Fiona
Well-Known Member
When I heard the weather forecast for Saturday I could have cried, but we were entered and the event runs on lovely sandy ground so we headed off with lots of waterproofs at 6am on Saturday morning. That was the other thing - always get such an early dressage time at this event.
Didn't have overly much time to warm up, due to stopping for fuel in Newry, and at the start she wasn't going very well, and OH was panicing a bit, but once she loosened up and he pushed her together she started to look a bit better, and she was going well before they went in....
Her test was OK, the trot work was nice..
but she stepped back into her halt at C, and her canter still needs improvement. They were about 10th after dressage.
We walked the SJ course as the ring hadn't atarted yet, and there were no SJ times, so as it was still dry decided to go and get her and jump ASAP. She warmed up well and jumped a lovely clear, really taking on her fences and except for a difference of opinion at the last fence they were fairly much foot perfect (no photos sadly as the steward had called for a competitor into the ring, and I couldn't run fast enough to where I had left the camera bag to get it out in time).
Well they had showjumped at about 9.30, so guess what time we got her out for the XC. 4.15pm!!!!! It was a horrendously long day, and I know a lot of young horses would have got totally switched off by that stage, but Sophie loves her XC and she was really up for it (walking round the warmup chilling out)...
The second fence..
The skinny before the second water..
Pallisade with pole on top..
Big bank with a log on top finished off by brush....
And finally a lovely pro pic from mdpix.ie.. (this was a novice fence as well)
So we didn't get too wet (good), horse finished sound and well and could have gone round again (good), and friend won the sportsmans class on her new horse(also good), and personally I wouldn't have stayed for the results to go up as it was about 6pm by this stage, but OH wanted to and was great that he did. I was sitting half asleep in the cab with dog on knee when he bounces up to say that he got a 4th and gives me a lovely rosette and an envelope (well I am the mare's owner), so all in all especially as the weather wasn't as bad as forecast we had a lovely day.
Didn't get to sit down until after 9 last night though, fell asleep as soon as head hit the pillow, and had a bit of a lie in this morning.
Even better news though is that Flo who had a punctured foot last weekend and has spent most of the week in her stable came out this morning, hacked out sound and spent the day quietly grazing in the field (thought she might go bezerk), so very pleased to have two lovely mares in the yard.
Seem to have been typing for ages, sorry!!!
Hope you enjoy (anyone who gets to the end).
Fiona
Didn't have overly much time to warm up, due to stopping for fuel in Newry, and at the start she wasn't going very well, and OH was panicing a bit, but once she loosened up and he pushed her together she started to look a bit better, and she was going well before they went in....
Her test was OK, the trot work was nice..
but she stepped back into her halt at C, and her canter still needs improvement. They were about 10th after dressage.
We walked the SJ course as the ring hadn't atarted yet, and there were no SJ times, so as it was still dry decided to go and get her and jump ASAP. She warmed up well and jumped a lovely clear, really taking on her fences and except for a difference of opinion at the last fence they were fairly much foot perfect (no photos sadly as the steward had called for a competitor into the ring, and I couldn't run fast enough to where I had left the camera bag to get it out in time).
Well they had showjumped at about 9.30, so guess what time we got her out for the XC. 4.15pm!!!!! It was a horrendously long day, and I know a lot of young horses would have got totally switched off by that stage, but Sophie loves her XC and she was really up for it (walking round the warmup chilling out)...
The second fence..
The skinny before the second water..
Pallisade with pole on top..
Big bank with a log on top finished off by brush....
And finally a lovely pro pic from mdpix.ie.. (this was a novice fence as well)
So we didn't get too wet (good), horse finished sound and well and could have gone round again (good), and friend won the sportsmans class on her new horse(also good), and personally I wouldn't have stayed for the results to go up as it was about 6pm by this stage, but OH wanted to and was great that he did. I was sitting half asleep in the cab with dog on knee when he bounces up to say that he got a 4th and gives me a lovely rosette and an envelope (well I am the mare's owner), so all in all especially as the weather wasn't as bad as forecast we had a lovely day.
Didn't get to sit down until after 9 last night though, fell asleep as soon as head hit the pillow, and had a bit of a lie in this morning.
Even better news though is that Flo who had a punctured foot last weekend and has spent most of the week in her stable came out this morning, hacked out sound and spent the day quietly grazing in the field (thought she might go bezerk), so very pleased to have two lovely mares in the yard.
Seem to have been typing for ages, sorry!!!
Hope you enjoy (anyone who gets to the end).
Fiona
