Nickymac
Well-Known Member
I'd entered Ross and Austin for the PAVO 5yo class before they both qualified at Eland, so I thought I might as well take them, Austin having been particularly cocky of late (he's not mine, and I only get to ride him once a week). I also had Marlene to ride, who's a 6 yo chestnut mare from Holland, and she's not sure that she likes water, or steps, or anything that seems a bit odd to her).
Austin did an ok dressage, with only one little explosion, to get 35.2. He showjumped clear, although he goofed about, ducking and diving on the way to the fences, and I was a bit gutted to get 6 time penalties as I wasn't hanging about. They must have wheeled it really tight as everyone seemed to be getting them (just not the two before me who I'd watched go round
). He was fantastic cross country, sharp and bold, just a bit gobby when I told him to wait at a couple of fences (I thought I ought to do that seeing as he's doing novice next time out, and didn't want obedience/steering problems then!), so was clear with no time to add.
Ross warmed up really nicely but the lumpy, slightly downhill arena didn't help him much, 17.2 of horse to wagon round a 20 x 40 not always being that easy. He lost balance a bit and I struggled to get him into the corners, but there was only one glaring mistake, so I was pleased to get 29.1 in a very competitive section (Andrew Nicholson had 2 in it, Laura Collett, Clayton Fredericks, Paul Tapner et al). I think that was about 5th or 6th at that point. He showjumped quite well and was clear, but I know I've got a lot of homework to do in that department over the winter. There was a hold cross country so we had to wait around for a while, so I gave him a good kick coming out of the start box just to get his mind on the job (him being laid-back-larry most of the time!). Well, it took me to fence 3 to stop him bucking, and then he stormed round. It's not the best course for him because it's uphill, downhill, twisty and turny early on, but he coped with it really well and it felt like a really fluent round. He didn't bat an eyelid at anything and was landing over each fence and really taking me (anyone who's seen him will know that he's something akin to a Great Dane puppy, bouncing about, having a whale of a time, but not always purposefully). He finished well and I was just one second over the time, obviously having wasted several seconds with his back end up in the air between fences 1 and 3! Ended up 4th, clever pony.
Then onto Marlene. Her owner, Annabel, has been struggling with her a bit so they asked me to have a go. She is always lovely cross country schooling but then lets her down at an event, so it was up to me to see what I felt was happening. She was a bit inconsistent in her dressage: she's got lots of power and can't quite cope with containing it yet, but she got 36.7 so some bits must have been alright. The same applies to her showjumping, she powers over the fence and lands really steeply on her head if you completely give the rein, so she's better if you support her with your hand a bit (without taking ber back teeth out!) She jumped really well and was clear, so I was pleased with that. Her cross country was straight after Ross, so while I was still fired up and buzzing from him I got on her, determined to inspire her and make her enjoy cross country. I don't think she's ungenuine, but up until last autumn she'd never even been hacked out, never mind taken cross country. I set off positively and she was fab, not a backward thought in her head or so it seemed. The water was off a short approach, log, one stride, step into the water. I gave her a couple of smacks off the turn, kept her head up and rode my butt off, but she stopped.
I came round again and got her over the log, but she dithered going down the step (it was quite a big step to walk down but I was damned if I was going to turn round and come again) so I got another stop for her stepping back. But she went in - she'd have liked to walk through but I fired her up and made her canter out, big pats and on we went. I think it is just lack of experience, not naughtiness, and I'm sure it will come right, but she has got a bit canny at events with Annabel and she's got to learn that she goes the whole way round, not just as far as something strange she doesn't like, then gets the big E and gets to walk back to the lorry.
Well done if you've got this far! It was a long old day with good bits and not so good bits, but god I love doing it. (Remind me that will you all, next time I'm having a bit of self-doubt......)
Austin did an ok dressage, with only one little explosion, to get 35.2. He showjumped clear, although he goofed about, ducking and diving on the way to the fences, and I was a bit gutted to get 6 time penalties as I wasn't hanging about. They must have wheeled it really tight as everyone seemed to be getting them (just not the two before me who I'd watched go round
Ross warmed up really nicely but the lumpy, slightly downhill arena didn't help him much, 17.2 of horse to wagon round a 20 x 40 not always being that easy. He lost balance a bit and I struggled to get him into the corners, but there was only one glaring mistake, so I was pleased to get 29.1 in a very competitive section (Andrew Nicholson had 2 in it, Laura Collett, Clayton Fredericks, Paul Tapner et al). I think that was about 5th or 6th at that point. He showjumped quite well and was clear, but I know I've got a lot of homework to do in that department over the winter. There was a hold cross country so we had to wait around for a while, so I gave him a good kick coming out of the start box just to get his mind on the job (him being laid-back-larry most of the time!). Well, it took me to fence 3 to stop him bucking, and then he stormed round. It's not the best course for him because it's uphill, downhill, twisty and turny early on, but he coped with it really well and it felt like a really fluent round. He didn't bat an eyelid at anything and was landing over each fence and really taking me (anyone who's seen him will know that he's something akin to a Great Dane puppy, bouncing about, having a whale of a time, but not always purposefully). He finished well and I was just one second over the time, obviously having wasted several seconds with his back end up in the air between fences 1 and 3! Ended up 4th, clever pony.
Then onto Marlene. Her owner, Annabel, has been struggling with her a bit so they asked me to have a go. She is always lovely cross country schooling but then lets her down at an event, so it was up to me to see what I felt was happening. She was a bit inconsistent in her dressage: she's got lots of power and can't quite cope with containing it yet, but she got 36.7 so some bits must have been alright. The same applies to her showjumping, she powers over the fence and lands really steeply on her head if you completely give the rein, so she's better if you support her with your hand a bit (without taking ber back teeth out!) She jumped really well and was clear, so I was pleased with that. Her cross country was straight after Ross, so while I was still fired up and buzzing from him I got on her, determined to inspire her and make her enjoy cross country. I don't think she's ungenuine, but up until last autumn she'd never even been hacked out, never mind taken cross country. I set off positively and she was fab, not a backward thought in her head or so it seemed. The water was off a short approach, log, one stride, step into the water. I gave her a couple of smacks off the turn, kept her head up and rode my butt off, but she stopped.
Well done if you've got this far! It was a long old day with good bits and not so good bits, but god I love doing it. (Remind me that will you all, next time I'm having a bit of self-doubt......)
