LeannePip
Well-Known Member
Today we headed to Munstead UA ODE. This was to be our first step up to 90 and following a good few weeks of XC schooling, dressage and show jump training i was hopeful it would be a positive experience!
This is our first year out eventing, and so far every event has been a so close yet so far sort of thing, but this by far took the top prize!
The day started well with a lovely 22 dressage, in a section where only 3 horses scored sub 30, so we were in the lovely position of sitting in 1st!
and then it all goes down hill from here . . .
showjumping warm up was interesting, there were two big (huge pedalo sized) plastic swans in the garden next door which were there to cause havoc . . . she was ok, but very distracted by the swans. the OK continued into the ring i couldn't really ride forward as there wasn't much there, but we hit most fences on a decent stride. Unfortunately just toppled the first and then a mis communication caused a complete miss at the first part of the last double but otherwise not a bad effort, just need more ring practise so i can actually ride her how i want to not just work with what she'll give me! Surprisingly we were still in 3rd at this point.
XC started well, flew the first, second, third, fourth. jumped well into the 1/2 coffin at 5, dodge line into a little house at six which then had a hard curve right to a roll top full of brush on top at 7a followed by a step up stride rail as B & C, and this is where the wheels came off. 6 jumped well, found the curving line to 7A but didn't have the shot i wanted so sat in the rhythm leg on going for the long one, nope, chipped in . . . now this fence was huge, not a fence you should be chipping in infront of!; this is me with said fence, i'm 5ft6
She jumped clean over the top of the fence landing in a heap with me hanging round her ears, which could have been saved, if she hadn't then gone on to jump B and C. . . with me still hanging round her neck . . . and then run off in panic because i was still trying to hang on . . . and then jump the electric fencing into the next field, with me still hanging round her neck . . . at which point i probably decided we'd lost any hope of a placing and bailed out the side door as she hot tailed it back across the course!
I lay flat on my back, resembling a stranded beetle, trapped in the knot of number bib, body protector and air jacket waiting for some one to come and rescue me wondering how on earth we went from the high of a low 20's dressage and dreams of 1st place to laying in the middle of a field unable to get my air jacket off . . . but such is the sport we enjoy and sometimes it just isn't your day!
Ruby is fine, un scathed and back out in the field, i am a bit sore but saved from worse injuries by my trusty air jacket which has more than earn its keep this year!
Next plan was another 90 run to finish off the season at Tweseldown, plan is now to drop down for a nice confidence giving run round the 80 before a little holiday and a winter full of showjumping!
This is our first year out eventing, and so far every event has been a so close yet so far sort of thing, but this by far took the top prize!
The day started well with a lovely 22 dressage, in a section where only 3 horses scored sub 30, so we were in the lovely position of sitting in 1st!
and then it all goes down hill from here . . .
showjumping warm up was interesting, there were two big (huge pedalo sized) plastic swans in the garden next door which were there to cause havoc . . . she was ok, but very distracted by the swans. the OK continued into the ring i couldn't really ride forward as there wasn't much there, but we hit most fences on a decent stride. Unfortunately just toppled the first and then a mis communication caused a complete miss at the first part of the last double but otherwise not a bad effort, just need more ring practise so i can actually ride her how i want to not just work with what she'll give me! Surprisingly we were still in 3rd at this point.
XC started well, flew the first, second, third, fourth. jumped well into the 1/2 coffin at 5, dodge line into a little house at six which then had a hard curve right to a roll top full of brush on top at 7a followed by a step up stride rail as B & C, and this is where the wheels came off. 6 jumped well, found the curving line to 7A but didn't have the shot i wanted so sat in the rhythm leg on going for the long one, nope, chipped in . . . now this fence was huge, not a fence you should be chipping in infront of!; this is me with said fence, i'm 5ft6
She jumped clean over the top of the fence landing in a heap with me hanging round her ears, which could have been saved, if she hadn't then gone on to jump B and C. . . with me still hanging round her neck . . . and then run off in panic because i was still trying to hang on . . . and then jump the electric fencing into the next field, with me still hanging round her neck . . . at which point i probably decided we'd lost any hope of a placing and bailed out the side door as she hot tailed it back across the course!
I lay flat on my back, resembling a stranded beetle, trapped in the knot of number bib, body protector and air jacket waiting for some one to come and rescue me wondering how on earth we went from the high of a low 20's dressage and dreams of 1st place to laying in the middle of a field unable to get my air jacket off . . . but such is the sport we enjoy and sometimes it just isn't your day!
Ruby is fine, un scathed and back out in the field, i am a bit sore but saved from worse injuries by my trusty air jacket which has more than earn its keep this year!
Next plan was another 90 run to finish off the season at Tweseldown, plan is now to drop down for a nice confidence giving run round the 80 before a little holiday and a winter full of showjumping!
) that I didn't end up around her neck. All I could hear as we galloped off was the hysterical laughter of the fence judges at my "Holy ***" comments as she did it!