Elvis
Well-Known Member
Elvis went to his first BE today. It was all very exciting and nerve wracking at the same time, even though I wasn't riding!
This was Elvis' first big party and he behaved like a dream- he really is the easiest horse to do at competitions, he comes off the box totally chilled and remains that way. You can leave him tied to the box and know he's not going to do anything stupid. He warmed up well for the dressage- he doesn't need much as he's naturally so relaxed. He then did a fair test, the trot work was good, but he got a bit resistant in the second canter. His canter needs work in general, he just needs to strengthen up a bit. He got 34.5, which put him at about the average for the class, I think if he hadn't resisted in the canter it would have been closer to 29/30. Not bad for a first event!
He then went to the SJ where we discovered the course wasn't overly suited to him, it was boring and the distances were short. Elvis suits courses with lots of fillers and water trays- the spookier the better as he then puts in a bit more effort. He warmed up a little too relaxed, not really being careful, so the boots came off, and his rider gee'd him up a bit. He had 2 fences down in the course- both were light taps, and the second pole he literally brushed and it fell which was a shame. But many others were having a lot more fences down, so not bad really.
Then the XC which Elvis loves. He looked a bit perplexed at being dragged off the lorry and tacked up for the third time, but as always was very obliging. He set off really well, he always gives the XC fences much more air and jumps really boldly. Unfortunately he picked up 20 faults at the ditch- which initially I was a little annoyed about as he loves jumping ditches and this one was tiny. But it turns out he jumped the fence before quite exuberantly, and just didn't see the ditch in time on landing, he literally skipped out the side door as if to say 'Who put that there?' and then jumped it fine, and went on to complete the course well- including far more complex questions. So all things considered he's done really well considering this was his first ever event and he's gone straight in a PN level.
Next stop is South of England in the PN, where hopefully he'll get the XC clear that he is more than capable of.
This was Elvis' first big party and he behaved like a dream- he really is the easiest horse to do at competitions, he comes off the box totally chilled and remains that way. You can leave him tied to the box and know he's not going to do anything stupid. He warmed up well for the dressage- he doesn't need much as he's naturally so relaxed. He then did a fair test, the trot work was good, but he got a bit resistant in the second canter. His canter needs work in general, he just needs to strengthen up a bit. He got 34.5, which put him at about the average for the class, I think if he hadn't resisted in the canter it would have been closer to 29/30. Not bad for a first event!
He then went to the SJ where we discovered the course wasn't overly suited to him, it was boring and the distances were short. Elvis suits courses with lots of fillers and water trays- the spookier the better as he then puts in a bit more effort. He warmed up a little too relaxed, not really being careful, so the boots came off, and his rider gee'd him up a bit. He had 2 fences down in the course- both were light taps, and the second pole he literally brushed and it fell which was a shame. But many others were having a lot more fences down, so not bad really.
Then the XC which Elvis loves. He looked a bit perplexed at being dragged off the lorry and tacked up for the third time, but as always was very obliging. He set off really well, he always gives the XC fences much more air and jumps really boldly. Unfortunately he picked up 20 faults at the ditch- which initially I was a little annoyed about as he loves jumping ditches and this one was tiny. But it turns out he jumped the fence before quite exuberantly, and just didn't see the ditch in time on landing, he literally skipped out the side door as if to say 'Who put that there?' and then jumped it fine, and went on to complete the course well- including far more complex questions. So all things considered he's done really well considering this was his first ever event and he's gone straight in a PN level.
Next stop is South of England in the PN, where hopefully he'll get the XC clear that he is more than capable of.
