viola
Well-Known Member
I went to a hunter trial today at Speedgate in Kent and thought I would share my little report with you
I hope it doesn't sound arrogant but I have never really done any unaffiliated events before (apart from a couple of dressage tests and one jumping outing just recently) and was absolutely clueless as to requirements etc (didn't even know what to wear lol) - I have only ever done affiliated before mostly abroad.
So anyway, to the Hunter Trial - got there really early because another horse in the trailer was in an early class. Waited half a day for my round, got on - horsey was mega spooky and on his toes so we set off fairly quickly
The course was rather twisty with fences coming thick and fast but I guess we did well up to the fence 10 where my lovely grey mount decided to think for himself...we were coming down a steep hill and were suppose to turn left (very acute angle so not helpful when you were fast approaching). I got a little confused as to the route and was trying to figure out mega fast where we were to go when he thought I was taking too long to decide and...jump a 4ft barbed wire parallel to us! I honestly don't know how I managed to fold so quickly but we landed fairly nicely in the middle of the massive field with no way out! Fence judge run to me asking if we were fine, I say : Yes please put your coat over the wire so we can jump out and continue!
I don't know what got into me and I still can't believe I have said it! Took me a minute I think for my adrenaline level to drop to the point when I thought to check the boy for any cuts, jumped off and he was bleeding his chest out! All so it looked. In fact it was a very superficial cut but on his white coat it looked rather profound.
After establishing with the fence judges that we will live we waited some time for someone to plan our route out of a wired field and obviously were not allowed to continue over the rest 10 fences.
(Horsey is absolutely fine by the way, happy back in his stable with barely visible cut).
Feel very disappointed with the fact I didn't think (honestly not even for a tenth thousand of a second) he would like to jump that bl**dy wire. He is extremely quick with taking actions and I must be on the ball all the time otherwise he decides what we need to do but I still think I should have remembered that acute angle there!
To sum up - I enjoyed myself, it gave me a bit more of a kick than XC schooling
The course didn't suit all the horses and I must say I admire those on bigger or less agile ones as it demanded very sharp turns in the woods quite a few times.
I hope it doesn't sound arrogant but I have never really done any unaffiliated events before (apart from a couple of dressage tests and one jumping outing just recently) and was absolutely clueless as to requirements etc (didn't even know what to wear lol) - I have only ever done affiliated before mostly abroad.
So anyway, to the Hunter Trial - got there really early because another horse in the trailer was in an early class. Waited half a day for my round, got on - horsey was mega spooky and on his toes so we set off fairly quickly
The course was rather twisty with fences coming thick and fast but I guess we did well up to the fence 10 where my lovely grey mount decided to think for himself...we were coming down a steep hill and were suppose to turn left (very acute angle so not helpful when you were fast approaching). I got a little confused as to the route and was trying to figure out mega fast where we were to go when he thought I was taking too long to decide and...jump a 4ft barbed wire parallel to us! I honestly don't know how I managed to fold so quickly but we landed fairly nicely in the middle of the massive field with no way out! Fence judge run to me asking if we were fine, I say : Yes please put your coat over the wire so we can jump out and continue!
After establishing with the fence judges that we will live we waited some time for someone to plan our route out of a wired field and obviously were not allowed to continue over the rest 10 fences.
(Horsey is absolutely fine by the way, happy back in his stable with barely visible cut).
Feel very disappointed with the fact I didn't think (honestly not even for a tenth thousand of a second) he would like to jump that bl**dy wire. He is extremely quick with taking actions and I must be on the ball all the time otherwise he decides what we need to do but I still think I should have remembered that acute angle there!
To sum up - I enjoyed myself, it gave me a bit more of a kick than XC schooling
