LeannePip
Well-Known Member
Its finally started, our first run of the year
We've had a busy winter showjumping and dressaging and after a few successful XC training sessions we felt ready to tackle our first ODE this year, as Tweseldown is our local and we train there a lot so I thought a straight step in at 90 would be a good test of our courage!
Fairly normal start to the day for an 11.40 dressage. She warmed up really nicely but was a little unbalanced back out on grass so we lost some marks for rhythm and our up and down canter transitions were a bit blerrgh but otherwise it was a nice test so i was happy with a fair 31.3.
Veeerrrrrrry long wait for a 15.30 show jump (!) so watched a friends showjumping and then walked the XC again; i'd already walked the course the night before, watched their flyby video several times and ridden the entire course in my sleep about 6 times, and each time it seemed to grow i was regretting my decision to dive straight in at 90! But i new all i had to do was ride forward and not hang on too much and just to let her do her thing, find the line I wanted at the combinations and just stay straight! By this time i was feeling pretty rough and useless but wasn't sure if it was sheer terror or actual illness so took a few cold and flu tablets and had a nap in the cab!
Clambered on for showjumping to find the warm up in chaos but it soon settled down and she warmed up really well, giving the fences ALOT of room! The course was quite tight and a friend managed to get time faults in what seemed like a lovely round so I knew I had to ride forward and positive. If a winter of showjumping has taught Ruby anything its that, when you hear the buzzer, its time to GO! And from that point she took control of the wobbling mess on her back and jumped a lovely clear round a very tight course - Yay! 2/3 done!
With not much time before XC and keen to get it over with i'd put my XC colors under my show jacket so i didn't have to trek back and forth to the lorry again. I was feeling even worse by this point too so didn't manage to do very much in the change over other than stand doubled over, looking very feeble :S Luckily my lovely mum and wonderful friend got us both ready and we were ready to go! I spent most of the time in the XC warm up trying to remember the course until Ruby reminded me we should jump something by having a spook!
The first thing the XC starter said to me was; 'don't forget the only thing you can't do is canter INTO the start box, it can be elimination for dangerous riding if you do' 'no problem i said' so we wandered in and out, round and round waiting for the 10 second call. Funny thing is, Ruby also learnt to count over the winter and decided that this was the perfect moment to start cantering on the spot. Finally made it into the box on GO and we were off!
Despite the first 8 fences being quite twisty, on and off the old race track, the course rode really well. Lost all my knitting thanks to an enthusiastic launch over the ditch almost jumped the partition rope, but managed to get it all back and continue. She was super bold through the offset double of hedges, the first time I've asked her to jump something on such an angle, especially something fairly skinny any way. Very bold in true Ruby fashion off the step towards the wide triple brush but she stayed on my line despite no reins and took it on a flyer Up to the water where we had a log before and house out, once again stayed on my line and jumped through like a pro. Just the log pile and Talulah the dragon to finish and we were home clear
By far the biggest course she's done and she made it feel super easy, i'm not afraid to say i nearly shed a tear ;') She is just the most amazing horse to put up with me and my attempts to event and goes above and beyond every time! Unfortunately we were knocked just out the placing thanks to 5 time faults this time but i know its all there for future!
Just waiting for the pro pics to arrive so heres a couple over the last, even with the blurry image i think my grin says it all! But I'm now suffering with a lovely case of man flu
We've had a busy winter showjumping and dressaging and after a few successful XC training sessions we felt ready to tackle our first ODE this year, as Tweseldown is our local and we train there a lot so I thought a straight step in at 90 would be a good test of our courage!
Fairly normal start to the day for an 11.40 dressage. She warmed up really nicely but was a little unbalanced back out on grass so we lost some marks for rhythm and our up and down canter transitions were a bit blerrgh but otherwise it was a nice test so i was happy with a fair 31.3.
Veeerrrrrrry long wait for a 15.30 show jump (!) so watched a friends showjumping and then walked the XC again; i'd already walked the course the night before, watched their flyby video several times and ridden the entire course in my sleep about 6 times, and each time it seemed to grow i was regretting my decision to dive straight in at 90! But i new all i had to do was ride forward and not hang on too much and just to let her do her thing, find the line I wanted at the combinations and just stay straight! By this time i was feeling pretty rough and useless but wasn't sure if it was sheer terror or actual illness so took a few cold and flu tablets and had a nap in the cab!
Clambered on for showjumping to find the warm up in chaos but it soon settled down and she warmed up really well, giving the fences ALOT of room! The course was quite tight and a friend managed to get time faults in what seemed like a lovely round so I knew I had to ride forward and positive. If a winter of showjumping has taught Ruby anything its that, when you hear the buzzer, its time to GO! And from that point she took control of the wobbling mess on her back and jumped a lovely clear round a very tight course - Yay! 2/3 done!
With not much time before XC and keen to get it over with i'd put my XC colors under my show jacket so i didn't have to trek back and forth to the lorry again. I was feeling even worse by this point too so didn't manage to do very much in the change over other than stand doubled over, looking very feeble :S Luckily my lovely mum and wonderful friend got us both ready and we were ready to go! I spent most of the time in the XC warm up trying to remember the course until Ruby reminded me we should jump something by having a spook!
The first thing the XC starter said to me was; 'don't forget the only thing you can't do is canter INTO the start box, it can be elimination for dangerous riding if you do' 'no problem i said' so we wandered in and out, round and round waiting for the 10 second call. Funny thing is, Ruby also learnt to count over the winter and decided that this was the perfect moment to start cantering on the spot. Finally made it into the box on GO and we were off!
Despite the first 8 fences being quite twisty, on and off the old race track, the course rode really well. Lost all my knitting thanks to an enthusiastic launch over the ditch almost jumped the partition rope, but managed to get it all back and continue. She was super bold through the offset double of hedges, the first time I've asked her to jump something on such an angle, especially something fairly skinny any way. Very bold in true Ruby fashion off the step towards the wide triple brush but she stayed on my line despite no reins and took it on a flyer
Up to the water where we had a log before and house out, once again stayed on my line and jumped through like a pro. Just the log pile and Talulah the dragon to finish and we were home clear By far the biggest course she's done and she made it feel super easy, i'm not afraid to say i nearly shed a tear ;') She is just the most amazing horse to put up with me and my attempts to event and goes above and beyond every time! Unfortunately we were knocked just out the placing thanks to 5 time faults this time but i know its all there for future!
Just waiting for the pro pics to arrive so heres a couple over the last, even with the blurry image i think my grin says it all! But I'm now suffering with a lovely case of man flu
