mavandkaz
Well-Known Member
So have never written one of these as presumed no-one would be interested, but thought I would give it a go!
So quick background....bought my boy 'Shambles' just over 2yrs ago. The thing that did it for me was he was so chilled out and a real dude to hack. After a serious confidence crises (the year before I was too scared to even get on a horse) he for the bill of being nice and safe, and thought we would do no more then a bit of schooling and hacking.
So fast forward to this weekend and we trundled off Vale View for the TB Associated Championship. It was by far my longest drive (3.5hrs) and first ever stay away show.
So we arrived Friday evening and he quickly settled into his new digs, and was fascinated by the automatic water drinker. I was on a cot bed in my lorry, so didn't sleep particularly well and at 6am decided to just get up, as I felt sick with nerves. Kept myself busy until 8am when I started tacking up.
Cue my usually sensible horse to get all antsy to the point where he pulled away from the horsebox, broke his lead rope, dumped his saddle on the floor, and bogged off into the field next door. Cue lots of running about, leaping and bucking before he finally decided to be caught.
Quickly tacked back up and hopped on for the arena walk, wondering if I should just give up. Luckily he quite quickly reverted back to normal and we had a quiet mooch around the arenas and warm up rings.
So first up Novice 23. He warmed up ace and felt great. Went in and did a lovely test, with just a few silly mistakes from me as I was still on edge from the events of the morning. Quick break then back on for Elementary 43. We only started at this level in may, and it's only his fifth attempt. Very pleased with him, but he just ran out of puff towards the end so our canter work wasn't great (not surprising after his jolly round the field).
Put him away and sat watching whilst waiting for results.
Absolutely delighted to get 65.7% in the novice, and 64.5% in the elementary, although slightly kicking myself for not riding him as well as I know I can.
We finished 11th in the elementary, and 5th in the novice! So our first ever mounted prize giving. Considering they were all TBs and many ex-racers, it was a very quiet, well behaved prize giving.
So packed up and head home, only 2.5hrs thank god. Before crashing out on the sofa with a take away.
Am over the moon with my boy, and never in a million years did I ever think I would be out doing this kind of thing. He really is one in a million.
(Still haven't mastered how to post pics, so if anyone sort out the links for me, help yourselves)
https://www.flickr.com/gp/159449361@N04/YSEGF5
https://www.flickr.com/gp/159449361@N04/a7484d
So quick background....bought my boy 'Shambles' just over 2yrs ago. The thing that did it for me was he was so chilled out and a real dude to hack. After a serious confidence crises (the year before I was too scared to even get on a horse) he for the bill of being nice and safe, and thought we would do no more then a bit of schooling and hacking.
So fast forward to this weekend and we trundled off Vale View for the TB Associated Championship. It was by far my longest drive (3.5hrs) and first ever stay away show.
So we arrived Friday evening and he quickly settled into his new digs, and was fascinated by the automatic water drinker. I was on a cot bed in my lorry, so didn't sleep particularly well and at 6am decided to just get up, as I felt sick with nerves. Kept myself busy until 8am when I started tacking up.
Cue my usually sensible horse to get all antsy to the point where he pulled away from the horsebox, broke his lead rope, dumped his saddle on the floor, and bogged off into the field next door. Cue lots of running about, leaping and bucking before he finally decided to be caught.
Quickly tacked back up and hopped on for the arena walk, wondering if I should just give up. Luckily he quite quickly reverted back to normal and we had a quiet mooch around the arenas and warm up rings.
So first up Novice 23. He warmed up ace and felt great. Went in and did a lovely test, with just a few silly mistakes from me as I was still on edge from the events of the morning. Quick break then back on for Elementary 43. We only started at this level in may, and it's only his fifth attempt. Very pleased with him, but he just ran out of puff towards the end so our canter work wasn't great (not surprising after his jolly round the field).
Put him away and sat watching whilst waiting for results.
Absolutely delighted to get 65.7% in the novice, and 64.5% in the elementary, although slightly kicking myself for not riding him as well as I know I can.
We finished 11th in the elementary, and 5th in the novice! So our first ever mounted prize giving. Considering they were all TBs and many ex-racers, it was a very quiet, well behaved prize giving.
So packed up and head home, only 2.5hrs thank god. Before crashing out on the sofa with a take away.
Am over the moon with my boy, and never in a million years did I ever think I would be out doing this kind of thing. He really is one in a million.
(Still haven't mastered how to post pics, so if anyone sort out the links for me, help yourselves)
https://www.flickr.com/gp/159449361@N04/YSEGF5
https://www.flickr.com/gp/159449361@N04/a7484d
lovely pictures
