Show-jumping report inc NEW HORSE!

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tigers_eye

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Having recovered from the bout of altitude sickness I got riding the new chap Monday and Tuesday (including getting dumped from a great height Tuesday seconds after getting on!) yesterday was a fact-finding trip to a rare mid-week show, which trebled up as William's "easing back into things" first outing since Luhmuhlen, and Ricky's first show with his new rider :).

New boy doesn't belong to us, we've got an arrangement with his owner which we hope suits everyone, but long term if he looks the business we'll be looking for a syndicate for him. He arrived Sunday evening, took him schooling where I have my jumping lessons Monday, hacked him Tuesday, and went show-jumping yesterday. He's about 175cm I think, 7 years old, and French :cool:. His breeding is very interesting, by Yarlands Summer Song (Marie Christine Duroy's Olympic and 4* horse, by Fleetwater Opposition and out of Welton Gazelle), and out of a SF mare by Valespoir Malabry. On the dam's side he carries both Double Espoir and Nankin who were present in my Junior horse's breeding. I could go on but you might all fall asleep.

First up had him in the 1m, and he put in a nice enough round, stepping over the fences rather, and me finding that instructions were taking a long time to get from my legs, to his brain, down to his feet! One down, and I can't claim we only breathed on it :rolleyes:. Good points were not at all spooky in any way, or complicated, just a bit floppy and marionette-like. Vid: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSeQXW-tyRw

Encouraged by our first round I entered him in the 110cm too, tried to get him a bit sharper in the warm-up but I don't think it's going to happen overnight. A hefty PC kick into the 2nd as I didn't think a gentle squeeze was going to get us where we needed to be! He just tapped one out going into the double off a nice stride, rather than the ones I'd (intentionally of course) been putting him on to make him think ;). Some utterly fab photos taken by a pro there but didn't buy any as my rule is I'm not allowed unless I've won some prize money. Obviously he feels very different to William, and afterwards I was trying to work out the last time I jumped a round over 100m on anything but W, and had to go as far back as Liberty circa 2008! Vid: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNKWy6Xpfyg

Someone had been banging and scraping in the lorry in disgust at being ignored so far, so he was pleased to be out and for once was really good about being in a crowded warm-up. Went in for the 110, and proceeded to have the first down :mad: which really didn't impress me! He went on to jump round the rest of the course very nicely - vid: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chs0y3BIqLg

Was trying out a Dutch gag with a double joint, as I prepare myself to shell out for the Sprenger version. He went pretty well in it, so left him in it for the 120. During the course walk it absolutely peed it down, we were all soaking wet, although it eased off a bit by the time we were riding. For some reason the pouring rain along with the couple of glasses of wine I'd had pressed upon me by then brought out my inner hunting persona so I saw some very forward strides :D, and two fell. William had great fun though!

Last of the very very long day was Ricky in the 80cm with his new rider, and they popped round sweet as could be and maintained the day's form with one down :rolleyes:.
 
Love the new horse, he looks and sounds like hes going to be a star - good luck with him.

William is such a sweetie, he was just getting accross his disgust at being left on the lorry by knocking down the first fence ;) :D
 
Did have to giggle at the title of the video to the new horse's first round - 100m :eek:
New horse looks lovely (stable name?) and huge!
And great to see William out again, even if he did touch the first!
 
Thanks SJ, he's a very different kettle of fish, but beggars can't be choosers, and he's got some very likeable points.

Measles - I knew he was by YSS before I took him on but got really excited when I started looking at his passport properly, if he doesn't make it as an eventer his breeding suggests he shouldn't be a slouch jumping.

Tempi, quite right, I mean there was no excuse whatsoever to have it down. Either that or he took offence at it being so small given his lofty status these days.

b-b-h, erm yes, sorry changed now! His proper name is a mouthful, we've plumped for Q, as in 007's Q!

felicity - I hope not either! On the plus side he's far enough up that there's time for a full somersault!
 
Must admit looking at YSS, a fab picture in the (AA)?? breeding book.
Anyway all the best and not a bit surprised it was peeing down in Belgium, I only visited once to see my new horsey, and we have much rain in this part of France right now.
Had to smile about the wine and forward strides too!
 
Looks so odd seeing you on something other than W after so long :) I really like him, he's tall but not wide - V (my one) has one a similar shape at the moment and he's really nice too :) Love the breeding, I have a soft spot for French horses, I think they have a great combination of athleticism, brains and elegance, Idalgo was my absolute favourite. Course they're not always easy to ride, but you knew that ;) And YSS was pure class :)
 
JCWhite, I remember being impressed with him when he was competing, didn't realise he was so old though. Is he still alive?

SC and santa - you should get your arses over here and come and see him in the flesh!

TD - Smart, but wasn't he also a bit mad jumping?! Seem to remember him jumping her off in Atlanta maybe?
 
new one is v smart, and you look very much at home on him already. i remember YSS being very impressive, can't remember where but remember thinking 'wow', it was either a champs or 4* anyway.
W looks super, he only breathed on that first pole though i thought.
 
What is interesting K is that I'm using the same saddle (with a thin raiser pad for Q) on both, same stirrup length. On Q I felt my stirrups were too short, whereas on W they felt fine. Put them down 2 when hacking Q today and will hack and sj him at that length I think, can get my leg around him better.

Hopefully can get some good answers without a separate post, in the few days I've had him it's clear I'm going to have to do quite a lot of hillwork and conditioning in the coming weeks to get him fit for eventing, but he's pretty rangy as it is. William has the priority on expensive food, so what can I give the new chap on top of normal coarse mix and sugar beet? Oil? Oats?
 
I was a big YYS fan - seriously classy - but he did jump with abandon sometimes! :D

Does he come with one of those drop down oxygen masks? ;)

Seriously, it looks like you're going to have some good fun with him. He's obviously scopey and naturally careful and already fairly ridable - things will come together a bit quicker for him as he gets stronger and fitter. Best of luck with him.
 
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