TayloredEq
Well-Known Member
A mixed bag at Myerscough this year. Arrived on Friday to get everything settled and decided to ride 2 of the 3 horses there. Ronnie stretched quite well and seemed to shake off any stiffness from travelling. I was also quite pleased as he wasn't whinnying too much for the other horses (after Willerby the other week I had been a little worried!)
As for Loreo, his eyes were on stalks. To be fair he hasn't had the best warm up to the show. HE'd probably been ridden 3 times in the last month and then twice this week as he keeps putting his pelvis out in the field, then he had a bruised sole then he pulled a muscle in his bum - he's a bit precious and I don't think he likes all the diggers which are right next to the turn out fields. Got on him and went in the warm and he just stuck his head in the air and would not come into an outline. By the way, he's 18hh high. It was a little embarrassing. Then whenever I asked him to come round he would just rear. Getting nowhere so decided to lunge him. One hour later got back on and it was a little better but not great. Cooled him off an popped him away.
So Saturday morning started dark and early (5am ) thanks to our 7.30am test time. Valerie behaved well whilst we plaited him up in the dark. He was a little bit flat in the working in and I just didn't have that rippling, supple feeling that he can give. The test went fairly well, he was obedient and relatively accurate, but I must confess to having been disappointed. However he scored 71.39%. He ended up 3rd and qualified for Hartpury. So I was pleased but felt he could actually have won it, but hey ho...
So decided to ride Loreo again and see how he was feeling. Rather than go into it lets just say I made the decision to withdraw him!!
Back on Ronnie then for his test I felt he was going better but still wanted that little bit more. And juse before his test he gave it me. I was a little bit nervous going in about not having had chance to do the arena walk, but just thought bugger it!!
Anyway he did a super test, just a few little tense moments. One judge had us on 75%+ another 74%+ and the third on 67% so we ended up 3rd with just under 72% (I think) and qualified!! Yippee
So although I had to withdraw Loreo I've still got 3 through in total. And maybe not riding Loreo was a blessing in disguise as I can't fit more than 3 on the lorry!!!!
As for Loreo, his eyes were on stalks. To be fair he hasn't had the best warm up to the show. HE'd probably been ridden 3 times in the last month and then twice this week as he keeps putting his pelvis out in the field, then he had a bruised sole then he pulled a muscle in his bum - he's a bit precious and I don't think he likes all the diggers which are right next to the turn out fields. Got on him and went in the warm and he just stuck his head in the air and would not come into an outline. By the way, he's 18hh high. It was a little embarrassing. Then whenever I asked him to come round he would just rear. Getting nowhere so decided to lunge him. One hour later got back on and it was a little better but not great. Cooled him off an popped him away.
So Saturday morning started dark and early (5am ) thanks to our 7.30am test time. Valerie behaved well whilst we plaited him up in the dark. He was a little bit flat in the working in and I just didn't have that rippling, supple feeling that he can give. The test went fairly well, he was obedient and relatively accurate, but I must confess to having been disappointed. However he scored 71.39%. He ended up 3rd and qualified for Hartpury. So I was pleased but felt he could actually have won it, but hey ho...
So decided to ride Loreo again and see how he was feeling. Rather than go into it lets just say I made the decision to withdraw him!!
Back on Ronnie then for his test I felt he was going better but still wanted that little bit more. And juse before his test he gave it me. I was a little bit nervous going in about not having had chance to do the arena walk, but just thought bugger it!!
Anyway he did a super test, just a few little tense moments. One judge had us on 75%+ another 74%+ and the third on 67% so we ended up 3rd with just under 72% (I think) and qualified!! Yippee
So although I had to withdraw Loreo I've still got 3 through in total. And maybe not riding Loreo was a blessing in disguise as I can't fit more than 3 on the lorry!!!!
