BBs
Well-Known Member
Today we went grasshoppers show jumping.
Still not sure we should have gone, mainly because his spots have got increasingly worse again this week, and although he has been showing great form over his fences at home and on monday with Geoff hes been awful with rearing and napping, where i cant even leave the yard without a battle.
Anyway, he loaded within 10 minutes and we set off, he was dead quiet in the back and we arrived with plenty of time to spare.
Off loaded and he stood grazing by the lorry.
It was outside on grass, so this would be interesting as weve never jumped outside let alone grass before.
We had a course walk first, then we were warmed up in pairs with one trainer and then went straight into arena to be judged by the other trainer. After the first round we were then given tips on how to improve the round and then go again.
Well we had a while to wait but snoop was a good boy and walked around grazing happily.
When are time arrived i hopped on in the warm up instead of at the lorry as i didnt fancy a battle.
He walked around fine then just threw a nap and stood right up
he then trotted boldly off and warmed up okay although hanging back to the lorries.
He jumped well but much more forward, like he would be if he was going xc, but with little height and NO rounding over his fences which he does so well.
Trainer was impressed with his jump, but obviously hasnt ever seen him before just felt he needed further flat work, which he does, but today he wasnt being he usual self.
Our turn (had to wait for my pair to finish her round which took ages as she had stop after stop) we went in and trotted round but he wasnt with me at all.
He jumped round had 2 fences down but wasnt jumping at all well, more like point fire and launch
Got told how to ride the course better, but it really want going to make much difference as i wasnt riding Snoopy, i was riding something completely different.
He jumped around again and just rolled a pole but he was horrid and hollowed through the related distance really nasty.
I felt i rode him fine, although it was a tad hard when he was hanging back to the lorries and was just racing to his fences.
I got off and washed him off, OMG his back was in a right state. *Que BBs look of horror* his spots had just come up along his spine, he reacted so badly when i sponged him off it was obvious he was in a lot of pain.
I absolutely feel sick with guilt. ALWAYS GO WITH YOUR GUT FEELING!!!
The thing is, these spots have been troubling him for nearly 5 wks now, but they come and go. This last week he has turned into a horrid horse to ride. He literally stands straight up and refuses to move.
He then puts in some fabulous work and then just switches to horrid mode again
So i have made the decision, the vet will NOW be called *fed up with being told, theyre fine hes just being a git, stop being so soft etc* as its clear as day today that hes in pain.
I am trying to withdraw from Tweseldown and will see when the withdrawal date for MMorrell is and if its before Tuesday (when vet is coming) then I will withdraw from that too, unless vet says he will be fit to compete.
Sorry long ramble.....
So snoop is now on lunge work only.
Still not sure we should have gone, mainly because his spots have got increasingly worse again this week, and although he has been showing great form over his fences at home and on monday with Geoff hes been awful with rearing and napping, where i cant even leave the yard without a battle.
Anyway, he loaded within 10 minutes and we set off, he was dead quiet in the back and we arrived with plenty of time to spare.
Off loaded and he stood grazing by the lorry.
It was outside on grass, so this would be interesting as weve never jumped outside let alone grass before.
We had a course walk first, then we were warmed up in pairs with one trainer and then went straight into arena to be judged by the other trainer. After the first round we were then given tips on how to improve the round and then go again.
Well we had a while to wait but snoop was a good boy and walked around grazing happily.
When are time arrived i hopped on in the warm up instead of at the lorry as i didnt fancy a battle.
He walked around fine then just threw a nap and stood right up
He jumped well but much more forward, like he would be if he was going xc, but with little height and NO rounding over his fences which he does so well.
Trainer was impressed with his jump, but obviously hasnt ever seen him before just felt he needed further flat work, which he does, but today he wasnt being he usual self.
Our turn (had to wait for my pair to finish her round which took ages as she had stop after stop) we went in and trotted round but he wasnt with me at all.
He jumped round had 2 fences down but wasnt jumping at all well, more like point fire and launch
Got told how to ride the course better, but it really want going to make much difference as i wasnt riding Snoopy, i was riding something completely different.
He jumped around again and just rolled a pole but he was horrid and hollowed through the related distance really nasty.
I felt i rode him fine, although it was a tad hard when he was hanging back to the lorries and was just racing to his fences.
I got off and washed him off, OMG his back was in a right state. *Que BBs look of horror* his spots had just come up along his spine, he reacted so badly when i sponged him off it was obvious he was in a lot of pain.
I absolutely feel sick with guilt. ALWAYS GO WITH YOUR GUT FEELING!!!
The thing is, these spots have been troubling him for nearly 5 wks now, but they come and go. This last week he has turned into a horrid horse to ride. He literally stands straight up and refuses to move.
He then puts in some fabulous work and then just switches to horrid mode again
So i have made the decision, the vet will NOW be called *fed up with being told, theyre fine hes just being a git, stop being so soft etc* as its clear as day today that hes in pain.
I am trying to withdraw from Tweseldown and will see when the withdrawal date for MMorrell is and if its before Tuesday (when vet is coming) then I will withdraw from that too, unless vet says he will be fit to compete.
Sorry long ramble.....
So snoop is now on lunge work only.
