FigJam
Well-Known Member
Took Hopalong along to my riding club show yesterday. We entered a prelim dressage test and two SJ classes. There was a big gap between DR and SJ so I hired her a day box for inbetween, she was a bit confused about this, but had to be nicer than being stood in the trailer for hours and meant I could relax/chat/help out without worrying about her quite as much!
Did P13, she warmed up beatifully and then went all tense the minute we left the warm up and went next door to the arena. Grrr! I know a part of this will be rider nerves etc, but I really wasn't feeling too worried about this as it was so low key, I think she just "knows" when it matters!
Some nice bits and some not so nice bits (jogged in the free walk on long rein, grrr, that's a double marker plus usually a good part for us!) judge seemed to like her though and got mostly 6s with a couple 7s and 5 for the free walk with jogging. Put her away in stable and got back to find out we'd got 60.8% and 4th place! There were about 15 folk in the class I think, so decent size and we don't often get dressage rosettes (think that was only our 2nd ever?!) so was very pleased with this. Winner was apparently only on 62.something% so not miles off the pace either.
Had a good blether with applestroodle and helped out on the ground with the early SJ classes and then surprised Hopalong by tacking her up again. She was most pleased to have her plaits out, boots on and see jumps this time around! (I think she may have thought a XC round was on the cards later, but sadly not!) Warmed up nicely and did a lovely DC in the 85cm class with a couple cheeky tight lines in the JO to take the red rosette (and bag of carrots as prize!). She was loving it.
Did the 95cm class after and had another clear round. Only about 4 of us in this, all the other 3 had either a pole down, refusal or were eliminated, so we won this without having to do a JO! Again, Hopalong was having a ball and just felt fab. Really fun jumping her as she just enjoys it so much.
Some photos courtesy of Mr FigJam below. Not loving this restriction to 4 "images" (which include smilies?! Hence why I've not used any!) per post. Boooo!
Dressage-
Probably the closest to looking like a "dressage pony" photo;
The usual "giraffe" impersonation!;
Happy because she's cantering!;
Cheeky pony doing a beautiful free walk out of the arena AFTER the test was finished and giving Mr FigJam a pose!;
Did P13, she warmed up beatifully and then went all tense the minute we left the warm up and went next door to the arena. Grrr! I know a part of this will be rider nerves etc, but I really wasn't feeling too worried about this as it was so low key, I think she just "knows" when it matters!
Some nice bits and some not so nice bits (jogged in the free walk on long rein, grrr, that's a double marker plus usually a good part for us!) judge seemed to like her though and got mostly 6s with a couple 7s and 5 for the free walk with jogging. Put her away in stable and got back to find out we'd got 60.8% and 4th place! There were about 15 folk in the class I think, so decent size and we don't often get dressage rosettes (think that was only our 2nd ever?!) so was very pleased with this. Winner was apparently only on 62.something% so not miles off the pace either.
Had a good blether with applestroodle and helped out on the ground with the early SJ classes and then surprised Hopalong by tacking her up again. She was most pleased to have her plaits out, boots on and see jumps this time around! (I think she may have thought a XC round was on the cards later, but sadly not!) Warmed up nicely and did a lovely DC in the 85cm class with a couple cheeky tight lines in the JO to take the red rosette (and bag of carrots as prize!). She was loving it.
Did the 95cm class after and had another clear round. Only about 4 of us in this, all the other 3 had either a pole down, refusal or were eliminated, so we won this without having to do a JO! Again, Hopalong was having a ball and just felt fab. Really fun jumping her as she just enjoys it so much.
Some photos courtesy of Mr FigJam below. Not loving this restriction to 4 "images" (which include smilies?! Hence why I've not used any!) per post. Boooo!
Dressage-
Probably the closest to looking like a "dressage pony" photo;
The usual "giraffe" impersonation!;
Happy because she's cantering!;
Cheeky pony doing a beautiful free walk out of the arena AFTER the test was finished and giving Mr FigJam a pose!;
!
Thank you also, she is definitely a jumping pony, not a dressage pony!
She has such a cheeky expression on her face. "Mwah ha ha, I'll be nice and calm now it's all over" kinda thing! 
in the posing photo.