rotters13
Well-Known Member
So trundled off to Ascott yesterday morning to do the BE 100. Arrived nice and early and appreciated what a lovely event it is! Would definitely recommend to anybody not sure about going.
Warmed in for the dressage and she went very nicely. The main problem with us is that we will do 95% of the movement absolutely beautifully except that in each movement she insists of looking round for one second at anything (person buying a burger, horse standing still, horse moving, person paying for burger, person eating burger etc etc) which sadly results in movements going for 7s or 8s to a lovely pile of 6s. But still slightly annoyed to get 42.5, although looking through section marks the dressage judge was not generous so shouldn't be overly annoyed. She could just do such a nicer test! I know part of it is my contact but just do not know what to do, so any advice greatly appreciated.
Onto SJ, it was quite an interesting course with the first four on a right bend than a sharp turn to a full height oxer and a related distance. 4 faults seemed to be the norm for when I was watching so was thrilled to get a clear round!
XC was a lovely course, they had clearly put a lot of effort into the ground and the course was a fair course for BE 100. We set off really nicely and jumped the first 5 fences out of a rhythm which felt great. The next fence was a stone wall (as is the norm for AUW) but sack the jockey I turned too early and found myself cantering towards an intro fence wondering why the flags were the wrong way round! After a hasty change of direction after realising my stupidity we were back on course! Our nemesis fence was the big ditch coffin at number 10 after a run through the woods, it was a log in, one stride to a big, wide ditch with water running through it and then one more stride to a fish! Jumped in and Iska slammed on the brakes to look at the ditch, ballooned it resulting in us being on a rather interesting stride to the fish and luckily she found a fifth leg and scrambled over it clear!! Doubled checked with fence judge that we were clear and then cantered on. Since we find ditches v scary anyway, and this was the first time she had jumped a ditch with water running through it I was absolutely thrilled so lots of pats for the pony! Ran round the rest of the course very nicely (including another fence with ditch towards! :-D) So got another double clear (our 3rd in a row now!)
Due to interesting detour, a conversation with a fence judge and the obligatory -I only trot through water Mum!- we ended up with 3.2 time penalties and were 9 seconds over the time. I know I shouldn't be annoyed as it was quite a twisty course but we could have ended up 9th without them which would have been lovely to get our first placing at PN level (a milestone!). So, more gallop work scheduled in order to get her fitter but also help her learn to gallop more (will chase another horse at the yard perhaps) and also lots more dressage work at home to help with concentration. (All this naturally to be slotted in between revision and exams!) Next stop Milton Keynes!
Roast beef sandwiches to those who got this far!
Warmed in for the dressage and she went very nicely. The main problem with us is that we will do 95% of the movement absolutely beautifully except that in each movement she insists of looking round for one second at anything (person buying a burger, horse standing still, horse moving, person paying for burger, person eating burger etc etc) which sadly results in movements going for 7s or 8s to a lovely pile of 6s. But still slightly annoyed to get 42.5, although looking through section marks the dressage judge was not generous so shouldn't be overly annoyed. She could just do such a nicer test! I know part of it is my contact but just do not know what to do, so any advice greatly appreciated.
Onto SJ, it was quite an interesting course with the first four on a right bend than a sharp turn to a full height oxer and a related distance. 4 faults seemed to be the norm for when I was watching so was thrilled to get a clear round!
XC was a lovely course, they had clearly put a lot of effort into the ground and the course was a fair course for BE 100. We set off really nicely and jumped the first 5 fences out of a rhythm which felt great. The next fence was a stone wall (as is the norm for AUW) but sack the jockey I turned too early and found myself cantering towards an intro fence wondering why the flags were the wrong way round! After a hasty change of direction after realising my stupidity we were back on course! Our nemesis fence was the big ditch coffin at number 10 after a run through the woods, it was a log in, one stride to a big, wide ditch with water running through it and then one more stride to a fish! Jumped in and Iska slammed on the brakes to look at the ditch, ballooned it resulting in us being on a rather interesting stride to the fish and luckily she found a fifth leg and scrambled over it clear!! Doubled checked with fence judge that we were clear and then cantered on. Since we find ditches v scary anyway, and this was the first time she had jumped a ditch with water running through it I was absolutely thrilled so lots of pats for the pony! Ran round the rest of the course very nicely (including another fence with ditch towards! :-D) So got another double clear (our 3rd in a row now!)
Due to interesting detour, a conversation with a fence judge and the obligatory -I only trot through water Mum!- we ended up with 3.2 time penalties and were 9 seconds over the time. I know I shouldn't be annoyed as it was quite a twisty course but we could have ended up 9th without them which would have been lovely to get our first placing at PN level (a milestone!). So, more gallop work scheduled in order to get her fitter but also help her learn to gallop more (will chase another horse at the yard perhaps) and also lots more dressage work at home to help with concentration. (All this naturally to be slotted in between revision and exams!) Next stop Milton Keynes!
Roast beef sandwiches to those who got this far!
