rotters13
Well-Known Member
Haven't done one of these in ages but here we go!
I took my polish pony off to Aston yesterday to have a go at the prenovice. The last one we went to was at Ascott as was a bit of a disaster so I was hoping that things would pick up here.
Dressage was okay but behind the hedge there were ducks... which quacked and were apparently rivitingly -sp?- interesting. This meant that every time we went down the centre line we immediately threw our head up to have a look. Oh well, I was pleased with her apart from that. Head carriage is never going to be perfect with her because I haven't cracked the whole consistent contact thing yet! (Me, not her). Got 38.5 which I was pleased with although the judge did object to her tongue coming out. (Depends on judge to judge.)
Show jumping. Well, I was thrilled. In the warm up we had been going appallingly at every single spread that we jumped. I was completely missing and she was chipping in. (Again, probably me!) So went in feeling none to hopeful. She was just super, going much more forward and we even got the right number of strides in the double! (A rarity as she tends to like to chip in if in doubt.) So came out clear and very happy. Link here:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDCpi3KfGXY&feature=sub I know it still doesn't look great but that was the best we've jumped in a while!
XC was interesting. Due to the ground I went down as early as I could in order to get round before the ground became overly churned up. I was the 7th to go round so all good there. Number 1 and 2 went fine, at number 3 she put a short one in and then promptly lost her back end. I don't know how long she was just sitting down for but it felt like quite a long time. I swear that she had no idea what had hapenned to her, or how to get up. So, after that I was expecting her to be a bit silly about it, (loses confidence easily) but she was just super. Flew round the rest of it, including the two corners I didn't like and the rather big hay wagon. The trekahner offered something a bit interesting as we have never been too great at ditches, so some athletic jumping was required there. She is just green and is a bit of the blind leading the blind as I have no idea what I'm doing either. (I think I bought a youngster one horse too early!)
Came home with just 7.2 time penalties which I was very happy with considering we'd sat down and stayed there for quite a while. And now I can't wait till next season! Sorry for the length... and also, due to my complete inexperience with the prenovice courses - anyone know what the course was like yesterday in comparision to others? Thanks!
I took my polish pony off to Aston yesterday to have a go at the prenovice. The last one we went to was at Ascott as was a bit of a disaster so I was hoping that things would pick up here.
Dressage was okay but behind the hedge there were ducks... which quacked and were apparently rivitingly -sp?- interesting. This meant that every time we went down the centre line we immediately threw our head up to have a look. Oh well, I was pleased with her apart from that. Head carriage is never going to be perfect with her because I haven't cracked the whole consistent contact thing yet! (Me, not her). Got 38.5 which I was pleased with although the judge did object to her tongue coming out. (Depends on judge to judge.)
Show jumping. Well, I was thrilled. In the warm up we had been going appallingly at every single spread that we jumped. I was completely missing and she was chipping in. (Again, probably me!) So went in feeling none to hopeful. She was just super, going much more forward and we even got the right number of strides in the double! (A rarity as she tends to like to chip in if in doubt.) So came out clear and very happy. Link here:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDCpi3KfGXY&feature=sub I know it still doesn't look great but that was the best we've jumped in a while!
XC was interesting. Due to the ground I went down as early as I could in order to get round before the ground became overly churned up. I was the 7th to go round so all good there. Number 1 and 2 went fine, at number 3 she put a short one in and then promptly lost her back end. I don't know how long she was just sitting down for but it felt like quite a long time. I swear that she had no idea what had hapenned to her, or how to get up. So, after that I was expecting her to be a bit silly about it, (loses confidence easily) but she was just super. Flew round the rest of it, including the two corners I didn't like and the rather big hay wagon. The trekahner offered something a bit interesting as we have never been too great at ditches, so some athletic jumping was required there. She is just green and is a bit of the blind leading the blind as I have no idea what I'm doing either. (I think I bought a youngster one horse too early!)
Came home with just 7.2 time penalties which I was very happy with considering we'd sat down and stayed there for quite a while. And now I can't wait till next season! Sorry for the length... and also, due to my complete inexperience with the prenovice courses - anyone know what the course was like yesterday in comparision to others? Thanks!
