So near yet so agonisingly far - BE90 Regionals

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Been a quieter few weeks for us after our last event at Eridge. We went to Patchetts and scored a stonking 72.5% on our first attempt at E43. Then went to Sparsholt Summer Regionals and scored 66.397% and came 14th out of 31. It was far too hot for him so he was a bit flat but he was only 2.5% behind 3rd place which was really encouraging. So, it was onwards to Chilham for our first Regionals.

http://competitiondiary.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/chilham-be90-regional-finals-03-08-14.html

Read my blog for all the details and feel my pain! Oh so so close yet so so far away.
 
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well done :)

i know you didn't ask for CC but....i never ever teach anything to canter off the inside aid for this reason, as its impossible to be clear enough in the ring, between a leg aid to bend/soften the ribs and a leg aid for canter. When they are sharp and anticipating a bit in the ring they don't tend to wait for the seat/weight aid!

i would be LY him out to make him soft to the inside aids then asking for canter with the outside leg (at home) to teach him to stay soft.

the inside leg will also come back to bite you (IMO) when you start wanting changes.

he looks great though :)
 
Thanks. I'm realising now it was a bit of a mistake although it has done wonders for his softness through the transition. I really struggle to move my left leg back which is part of the problem so waa trying to find a way to make it easier for me but it has just served to confuse him :-(
 
Argh!!!! But well done!!!

Inside canter aids - my DR instructor teahces canter from an inside aid and says she has no problems when she wants half-pass/changes (one or both, I barely know what either is). I have no idea how this works because I ride with an outside leg for canter and yet we both get Vito to canter? Anyway. Disappointing!!!! How many regionals left to go? You will make it, you know. Good luck for Aston, am there too!
 
Well done, though I can understand how frustrating it is to be so close!
At least you know that on a good day you can nail the dressage which means you've already got a big advantage. Good luck!
 
Aaaargh, such a shame, but still a brilliant outing and great scores on the dressage :)

Interesting re the inside leg aid for canter - I was encouraged, and did, change to this aid after having dressage lessons with a lady that competed at a high level - horses for courses I suppose.
 
Frustrating :(

Saw you a few times on Sunday, Monty's looking so well! You've done so well to get your dressage so competitive and get his (and your) confidence back after some blips. Lots more chances- would have been nice to qualify on the first go but when do this ever go smoothly?! Keep going :)
 
rising_promise said:
Frustrating :(

Saw you a few times on Sunday, Monty's looking so well! You've done so well to get your dressage so competitive and get his (and your) confidence back after some blips. Lots more chances- would have been nice to qualify on the first go but when do this ever go smoothly?! Keep going :)
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Thanks. So happy with how he is this year. After missing most of the last 2yrs he has really muscled up and is blooming this year. Have hopefully put the confidence blips behind us now - Aston 100 on Saturday - that'll test that theory! Were you competing at Chilham? Hope you had a good day.
 
star said:
Thanks. So happy with how he is this year. After missing most of the last 2yrs he has really muscled up and is blooming this year. Have hopefully put the confidence blips behind us now - Aston 100 on Saturday - that'll test that theory! Were you competing at Chilham? Hope you had a good day.
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Yes, I was competing in my youngsters 2nd 90. Couple of green stops at the shadowy fences (trellis thing and roll top before 2nd water) , she's not quite worked out how to adjust yet and does get nervy of jumping into darkness. Popped both 2nd time though so was chuffed with her for completing another 90, we'll get our double clear soon :)

I was surprised looking at Monty actually, he looks much lighter (in stature) than he does on camera. Looks really chunky on camera, much more so than he was last year but in the flesh he's much leaner. That's not a criticism at all, he looks great!

Where are you off to for your other regionals? Hopefully Aston will go well and you'll be on top of the world again. I find it easier to just remember that we're both more than capable of doing that level, just try your best. As long as you ride the best you can, you can't be disappointed. I used to have all this superstitious stuff (same socks, left left in jodhs first- really stupid stuff), then before Eridge I thought 'why am I doing all this, if I just ride properly and ride forward, it'll go well because we're both more than capable' so I literally did the opposite of everything superstitious I was doing and actually rode properly, helping my baby horse out and not sitting there like a lemon and it went fantastically, the same at Chilham (OK so 2 stops XC might not be fantastic to some but she's young and just starting out, I know she's a real talent for the future).

Anyway, I'll stop rambling! Look forward to hearing how you get on :)
 
That fence before the second water was nearly our undoing. I knew I'd have to ride it strongly as he is pretty spooky and then predicted he'd try and run past the muddy puddle as he's not a fan of getting his feet wet and that's exactly what he did. My XC riding still needs a lot of work. I feel more of a hindrance than a help to him. I got into my rhythm at about fence 12! Schooling him over Novice fences yet still making a meal out of 90 - ridiculous. Going to try and ride Aston like I do when I'm schooling and try and make a better job of it.
Will do 100 Regionals at Goring next then 90 Regionals at Moreton Morrell. Not done either before.
Nothing wrong with the odd stop on a youngster. Happens to everyone, even the pros. She'll have learnt from it :-)
 
Braver than me, I'm useless at schooling but much better when actually doing the comp. I think it's because my blood's up and you HAVE to jump it rather than being able to wimp out like you can schooling! Even though I've competed at Novice before, you then have a baby horse, go back to small stuff and can't imagine how you ever jumped a Novice fence!

Good luck for the other RF's, you'll do it :-)
 
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