KatB
Well-Known Member
Sooo, as a "change of scene", I decided to take mdam to Shelford to do the unaffiliated intro (sorry, BE90 ) as it's literally a 2 minute drive from the yard, so very cost effective
Arrived there running slightly late (I blame Fatgreypony for chatting to much ), unloaded madam, to do studs, for her to promptly pull back and do a quick "freestyle" warm up across the lorry park complete in full travel gear and massage pad NOT the best start for a "zen" like calm needed for marebag to do a good dressage.... sooo, surprising the dressage was obedient in the fact she did everything needed where needed, (except showing off her FAVOURITE trick of reining back in the halt....) but came out with an abismal score which shall not be spoken about the words "disobedient to the leg" (tail swishing and threatening to hump) and "not straight" (spooking at the alien car...) gives you some idea of madams dr. prowess However, she's only ever done about 6 tests in her life, and not been inside an arena since september, so tbh, I was just pleased she kept all 4 feet roughly where they should be, and did everything where it needed to be AND, we weren't last
Quick change to the SJing, warmed up like the pro she is, did her customary "nap at the scary commentary box until the bell goes" and jumped a lovely obedient and soft round, until the last fence where me grinning like a fool failed to correct overkeen pony on the approach, meaning one down... sack the jockey!!
More changing (me more than her this time!) and hopped on for the XC Madam was HUGELY overexcited at this point, even though I'm pretty sure she hasn't a CLUE what was happening, and bucked, squeaked and farted her way around the warm up, until our turn to go
WELL, last year we attempted this event, and pretty much stopped at the first 4 fences before jumping them the second time... but my pony seems to have suddenly GOT XC... Wiggled a bit to the first fence, and then was off!! Straight over the scary 3rd fence which had caused 30 stops on Monday's BE90, say a flier to the pheasant feeder at 4, straight through the rather murky water, into the next field over the tiddly palisade, where we had a brief nap where she had just got brain overload... got her pointing in the direction of the next fence, she spotted it and was off again!! Straight through the woods, over the brush, handbrake turn to the rail into the woods and step down, straight over the log house, good line and straight and neat over the corner, back over a rail, then a hedge to skinny house which she straightened herself for ( ), VERY strong galloping to the log, the step up (or leap up!) then the roll top, and finally a VERY dodgy jump over the last, where brakes had failed.... but careful pony was still in no danger of hitting it!!
Soooo pleaaed with how bold and straight she was, and seriously considering trying a bit more eventing again.... we will see...!!
Final scores were 45dr , 1 down Sjing, and Clr XC with 8 time, probably due to her brief hesitation, and taking time to set up as she got so strong!!
Thanks for reading, no pics/vid to show you yet.. a HUGE HUGE thank you to Icestationzebra, who was groom extraordinaire, and Fatgreypony who was specialist wild horse catcher of tha day....
Arrived there running slightly late (I blame Fatgreypony for chatting to much ), unloaded madam, to do studs, for her to promptly pull back and do a quick "freestyle" warm up across the lorry park complete in full travel gear and massage pad NOT the best start for a "zen" like calm needed for marebag to do a good dressage.... sooo, surprising the dressage was obedient in the fact she did everything needed where needed, (except showing off her FAVOURITE trick of reining back in the halt....) but came out with an abismal score which shall not be spoken about the words "disobedient to the leg" (tail swishing and threatening to hump) and "not straight" (spooking at the alien car...) gives you some idea of madams dr. prowess However, she's only ever done about 6 tests in her life, and not been inside an arena since september, so tbh, I was just pleased she kept all 4 feet roughly where they should be, and did everything where it needed to be AND, we weren't last
Quick change to the SJing, warmed up like the pro she is, did her customary "nap at the scary commentary box until the bell goes" and jumped a lovely obedient and soft round, until the last fence where me grinning like a fool failed to correct overkeen pony on the approach, meaning one down... sack the jockey!!
More changing (me more than her this time!) and hopped on for the XC Madam was HUGELY overexcited at this point, even though I'm pretty sure she hasn't a CLUE what was happening, and bucked, squeaked and farted her way around the warm up, until our turn to go
WELL, last year we attempted this event, and pretty much stopped at the first 4 fences before jumping them the second time... but my pony seems to have suddenly GOT XC... Wiggled a bit to the first fence, and then was off!! Straight over the scary 3rd fence which had caused 30 stops on Monday's BE90, say a flier to the pheasant feeder at 4, straight through the rather murky water, into the next field over the tiddly palisade, where we had a brief nap where she had just got brain overload... got her pointing in the direction of the next fence, she spotted it and was off again!! Straight through the woods, over the brush, handbrake turn to the rail into the woods and step down, straight over the log house, good line and straight and neat over the corner, back over a rail, then a hedge to skinny house which she straightened herself for ( ), VERY strong galloping to the log, the step up (or leap up!) then the roll top, and finally a VERY dodgy jump over the last, where brakes had failed.... but careful pony was still in no danger of hitting it!!
Soooo pleaaed with how bold and straight she was, and seriously considering trying a bit more eventing again.... we will see...!!
Final scores were 45dr , 1 down Sjing, and Clr XC with 8 time, probably due to her brief hesitation, and taking time to set up as she got so strong!!
Thanks for reading, no pics/vid to show you yet.. a HUGE HUGE thank you to Icestationzebra, who was groom extraordinaire, and Fatgreypony who was specialist wild horse catcher of tha day....
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