kerryflower
Well-Known Member
Hey All
I'm a very boring student staying in on a Saturday night so in order to avoid having to do any coursework I htought I'd do an update.
So after no competitions since October Ollie and I got our glad rags on for the first time in forever and have had our first weekend off competing this weekend. The first comp we did was a BD comp thatw as cancelled int he snow so rescheduled for February. We did the 2 novices and have been trying to work on establishing a good rhythm in the trot getting him to really use himself. We had a good score in the first novice (63 ish) and managed to come 3rd which I was really pleased with as I was V rusty! The second one was a DISARRRRRRRSTER! I forgot to halt on the centre line at the start so got a 2, then I messed up our canter change through trot (canter across / and come to trot at F and pick up right canter). I fluffed it and we didn't change leg so got a fat 0! and then he disunited in the canter as I forgot to breathe. Thennnnn I got a really nice trot and realised at B that I should have actually been doing a medium from M to K. So had an error of course and then fired him up too much for the medium and got a 3 as he cantered. So v v v bad pilot! Still managed a 56% though and didn't even come last...Judge comment "lovely talented horse. Test spoilt by rider errors" lol.
Soooo the following week I tried to be less alzheimer-y and get the tests right! Did the prelim and novice and came 2nd in the prelim with 65 and 6th in novice with 62. Again very pleased as judge noted the "super rhythm" which is what I have really been trying hard to establish and took her time to come and tell me how nice she thought Ol was and that he just needs more lateral bend. I know I need more test riding practice but I did feel more relaxed.
Then last weekend we did a prelim and novice. I was sooo pleased with him as he tried really hard and I felt really relaxed and happy on him. We managed a 68 in prelim and 65 in the novice coming 1st and 3rd respectively. We were just 2 marks behind winner for novice and could have kicked myself as I rode like a muppet and niggled too much in the walk so he anticipated trot and broke a bit gettign a 4. His previous walk was an 8. grrrrr! The judge for the novice however wrote a lovely comment and I would have been happy to come last with it "what a super talented horse with plenty of potential. A pleasure to see such a harmonious pair-he just needs to wait for you sometimes"
Super star pony. Qualified for the Sue Carson thing and Hickstead semis. Wahoo
So onwards and upwards to the next one and working to improve my riding to do him justice. Had a fab lesson with Kate Gibson so plenty of homework to do if my legs/arse/core will allow me to work them as hard!
Pics form last weekend can be seen here http://www.showgroundphotography.com/mp_includes/index.asp
Go to BD dressage 5th March, All weather arena, 1130-1245, page 8 and 9 (with 5 rows per page) and I'm chestnut with star and snip between a coloured.
Have included some from recent clinic we did.
Fairly nuts ice cream for all who got this far
Hope you're all having good season so far
I'm a very boring student staying in on a Saturday night so in order to avoid having to do any coursework I htought I'd do an update.
So after no competitions since October Ollie and I got our glad rags on for the first time in forever and have had our first weekend off competing this weekend. The first comp we did was a BD comp thatw as cancelled int he snow so rescheduled for February. We did the 2 novices and have been trying to work on establishing a good rhythm in the trot getting him to really use himself. We had a good score in the first novice (63 ish) and managed to come 3rd which I was really pleased with as I was V rusty! The second one was a DISARRRRRRRSTER! I forgot to halt on the centre line at the start so got a 2, then I messed up our canter change through trot (canter across / and come to trot at F and pick up right canter). I fluffed it and we didn't change leg so got a fat 0! and then he disunited in the canter as I forgot to breathe. Thennnnn I got a really nice trot and realised at B that I should have actually been doing a medium from M to K. So had an error of course and then fired him up too much for the medium and got a 3 as he cantered. So v v v bad pilot! Still managed a 56% though and didn't even come last...Judge comment "lovely talented horse. Test spoilt by rider errors" lol.
Soooo the following week I tried to be less alzheimer-y and get the tests right! Did the prelim and novice and came 2nd in the prelim with 65 and 6th in novice with 62. Again very pleased as judge noted the "super rhythm" which is what I have really been trying hard to establish and took her time to come and tell me how nice she thought Ol was and that he just needs more lateral bend. I know I need more test riding practice but I did feel more relaxed.
Then last weekend we did a prelim and novice. I was sooo pleased with him as he tried really hard and I felt really relaxed and happy on him. We managed a 68 in prelim and 65 in the novice coming 1st and 3rd respectively. We were just 2 marks behind winner for novice and could have kicked myself as I rode like a muppet and niggled too much in the walk so he anticipated trot and broke a bit gettign a 4. His previous walk was an 8. grrrrr! The judge for the novice however wrote a lovely comment and I would have been happy to come last with it "what a super talented horse with plenty of potential. A pleasure to see such a harmonious pair-he just needs to wait for you sometimes"
Super star pony. Qualified for the Sue Carson thing and Hickstead semis. WahooSo onwards and upwards to the next one and working to improve my riding to do him justice. Had a fab lesson with Kate Gibson so plenty of homework to do if my legs/arse/core will allow me to work them as hard!
Pics form last weekend can be seen here http://www.showgroundphotography.com/mp_includes/index.asp
Go to BD dressage 5th March, All weather arena, 1130-1245, page 8 and 9 (with 5 rows per page) and I'm chestnut with star and snip between a coloured.
Have included some from recent clinic we did.
Fairly nuts ice cream for all who got this far
Hope you're all having good season so far
