Hoof_Prints
Well-Known Member
Yesterday me and Finn entered out first ever hunter trial, there was a beginner class which was maximum height 2ft 6, and a Novice class which had maximum height 3ft- but included a fairly big and wide hedge! I walked the course the day before, and had decided to do the beginners class as although I've hunted and been xc training, I hadn't jumped anything similar to most of the fences and a couple of people who evented and hunter trialled regularly, told me they thought it was a testing course. As I was getting ready to go, my mum called and said she had been called to work for a couple of hours so she wouldn't be able to tow me until later on - which meant i'd more than likely have to jump the novice course if I wanted to go ! 
... Well I wanted to go, so we loaded up and arrived at the place in good time for the last class at Novice height !
After warming up I got my number down and waited until I was called in. I was told to start the course and hadn't got a clue what I was doing as I set off towards the first jump I knew I was being timed but wasn't sure where the time finished.. so I popped neatly over fence one, a simple rail, over number two which was a log and then three which was a fence made up of branches (hadn't seen one before but coped fine) . After number three there was an uphill gallop to a gate, which I zoomed up very fast and got through the gate quickly as Finn will stand very still even after a gallop ! After shutting the gate I stood still, gathered my reins and suddenly realised I was still being timed until I passed through the markers a few feet in front of me! whoops! so I cantered on and tried not to look too embarrassed as I went out on to the rest of the course.
We next had to go down a quite high bank, which Finn found easy as he's done those plenty of times before- but after that was a wide roll top fence- hadn't seen that before either but again he just popped over. On to fence 7 which was another he hadn't seen, a tiger trap- he jumped over but had a good look down ! Number 8 was a slightly uphill ditch and rail , another he hadn't seen before and I didn't push him on enough so we had a stop there, but he went over after a look at the ditch. 9 was no problem even though he hadn't done that before either, a ramp-like fence with a slight drop. We then had to approach our first ever proper hedge ! although it was a good inviting fence the drop on the other side took me by surprise. The photographer got a couple of nice photos so if anyone fancies helping me choose which to buy out of those three below, that would be great
http://www.henry-horse.co.uk/-/gall...-/medias/fb646e34-39ac-11e3-88e4-b55ac104eb18
http://www.henry-horse.co.uk/-/gall...-/medias/04ddcdfc-39ad-11e3-9942-6b7f9d8ca1da
http://www.henry-horse.co.uk/-/gall...-/medias/0e8fb324-39ad-11e3-9b19-4f7fd10c36cd
The rest of the course went very well, some downhill logs, rails, barrels etc. My time was still decent despite my short break after the gate!
Here are another couple of photos,
Can't wait to go to another, although next time I will take note of where the timing finishes! , any tips for jumping ditch and rail fences?
... Well I wanted to go, so we loaded up and arrived at the place in good time for the last class at Novice height ! After warming up I got my number down and waited until I was called in. I was told to start the course and hadn't got a clue what I was doing as I set off towards the first jump
I knew I was being timed but wasn't sure where the time finished.. so I popped neatly over fence one, a simple rail, over number two which was a log and then three which was a fence made up of branches (hadn't seen one before but coped fine) . After number three there was an uphill gallop to a gate, which I zoomed up very fast and got through the gate quickly as Finn will stand very still even after a gallop ! After shutting the gate I stood still, gathered my reins and suddenly realised I was still being timed until I passed through the markers a few feet in front of me! whoops! so I cantered on and tried not to look too embarrassed as I went out on to the rest of the course.We next had to go down a quite high bank, which Finn found easy as he's done those plenty of times before- but after that was a wide roll top fence- hadn't seen that before either but again he just popped over. On to fence 7 which was another he hadn't seen, a tiger trap- he jumped over but had a good look down ! Number 8 was a slightly uphill ditch and rail , another he hadn't seen before and I didn't push him on enough so we had a stop there, but he went over after a look at the ditch. 9 was no problem even though he hadn't done that before either, a ramp-like fence with a slight drop. We then had to approach our first ever proper hedge ! although it was a good inviting fence the drop on the other side took me by surprise. The photographer got a couple of nice photos so if anyone fancies helping me choose which to buy out of those three below, that would be great
http://www.henry-horse.co.uk/-/gall...-/medias/fb646e34-39ac-11e3-88e4-b55ac104eb18
http://www.henry-horse.co.uk/-/gall...-/medias/04ddcdfc-39ad-11e3-9942-6b7f9d8ca1da
http://www.henry-horse.co.uk/-/gall...-/medias/0e8fb324-39ad-11e3-9b19-4f7fd10c36cd
The rest of the course went very well, some downhill logs, rails, barrels etc. My time was still decent despite my short break after the gate!
Here are another couple of photos,
Can't wait to go to another, although next time I will take note of where the timing finishes! , any tips for jumping ditch and rail fences?
haha
