Most numpty thing you have done in competition

Thinking about it, the worst 'thing' that happened to me still haunts me to this day!
I was about 8 at the time (so , like 22 years ago!). My pony at that time was a NF 12.3hh mare called Jasmine. We were doing one of those tetrathalons thingy watsits. In the riding phase we had to get off to put a slip rail down (or something like that, cos I got off anyway). Pony was a star - but she had this habit of being a bit too greedy sometimes as she was always on rations due to lami. Anyway, led her over the rails (oh yep - I remember it well) and went to get back on her. Well she put her head down didn't she. I couldn't for the life of me pull it up and get on. She had a very large crest due to previous lami so it didn't help. So, I thought, ok I will get on with her head down. But what I didn't bank on was that the riens would go down her neck and over her head. So, I got off and tried again! I think I took about 10 mins with all of the other competitiors, mums and dads, helpers and judges by this time coming to see what could possibly take me so long. I was furious and my mum just laughed at me! I don't think I ever managed in the end and I'd like to think someone couldn't bare watching anymore so came to my rescue. It was the second most embarressing thing that I remember - the first was on stage in the Bath Theatre Royal when I was just 5 - but thats another story!!!
 
Oh, and another couple of numpty moments :p

1) With Merlin at event last year. Was leading after dressage and showjumping, so all gung ho for the xc, as was an easy track and wouldnt have posed much problems for him. It was very hard ground though, so I had no studs in. So coming into a series of steps in a nice impulsed canter, when we finish them horse takes off (he really loves steps and drops in general) and I turn a tight corner. Except that I didnt.
Merlin slipped and we both fell on the corner - simply slap bang :o We gave the people watching at that point quite a scare! I got a leg up (a bit wobbly on it!) and walked home, very happy that i did this instead of carrying on as turned out he twisted his fetlock!
But it was never recorded as a HF (here if you fall you are elim) and simply a R as they couldnt work out what happened!!

2) at a very very big county show. I was riding a pony for an owner round it, they expected a win - but pony was a bit of a dirty stopped but I had got him for re-schooling and had almost got it out of him. Jumping a fantastic clear till it came to the last jump, a haybale with wire over it.
Pony never saw the wire, went crashing through it and I tumbled off the front, bringing the bridle with me - evidence?
http://www.sportingimagesni.co.uk/m...Photographer_2&id=25ET8449.jpg&pg=5&count=138
http://www.sportingimagesni.co.uk/m...Photographer_2&id=25ET8450.jpg&pg=5&count=139

:o


(and proof that i could ride - I was 2nd on my own pony!!http://www.sportingimagesni.co.uk/m...Photographer_2&id=25ET8472.jpg&pg=6&count=152)
 
Only_me that wire looks awful to jump! I did the odd whp up to county level when I was younger and never encountered anything as horrible as that?! Is it often used in affiliated showing?
 
It wasnt actually metal wire, more cleverly twisted tin foil to make it look like wire :) So totally safe, apart from the part that it is hard to see!

They only use it at that particular show, but it is one of the tougher courses, but then it normally jumps quite well :)

Each show here has a "show" piece, cavan has a water splash, armagh has a proper style and log (plus an actual garden bench! :p) Lurgan always has a big double going down a slope to a triple bar away from the entrance etc. :)
 
QR

Took my very fit horse to an indoor dressage competition fo getting a/ we had only ever done BS Jumping indoors and b/ he had had a summer of doing dressage outside on grass doing one day events.

Got half way through test in what was a very tight fit indoor school - my stirrups where bouncing off the wooden 6 foot wall panels just walking around the outside of the markers and boards.

Anyway, long story short, the reverberation form folks in the concrete stand and the sand hiting the wall boards sent hin into total Brain Fart Mode and first canter commenced at C and ended when he jumped the front of the judges car.

Judge's comment - "VERY naughty boy today but well sat".

Oh well, You can't win em all :)

Paddy
 
oh dear theres been so many..at Gatcombe in the dressage I managed to do my test with only one spur on-couldnt work out why my mare was being so lazy on one rein! Another was my sisters fault-her horse got lose at Larkhill B.E b4 he disappeared across Salisbury Plain Clayton Fredricks very kindly helped her catch him,and put him back in the lorry-my sister then managed to lock Clayton in the living!
 
went to a PC show it was open but I was the only adult there on a 16 hand TB, was too embarassed to walk the course with a load of children, so didn't and thought I knew it. Of course I didn't and got lost then saw the fence I was supposed to have jumped turned quickly and my horse slipped over! He was fine and I got straight back on him and jumped the jump!

Got jumped off my youngster Rocky in the SJ in a ODE, not even over a jump, the timing equipment wire was on the floor and he mistook it for a 4ft fence lol!!

Going wrong twice in a dressage championship, I had actually finished the test, saluted the judge and was walking out the arena when the judge got out of her car and came over to me explaining I had missed out a whole big bit of the test!!! Luckily they let me continue from where I had gone wrong and I ended up 4th instead of 2nd....
 
I think the numptiest thing my family have done was to forget to tighten the girth in the 10 minute box at BRc horse trials Championships. Son came round the corner to fence 4 and the saddle slipped right round. Son fell off and had to spend several minutes re saddling.
Have done most of the other numpty things too, like jumping the wrong fence, missing a fence, forgetting a dressage trest halfway through.
 
,Have told this story before on here, c and p ing as i cant be arsed typing today!

I was walking xc with friends,
I was doing my first novice on this horse they were doing pre-novice, pretty much knew the track like the back of my hand as its our local event.
wasnt paying great attention!

Anyway okish dressage, clear SJ ready for xc, flew round soo happy with horse, very excited at the thought might be placed as there was hardly any clears sj.
Checked result board, was given a big fat E for xc.
Couldnt figure out why, went to steward(also happened to be course designer) he told me fence judge said i missed a fence
I said what fence!?

HE said' the red house with the pink roof'
-no.7
me- 'how in gods name do u think i could miss that stupidly garey fence, it not like its hard to see', i was getting quite angry at this point!

He kept trying to innterupt me and i wouldnt let him

Eventually after i took a breath he said, 'There were 2 pink houses' and walked off, leaving me very red faced!!!

It transpires, the second house was on dogleg to the first in a dip, the PN's just jumped the first house, novices did both,
moral of story? pay attention when walking courses!!!

BTW

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