Sarah_Jane
Well-Known Member
How often do we here not a great day on paper but it was the performance that counted 
. In a lot of ways for me this was the other way around!
We were representing our riding club Cornwall Trec at the Area Horse Trials in the Open section which runs now as a BE100+. This was to be Sarnie's first event for over two years since falling and breaking her sternum at Houghton and then having an operation to remove a keratoma.
The horse trials was being held at St Leonards on the Devon / Cornwall border and was the first use of the new course before its inaugural BE event at the beginning of August. Having arrived back late the night before Sarnie had to be plaited and bathed ready to leave the yard at 5.30 the next day.
Sarnie has always been a diva and likes her routine, with Pip away at Salperton (report here) and the other horse on the yard out at night she had got herself in a right state in the stable with virtually her whole bed needing removing and her left dripping in sweat.
Arrived at St Leonards and was on and ready for a 8.30 dressage. She has been going reasonably in this phase at home but I was expecting the odd protest in the test. Perhaps alarm bells should have started ringing when she did a very sweat test to achieve a PB score at any level of 27!
[youtube]41rvQuK7ZW0[/youtube]
Show jumping was smaller than she had been jumping of late but with the undulations of the ring meant it was not totally straightforward. She jumped her customary clear but never really took me forward and was backing off more than usual. To be fair there was another experienced horse in the class who also was a bit spooky so we put that down to some hidden monsters in the ring!
[youtube]OnI2vmSRaPc[/youtube]
So onto XC and I have to admit after yesterdays Intermediate and remembering I was on Sarnie it didnt look too taxing. The main questions came at the end with a step out of the water to a corner and then a huge trakehner (by BE100 Standards)
Sarnie jumped round clear but without any sparkle or verve. Having finished the round yesterday with 20 penalties I nearly cried with happiness, this time it was more a case of sadness for what no longer seemed there.
[youtube]nw-Q8FosDlk[/youtube]
When we got back to the lorry she had a very slight nosebleed which she has never done before. It could be any number of things, I think the saddle may need looking at, she may have been stressed and tired from the two nights of fretting, she may not be right somewhere, she may have a virus or it may be time to retire her. As she has been show jumping so well up to now I am hoping it is something short term. The vet is in the yard today so we will have a chat then.
Having a look at the pictures and for me they show me a horse doing its job but with no sparkle.
She won the section and qualified for the championships however at the moment I just want to find out what the issue is, she certainly won't be going unless I have a very clear indication of what was wrong and that it has been put right. However what a super horse she can do so well when not feeling herself.
. In a lot of ways for me this was the other way around! We were representing our riding club Cornwall Trec at the Area Horse Trials in the Open section which runs now as a BE100+. This was to be Sarnie's first event for over two years since falling and breaking her sternum at Houghton and then having an operation to remove a keratoma.
The horse trials was being held at St Leonards on the Devon / Cornwall border and was the first use of the new course before its inaugural BE event at the beginning of August. Having arrived back late the night before Sarnie had to be plaited and bathed ready to leave the yard at 5.30 the next day.
Sarnie has always been a diva and likes her routine, with Pip away at Salperton (report here) and the other horse on the yard out at night she had got herself in a right state in the stable with virtually her whole bed needing removing and her left dripping in sweat.
Arrived at St Leonards and was on and ready for a 8.30 dressage. She has been going reasonably in this phase at home but I was expecting the odd protest in the test. Perhaps alarm bells should have started ringing when she did a very sweat test to achieve a PB score at any level of 27!
[youtube]41rvQuK7ZW0[/youtube]
Show jumping was smaller than she had been jumping of late but with the undulations of the ring meant it was not totally straightforward. She jumped her customary clear but never really took me forward and was backing off more than usual. To be fair there was another experienced horse in the class who also was a bit spooky so we put that down to some hidden monsters in the ring!
[youtube]OnI2vmSRaPc[/youtube]
So onto XC and I have to admit after yesterdays Intermediate and remembering I was on Sarnie it didnt look too taxing. The main questions came at the end with a step out of the water to a corner and then a huge trakehner (by BE100 Standards)
Sarnie jumped round clear but without any sparkle or verve. Having finished the round yesterday with 20 penalties I nearly cried with happiness, this time it was more a case of sadness for what no longer seemed there.
[youtube]nw-Q8FosDlk[/youtube]
When we got back to the lorry she had a very slight nosebleed which she has never done before. It could be any number of things, I think the saddle may need looking at, she may have been stressed and tired from the two nights of fretting, she may not be right somewhere, she may have a virus or it may be time to retire her. As she has been show jumping so well up to now I am hoping it is something short term. The vet is in the yard today so we will have a chat then.
Having a look at the pictures and for me they show me a horse doing its job but with no sparkle.
She won the section and qualified for the championships however at the moment I just want to find out what the issue is, she certainly won't be going unless I have a very clear indication of what was wrong and that it has been put right. However what a super horse she can do so well when not feeling herself.
