Our Hunter Trial Yesterday (also in CR)

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Gorgeous George

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Had my 2nd ever attempt at a 2'6" xc course yesterday, when George and I did the Berwick Farm (Essex) HT. When you are a nervous nelly like me who not so long ago used to be scared to tears of cantering over a pole on the ground or in an open field, it is quite a big deal :rolleyes:

I walked the course on Saturday and I was a little bit concerned about the ditch (very little experience of ditch jumping) and a narrow jump near the start and a post and rail near the end.

Sunday dawned and it turned out to be a glorious day, we arrived and we had quite a long wait, so we watched a few people and had a cuppa :) I then warmed George up and he was such a good boy, as calm and chilled as anything but nice and forward going :)

At last it was time to go, our plan was to try and canter the whole thing this time. He zipped out of the box and we were off, all well and safely over the narrow skinny I was worried about, but then the ditch appeared and I must of transferred my fears to George and he stopped :( I called him 'a cheeky little monkey' which raised a laugh from the jump judges :) he then proceeded to pop over the ditch and palisade beautifully!

We did have a little trot through a narrow hedge, but then back to canter, and we did trot through the water :rolleyes: everything else he jumped brilliantly and I was so pleased with him:)

Of course we didn't come anywhere, but in time we were only 1 min behind the winners, sounds bad but if you take out the refusal and the trotting we're prob not that far off ;)

Well enough rambling a few pics for you, kindly taken by my friend.

Over the practice fence:

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Coming up the final straight:

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Giving the last fence plenty of room (love this pic :)):

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Very happy finishers:

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As always just feel so thrilled to be in the position of having my own horse (5 years ago it was just a dream) and to have kind friends who are willing to take me to events so i can try things like this :)

Thanks for reading :)
 
Thats an amazing report, well done, I am so glad you enjoyed it and did so well. You make a great team, looking after each other.

So, are you planning your next outing yet? :D

Well done, always an inspiration to me. x
 
Hovis_and_SidsMum said:
You both look amazing! well done! you are my inspiration!!
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We so need a "Like" button here :-))

You really do need to tell all us who are still at the "oh my god it's a pole on the ground and we are in an open field" stage how you have managed to come so far.

Thanks for the lovely uplifting report as always x
 
Thanks guys we really loved it, hence the ear to ear grin at the end :D

re the confidence, I lost all my confidence just after getting George, he was nervous because I was nervous, I had quite a few falls very close together and came very close to giving up. With the help of my instructor and some great friends on the yard I am now at we took lots of baby steps to get us where we are now.

For jumping trot and canter poles, then raised poles then eventually a 1ft course and so on, but I spent a lot of time at each stage as I knew my confidence was fragile. George has been my saviour, once he realised I was ok he lost his nervousness, and if he felt I was unbalanced in front of a jump he would either chip in a little stride and do a little hop or come to a very slow stop whilst I sorted myself out :)

Hacking and cantering in large spaces was harder, for a long time I had my OH walk or cycle with me, if I was going on a hack on my own I used to walk the route with George inhand first and that gave me confidence to ride it. The first canter in an open field I was terrified but we pootled along ok and I just made myself do it more and more and now I really enjoy it :)

I am still nervous, I was shaking before starting the xc yesterday, but it was so worth it. Only a month ago my friend asked me if I wanted to go across her OHs stubble fields, I went but could only trot as I was too scared :eek: but 2 days later we went again and I cantered and absolutely loved it :D

I am quite stubborn and I won't give up and I just make myself do things that I find scary because deep down I so want to do them :)

I hope that helps, I don't feel like an inspiring person, but its lovely to think my experiences might help someone :)
 
well done :) sounds like a successful day out and a good "shove off" to the associated nerves! The ditch did look rather wide for your class so I can see it being a rider scarer, but hey you sorted it out and jumped it second time, which is always harder on the nerves than if you get over it at the first attempt, so well done you! he looks lovely and like he enjoyed it! good luck for the next one :).
 
Love, love, love your reports. As ever, you sound so in love with George which I think is just brilliant, he is one lucky horse to have you. Im another nervous nelly and me and Che have an agreement, one leg on the ground at all times (one of his, not mine!!) and that way we are just fine together. You and George are such a great team, great understanding between you and always looking so happy. Just fabulous, heres to many more successful outings for you two x
 
Awww....something wrong with me!! Reading these happy stories makes me wanna have a little 'happy cry' lol x

Very pleased for you! x :O)

Something emotionally wrong with me today!! lol x
 
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