FigJam
Well-Known Member
So... have jumped the queue (sorry other HHO-ers, will get them for ya tomorrow!) and got my photos from Mr FJ!
Spent a lovely day on Saturday at the event- fence juding in the morning/early afternoon and then course walking/blethering in the afternoon.
Had the most leisurely start to date with a 3.06pm dressage. This meant Satruday was spent saying "will I do X/Y/Z? Nah... I've got plenty time tomorrow, I'll do it then..." and so mad busy morning was spent cleaning tack, packing car and washing/plaiting Hopalong!
The more time I have, the more I faff! 
Warmed up really nicely but didn't quite manage to keep it together in the test- usual story, lack of consistent outline etc. Not quite as much fighting as before and was hopeful it would be a low 40s, even high 30s. Obviously didn't look all that great and got 43. However, not bottom at least?! (not far from it though!)
Some photo evidence of our usual rubbish dressage!
Then a big gap until SJ. However it worked out well as gave me time to hide Hopalong in the trailer to avoid a heavy rain shower and me a chance to go to score tent and blether, then walk the SJ course when it changed over.
Warmed up, had a good blether with Flying Coo and then went in. Had a rubbish stride to the first;
Then got into a much better rythym. Found some really nice strides to the fences and didn't feel like I was flapping or panicking. Got a good shot to no.4 which was falling regularly;
And then a nice 5 strides to the spread at no.5, so really pleased with that. Really twisty turning through the next few, then over the double at no.8;
Then really horrid dog leg to the last fence. I think I got too excited and just rushed on to it, it felt like we'd got a good shot to it, prompting a "whoo hoo" mid air, only to then hear a clatter and have to cringe and realise that it wasn't clear after all!
Grrr numpty rider! 
So our recent bout of 4-fault-itis continues thanks to me.
Maybe next time...!
Quick change over for XC and then we were off. First three fences (rolltops and a chair) were all fine, she was fab over the palisade to drop at 4ab and popped over the wee log at 5 fine. Had a major attack of the spooks towards 6ab (step up to palisade) as you approached downhill and had a scary river running nearby!
Popped up fine though, spooked at novice log on way past to the wall at 7 and then splashed through the river quite happily at 8. No.9 was a decent sized open corner on quite a tight turn out of the river, not a huge amount of time to see it and set up. Was a little too defensive on approach to it and I'm not sure we could have got much closer?!
So not very pretty or stylish- but over! (the rider a few horses before me fell off at it and my pal who went after me did the same!) She's very clever and careful with the front end, just as well. Got a real ping over it.
Through the 2nd water splash at 10, then more spooking at barrels at 11, but lots of leg and a growl and we were off. Big jump over the steeplechase at 12, which despite my attempts to "use the force" and shrink it on Saturday when course walking (I'm 5'6" if it helps gauge size!);
Jumped lovely!
Then up hill and sharp turn to do another step to palisade 13ab. Zoomed on to kennel/house jump at 14 and downhill to main water fence at 15ab.
A was a hanging log with flowers and B was a drop into the water. Lots of leg and vocal encouragement and she popped in much better than I expected. So happy with her jumping in so nicely I almost forgot about the skinny brush at 16, but just remembered in time! Lots of whoops and good girls there and according to my Mum, some young girls said to each other "I think she's having fun" after we went through! 
Over the box fence at 17 and log pile thing at 18 fine, took a good look at the last but flew over;
Then galloped home to finish... inside the time!
So our first clear inside the time at PN, so so happy with her.
Ended up 11th, that pole cost us a frilly! But still chuffed all the same and maybe one day we'll get that stressage sorted...!
Spent a lovely day on Saturday at the event- fence juding in the morning/early afternoon and then course walking/blethering in the afternoon.
Had the most leisurely start to date with a 3.06pm dressage. This meant Satruday was spent saying "will I do X/Y/Z? Nah... I've got plenty time tomorrow, I'll do it then..." and so mad busy morning was spent cleaning tack, packing car and washing/plaiting Hopalong!
The more time I have, the more I faff! Warmed up really nicely but didn't quite manage to keep it together in the test- usual story, lack of consistent outline etc. Not quite as much fighting as before and was hopeful it would be a low 40s, even high 30s. Obviously didn't look all that great and got 43. However, not bottom at least?! (not far from it though!)
Some photo evidence of our usual rubbish dressage!
Then a big gap until SJ. However it worked out well as gave me time to hide Hopalong in the trailer to avoid a heavy rain shower and me a chance to go to score tent and blether, then walk the SJ course when it changed over.
Warmed up, had a good blether with Flying Coo and then went in. Had a rubbish stride to the first;
Then got into a much better rythym. Found some really nice strides to the fences and didn't feel like I was flapping or panicking. Got a good shot to no.4 which was falling regularly;
And then a nice 5 strides to the spread at no.5, so really pleased with that. Really twisty turning through the next few, then over the double at no.8;
Then really horrid dog leg to the last fence. I think I got too excited and just rushed on to it, it felt like we'd got a good shot to it, prompting a "whoo hoo" mid air, only to then hear a clatter and have to cringe and realise that it wasn't clear after all!
Grrr numpty rider!
So our recent bout of 4-fault-itis continues thanks to me.
Maybe next time...! Quick change over for XC and then we were off. First three fences (rolltops and a chair) were all fine, she was fab over the palisade to drop at 4ab and popped over the wee log at 5 fine. Had a major attack of the spooks towards 6ab (step up to palisade) as you approached downhill and had a scary river running nearby!
Popped up fine though, spooked at novice log on way past to the wall at 7 and then splashed through the river quite happily at 8. No.9 was a decent sized open corner on quite a tight turn out of the river, not a huge amount of time to see it and set up. Was a little too defensive on approach to it and I'm not sure we could have got much closer?!
So not very pretty or stylish- but over! (the rider a few horses before me fell off at it and my pal who went after me did the same!) She's very clever and careful with the front end, just as well. Got a real ping over it.
Through the 2nd water splash at 10, then more spooking at barrels at 11, but lots of leg and a growl and we were off. Big jump over the steeplechase at 12, which despite my attempts to "use the force" and shrink it on Saturday when course walking (I'm 5'6" if it helps gauge size!);
Jumped lovely!
Then up hill and sharp turn to do another step to palisade 13ab. Zoomed on to kennel/house jump at 14 and downhill to main water fence at 15ab.
A was a hanging log with flowers and B was a drop into the water. Lots of leg and vocal encouragement and she popped in much better than I expected.
So happy with her jumping in so nicely I almost forgot about the skinny brush at 16, but just remembered in time! Lots of whoops and good girls there and according to my Mum, some young girls said to each other "I think she's having fun" after we went through! Over the box fence at 17 and log pile thing at 18 fine, took a good look at the last but flew over;
Then galloped home to finish... inside the time!
So our first clear inside the time at PN, so so happy with her.
Ended up 11th, that pole cost us a frilly! But still chuffed all the same and maybe one day we'll get that stressage sorted...!
