TopTotty
Well-Known Member
Sunday, 25 July 2010
Stafford BE100 Report - Fantastic! VIDEOS ON www.livetoevent.blogspot.com
There should only be one 5 o'clock in a day but on Friday we saw two! I was up at 5am to feed and turn out / bring in the horses on the yard before my helpers (Alex and Xanthe) arrived at about 5.30am. They helped muck out and get Tilly brushed off and booted up before loading and heading down the lane by 6.07am. On arrival at Stafford we walked the SJ and XC courses which I did not think looked as scary as they have in the past, so this must be a goo thing! The last 4 jumps of the sj were up to height (1.05m) but not bigger than we had jumped with Uncle Richard on Wednesday. The xc had the dreaded corner where I had a run out last year so I decided that I would do the skinny alternative as I jut wanted to try and get round clear and there were a couple of other fences that asked questions that we have not answered before. I felt it was achievable but would be a fair test of how we are doing.
On the way to the dressage she was pinging all over and the flies were driving her mad but once we got working in she settled and did one of her best tests yet. She was also in season which did not help proceedings as she twitches all over so all in all we did very well to hold it together for 5 minutes!
SJ next and there were not very many clear rounds to be had, poles flying all over and people taking the wrong routes, it was carnage! We went in and I jut tried to keep her in rhythm and listening to me and she jumped fantastically - see above video from Alex's phone! I was really pleased with her so we went back to the lorry and changed clothes and tack and headed off for the XC.
She got a bit excited on the way to the start but I entered the start box with 5 seconds to go and off we went. I was trying VERY hard NOT to kick on after Hutton as I did not want to dismount before the end of the course again so let her just go at her own pace to the first fence and made sure I had her head up on landing, my lower leg forward and my body upright...just in case!!!
The second fence was a sheep feeder then over the little hill down to a fairly wide ditch before the first combination which was a pheasant feeder then three strides to a wide carrot fence which was on an angle to the left. I got her straight and steady for the first part and then turned as we were landing to ward the other and she flew over it. Then the skinny alternative for the corner down to the log then two strides to the sunken road which she jumped like a true professional. The next fence was the chair and we took off but she dropped her front legs and knocked the fence and then proceeded to crash into it with her hind legs, tipping herself forward and I thought she was going to fall, throwing me in front of the saddle with no stirrups. All I could think was 'Oh no not again!' but at the last moment she recovered and found her footing and I managed to get back in the saddle and keep kicking onto the next fence! PHEW. I thought she would back off the next fence but OH NO she took a stride out and left me on the buckle end. Down the hill to the little village which was two houses, the second on being skinny so I got her back together and we had a little chat before jumping them perfectly. Next was the step up then one stride to the RED ladybird fence which she looked at but never hesitated, then on up the hill to the log wagon, two skinny logs on a dog leg, down the hill to Larry the Lizard and onto what used to be the water.
It seems the water has disappeared and was replaced by another house and the a skinny fence on an angle before a gallop up to another misshapen skinny log which she just ate up before the last two fairly straight forward jumps. She was a little tired by this point but she tries her little heart out and kept on going as fast as she could through the finish.
We got 11.8 time penalties and finish 20th out of 46. I was soooo pleased with her and feel that we are definitely ready to make the move up to BE100 now. What a brilliant day on my fantastic pony.
Posted by Jeni Ball at 10:54
Stafford BE100 Report - Fantastic! VIDEOS ON www.livetoevent.blogspot.com
There should only be one 5 o'clock in a day but on Friday we saw two! I was up at 5am to feed and turn out / bring in the horses on the yard before my helpers (Alex and Xanthe) arrived at about 5.30am. They helped muck out and get Tilly brushed off and booted up before loading and heading down the lane by 6.07am. On arrival at Stafford we walked the SJ and XC courses which I did not think looked as scary as they have in the past, so this must be a goo thing! The last 4 jumps of the sj were up to height (1.05m) but not bigger than we had jumped with Uncle Richard on Wednesday. The xc had the dreaded corner where I had a run out last year so I decided that I would do the skinny alternative as I jut wanted to try and get round clear and there were a couple of other fences that asked questions that we have not answered before. I felt it was achievable but would be a fair test of how we are doing.
On the way to the dressage she was pinging all over and the flies were driving her mad but once we got working in she settled and did one of her best tests yet. She was also in season which did not help proceedings as she twitches all over so all in all we did very well to hold it together for 5 minutes!
SJ next and there were not very many clear rounds to be had, poles flying all over and people taking the wrong routes, it was carnage! We went in and I jut tried to keep her in rhythm and listening to me and she jumped fantastically - see above video from Alex's phone! I was really pleased with her so we went back to the lorry and changed clothes and tack and headed off for the XC.
She got a bit excited on the way to the start but I entered the start box with 5 seconds to go and off we went. I was trying VERY hard NOT to kick on after Hutton as I did not want to dismount before the end of the course again so let her just go at her own pace to the first fence and made sure I had her head up on landing, my lower leg forward and my body upright...just in case!!!
The second fence was a sheep feeder then over the little hill down to a fairly wide ditch before the first combination which was a pheasant feeder then three strides to a wide carrot fence which was on an angle to the left. I got her straight and steady for the first part and then turned as we were landing to ward the other and she flew over it. Then the skinny alternative for the corner down to the log then two strides to the sunken road which she jumped like a true professional. The next fence was the chair and we took off but she dropped her front legs and knocked the fence and then proceeded to crash into it with her hind legs, tipping herself forward and I thought she was going to fall, throwing me in front of the saddle with no stirrups. All I could think was 'Oh no not again!' but at the last moment she recovered and found her footing and I managed to get back in the saddle and keep kicking onto the next fence! PHEW. I thought she would back off the next fence but OH NO she took a stride out and left me on the buckle end. Down the hill to the little village which was two houses, the second on being skinny so I got her back together and we had a little chat before jumping them perfectly. Next was the step up then one stride to the RED ladybird fence which she looked at but never hesitated, then on up the hill to the log wagon, two skinny logs on a dog leg, down the hill to Larry the Lizard and onto what used to be the water.
It seems the water has disappeared and was replaced by another house and the a skinny fence on an angle before a gallop up to another misshapen skinny log which she just ate up before the last two fairly straight forward jumps. She was a little tired by this point but she tries her little heart out and kept on going as fast as she could through the finish.
We got 11.8 time penalties and finish 20th out of 46. I was soooo pleased with her and feel that we are definitely ready to make the move up to BE100 now. What a brilliant day on my fantastic pony.
Posted by Jeni Ball at 10:54
