MissDeMeena
Well-Known Member
The lead-up to this event was about as far removed from ideal as you could get!
Last season, Orla very reluctantly did 3 Novices, getting 'E' in the first two, as she so totally wasn't ready, but her owner was keen, then getting round the 3rd but only due to spending a rather intense 3weeks at a top yard, where i was able to jump her 3 times a week, and even then she still had two stops..
This season i had wanted to do a bit more work with her before her first novice... this is a horse i only ride once a week, if i'm lucky, and i've not ridden her at all over the winter.. rode her 3 times before our first event this year at Aldon, and have ridden her twice since then..
To say i felt underprep'ed is an understatement!!
However, the one saving grace was that she came out at Aldon, in a PN, as keen as anything i've sat on!! For the first time in her life, she really wanted to do it!!!!
Anyway...
She was a total star today!!!
Dressage, warmed up like a pro. then handled the rutty/sloping arean like a pro also! Made a few mistakes, as i thought it was a pretty tech. test for a novice, with alot of things she has never been asked to do before.. So she totally fluffed up her first simple change, but was lovely in the second.. Apart from the baby mistakes, i was very pleased with her test
And so obviously was the judge, as we got a 32.5, which left us 3rd after dressage
SJing.. the ground for the warm-up was rock-solid! like jumping on a road, she really didn't like this and gave me a horrid feel esp. over the spread, so i only jumped it twice and the up-right again, before going in feeling a little
about it..
I shouldn't have worried, as she flew round, meeting everything on the perfect stride, to have a VERY unlucky one down, she really did only just touch it, and it wasn't untill she was a long way away from it that it fell down.. oh well, ho hum
XC.. It didn't walk big, but there were a few tech. questions and ALOT to look at, so i felt it could go either way.
But once again, she flew
Am so happy with her, because for once she is spotting her fences for herself, and not waiting for me to carry her over every single one!!
Her mind was on one thing, the job at hand, going between the red and white flags..
The only wobble we had was coming into the horse-shoe at the end, and that was rather scary..
So, her first clear round at Novice level, and a fab one it was too
However, as the ground was rock hard, and it was such a twisty track (Orla is a BIG horse) it really wasn't the time or the place to be pushing for the time.. so we got 15 time-faults.. That said, getting the time is something i might be worrying about in the future
But i wouldn't have wanted to go any faster today
Sorry it's a bit long
But i'm just so pleased with how much her attitude has changed
Something low-fat for anyone who's bothered to read it (i'm on a diet, so you'll have to diet with me)
Last season, Orla very reluctantly did 3 Novices, getting 'E' in the first two, as she so totally wasn't ready, but her owner was keen, then getting round the 3rd but only due to spending a rather intense 3weeks at a top yard, where i was able to jump her 3 times a week, and even then she still had two stops..
This season i had wanted to do a bit more work with her before her first novice... this is a horse i only ride once a week, if i'm lucky, and i've not ridden her at all over the winter.. rode her 3 times before our first event this year at Aldon, and have ridden her twice since then..
To say i felt underprep'ed is an understatement!!
However, the one saving grace was that she came out at Aldon, in a PN, as keen as anything i've sat on!! For the first time in her life, she really wanted to do it!!!!
Anyway...
She was a total star today!!!
Dressage, warmed up like a pro. then handled the rutty/sloping arean like a pro also! Made a few mistakes, as i thought it was a pretty tech. test for a novice, with alot of things she has never been asked to do before.. So she totally fluffed up her first simple change, but was lovely in the second.. Apart from the baby mistakes, i was very pleased with her test
SJing.. the ground for the warm-up was rock-solid! like jumping on a road, she really didn't like this and gave me a horrid feel esp. over the spread, so i only jumped it twice and the up-right again, before going in feeling a little
I shouldn't have worried, as she flew round, meeting everything on the perfect stride, to have a VERY unlucky one down, she really did only just touch it, and it wasn't untill she was a long way away from it that it fell down.. oh well, ho hum
XC.. It didn't walk big, but there were a few tech. questions and ALOT to look at, so i felt it could go either way.
But once again, she flew
Her mind was on one thing, the job at hand, going between the red and white flags..
The only wobble we had was coming into the horse-shoe at the end, and that was rather scary..
So, her first clear round at Novice level, and a fab one it was too
Sorry it's a bit long
Something low-fat for anyone who's bothered to read it (i'm on a diet, so you'll have to diet with me)
