Old Bat
Well-Known Member
Well, we made it! After a long period of lay off due to laser surgery on the top of her shoulder from a mouldy flybite and diligent fittening work bareback for three months, Amy and Mallow had managed a couple of runs at 80 and one 90 with so-so dressage, 4 fault-itis sj and clear xc before PC areas and surprisingly achieved team selection.
The mare loves her jumping like any good Irish lass but is very tricky with her flatwork and needs riding every inch of the way. Perversely as her tests have been improving, so her marks have been going out. Amy is happy, though, as she knows that progress is being made. More submissive, less tense through her back, more acceptance of contact. The test was her best yet, trainer was delighted, Amy was delighted, mum and dad were delighted, judge said meh with 43.75, worst score to date. To be fair she was in the low scoring arena so came in about half way down her section after dressage.
She is managing to sit up more in warm up and allow the horse to move through her shoulders more but arena nerves mean she hasn't cracked it yet in a test.
Onto show jumping and a good 95 course which produced very few clears all day. Amy was one of them! All delighted again.
Then xc which was a good mix of easy and technical with a couple of super skinnies, a very drunken Ted and a lot of carrots. The contours caught a lot out with fitness issues but happily not Mallow's and they sailed round clear but were held back on the long uphill stretch through the woods by course walkers. Amy isn't brave enough yet to bellow at them to shift out the way.
They ended up just outside the placings with a few time faults to add but one of very few double clears of the day and the highest placing in her team as a bonus. Came home on cloud 9 with more flatwork homework!
The mare loves her jumping like any good Irish lass but is very tricky with her flatwork and needs riding every inch of the way. Perversely as her tests have been improving, so her marks have been going out. Amy is happy, though, as she knows that progress is being made. More submissive, less tense through her back, more acceptance of contact. The test was her best yet, trainer was delighted, Amy was delighted, mum and dad were delighted, judge said meh with 43.75, worst score to date. To be fair she was in the low scoring arena so came in about half way down her section after dressage.
She is managing to sit up more in warm up and allow the horse to move through her shoulders more but arena nerves mean she hasn't cracked it yet in a test.
Onto show jumping and a good 95 course which produced very few clears all day. Amy was one of them! All delighted again.
Then xc which was a good mix of easy and technical with a couple of super skinnies, a very drunken Ted and a lot of carrots. The contours caught a lot out with fitness issues but happily not Mallow's and they sailed round clear but were held back on the long uphill stretch through the woods by course walkers. Amy isn't brave enough yet to bellow at them to shift out the way.
They ended up just outside the placings with a few time faults to add but one of very few double clears of the day and the highest placing in her team as a bonus. Came home on cloud 9 with more flatwork homework!
How big is Mallow? It's odd to see miniOB not looking very leggy!
