ecrozier
Well-Known Member
I have managed not to post this yet but my resolve has failed!
Took 4 year old to his first party under saddle yesterday (local walk trot dressage), he went to two in hand shows last year with OH and has been on several 'outings' for hacks and a couple of lessons. All was not boding well as its been very windy last week and he's been a bit of a monkey to ride, and would NOT let me plait his mane (on another note I am thinking of getting a natural horsemanship type person out as his thing about needles/mane plaiting/pulling is becoming a bit of a pain!)
Anyway gave up on plaits after being swung around the stable several times. Got to the show, absolutely ridiculously nervous....am never nervous taking older boy out but this was really scary! Got him tacked up and myself ready uneventfully, thankfully my very relaxed and practical friend took over as I was a bit of a wobbly mess! They got me on, and we set off towards the warm up with friend and her equally green six year old! They both decided the XC fence we had to pass concealed dragons, friend's mare did her usually nap and spin, I put my leg on and he leaped all four feet about four foot in the air and fly-bucked! He's usually not that type, his naughtyness is more little bounces than airs above the ground! OH had just turned up and even he came scurrying over looking impressed that I was still on board! Anyway we then got a lead down to the warm up where we were back to his normal fairly obedient self.
Went in, did what I thought was not as good a test as he could have done - the walk work was nice but trot a little substandard - he thought the arena fences might bite so positionned himself on an inner track despite my furious leg aids to try and push him out - and cut a few corners etc! We haven't really thought about his head carriage at all yet, been working on responsive and forward and transitions.
Anyway, I stayed on, he then stood nicely and watched my friend go next, went back to lorry and untacked him and popped them both back on while I did a test on my elderly mare (she is 19 and it was her third test ever!) - sharer did the first test on her and I somehow got talked into doing one too! Problem was I got told the results of the first test as I was about to go in and ride the second one - he only went and won it with 63.9%!! We were joint first, same collectives so they gave us both red rosettes and trophies
I fell apart a bit and got lost in my second test as was still in shock from that news but pulled myself together for the second half and managed a credible 68% and second place which considering she is a seriously stiff old girl who has really only been a happy hacker for most of her life I was rather pleased and again very surprised!
They weren't huge classes - 6 in Roo's and 12 I think in Tia's, and I know only walk trot tests but am still so impressed with them both - Tia is doing a sterling job of teaching/encouraging her lovely sharer, and I was really pleased with roo's judges comments - she gave him an 8 for rhythm, and lots of 7s for his walk work, and said 'will do a really lovely test when you have his full attention'! He was gawping around the place a bit I must admit!
One quick question - do people think I should increase his insurance value? He is a well put together 16.2hh bay sports horse, papered with Scottish Sports Horse Society. Mum is a Clover Hill mare who has a great BSJA record up to 1.20, she is now 11 years old and jumped at Blue Chips the other week. Dad is KWPN with lines back to Sandro and Nimmerdor, he also SJs. I insured him when we bought him unbacked last year but bearing in mind he is now backed, hacks nicely and won his first test yesterday, and is working quietly over poles with a seriously chilled and trainable attitude, (apart from when you want to give him and injection or pull his mane!!) what would people say he is worth? He is ABSOLUTELY not for sale but am wondering if he is insured for his true value?
Took 4 year old to his first party under saddle yesterday (local walk trot dressage), he went to two in hand shows last year with OH and has been on several 'outings' for hacks and a couple of lessons. All was not boding well as its been very windy last week and he's been a bit of a monkey to ride, and would NOT let me plait his mane (on another note I am thinking of getting a natural horsemanship type person out as his thing about needles/mane plaiting/pulling is becoming a bit of a pain!)
Anyway gave up on plaits after being swung around the stable several times. Got to the show, absolutely ridiculously nervous....am never nervous taking older boy out but this was really scary! Got him tacked up and myself ready uneventfully, thankfully my very relaxed and practical friend took over as I was a bit of a wobbly mess! They got me on, and we set off towards the warm up with friend and her equally green six year old! They both decided the XC fence we had to pass concealed dragons, friend's mare did her usually nap and spin, I put my leg on and he leaped all four feet about four foot in the air and fly-bucked! He's usually not that type, his naughtyness is more little bounces than airs above the ground! OH had just turned up and even he came scurrying over looking impressed that I was still on board! Anyway we then got a lead down to the warm up where we were back to his normal fairly obedient self.
Went in, did what I thought was not as good a test as he could have done - the walk work was nice but trot a little substandard - he thought the arena fences might bite so positionned himself on an inner track despite my furious leg aids to try and push him out - and cut a few corners etc! We haven't really thought about his head carriage at all yet, been working on responsive and forward and transitions.
Anyway, I stayed on, he then stood nicely and watched my friend go next, went back to lorry and untacked him and popped them both back on while I did a test on my elderly mare (she is 19 and it was her third test ever!) - sharer did the first test on her and I somehow got talked into doing one too! Problem was I got told the results of the first test as I was about to go in and ride the second one - he only went and won it with 63.9%!! We were joint first, same collectives so they gave us both red rosettes and trophies
I fell apart a bit and got lost in my second test as was still in shock from that news but pulled myself together for the second half and managed a credible 68% and second place which considering she is a seriously stiff old girl who has really only been a happy hacker for most of her life I was rather pleased and again very surprised!They weren't huge classes - 6 in Roo's and 12 I think in Tia's, and I know only walk trot tests but am still so impressed with them both - Tia is doing a sterling job of teaching/encouraging her lovely sharer, and I was really pleased with roo's judges comments - she gave him an 8 for rhythm, and lots of 7s for his walk work, and said 'will do a really lovely test when you have his full attention'! He was gawping around the place a bit I must admit!
One quick question - do people think I should increase his insurance value? He is a well put together 16.2hh bay sports horse, papered with Scottish Sports Horse Society. Mum is a Clover Hill mare who has a great BSJA record up to 1.20, she is now 11 years old and jumped at Blue Chips the other week. Dad is KWPN with lines back to Sandro and Nimmerdor, he also SJs. I insured him when we bought him unbacked last year but bearing in mind he is now backed, hacks nicely and won his first test yesterday, and is working quietly over poles with a seriously chilled and trainable attitude, (apart from when you want to give him and injection or pull his mane!!) what would people say he is worth? He is ABSOLUTELY not for sale but am wondering if he is insured for his true value?
