PaddyMonty
Well-Known Member
MC held there first ever senior BSJA comp on sunday. Only 10 minutes from me so had to go and support them.
I'd spent thursday and saturday religiously practicing as per Steven Smith lesson but keeping the power Mr Luckett wants us to have. All was going really well so set of feeling very confident for once.
Show was an intro level so I just did the last 2 classes (90 and 1mtr Am qual)
Warm up was really good (apart from hail storm) and Ed was feeling on top form.
Entered the ring, got the short (Steven) but powered (Geoff) canter and approached fence 1. Saw the sweet spot and softened. The bugger started to back off
Rapid application of leg and over we go. Little reminder on landing to get his butt in to gear and fence 2 sailed under us.
Brain now working over time....keep the power......wait wait wait on approach. He felt very good, waited when we needed to, went for it when we had to. Phase 1 complete and still clear (slight shock but recovered well). Kept him steady in the jump off as the day was about going clear, not trying to win.
Sadly rolled a pole 2 from home but still very very pleased. A different horse from previous comps
On to the 1mtr. Felt even better this time. As I was only a couple of seconds off the time in the first class I had decided to open him up a little in the jump off. Phase 1 went beautifully and as we cleared fence 8 I pushed the go button. He responded with great surge and we're off to the first fence in the timed section. Then the bell rang
I really couldn't believe it. I hadn't felt him touch any fence but apparently he trailed a back leg slightly over no 6 so no jump off.
All in all a great day but one where the result just doesn't tell the story. We finally seem to be getting it together. Now just need to do a bit of work on keeping the back legs out the way.
and the funny of the weekend......
Daughter (12) came up to yard with wife on saturday. Looked in the school and noticing the 2 one foot fences and asked who had been jumping. Wife replies that I had set them up ready to practice with Ed as per SS instructions.
Daughters response...."well if thats all they're jumping the lesson didn't do much good" I then explained to her that it was an exercise to get striding and approach right, adding that height wasn't important, the technique was. So back comes the smart ass reply..." so are you going to ask the course builder to drop the fences down when you jump a 1.20?" Hmm.
Did get my own back 45 minutes later. After working round and round over the 1' fences comming in really slow but with power I asked her to wack them up. As we approached at walking pace canter then softened 2 strides out, Ed sailes the 1.25 upright effortlessly. Her jaw dropped. Gottya
Roll on the next comp
I'd spent thursday and saturday religiously practicing as per Steven Smith lesson but keeping the power Mr Luckett wants us to have. All was going really well so set of feeling very confident for once.
Show was an intro level so I just did the last 2 classes (90 and 1mtr Am qual)
Warm up was really good (apart from hail storm) and Ed was feeling on top form.
Entered the ring, got the short (Steven) but powered (Geoff) canter and approached fence 1. Saw the sweet spot and softened. The bugger started to back off
Brain now working over time....keep the power......wait wait wait on approach. He felt very good, waited when we needed to, went for it when we had to. Phase 1 complete and still clear (slight shock but recovered well). Kept him steady in the jump off as the day was about going clear, not trying to win.
Sadly rolled a pole 2 from home but still very very pleased. A different horse from previous comps
On to the 1mtr. Felt even better this time. As I was only a couple of seconds off the time in the first class I had decided to open him up a little in the jump off. Phase 1 went beautifully and as we cleared fence 8 I pushed the go button. He responded with great surge and we're off to the first fence in the timed section. Then the bell rang
All in all a great day but one where the result just doesn't tell the story. We finally seem to be getting it together. Now just need to do a bit of work on keeping the back legs out the way.
and the funny of the weekend......
Daughter (12) came up to yard with wife on saturday. Looked in the school and noticing the 2 one foot fences and asked who had been jumping. Wife replies that I had set them up ready to practice with Ed as per SS instructions.
Daughters response...."well if thats all they're jumping the lesson didn't do much good" I then explained to her that it was an exercise to get striding and approach right, adding that height wasn't important, the technique was. So back comes the smart ass reply..." so are you going to ask the course builder to drop the fences down when you jump a 1.20?" Hmm.
Did get my own back 45 minutes later. After working round and round over the 1' fences comming in really slow but with power I asked her to wack them up. As we approached at walking pace canter then softened 2 strides out, Ed sailes the 1.25 upright effortlessly. Her jaw dropped. Gottya
Roll on the next comp
