blood_magik
Well-Known Member
I think we've had a pretty decent season so far. For us, anyways... 
I can't quite remember the last time I did a report (possibly around Christmas-time?) so I'll just start from the beginning and hope you don't all get sick of me before I get to the good bits.
We headed to Morris for our first show of 2015. It was my first away show in about 18 months with Beau, which added to my nerves. I'd dropped Lenny back down to 90cm for a little bit because we weren't performing consistently at disco so both boys were entered in the same class.
I was nervous after walking the course so decided to jump Lenny first as I'm a bit more confident with him. The warm-up really freaked me out - there were horses up on their back legs and people weren't paying attention to the red ribbon in Lenny's tail so he was getting grumpy and threatening to kick out, which got me even more worked up.
We got a good shot into the first fence, which helped calm my nerves. Lenny was forward but listening and we managed to add up along the first related distance. It was going well until we got to the fourth fence - Lenny took a dislike to it and there was nothing I could do to convince him there wasn't anything scary lurking beneath it, so it was elimination for us.
Popped him back on the lorry and got Beau ready for his turn. He was really tense in the warm-up - it was really busy and he felt like he was about to explode. I was all for getting off and going home with my tail between my legs but my dad gave me a kick up the backside and told me I wasn't allowed off until I'd jumped something.
Turns out he did know what he was talking about because Beau settled when we started jumping and I asked my lovely helper to put my number on the board before I could change my mind about going in.
He felt really confident as we came round to the first fence so all I had to concentrate on was trying to maintain a rhythm. I lost him through his outside shoulder on one of the turns so we had a pole and I think we had a few time faults to add as I took the longer routes between fences where possible, but on the whole it was a positive first outing.
Beau after our round.
Pro pic links.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=840973133171&l=1088d18e91
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=840973073291&l=1617de0fb9
Because Lenny hadn't had the best outing, I decided to jump him round the 90-1m class at home the next day as they were running UA jumping. He was obviously feeling confident because the cheeky sod grabbed hold of the bit after the second fence and tried to go. I'm not quite sure how we got round without knocking a pole because he must have been jumping as flat as a pancake due to the speed we were going round at. He ended up coming 2nd, beating some whizzy little ponies.
We then tried our hand at some showing. The yard runs a Grassroots series and I figured it would do the boys good to do something other than jump.
My friend took Beau into the Tack And Turnout class and he was pulled in first. I'd spent hours bathing and cleaning tack the day before so I was made up when they won their class. Spurred on by their win, they went into the Best Novice Combo class. The last time I'd tried showing with the big guy, he spat the dummy and I had to take him out so all I wanted was for them to stick it out until the end. Beau's flatwork is still a work in progress so I was pleasantly surprised when they were pulled in fifth out of nine after the individual shows.
Next up was Lenny. I'd entered him in the Riding club class and Equitation and he didn't disappoint. He did a nice individual show in the first class (although the numpty on board didn't pay attention and jumped the jump off the same rein instead of changing it) and was pulled in first although the judge said she would have preferred to see him in a snaffle instead of a pelham. The show in the Equitation class had to include a serpentine in sitting trot, a simple change and rein back. My serpentine wasn't quite as straight as it could have been but the simple change was sharp and we ended up getting pulled in second.
Beau and Lenny both went back in for the championships and Lenny ended up getting reserve.
Finally, I borrowed one of dad's horses for the Novice Show Horse and Open Horse classes in the training show that was being run after the Grassroots section. I'd only ridden Raz a handful of times before so I wasn't sure how we'd get on.
He was an absolute star - we did have one moment where I asked for canter and used a little bit too much leg but once we got going, it all fell into place. He did a lovely individual show and ended up winning his class. I'd gotten a better feel for him by the time we went into the Open Horses class and he did another fab individual show to win that class as well.
We had a really successful day and ended up going home with four firsts, a second, a fifth and reserve (which will probably never happen again).
Honduraz (Raz),
and the beautiful pro pic the 'tog took of Lenny.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=845215576281&l=b7a86291ff
Next up was BSJA at home.
I entered both boys in the 90 open but this time, I decided to jump Beau first. He was a nightmare in the collecting ring - he was so tense that he kept going disunited and wouldn't move forward so I ended up doing a minimal warm-up with him. He settled when we got into the ring but he was strong and I struggled to get him back in several places. He over-jumped the third last fence and I missed my turn to the next fence so got four faults for circling and a handful of time faults as well. I probably could have made the turn but I figured it was better to circle and settle him.
Lenny was amazing. He felt really confident and up for it so I thought what the hell. He over-jumped the third last fence as well but he's not got quite the same amount of power as Beau so I was able to make the turn and push to get him over the last and through the finish gate. He obviously enjoyed himself because he had a cheeky wee buck once we were through the timers and not only did he jump a fab, quick clear, he won his section - our first SJ win!
Beau.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=845215970491&l=3c11c5357c
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=845216005421&l=015abbf34f
and Lenny.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=845216030371&l=2a78f2f31c
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=846810684671&l=a8f25692bb
TBC...
I can't quite remember the last time I did a report (possibly around Christmas-time?) so I'll just start from the beginning and hope you don't all get sick of me before I get to the good bits.
We headed to Morris for our first show of 2015. It was my first away show in about 18 months with Beau, which added to my nerves. I'd dropped Lenny back down to 90cm for a little bit because we weren't performing consistently at disco so both boys were entered in the same class.
I was nervous after walking the course so decided to jump Lenny first as I'm a bit more confident with him. The warm-up really freaked me out - there were horses up on their back legs and people weren't paying attention to the red ribbon in Lenny's tail so he was getting grumpy and threatening to kick out, which got me even more worked up.
We got a good shot into the first fence, which helped calm my nerves. Lenny was forward but listening and we managed to add up along the first related distance. It was going well until we got to the fourth fence - Lenny took a dislike to it and there was nothing I could do to convince him there wasn't anything scary lurking beneath it, so it was elimination for us.
Popped him back on the lorry and got Beau ready for his turn. He was really tense in the warm-up - it was really busy and he felt like he was about to explode. I was all for getting off and going home with my tail between my legs but my dad gave me a kick up the backside and told me I wasn't allowed off until I'd jumped something.
Turns out he did know what he was talking about because Beau settled when we started jumping and I asked my lovely helper to put my number on the board before I could change my mind about going in. He felt really confident as we came round to the first fence so all I had to concentrate on was trying to maintain a rhythm. I lost him through his outside shoulder on one of the turns so we had a pole and I think we had a few time faults to add as I took the longer routes between fences where possible, but on the whole it was a positive first outing.
Beau after our round.
Pro pic links.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=840973133171&l=1088d18e91
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=840973073291&l=1617de0fb9
Because Lenny hadn't had the best outing, I decided to jump him round the 90-1m class at home the next day as they were running UA jumping. He was obviously feeling confident because the cheeky sod grabbed hold of the bit after the second fence and tried to go. I'm not quite sure how we got round without knocking a pole because he must have been jumping as flat as a pancake due to the speed we were going round at. He ended up coming 2nd, beating some whizzy little ponies.
We then tried our hand at some showing. The yard runs a Grassroots series and I figured it would do the boys good to do something other than jump.
My friend took Beau into the Tack And Turnout class and he was pulled in first. I'd spent hours bathing and cleaning tack the day before so I was made up when they won their class. Spurred on by their win, they went into the Best Novice Combo class. The last time I'd tried showing with the big guy, he spat the dummy and I had to take him out so all I wanted was for them to stick it out until the end. Beau's flatwork is still a work in progress so I was pleasantly surprised when they were pulled in fifth out of nine after the individual shows.
Next up was Lenny. I'd entered him in the Riding club class and Equitation and he didn't disappoint. He did a nice individual show in the first class (although the numpty on board didn't pay attention and jumped the jump off the same rein instead of changing it) and was pulled in first although the judge said she would have preferred to see him in a snaffle instead of a pelham. The show in the Equitation class had to include a serpentine in sitting trot, a simple change and rein back. My serpentine wasn't quite as straight as it could have been but the simple change was sharp and we ended up getting pulled in second.
Beau and Lenny both went back in for the championships and Lenny ended up getting reserve.
Finally, I borrowed one of dad's horses for the Novice Show Horse and Open Horse classes in the training show that was being run after the Grassroots section. I'd only ridden Raz a handful of times before so I wasn't sure how we'd get on.
He was an absolute star - we did have one moment where I asked for canter and used a little bit too much leg but once we got going, it all fell into place. He did a lovely individual show and ended up winning his class. I'd gotten a better feel for him by the time we went into the Open Horses class and he did another fab individual show to win that class as well.
We had a really successful day and ended up going home with four firsts, a second, a fifth and reserve (which will probably never happen again
).Honduraz (Raz),
and the beautiful pro pic the 'tog took of Lenny.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=845215576281&l=b7a86291ff
Next up was BSJA at home.
I entered both boys in the 90 open but this time, I decided to jump Beau first. He was a nightmare in the collecting ring - he was so tense that he kept going disunited and wouldn't move forward so I ended up doing a minimal warm-up with him. He settled when we got into the ring but he was strong and I struggled to get him back in several places. He over-jumped the third last fence and I missed my turn to the next fence so got four faults for circling and a handful of time faults as well. I probably could have made the turn but I figured it was better to circle and settle him.
Lenny was amazing. He felt really confident and up for it so I thought what the hell. He over-jumped the third last fence as well but he's not got quite the same amount of power as Beau so I was able to make the turn and push to get him over the last and through the finish gate. He obviously enjoyed himself because he had a cheeky wee buck once we were through the timers and not only did he jump a fab, quick clear, he won his section - our first SJ win!
Beau.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=845215970491&l=3c11c5357c
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=845216005421&l=015abbf34f
and Lenny.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=845216030371&l=2a78f2f31c
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=846810684671&l=a8f25692bb
TBC...
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