igglepiggle
Well-Known Member
I never normally do one of these but as I'm now recovering from a moderate head injury and becoming a bit bored, I thought I'd share my joy and pain with you all!
Went to do our second PN of the season after having to pull up at Great Tew (my fault, had done 4 night shifts and had no XC focus). Anyway, pleased with his test although we had a meanie judge in section H and she gave us a 42.5 (still left us in top 15). Showjumped clear although didn't think the course rode that nicely, but I had a lot of help from Mr Woo who hates to touch a pole! Then onto the XC...we have never done such a narrow twisty track as this and he was fab! Bombed round the first 8 with absolutely no hesitation, even at number 3 the owl hole (he's never done one on a course before), and it was only when we came down the steps at 8 to a slightly more open area that I sort of lost or line and he seemed gobsmacked to have to go up the two steps to the gappy palisade at 9. There were a few people in the valley and we were just momentarily knocked off our rhythm. It was more of a spook than a refusal and I brought him round and he sailed up the steps, running out of steam for the third part but I turned him round on the top step and made him do it from virtually nothing, which he did. He is so genuine but at the same time, always needing your absolute commitment. He regained my trust pretty quickly for 10-12 and although he found the deep peaty going a bit much between 10 and 11, which was then followed by a stonier track, I couldn't fault him. We got to the water, 13, the side of the lake and it pretty much blew his brains, one hesitation and then through although I don't know if it was his trepidation at the water or the going, but he would only walk through! However, found our ping again to come out and up the steps and over 15 and were coming down the hill to 16. We took out the red flag going into the water and then I woke up in the ambulance. I can vaguely recall asking him to step up and him disappearing from underneath me. When I woke up I was angry as we were so close to completing (could see the final fence and finish) but I'm so pleased with how he handled it all. I know they had removed the third element the previous day as the first 6 novice horses struggled coming out of the water but I can only think that the going under the dew pond was like treacle, not surprising when the rest of the track was at best deep and at times boggy.
I'm now nursing a headache and wondering what to do without riding for seven days, managed to avoid the 21day suspension. Will probably drop back to Intro for both our confidence. Anyway, it was a shame as I was having a blast!
Went to do our second PN of the season after having to pull up at Great Tew (my fault, had done 4 night shifts and had no XC focus). Anyway, pleased with his test although we had a meanie judge in section H and she gave us a 42.5 (still left us in top 15). Showjumped clear although didn't think the course rode that nicely, but I had a lot of help from Mr Woo who hates to touch a pole! Then onto the XC...we have never done such a narrow twisty track as this and he was fab! Bombed round the first 8 with absolutely no hesitation, even at number 3 the owl hole (he's never done one on a course before), and it was only when we came down the steps at 8 to a slightly more open area that I sort of lost or line and he seemed gobsmacked to have to go up the two steps to the gappy palisade at 9. There were a few people in the valley and we were just momentarily knocked off our rhythm. It was more of a spook than a refusal and I brought him round and he sailed up the steps, running out of steam for the third part but I turned him round on the top step and made him do it from virtually nothing, which he did. He is so genuine but at the same time, always needing your absolute commitment. He regained my trust pretty quickly for 10-12 and although he found the deep peaty going a bit much between 10 and 11, which was then followed by a stonier track, I couldn't fault him. We got to the water, 13, the side of the lake and it pretty much blew his brains, one hesitation and then through although I don't know if it was his trepidation at the water or the going, but he would only walk through! However, found our ping again to come out and up the steps and over 15 and were coming down the hill to 16. We took out the red flag going into the water and then I woke up in the ambulance. I can vaguely recall asking him to step up and him disappearing from underneath me. When I woke up I was angry as we were so close to completing (could see the final fence and finish) but I'm so pleased with how he handled it all. I know they had removed the third element the previous day as the first 6 novice horses struggled coming out of the water but I can only think that the going under the dew pond was like treacle, not surprising when the rest of the track was at best deep and at times boggy.
I'm now nursing a headache and wondering what to do without riding for seven days, managed to avoid the 21day suspension. Will probably drop back to Intro for both our confidence. Anyway, it was a shame as I was having a blast!
