Not one of the best days..... Stage fright at JAS!!

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KatB

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Well, we tried our first JAS today. Had Ungodly time of 8.51, whic meant ungodly time of morning for my alarm to go off....

Any how, Got to Arena, walked the course, a bit twisty, a few bits possibly a bit spooky, but up to height, and presenting a fair bit of a test..... which indeed it proved to be!

Warmed up ok, little bit difficult to get going forward with small warm up area and still wobbly baby!

Anyway, Went in, fence one, no problem, fence two, upto height oxer with sacry fillers, popped fine, 3, rickety white rails, no probs, didnt even breath on them, fence four, on a dog leg from 3.... cantering into it....suddenly brakes slam on... i'm over fence on own
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Climbed back on, have second refusal (definitely monsters under there) go again, bit smack, and brakes on again, ALMOST sailed out of side door, right myself... and saddle slips, land on feet. 2 falls, elimination.
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Never mind, learning curve for us both, and thinking we will be taking it steady as he just isnt ready for the "intense" atmosphere that JAS gave! So back to lots of little sjing me thinks!

Some pics in Photogallery though.....

Nowt like horses to bring you back to earth!! And a massive thank you to MrsT and icestationzebra for transport and help, massively appreciated....
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ahhhh no!!!!! poor you!
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- i think JAS is much harder than everyone makes it out to be, unless you have a totally unfazed horse it can be a really eye opening experience for them! Decided against doing one on Hattie as i have a feeling i would come to grief aswell
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Lol!! I think it was just a bit too much to take in for him!
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But never mind, would have liked to have a crack at the XC type fences too.... bright colours aint as spooky!!!
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It WAS really intense. Not sure if it was 'up to height' fences, the twisty course or the tricky questions like the two doubles and a corner, the really bright lights that wouldn't have been out of place in the West End, the commentator, the background music, the big lorries with event horses on the side, a lot of horses there that have been winning BE, the fact that a judge is going to comment on your riding.... I was just glad it wasn't me in that ring! Well done for having a crack at it - always another day!
 
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i think JAS is much harder than everyone makes it out to be.

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I didn't realise anyone made it out to be easy? as i've been warned off doing it with babies!!

first 3 fences look lovely tho!!!! as everyone has said, don't let it put you off.. maybe a baby unaff. SJing somewhere, and you'll be back on track again.
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no no ones ever made it out to be easy but no ones ever said to me that it was particularly hard or tricky and having done it myself last year it was def very technical and as you say not for all youngsters
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I wouldn't worry too much about it, JAS is definately 'testing' ..even for the 'big boys' who already know what eventing is all about.
I'd just stick to regular indoor BSJA before the season and aim for JAS next winter..
good luck though, the pics look fab !
 
Thank you everyone, pleased to know it is known as being quite testing, makes me feel better! I do sometimes forget how green he actually is, as he can be so grown up with everything!
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Def sticking with Unaff sj to get out and about, and look forward to the "proper" not so technical Intro eventing to start!!
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When I went to view JAS at Osbaldeston last year quite a lot of horses were totally stunned by it - I think it may be because the fences come up so quick and are very varied in appearance plus lots of twists and turns...good luck for future competitions, he is so stunning!
 
I think you are brave for doing it - my horse has now done several PN and I think JAS would blow his brains even if I did the intro.
I would just discount it and move on as nothing like the real thing.
 
Thanks, yes alot of people have said since its not the nicest event for a green just 5yr old!! Am most probably going to forget about the next one....!! We dont have to event indoors under bright lights anyway!!
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Poor you. Hope you didn't hurt yourself. As you say, a v big difference from normal unaff SJ. I'm sure he'll be fine when you get to the real thing.
Will go and look at photos now.

We don't have JAS here, but sounds like the type of thing that I'd do on Ben (who has seen it all before and is v nippy) rather than a baby horse.

I'm sure he will be perfect next year after having a season's experience under his belt.

Fiona
 
Pictures look great!

Was it the 90cms you did? Just asking as going to do that on Spider my youngster she is 5 in May, she is very bold, but she will back off at the odd scary fence but wont usually stop just jumps from trot!!! So wanted to make sure it isnt too big.

She jumped round the 90cms affliated at Norton Heath and looking at your pics should be ok! Was just having a panick!!!
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Yes it was the Intro. Everything was bang upto height and width, with some interesting lines! If she is used to jumping indoors at that height, you will be fine. My lad is just still very green,and couldnt cope with the atmosphere. The small warm up didnt help either, as he was thinking backwards before we even got in the ring!
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Oh honey, missed you, got stuck in some god darn traffic at Ratcliffe.... Shame about your round, but have to admit, I think even Zara would have been a little on the spooky side, but the thing is you have been and gave it a good go... Are you come to Vale View on Saturday..... Trailblazer SJ.......

Anyway Well done for giving it you best shot.......
 
Aww hunny.
I took winston the first year they did JAS at Solihull, it was at a time when winston and I were really struggling to gel.
It was full up and very twisty - i am sure Arena UKs arena is smaller than Solihulls however, it doesnt looks so packed as Solihulls did so perhaps theyve dropped the number of fences??
However, its still very full on and even for experienced horses they do tend to back off.
Your lad looks smashing in the pictures, hes an absolute star IMO I just think it was all a bit too much for him.
Winston started off well and we completed but he too found it a struggle and he was 8 and had been doing PN since he was 5!

TBH I think it takes a special type of horse to jump confidently round a JAS course just because of the shear amount of fences and questions asked.

Well done tho hunny! and like i said he looks great
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Thats a shame - poor you
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but you said he was green and the course was testing - so sounds like it was just a bit much. He looks great in the pics in the gallery - really gorgeous looking and he's jumping fence one so nicely!

Like you said - more small SJ practice will probably get you back on track.

Good luck am sure you will be great at your next event
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