clairebearnz
Well-Known Member
I took my dear old boy down to Battle Hill down near Wellington for a pony club event. He hasn't evented since 2010 where he did a decent dressage (after rearing several times while warming up) before going ballistic in the XC warm-up (he did jump clear, I'll give him that) due to a myriad of factors so this was quite an experiment to see if his behaviour really had changed.
The weather decided to pack it in slightly this week. The temperature was 26C on Thursday before the wind went to the south and it was 5C this morning. Tally kept giving me looks of horror when I took off his rug and put his saddle on. He warmed up alright (no explosions
), although he was decidedly unimpressed with me. Of course, just as I went down the centre line, the horizontal rain started and frankly, I felt like I was riding a snail who was swiftly retreated back into its shell. There was some decent bits, and some fairly cringeworthy bits (namely our lack of bend) and our lengthened trot died a very swift death, but we survived. Surprisingly, we were leading after the dressage with 37.65. Granted, there was only four people in my class, but still. Comments were basically that he was stiff, lacked inside flexion but was an "obedient horse who looked like he was enjoying himself." I have to admit, I laughed at that.
Warming up for the dressage. I realised after how short my stirrups were. As you may be able to tell, Tally was unimpressed.
Can't you just hear the mutiny?
To be quite honest, neither of us look that impressed.
XC was next. He grew two hands when we got to the warm-up and began to bounce so I swiftly sent him into canter and he behaved remarkably well. There were a few handstands, but he was forward and listening (to some degree). He left the start box without a single thought and pinged everything. We climbed the first corner with style and grace (not) before he legged it and I had quite a struggle to get him back. Unfortunately, he stopped to think about the water, which was rather awful as it was two banks down into the water, for a first refusal, before he bounced down and happily flung himself over everything else. He was far fitter than I thought, as it was a very steep course and he hasn't done much fast work as the ground has been too hard, but I have no idea if we made the time.
Much happier faces. Lacking in brakes somewhat
Jump one
Two
Tally knows what he's doing, not so sure about the rider
We got a truly beautiful stride into this and it felt amazing.
Jumping the corner with grace and style (not).
Nearing the end
And. Uh. Yes. I had real trouble trying to slow him down at one point. He was having far too much fun.
Show jumping was absolutely freezing. He knocked the first jump partly because he was quite content NOT to listen to me and was a bit tired and stiff and partly because of my truly horrible eye for a stride. Everything else, he bounced over in fairly gleeful fashion.
"This beats the hell out of dressage!"
I'm so happy with the little man. He tried his little heart out even with a slightly useless jockey and was beautifully behaved the whole day. I just need some serious jumping lessons.
The weather decided to pack it in slightly this week. The temperature was 26C on Thursday before the wind went to the south and it was 5C this morning. Tally kept giving me looks of horror when I took off his rug and put his saddle on. He warmed up alright (no explosions
), although he was decidedly unimpressed with me. Of course, just as I went down the centre line, the horizontal rain started and frankly, I felt like I was riding a snail who was swiftly retreated back into its shell. There was some decent bits, and some fairly cringeworthy bits (namely our lack of bend) and our lengthened trot died a very swift death, but we survived. Surprisingly, we were leading after the dressage with 37.65. Granted, there was only four people in my class, but still. Comments were basically that he was stiff, lacked inside flexion but was an "obedient horse who looked like he was enjoying himself." I have to admit, I laughed at that. Warming up for the dressage. I realised after how short my stirrups were. As you may be able to tell, Tally was unimpressed.
Can't you just hear the mutiny?
To be quite honest, neither of us look that impressed.
XC was next. He grew two hands when we got to the warm-up and began to bounce so I swiftly sent him into canter and he behaved remarkably well. There were a few handstands, but he was forward and listening (to some degree). He left the start box without a single thought and pinged everything. We climbed the first corner with style and grace (not) before he legged it and I had quite a struggle to get him back. Unfortunately, he stopped to think about the water, which was rather awful as it was two banks down into the water, for a first refusal, before he bounced down and happily flung himself over everything else. He was far fitter than I thought, as it was a very steep course and he hasn't done much fast work as the ground has been too hard, but I have no idea if we made the time.
Much happier faces. Lacking in brakes somewhat
Jump one
Two
Tally knows what he's doing, not so sure about the rider
We got a truly beautiful stride into this and it felt amazing.
Jumping the corner with grace and style (not).
Nearing the end
And. Uh. Yes. I had real trouble trying to slow him down at one point. He was having far too much fun.
Show jumping was absolutely freezing. He knocked the first jump partly because he was quite content NOT to listen to me and was a bit tired and stiff and partly because of my truly horrible eye for a stride. Everything else, he bounced over in fairly gleeful fashion.
"This beats the hell out of dressage!"
I'm so happy with the little man. He tried his little heart out even with a slightly useless jockey and was beautifully behaved the whole day. I just need some serious jumping lessons.
