The Bay Boys report from Bury Farm AF and ROR Champs!

Clever bay boys :) They both look amazing! Pity about the warm ups, and the test issues, but next year you'll be away and winning :D

Smokes advises Figgy that the way to ensure no one comes near you is to enter the warm up, shout at everyone, buck a few times and then settle to sanity. Warns them all off... Got to love them ><
 
3bh said:
Ah phew, thought I'd committed some major faux pas - other than turning up looking like I'm going to the opening meet!

Fiddley did seem to approve of Figgley and vice versa! ;-)
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Absolutely not :) Haha your mum did make me laugh by saying that!!! I think you looked very smart. Can see why you doing showing with them - F is so so so handsome.

Ahh, BFF!!!

Lolo said:
Clever bay boys :) They both look amazing! Pity about the warm ups, and the test issues, but next year you'll be away and winning :D

Smokes advises Figgy that the way to ensure no one comes near you is to enter the warm up, shout at everyone, buck a few times and then settle to sanity. Warns them all off... Got to love them ><
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Fig did do a proper pig snort squeal combined with a salmon hump at one point :o I got a few looks, but think it made a point!!!!

Thank you :) Bummed for Fig that he had a wibble and a wobble. Hoping he will be calmer next time out in a few weeks - but it is a show with no pressures (and less atmosphere) so perhaps that will help. He seems to be getting *there* with regular comps, we've been to a number of new venues this year with no problems. Even at the Winters he was happy aside from a couple of moments? Maybe I'm just expecting too much of him :(
 
The horses look lovely as always &#61514; Well done on your results.
I used to be very like this and blame others for the upsets in my test but I realised that I can&#8217;t control others and its always going to happen. So I tried to find a way of blocking this out. Control the things you can, like the horse and how he is going, this really helps. Dont worry about the stuff you cant control, it only stresses you out and there is no way to fix it.

There is always another way of looking at it, everyone has a different point of view. I try to be considerate to other riders and if someone is having a hard time with their horse I do try to give them room but it&#8217;s not fair to except other riders to hurt their chances of a good warm up/placing because of someone else&#8217;s horse. I think if your horse is being difficult to the point where it is upsetting others then you should leave the warm up.

I have a plan for my warm up and this fits in with riding with others but if I have to walk to long as another horse is messing around it really upset my horse and whole preparation.
I have a 15HH spooky/very sharp horse, so I understand where you are coming from but I have worked so he behaves in the warm up, if he is naughty then it&#8217;s my problem, I don&#8217;t expect others to have to change their warm up/ go out of their way to avoid me potentially messing up their own test because of my horse. I am usually 2 hands smaller than anything else in the warm up and often get swashed and ridden at. But I just block this out, if I react so does he so I just carry on riding as if it&#8217;s not happening, hard I know.

I on the other hand have been at BD competing at novice a level I would expect people to be used to riding with others. There was one rider in the small indoor warm up had no control of her horse, she was so busy focusing on where everyone else was and if they were riding towards her that she completely forgot to actually ride her own horse forward. She screamed at anyone who came close and I&#8217;m not talking about people riding in her space just the correct way to pass. She wanted us to just walk past her horse, is this fair on all the other competitors
I know some horses take more time to settle but we have all paid to enter and why should those of us on horses that behave have our preparation ruined by other horses.
I have been in another warm up where 4 horse are warming up in 20m of the school as one horse has the other 20 as its being difficult.

Good luck at your next events
M xx
 
I don't think it's expecting too much in terms of winning/ pressure to do well, I think the frustration we both shared was that we felt like we had done every scrap of homework, ticked every box, and put everything in place to have a stress free weekend, and in the end it all went down the toilet because of someone's else's lack of consideration.

Yes definately **** happens but I try and avoid being the cause of other people's **** and it would appear most other people take that view too, so I'd hazard a guess the rest are cheerfully ignorant of the carnage they cause, but that's no better than being wilfully rude when it's YOUR horse that gets upset. Read the rule book, know your left from your right, look up, be prepared to give way etc, its not hard but those that don't do it spoil it for those that do.

Sat on a vertically rearing CS after the car park canter issue I can tell you now it isn't easy to shrug off that **** happening!!!!!!!!!

Another 12 months down the line and they will both, I imagine,be more resilient and less affected by other people's blunders......but that won't stop me trying to stay out the way of people struggling. The *im alright jack* attitude isn't a great one to have in the warm up because one day it might be you sat on the hysterical lunatic and you won't want people taking that view then!

Generic you btw.

Eta - Alex , yes totally agree and neither of us are saying people have to creep round like a mouse but ramming other people, riding so close stirrups bang, cutting horses up and forcing them to do emergency stops etc are a bit diff. At no point was Fig a nuisance to anyone else so no reason to leave the warm up. If someone asks for space, in a 40x 60 warm up, it ain't hard to give them an extra few inches is it? Again we all have to get in our zone but not to the point of being oblivious to other people?
 
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alex_mac30 said:
I try to be considerate to other riders and if someone is having a hard time with their horse I do try to give them room but it&#8217;s not fair to except other riders to hurt their chances of a good warm up/placing because of someone else&#8217;s horse.

I have a plan for my warm up

I have a 15HH spooky/very sharp horse

I know some horses take more time to settle but we have all paid to enter and why should those of us on horses that behave have our preparation ruined by other horses.
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I have a set warm up :) I even did 2 warm ups as I'm well aware mine can be sharp to give him the best chance to settle, and also so he was settled for everyone else. He's not violent/aggressive, but does whizz off when others close in or come up very quick and fast. I take it upon myself to circle away/try and find my own space. I would never expect anyone to change their warm up for me! Asking for more room is very different, and a rather reasonable request I think :) Fig is also 15hh so used to feeling a bit squished.

As per PS:

'Read the rule book, know your left from your right, look up, be prepared to give way etc, its not hard but those that don't do it spoil it for those that do.'

And also:

'Another 12 months down the line and they will both, I imagine,be more resilient and less affected by other people's blunders......but that won't stop me trying to stay out the way of people struggling. The *im alright jack* attitude isn't a great one to have in the warm up because one day it might be you sat on the hysterical lunatic and you won't want people taking that view then!'

Just to add - even when I was on a fail safe pony or even Bruce, or somebody elses creature of peace and calm, I kept out of everyone's way. I don't expect people to be considerate now just because I'm on something that's sharper and less confident in the warm up.
 
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Huge well done to you both!! I know it wasnt quite the results you wanted but still amazing results considering the circumstances of the warm up! I can completely sympathise as my ex racer used to be the creature from hell in warm ups and whilst I didnt expect special treatment, just some consideration would be nice, people would make a transition to canter right next to me or cut me up in canter, horse would explode, i would be clinging on for dear life and then they would just come round and do the same thing again!!! I think it would do people good to be sat on explosive horses just for one warm up and then that would teach consideration!!
 
Well done ladies and bay boys! It's really quite remarkable to look at CS and think that he used to race and every time I see photos of Fig he's following in CS's hoofprints! Brilliant scores and results :D
 
BeckyC said:
Huge well done to you both!! I know it wasnt quite the results you wanted but still amazing results considering the circumstances of the warm up! I can completely sympathise as my ex racer used to be the creature from hell in warm ups and whilst I didnt expect special treatment, just some consideration would be nice, people would make a transition to canter right next to me or cut me up in canter, horse would explode, i would be clinging on for dear life and then they would just come round and do the same thing again!!! I think it would do people good to be sat on explosive horses just for one warm up and then that would teach consideration!!
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Thank you :D

Awww creature of hell - you love him really!!

AbFab said:
Well done ladies and bay boys! It's really quite remarkable to look at CS and think that he used to race and every time I see photos of Fig he's following in CS's hoofprints! Brilliant scores and results :D
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Thanks! I would love for Fig to follow in CS' footsteps (as long as it involves all 4 footsteps ;) )
 
Sorry I completely understand I wasn&#8217;t aiming the &#8220;should have left the warm up at you&#8221;, more at the person with the horse who was upsetting yours. If it was that bad that it was disrupting others as first mentioned then that person should be looking to remove their horse. It was more a general warm up etiquette if you are losing control of your horse and crashing into others then it&#8217;s only fair that they should be asked to leave.

I have been the horse upsetting others, he used to be difficult, it he got like that I removed him I was lucky in that I had the opportunity to go to the summer shows in large fields where you can go off into a corner and ride without disturbing others until he has settled.

I think what I was trying to get at was I also used to and still do find it frustrating when others are not considerate, I do think there are others who will ride at you, intimidate you but if you let it upset you then they win, you ride a worse test because of the frustration they caused. But unfortunately unless there are stewards at every warm up who are willing to tell people they are not following the rules etc it is going to happen. I found I used to get upset/frustrated by it and it stopped me riding my horse the way I should. I was getting tense due to someone else and focussing on that instead of my plan. A massive problem if you are on a horse that feels the smallest bit of tension from the rider. I now try to let it wash over me (not easy) because at the end of the day getting frustrated by it only affects you and your horse.

A general you not aimed at any one :)

You have beautiful horses who have come a long way and hopefully have a lot further to go
M xx
 
:) ah I get it now, doh.
I totally agree and think its one of those circular things- if you can get in the zone quickly, it does wash over you a bit, the horse feels happier and people don't bother with you, so you get more in the zone etc etc....but also works in reverse!
 
Prince33Sp4rkle said:
if you can get in the zone quickly, it does wash over you a bit, the horse feels happier and people don't bother with you, so you get more in the zone etc etc....but also works in reverse!
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Ja ja :)

On a much happier note - I quickly schooled Fig for 20 mins just to stretch him tonight. Fireworks were noisier/more of/started earlier than I expected!!! But he was really good :) Really calm and concentrating. This time last year I could hardly dare to breathe out lol!
 
The boys are looking super and what a fantastic season you've had :)

Very frustrating to have an outing that takes away confidence rather than builds it - I absolutely hate hate hate warm up arenas! I think it's always a full moon when I go out, puts me off competing and I end up walking round the car park. Bizarre thing I've noticed at warmups is people always seem to want to do the same thing at same time e.g everyone cantering 20m circles just as I arrive! Flicking their huge schooling whips as they scrape me against the wall. Hope the boys aren't too tense at their next outings. Maybe try multi coloured ribbons to confuse people :D kidding before anyone says that's not helpful!

Onwards and upwards - your both doing a spectacular job :) well done x
 
kez1001 said:
The boys are looking super and what a fantastic season you've had :)

Very frustrating to have an outing that takes away confidence rather than builds it - I absolutely hate hate hate warm up arenas! I think it's always a full moon when I go out, puts me off competing and I end up walking round the car park. Bizarre thing I've noticed at warmups is people always seem to want to do the same thing at same time e.g everyone cantering 20m circles just as I arrive! Flicking their huge schooling whips as they scrape me against the wall. Hope the boys aren't too tense at their next outings. Maybe try multi coloured ribbons to confuse people :D kidding before anyone says that's not helpful!

Onwards and upwards - your both doing a spectacular job :) well done x
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Thank you :) Fig really hates whips too!!!
 
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