Safina
Well-Known Member
I know its a tame event for lots of you but it was my first 3DE so indulge me a little!
Had a hectic run up to the event as the boy injured himself in the field - he was sound and the vet gave us the ok after some rest but I was still concerned. Decided to go on the basis that the competition vets would withdraw us if they were concerned and I could pull-up/not run him if I thought there was a problem.
I loved arriving at the venue and getting the boy settled into his "tent" - was so nice to be able to jump on and ride around the venue so he could familiarise himself and calm down a little. I had a theraputic bottle of wine with my non-pregnant groom which helped me calm down a little as well. Poor pregnant groom had to make do with juice!
Trot-up/dressage day dawned brightly and it was all hands on deck getting him ready as I had an early time. Was so nervous about the trot up but he bowled along like a star and after a quick peek at the nick left from his injury we were declared sound and ready to go.
He was a bit manic warming up for the test (despite being ridden in non-comp mode for about 30 mins in the morning) and produced ok walk and trot walk but dire dire canter. Ended up 23rd out of 32 overnight, bit dissapointed but another theraputic bottle of wine helped cheer me up after the long long walk round the roads and tracks.
Woke up on XC day to find it had been raining hard all night - all thoughts turned to changing stud plans, approach to fences and how the skiddy grass would affect the steeplechase. Was terribly nervous that I'd bodge up my timing but I came in well within the time on both R&T phases. Was slightly over on the steeplechase but I knew I'd gone slower in the wet and taken more of a square route so we hit the fences striaght. Had a fabulous XC round - really enjoyed it and was thrilled to come with a fast clear!
Sadly it was still peeing with rain with no let up through the day - we were all shattered and soaking and after settling the boy and cleaning up my gear as best we could we sent the pregnant groom home for the night. The wind and rain were picking up and a number of horses were going barmy in the tent stables and lots of others were packing up and going home. We settled into our tents for a horribly miserable night and tried to focus on SJ day as I'd moved up to 15th place.
Sadly the rain did not let up and we were greeted with flooded stables, blown down SJ courses and a very miserable boy yesterday morning. The trot-up and SJ were still going ahead but all times/plaiting/clothing etiquette were scrapped and it was a case of turn up and trot-up/jump when you could.
We passed the trot-up (he was so pleased to get out of his flooded box I think) and headed for the SJ to get it over and done with. I was so cold and miserable and it felt like all sense of competition/ceremony had been scrapped. The organisers had little idea about who had withdrawn and there was no official running order for my class. I jumped when I could and retired after we had 3 knock downs in a row - he was slipping all over the place and I knew those 12 fault had put us out of the running.
Was desperate to get home so threw soggy gear into car, soggy horse into trailer and did not stay for the prize giving.
All in all I thought it was a brilliantly run event. I'll never forget the thrill of long-format XC and had the weather been kinder I would have enjoyed every second. I learnt heaps and cannot wait to go back in September.
Huge thanks to 4faulter for the loan of the stopwatch, Finn McCool for offering groom services on the XC day (I cancelled her though as the conditions were so horrid) and everyone who offered me help, tips and advice on here.
Had a hectic run up to the event as the boy injured himself in the field - he was sound and the vet gave us the ok after some rest but I was still concerned. Decided to go on the basis that the competition vets would withdraw us if they were concerned and I could pull-up/not run him if I thought there was a problem.
I loved arriving at the venue and getting the boy settled into his "tent" - was so nice to be able to jump on and ride around the venue so he could familiarise himself and calm down a little. I had a theraputic bottle of wine with my non-pregnant groom which helped me calm down a little as well. Poor pregnant groom had to make do with juice!
Trot-up/dressage day dawned brightly and it was all hands on deck getting him ready as I had an early time. Was so nervous about the trot up but he bowled along like a star and after a quick peek at the nick left from his injury we were declared sound and ready to go.
He was a bit manic warming up for the test (despite being ridden in non-comp mode for about 30 mins in the morning) and produced ok walk and trot walk but dire dire canter. Ended up 23rd out of 32 overnight, bit dissapointed but another theraputic bottle of wine helped cheer me up after the long long walk round the roads and tracks.
Woke up on XC day to find it had been raining hard all night - all thoughts turned to changing stud plans, approach to fences and how the skiddy grass would affect the steeplechase. Was terribly nervous that I'd bodge up my timing but I came in well within the time on both R&T phases. Was slightly over on the steeplechase but I knew I'd gone slower in the wet and taken more of a square route so we hit the fences striaght. Had a fabulous XC round - really enjoyed it and was thrilled to come with a fast clear!
Sadly it was still peeing with rain with no let up through the day - we were all shattered and soaking and after settling the boy and cleaning up my gear as best we could we sent the pregnant groom home for the night. The wind and rain were picking up and a number of horses were going barmy in the tent stables and lots of others were packing up and going home. We settled into our tents for a horribly miserable night and tried to focus on SJ day as I'd moved up to 15th place.
Sadly the rain did not let up and we were greeted with flooded stables, blown down SJ courses and a very miserable boy yesterday morning. The trot-up and SJ were still going ahead but all times/plaiting/clothing etiquette were scrapped and it was a case of turn up and trot-up/jump when you could.
We passed the trot-up (he was so pleased to get out of his flooded box I think) and headed for the SJ to get it over and done with. I was so cold and miserable and it felt like all sense of competition/ceremony had been scrapped. The organisers had little idea about who had withdrawn and there was no official running order for my class. I jumped when I could and retired after we had 3 knock downs in a row - he was slipping all over the place and I knew those 12 fault had put us out of the running.
Was desperate to get home so threw soggy gear into car, soggy horse into trailer and did not stay for the prize giving.
All in all I thought it was a brilliantly run event. I'll never forget the thrill of long-format XC and had the weather been kinder I would have enjoyed every second. I learnt heaps and cannot wait to go back in September.
Huge thanks to 4faulter for the loan of the stopwatch, Finn McCool for offering groom services on the XC day (I cancelled her though as the conditions were so horrid) and everyone who offered me help, tips and advice on here.
