nikkimariet
Well-Known Member
So, massive update from us!
To recap, CS was due to go to Somerford PL. I think farcical best describes this. A few days before the competition, the drama started with quite frankly the creepiest PM. You know you've hit the big time when you have a pet Internet stalker!!!
Arrived at Somerford on Friday, got CS out to ride only to have a tractor join us trying to harrow!!! I was shouting, NMT was shouting (CS is TERRIFIED of farm machinery) but in he came. He wouldn't leave, or switch the engine off, and could only repeat "I've got to harrow" It was totally unclear where? Or for how long and poor CS was freaking out big time.
Tried to ride past it to get out but he span, bolted and tried to rear... With a few other horses also freaking out I just managed to get off and lead him past but the noise behind him was too much. He reared up in my face, pulled away and set off flat out in the direction of the road, colliding with a ridden stallion en route!
I KNEW the gates to the grounds (onto the main road) were propped open and all I could see in my head was him under a car, I've never ran so fast in riding boots (nor NMT in wellies!). Thankfully he went into one of the barns and stopped but both NMT and I were in bits, imagining the worst. An official complaint has been lodged, so I wont say anymore on that bit.
I managed to ride him later and he was tense but not horrendously so and by this morning seemed back to business...
Warmed up foot perfect but sadly all went Pete Tong in the ring! I daydreamed my way through the walk, ended up at the wrong marker, got belled for an error, and when I repeated it he jogged twice Spooked badly twice in the zig zag and then again I went to sleep in the 3's and got some 2's (I have kicked myself repeatedly!) but the actual 2's were fab, as were the piris!!! A deserved 57.9% but soooooo disappointed with it all, not him, just me!
Onwards CS has a moment of fame in Racing Post:
Turns out CS has a pretty nippy half brother in the form of Shifting Power, who was placed 4th in the Quipco 2000 Guineas earlier this month. They share the same dam - Profit Alert!
There are a few things that got lost in translation as the reporter had no prior knowledge of dressage/the levels etc. What I actually said was that he is currently the only ex racer competing at small tour at Premier League level. And that if he was able to do a CDI in the future he would be the first in a very long time albeit most records only seem to go back 20 years. This obviously got a bit muddled up before being published!
On Sunday we took the boys to the gallops! The sun was out and the ponies behaved...
Fig went first.
We had a walk, trot and gentle canter round. Then he wanted to let rip along the top, so we did! Then back to walk and the same thing all over again.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=884636818229905
(We come flat out round the top of the hill and then I let him pick up or slow down as he pleases)
Little Lion Heart:
Then CS.
Wanted to go up into a gentle canter straight away, then came back to walk (very good boy!). Walked round the top and then went flat out down the bottom. A quick breather and then off they went again!
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=884638431563077
Such a sensible boy:
Lovely Sunday for all involved. Super chuffed with their behaviour. Not a murmur from either of them; seem to have really grown up since we last took them there! Fig was happy to go at his own pace, and CS was happy to really floor it!
On Wednesday we took both the boys out. CS for an Inter 1, Fig for M73 and AM98 (I know, eek!!!)...
Fig warmed up like a total pro. Really relaxed and concentrating. It was quite muggy and overcast, but he copes really well in that weather. Classes were tiny, so very quiet and we had the warm up all to ourselves. Lots of gear changes and then some working canter piri's to get him waiting and sitting. Just a couple of changes out the half pass; these are easiest to keep him soft over the back and he doesn't anticipate. Did those neatly so left them there.
Did a sweet M73, tight in the walk and a jog before the first walk piri. But lateral work fluid and the canter stayed soft. But other than that, mistake free.
Chuffed with AM98, got every change! Yes a few were a little tight, and that affected the work directly after. But we all have to start somewhere (I've never ridden at that level, and Fig definitely hasn't!). This felt more powerful than the Medium, and I was pleased with how I placed everything and felt like Fig had enough time and room to strut his stuff.
Bit miffed with the Medium mark - 63.97% (1st out of just 2 in the class!). I do agree with the comments, but was expecting 67%+ given how soft and accurate it was. On thinking it over perhaps I rode a little too cautiously which just didn't do us justice? However, over the moon with 64.87% for the Advanced Medium (went training, but I was the only one in the class)!!!! No marks below a 6 and that was for a slightly duff canter HP (thought we were going extended, so set out the corner hell for leather lol!) and a squiffy change, but scoring all the way up to 8's with the trot solid 7's to 7.5's
So, need to chill my beans (and keep Figs chilled), and remember to RIDE it all forward!
And then CSs turn... He came out (esp given the weather) unusually hot and spooky! He warmed up nicely, took a bit of lateral work to get him powering through but was fairly on the ball. A couple of silly spooks led to some tightness in the ring. Fluffed the 2 x changes, but got everything else (including a 7 for one of the canter piri's!). A new personal best for CS at Inter 1 with 63.55%!!! And that includes mistakes!
CS felt really happy in the contact, is taking more of a pull in the baucher (for the bradoon) so I need to learn to ride that power but keep it soft.
We've both agreed that given they've been good at home, good at the gallops and now fantastic at a competition... They've earned a day off, followed by hacking and cantering in the fields.
They are both going to visit their Spanish trainer on Sunday for a lesson, fingers crossed they behave and the weather is nice!
To recap, CS was due to go to Somerford PL. I think farcical best describes this. A few days before the competition, the drama started with quite frankly the creepiest PM. You know you've hit the big time when you have a pet Internet stalker!!!
Arrived at Somerford on Friday, got CS out to ride only to have a tractor join us trying to harrow!!! I was shouting, NMT was shouting (CS is TERRIFIED of farm machinery) but in he came. He wouldn't leave, or switch the engine off, and could only repeat "I've got to harrow" It was totally unclear where? Or for how long and poor CS was freaking out big time.
Tried to ride past it to get out but he span, bolted and tried to rear... With a few other horses also freaking out I just managed to get off and lead him past but the noise behind him was too much. He reared up in my face, pulled away and set off flat out in the direction of the road, colliding with a ridden stallion en route!
I KNEW the gates to the grounds (onto the main road) were propped open and all I could see in my head was him under a car, I've never ran so fast in riding boots (nor NMT in wellies!). Thankfully he went into one of the barns and stopped but both NMT and I were in bits, imagining the worst. An official complaint has been lodged, so I wont say anymore on that bit.
I managed to ride him later and he was tense but not horrendously so and by this morning seemed back to business...
Warmed up foot perfect but sadly all went Pete Tong in the ring! I daydreamed my way through the walk, ended up at the wrong marker, got belled for an error, and when I repeated it he jogged twice Spooked badly twice in the zig zag and then again I went to sleep in the 3's and got some 2's (I have kicked myself repeatedly!) but the actual 2's were fab, as were the piris!!! A deserved 57.9% but soooooo disappointed with it all, not him, just me!
Onwards CS has a moment of fame in Racing Post:
Turns out CS has a pretty nippy half brother in the form of Shifting Power, who was placed 4th in the Quipco 2000 Guineas earlier this month. They share the same dam - Profit Alert!
There are a few things that got lost in translation as the reporter had no prior knowledge of dressage/the levels etc. What I actually said was that he is currently the only ex racer competing at small tour at Premier League level. And that if he was able to do a CDI in the future he would be the first in a very long time albeit most records only seem to go back 20 years. This obviously got a bit muddled up before being published!
On Sunday we took the boys to the gallops! The sun was out and the ponies behaved...
Fig went first.
We had a walk, trot and gentle canter round. Then he wanted to let rip along the top, so we did! Then back to walk and the same thing all over again.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=884636818229905
(We come flat out round the top of the hill and then I let him pick up or slow down as he pleases)
Little Lion Heart:
Then CS.
Wanted to go up into a gentle canter straight away, then came back to walk (very good boy!). Walked round the top and then went flat out down the bottom. A quick breather and then off they went again!
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=884638431563077
Such a sensible boy:
Lovely Sunday for all involved. Super chuffed with their behaviour. Not a murmur from either of them; seem to have really grown up since we last took them there! Fig was happy to go at his own pace, and CS was happy to really floor it!
On Wednesday we took both the boys out. CS for an Inter 1, Fig for M73 and AM98 (I know, eek!!!)...
Fig warmed up like a total pro. Really relaxed and concentrating. It was quite muggy and overcast, but he copes really well in that weather. Classes were tiny, so very quiet and we had the warm up all to ourselves. Lots of gear changes and then some working canter piri's to get him waiting and sitting. Just a couple of changes out the half pass; these are easiest to keep him soft over the back and he doesn't anticipate. Did those neatly so left them there.
Did a sweet M73, tight in the walk and a jog before the first walk piri. But lateral work fluid and the canter stayed soft. But other than that, mistake free.
Chuffed with AM98, got every change! Yes a few were a little tight, and that affected the work directly after. But we all have to start somewhere (I've never ridden at that level, and Fig definitely hasn't!). This felt more powerful than the Medium, and I was pleased with how I placed everything and felt like Fig had enough time and room to strut his stuff.
Bit miffed with the Medium mark - 63.97% (1st out of just 2 in the class!). I do agree with the comments, but was expecting 67%+ given how soft and accurate it was. On thinking it over perhaps I rode a little too cautiously which just didn't do us justice? However, over the moon with 64.87% for the Advanced Medium (went training, but I was the only one in the class)!!!! No marks below a 6 and that was for a slightly duff canter HP (thought we were going extended, so set out the corner hell for leather lol!) and a squiffy change, but scoring all the way up to 8's with the trot solid 7's to 7.5's
So, need to chill my beans (and keep Figs chilled), and remember to RIDE it all forward!
And then CSs turn... He came out (esp given the weather) unusually hot and spooky! He warmed up nicely, took a bit of lateral work to get him powering through but was fairly on the ball. A couple of silly spooks led to some tightness in the ring. Fluffed the 2 x changes, but got everything else (including a 7 for one of the canter piri's!). A new personal best for CS at Inter 1 with 63.55%!!! And that includes mistakes!
CS felt really happy in the contact, is taking more of a pull in the baucher (for the bradoon) so I need to learn to ride that power but keep it soft.
We've both agreed that given they've been good at home, good at the gallops and now fantastic at a competition... They've earned a day off, followed by hacking and cantering in the fields.
They are both going to visit their Spanish trainer on Sunday for a lesson, fingers crossed they behave and the weather is nice!
. I should have been smart enough to transfer my entries to VV had I twigged it was on, but we might have looked very scruffy and un-blinged in comparison! 
), but for my next horse (when my show horse is retired) it will be along the Arab/TB lines as this is what I love.