would u do? I am 2hours 15 from SLM towing. Would you go there and back in a day or stay overnight. I can't decide whether ot stable him overnight or not. Hmmmmm
 
Nothing remotely helpful to say other than you both look fab, you'll be amazing at SL and I love Ollie (and am so insanely jealous of camp that my face has turned green :P) :D x
 
Out of interest what would u do? I am 2hours 15 from SLM towing. Would you go there and back in a day or stay overnight. I can't decide whether ot stable him overnight or not. Hmmmmm[/QUOTE said:
We travel up to 2.45 each way in a day, well, I drive, B sleeps!
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I tow up to three hours away in a day and back BUT I don't do the driving and would be too tired to at the end of a comp. As long as you have someone else that can drive and he is a good traveller I wouldn't worry about driving up same day :)
 
Aww duckling! don't be going all green on me. We need to find you a pony for the next one in summer!!! Thanks for le complient....I am rather infatuated with Ollie bear too :) And we only look fab becuase he is such a super dude :) Any joys on horse hunt? Are u based at home now in weeks? x
 
Thistle and SC= thanks for advice about driving. I am only horsey person in the family and although dad is a good driver I don't think he would be comfortable towing only because I think he would feel under pressure not to break my pony or car! He knows I don't mind crashing but would be hysterical if anythign happened to the horse. Pluse he isn't the most patient so trundling at 55mp might tip him over edge. Mum shakes in her boots if she has to drive my car because it's bigger than hers. So she woudl def be a no no!! So it would me driving up, riding and then driving home. Think I will have to have a think and decide but good to knwo that it shouldn't be detrimental to Ollie to do it all in a day. He travels very well so don't think he woudl get too stressed.

Thanks 4faults....Up until I had Ollie I was scared about coming off ground as previous horse very naughty to jump but now can't get enough of it! Never say never! :)
 
Wow those are big fences...can't say I've ever jumped as high as 90cm but I think your boy could do it. He's gorgeous!

Love how close he gets to the SJ, I wonder if it is his own personal game to make SJ more interesting 'How close to the jump can I get without knocking the pole?' :D
 
be 90 shouldnt be a problem to him.have fun. on a safety aspect tho your back protector could do with being longer at the back as it would give no protection to the lower back/base of your spine/coccyx should you fall!! have fun.
 
You both look fab. He is stunning :)

I nearly had a fit when I saw the size of those fences as I'm hoping to get to a BE90 next month and though no way could I jump those yet. Glad they're novice. :D
 
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