Ellie2893
Well-Known Member
Latest in the spots saga!
Well it was a pretty mixed day for us. One of lower than usual scores, wind, rain and even some sun - but we did what we set out to do and got two tickets to the finals.
We arrived safely (minus my spurs which arrived shortly after via express parental courier!) to a very blustery West Wilts this morning. Took a quick glance at the judges whilst getting my number which showed two List 3 judges, one in each of my classes so not only was it going to be fair judging but also going to give a pretty good insite into what my scores at these levels would be like if they were being run as a normal BD affiliated competition.
Taking a little longer to tack up due to adjusting and arranging the new gel pad and making sure it was all secure and comfortable before getting on and taking him down to the warm up. It was massively crowded with about 14 horses in at one point, they were everywhere! Children were almost running into us and one 16hh+ decided it didn’t like us with it’s feet about a meter away from my face – stayed well away from him for the rest of the day!
Warming up he was really tense and unsettled, not helped by copoious amounts of horses shouting for their friedns in their lorries which was a bit upsetting for Harvey today. After about 45 mins he settled enough to stop doing continious transitions to get him off my leg and stop being so sensitive but didn’t feel ready to take him in when the time came for our first test!
First test was Novice 28 (Middle of the Road qualifier) with 17 to go we knew we had to be top 2 to qualify so pretty much had to be a foot perfect test to come close to the leader at that time who was on 73%. Can’t say it went too well..! The centre line was crooked (didn’t even start well!) but generally he did most of what i asked him to do, it was a bit tense in places and he didn’t step up and through as much as i’d have liked in the left canter but we got to the end of it still on the horse and having not left the arena. But no happy faces from me and no polo’s for Mr H just yet, he still had some making up to do!
Next class wasn’t for another 30 mins so had a few options to get him back to himself. Wear him out so he can’t argue, give him a break and let him relax or let him open up and get some energy out! In a not so wise decision I thought I’d let him relax by my mum and have some down time thinking that may calm him down a bit….
…A bit too much! With 2 horses to go before me, I took him back into the warm up and got some 10m circles going and some straight forward simple changes but clearly the wait had made him confused and he really had no idea which leg he was taking off on so we ended up in a bit of a muddle just before we went in!
Time came around and in for the Elementary 44 (High Performance qualifier) again top 2 to qualify but a smaller class of 7 this time. Having watched the others go before me, again it’d have to be a pretty good one to come in a qualifying spot! What a difference a nap makes!! He was on the ball, relaxed, listening and most of all got the right lead on both of his direct transitions (yay!) so we came out and he got showered with polos!
Results were in for the first class and as predicted, it wasn’t enough to win it but we did finish on a respectable 71.9% and 2nd taking the second qualifying spot for the finals (1st on 73% and 3rd on 70% so nicely in the middle.) Our Elementary scores came out to see we’d taken 2nd again – and another qualifying spot(!) on 65.2% (1st was one mark higher and on 65.8%) the score sheet was riddled with mistakes by me, like 10m circles being too SMALL (theres a first time for everything!) and halt i adjusted him to not be square when he was already (doh!) so could easily have taken us up to 67% had there not been errors!
Absolutely thrilled with the outcome today. To have a list 3 judge think he’s worthy of 71.9% in a (very rocky) Novice and the other thinking 65.2% in the Elementary is fabulous and a huge confidence boost that we’re going in the right direction with our work.
Next outing will be to Burrows Court Farm for their Freestyle competition on the 17th and the Badminton Championships are being held Tuesday 16th July
Well it was a pretty mixed day for us. One of lower than usual scores, wind, rain and even some sun - but we did what we set out to do and got two tickets to the finals.
We arrived safely (minus my spurs which arrived shortly after via express parental courier!) to a very blustery West Wilts this morning. Took a quick glance at the judges whilst getting my number which showed two List 3 judges, one in each of my classes so not only was it going to be fair judging but also going to give a pretty good insite into what my scores at these levels would be like if they were being run as a normal BD affiliated competition.
Taking a little longer to tack up due to adjusting and arranging the new gel pad and making sure it was all secure and comfortable before getting on and taking him down to the warm up. It was massively crowded with about 14 horses in at one point, they were everywhere! Children were almost running into us and one 16hh+ decided it didn’t like us with it’s feet about a meter away from my face – stayed well away from him for the rest of the day!
Warming up he was really tense and unsettled, not helped by copoious amounts of horses shouting for their friedns in their lorries which was a bit upsetting for Harvey today. After about 45 mins he settled enough to stop doing continious transitions to get him off my leg and stop being so sensitive but didn’t feel ready to take him in when the time came for our first test!
First test was Novice 28 (Middle of the Road qualifier) with 17 to go we knew we had to be top 2 to qualify so pretty much had to be a foot perfect test to come close to the leader at that time who was on 73%. Can’t say it went too well..! The centre line was crooked (didn’t even start well!) but generally he did most of what i asked him to do, it was a bit tense in places and he didn’t step up and through as much as i’d have liked in the left canter but we got to the end of it still on the horse and having not left the arena. But no happy faces from me and no polo’s for Mr H just yet, he still had some making up to do!
Next class wasn’t for another 30 mins so had a few options to get him back to himself. Wear him out so he can’t argue, give him a break and let him relax or let him open up and get some energy out! In a not so wise decision I thought I’d let him relax by my mum and have some down time thinking that may calm him down a bit….
…A bit too much! With 2 horses to go before me, I took him back into the warm up and got some 10m circles going and some straight forward simple changes but clearly the wait had made him confused and he really had no idea which leg he was taking off on so we ended up in a bit of a muddle just before we went in!
Time came around and in for the Elementary 44 (High Performance qualifier) again top 2 to qualify but a smaller class of 7 this time. Having watched the others go before me, again it’d have to be a pretty good one to come in a qualifying spot! What a difference a nap makes!! He was on the ball, relaxed, listening and most of all got the right lead on both of his direct transitions (yay!) so we came out and he got showered with polos!
Results were in for the first class and as predicted, it wasn’t enough to win it but we did finish on a respectable 71.9% and 2nd taking the second qualifying spot for the finals (1st on 73% and 3rd on 70% so nicely in the middle.) Our Elementary scores came out to see we’d taken 2nd again – and another qualifying spot(!) on 65.2% (1st was one mark higher and on 65.8%) the score sheet was riddled with mistakes by me, like 10m circles being too SMALL (theres a first time for everything!) and halt i adjusted him to not be square when he was already (doh!) so could easily have taken us up to 67% had there not been errors!
Absolutely thrilled with the outcome today. To have a list 3 judge think he’s worthy of 71.9% in a (very rocky) Novice and the other thinking 65.2% in the Elementary is fabulous and a huge confidence boost that we’re going in the right direction with our work.
Next outing will be to Burrows Court Farm for their Freestyle competition on the 17th and the Badminton Championships are being held Tuesday 16th July
Last edited:
