Show Report - CMEC 15/04/17 Prelim 17 & XC Schooling Disaster!

[Embo]

Bit of a slap-dash entry to Cobham Manor (Moli Shows) for some BD on Saturday (after some confusion with days and previous deferred entries!).

On the day B was in a very irritating sort of mood which is never helpful. I think the Spring Grass is finally getting to him... despite this, he warmed up really well in a very small and deep arena. A few noises that he really wanted to react to (a car skidded on some gravel and someone had a squeaky/clunky ramp)... but I kept him together and moving forwards so we only had a grunt, small headshake and roach back for maybe half a stride (are we finally getting somewhere with this!?).

Popped spurs on with 10 mins to go and put him through gears one last time. I felt we were ready but kept him walking in a contact until time to go.

I think I rode the best test I've performed to date. It felt forwards and rhythmical, transitions weren't perfect but they were accurate. The shapes of my circles are getting better!! And most importantly, B was with me (almost) the whole way and didn't try to drop me... until the final turn down the CL but saved it and was a pretty good CL with square halt to boot! It felt great, I was so pleased! Both coach and friend who was also competing agreed that looked our best, too.

Sadly the judge didn't quite agree and we finished on 61.25%. Fair comments that he dropped onto his shoulders a few times but mentioned our CL's weren't forward enough... which I do have to disagree, he was definitely forward, he just isn't quick and 60m is a long way for us to go..! Still all smiles and came away with a 'Placed' frilly and we were fourth.

They had put my friend in the wrong section, so the score sheets/placings were muddled on the day, so checking the official scores and we really came 3rd in our section 2nd place was 63.something and 1st was 74.something so we were definitely not going to bother them :O

I feel we are moving in the right direction

 

[Embo]

Part 2 as dressage report was pretty long!

Bank Holiday Monday brought XC schooling. The day did not start well! B was feeling agitated again, but he was tied on the yard with a haynet whilst we got ready. Travel boots on and friend popped him in his stable to pee/poo... didn't shut him in properly, so moments later he bust out and went trotting (the best extended trot I have ever seen!) off to the field. All gates shut so nowhere for him to go, right?

I followed him round and he was just milling about by the fence as all the other horses came galloping over. All very exciting. He saw me and started to walk over, but one of the other horses reached over the fence and bit him... so he squealed and kicked which set the horses galloping the other way. Not one to be left behind, he proceeded to jump the fence, practically from a standstill, in full travel gear, and went carting off down the field.

How many awful scenarios can one picture in one's mind when witnessing your horse jump something it shouldn't? The answer is lots.

Got him caught and brought him back in... put him back into the stable (properly secured this time!) and left him for 10 mins to simmer down. Quick check to make sure he was ok then loaded him up and off we went.

My friend offered to sit on him first as it was abundantly clear I wasn't feeling too great about the situation! So she got on B whilst I held her horse. She took him round and over a couple of jumps, all going very well. He feels great, she said. Decided to take him down into the next field quickly to just go away from her horse. Went to jump a small log... B said no and went right, and friend went left and hit the deck! I was at the other end of the field so started making my way to meet her. She caught B and met me, she was totally fine but it turns out the reins had broken!!

The billet on one side had torn right out of the leather, not impressed. They are not that old and I take care of my things, the leather had properly torn, it wasn't a stitching fault. Really awful.

So had to take the reins from her horse's bridle and play swapsies. She got back on and took him over that fence. Came back and made me get on. Which I really didn't want to do! Just canter him she said. So I did. OK, now you have to jump something... picked out one I've jumped many times before. OK now you need to jump it again and then jump that one so you've linked two together. Now go through the water. B was ace the whole time I wan on board, I think by that time he'd got all the crazy out...

Then we had to swap reins back so friend could ride her own horse! Who was totally amazing.

So everyone survived (just!) but what a disaster! Hope you all had less dramatic ends to your bank holidays!

 

[HufflyPuffly]

Phew that was action packed wan't it! Well done for getting on and jumping, naughty B for bogging off in his travel gear though . Well done on your dressage placing too .

 

[milliepops]

Oh no! What an eventful day you had yesterday! Glad everyone was OK despite everything and sounds like you had a good time eventually.... ? Well done on the BDing, sometimes the judge doesn't see what you feel but the main thing is that you feel you are making progress and always nice to get a frilly!

 

[PorkChop]

I'm exhausted just reading about it! Bet you needed a lie down in a dark room after that

Well done for cracking on, it actually sounds like a very productive weekend

 

[Embo]

Phew that was action packed wan't it! Well done for getting on and jumping, naughty B for bogging off in his travel gear though . Well done on your dressage placing too .

Yes, very naughty!! No banana for Bowser, that was for certain! The dressage was most definitely the good bit lol thank you

Oh no! What an eventful day you had yesterday! Glad everyone was OK despite everything and sounds like you had a good time eventually.... ? Well done on the BDing, sometimes the judge doesn't see what you feel but the main thing is that you feel you are making progress and always nice to get a frilly!

Haha yes it was good in the end, don't think I need to say that B was quite tuckered out by the time we got home...

It's the first time I've felt the test was better than I was marked, usually I feel it was awful them am pleasantly surprised! So strange to feel the other way but I guess it's a lesson we must all learn at some point.

I'm exhausted just reading about it! Bet you needed a lie down in a dark room after that

Well done for cracking on, it actually sounds like a very productive weekend

Four days off? What four days off, I'm exhausted

I've had to learn to 'crack on', I'm such a wimp so would normally just give up or cry (or both), so this is definite progress!

 

[Bernster]

Lawks, I feel stressed just reading that! That was an eventful old weekend for you. Well done on getting through it largely in one piece ;-)

 

[tatty_v]

Oh that sounds so familiar, I spent Wednesday morning last week chasing my boy round the yard as he'd got away and thought it was great fun chatting to all the ponies and showing off his piaffe and collected canter! At least you made the most of it - much braver than me who would probably have given up!