Lynds
Well-Known Member
Weve had a busy weekend this weekend, dressage on Saturday where M reminded me that he doesnt really want to be a dressage pony and prefers galloping and jumping over things and failing that then doing the centre line as fast as possible will have to suffice.
Sunday dawned, a lot brighter than last years team chase where we almost drowned and we didnt even have to do the water crossing!
I cleaned the house with a speed brought about by nervous energy that would have impressed Usain Bolt before heading out to get pony ready for our big outing Intermediate Team Chase at the Essex and Suffolk Hunt Event. We did this last year, at that level and the team came 5th (and as we were only a team of 3 my time counted, which given we are very ickle at 15hh was impressive!)
So arrived in good time and met the team to walk the course. I saw a friend on the way down to the start who asked if Id seen jump 3.... ominous.
OMG. Jump 3 was a high as my head. I am 5ft 6. Intermediate is meant to be 3ft 6.... Photo is very dark, but you can see me... just.
http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=20924&d=1383582699
Anyway, all other jumps looked big, but wed done them before and so I wasnt too concerned. Jump 22(?) after the water was huge, well over head but I have jumped hunting before (albeit from opposite direction, which is still huge) and it was optional so the decision was made we would jump it if
a. The team was still all 4 up
b. The horse had something left in the tank
http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=20923&d=1383582639
Quick warm up certainly didnt want to wear him out before we started, and M felt full of himself, little buck and leap to remind all those big TBs and Dumb-bloods that he was the boss and had arrived, off we set... one and two, jumped a treat, turned to 3 and kicked on. Jumped it really nicely. M doesnt like to touch it with his belly, so BIG leap over, no brushing through for him! (we are at the back).
http://youtu.be/44ra1-eq9ls
Tight turn for 4 and back round to 5, all big hedges and I could see little hairy knees really reaching forward! Up the hill to 6 and M was keeping up with the bigguns and I was having to hold him a bit, steadied up for 7a and b, big hedges in and out one stride road crossing and back round for 8, another 1 stride hedges/road crossing with an almighty drop on it thanks to a big leap from M, managed to get arse back in saddle and gallop on for yet another hedges/road crossing at 9a and b, off we set now towards the top of the course, the 2 lead horses charging off with 3 and I in hot pursuit, steadied for the smallest of rails at 10, as was worried hed not jump them as so much smaller than others, but he popped fine and over 11 (rails) too. Flew up the hill, and sharp left down the slippy muddy lane. No studs or shoes, but ground holding up well.
Jumped smaller hedge at an angle at 12, and turned back for 13, a nice straightforward hedge. Raced for 14, still up with the team and popped that with a hard 180 back over same hedge (15) to head towards home. Unfortunately this is where it started to go a bit wrong... I turned tight, as M is little and quick to turn. Rider 3 turned less tightly as she hadnt ridden it before and then her saddle slipped and her line wavered and she cut across in front of us, so we ended up stirrup to stirrup at take off, M jumped/went through hedge, but kept his footing and kept going. It shook me up a bit though and I started to think... this is too fast. Im scared! I steadied him more for hedge 16, which had to be jumped on an angle into the muddy lane again, and we got a bit left behind the others. M valiantly set off streaming after the others, but another sharp turn to the right meant I had to steady him again and so we were further behind, down the hill now faster and faster. I felt abit weak by this point, adrenaline all used up on hoovering in the morning and I have a dreadful cold too... all I could think was... omg this is too fast, I cant stop and I am bit scared!
We then came to a y junction, we needed to go straight on, I stupidly presumed pony would just gallop straight on... however pony was now fed up of stupid rider just sat there and as he is clever he remembered that last time (1 whole blinking year ago!), we went left.... so he went left.
At which point I woke up from my terrified paralysis and said = no go straight! And so he did.... and I promptly carried on left... over his shoulder and into a big stack of saplings... Pony clearly much happier now no silly rider involved carried on minus me, and I had to actually pull my head (with hands!) out of the tree branches where it was jammed! Luckily no camera, although would have been amusing possibly!
And so the walk of shame to find the pony. (not too far luckily) I didnt get back on, team were finished by the time pony and 1 were reunited. Had a little cry as adrenaline wore off, and headed back to trailer. Anyway good news was team came 4th! (I like to think I helped a bit!) and I was unhurt except bit stiff this am and had some thorns to remove from knees. Bad new is pony is lame with swollen fetlock this am, but Im hoping a couple of days rest, ice and bute will sort him out. Hes never been sick or sorry before! Feel very bad and sorry for little pony.
So not going to go out with drag hounds as planned now over same course at end of November, hopefully pony will be fine and well just hack and relax over the winter and think about whether to BE again next year (dressage so poor not sure its worth it!) and whether Ill ever have the guts to do a team chase again!!
Soreen cake and Tea for any who got this far!
PS the others all jumped fence 22 as they didnt realise I had fallen off apparently!
Sunday dawned, a lot brighter than last years team chase where we almost drowned and we didnt even have to do the water crossing!
I cleaned the house with a speed brought about by nervous energy that would have impressed Usain Bolt before heading out to get pony ready for our big outing Intermediate Team Chase at the Essex and Suffolk Hunt Event. We did this last year, at that level and the team came 5th (and as we were only a team of 3 my time counted, which given we are very ickle at 15hh was impressive!)
So arrived in good time and met the team to walk the course. I saw a friend on the way down to the start who asked if Id seen jump 3.... ominous.
OMG. Jump 3 was a high as my head. I am 5ft 6. Intermediate is meant to be 3ft 6.... Photo is very dark, but you can see me... just.
http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=20924&d=1383582699
Anyway, all other jumps looked big, but wed done them before and so I wasnt too concerned. Jump 22(?) after the water was huge, well over head but I have jumped hunting before (albeit from opposite direction, which is still huge) and it was optional so the decision was made we would jump it if
a. The team was still all 4 up
b. The horse had something left in the tank
http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=20923&d=1383582639
Quick warm up certainly didnt want to wear him out before we started, and M felt full of himself, little buck and leap to remind all those big TBs and Dumb-bloods that he was the boss and had arrived, off we set... one and two, jumped a treat, turned to 3 and kicked on. Jumped it really nicely. M doesnt like to touch it with his belly, so BIG leap over, no brushing through for him! (we are at the back).
http://youtu.be/44ra1-eq9ls
Tight turn for 4 and back round to 5, all big hedges and I could see little hairy knees really reaching forward! Up the hill to 6 and M was keeping up with the bigguns and I was having to hold him a bit, steadied up for 7a and b, big hedges in and out one stride road crossing and back round for 8, another 1 stride hedges/road crossing with an almighty drop on it thanks to a big leap from M, managed to get arse back in saddle and gallop on for yet another hedges/road crossing at 9a and b, off we set now towards the top of the course, the 2 lead horses charging off with 3 and I in hot pursuit, steadied for the smallest of rails at 10, as was worried hed not jump them as so much smaller than others, but he popped fine and over 11 (rails) too. Flew up the hill, and sharp left down the slippy muddy lane. No studs or shoes, but ground holding up well.
Jumped smaller hedge at an angle at 12, and turned back for 13, a nice straightforward hedge. Raced for 14, still up with the team and popped that with a hard 180 back over same hedge (15) to head towards home. Unfortunately this is where it started to go a bit wrong... I turned tight, as M is little and quick to turn. Rider 3 turned less tightly as she hadnt ridden it before and then her saddle slipped and her line wavered and she cut across in front of us, so we ended up stirrup to stirrup at take off, M jumped/went through hedge, but kept his footing and kept going. It shook me up a bit though and I started to think... this is too fast. Im scared! I steadied him more for hedge 16, which had to be jumped on an angle into the muddy lane again, and we got a bit left behind the others. M valiantly set off streaming after the others, but another sharp turn to the right meant I had to steady him again and so we were further behind, down the hill now faster and faster. I felt abit weak by this point, adrenaline all used up on hoovering in the morning and I have a dreadful cold too... all I could think was... omg this is too fast, I cant stop and I am bit scared!
We then came to a y junction, we needed to go straight on, I stupidly presumed pony would just gallop straight on... however pony was now fed up of stupid rider just sat there and as he is clever he remembered that last time (1 whole blinking year ago!), we went left.... so he went left.
At which point I woke up from my terrified paralysis and said = no go straight! And so he did.... and I promptly carried on left... over his shoulder and into a big stack of saplings... Pony clearly much happier now no silly rider involved carried on minus me, and I had to actually pull my head (with hands!) out of the tree branches where it was jammed! Luckily no camera, although would have been amusing possibly!
And so the walk of shame to find the pony. (not too far luckily) I didnt get back on, team were finished by the time pony and 1 were reunited. Had a little cry as adrenaline wore off, and headed back to trailer. Anyway good news was team came 4th! (I like to think I helped a bit!) and I was unhurt except bit stiff this am and had some thorns to remove from knees. Bad new is pony is lame with swollen fetlock this am, but Im hoping a couple of days rest, ice and bute will sort him out. Hes never been sick or sorry before! Feel very bad and sorry for little pony.
So not going to go out with drag hounds as planned now over same course at end of November, hopefully pony will be fine and well just hack and relax over the winter and think about whether to BE again next year (dressage so poor not sure its worth it!) and whether Ill ever have the guts to do a team chase again!!
Soreen cake and Tea for any who got this far!
PS the others all jumped fence 22 as they didnt realise I had fallen off apparently!
