The car crash of Little Downham

[HotToTrot]

Some vaguely amusing things happened, there was some boob, there were some nappy situations, my dad turned up with a hacksaw and chopped some chunks of metal off my trailer, we did the DR, got 37 and then we went in to showjump.

The track looked (as you'd expect) smaller than the CIC* and IN I'd done on my last two outings. We popped round with a nice rhythm and we were going clear. Vito was a bit wiggly and falling out, but it was generally fine. Then we got to the last fence. In three of my last four events, I'd incurred four faults at the last fence, so I'd decided to have a think about the last half of the course. Was he getting too onward bound? Did he need more rebalancing? Was I being complacent over the last?

Must not have the last fence, must not have the last fence. I panicked. What if we had the last fence? Must go clear. Must go clear. So I chased. I chased and chased and then I popped down to the Imperial War Museum. I asked to borrow a cannon from the battle of Waterloo. I stuck Vito in and fired him at the fence. I don't think he even bothered to take off. We smashed through the fence and I fell off, Vito disappearing into the distance.

Once I'd ascertained that I had crossed the finish line whilst still on the horse, I left the ring, feeling despondent that I'd been so so stupid and ridden him so badly. The tannoy announced that I was eliminated for failing to leave the arena mounted. Vito had been caught by a kind spectator, so I handed him to dad and we checked him over. I felt dreadful, so deflated and so sorry for my horse, but I went off to ask the sec whether we cld go XC, assuming, as it was a technical elimination for leaving the ring unmounted, that asking was just a formality. "No," she said. "No?" I echoed, shocked. "It's at my discretion," she replied. "As you fell, I have to consider the safety aspect." My heart sank further and I turned to go. Then the "auto-lawyer" function kicked in. "But....." I began, as I challenged this reasoning. We had a chat and I was allowed to run XC. But did I want to? Shd I save him for later in the week? Go out showjumping, to allay the SJ demons?

I rang my husband. "Go XC," he said immediately. "Take it steady, have a nice round and get the experience." So we went, mootled round slowly, took the direct routes and came home clear.

I've been trying hard not do stupid things when I'm showjumping, but today I had a complete regression about that last fence. I feel pretty rotten for putting my bold, honest horse in that situation.

 

[TarrSteps]

That sucks.

But your bold, honest horse jumped a bunch more jumps after that one and the world did not end so I'm sure he's forgotten all about it. Given the circumstances, it was the right choice to go xc.

Also, your BHH probably has quite a few white marbles in his sj jar, given from whence he came. You've got some spare ones.

All that said, you need a mantra. Something to access and play when you want to think of cauliflower. You're getting all the tricky bits consistently right, this is just the final piece of the puzzle.

 

[frannieuk]

As ever a great report, but how gutting to be eliminated on a technicality With regard to the chasing habit, I had this in spades, but I've been training a couple of days a month with Mark Hallion at Mayhill Stud, and he has mostly cured me of this (without me noticing) as well as making me start to look like I know vaguely what i'm doing - not sure how far he is from you, but maybe worth seeing if you can find a similar SJ trainer to have a couple of sessions with?
Either way, (staying) onwards and upwards for you, and hopefully get to see you at Aldon!

 

[Carefreegirl]

Bum

Totally feel your anxiety with the SJ as its my weakest phase and I always manage to cock it up somewhere, in my case by over thinking and then either abandoning her or over riding.

As Tarrsteps says find something to take your mind off it. In my case I say 'leg' every stride after landing. A few weeks ago it was 'look up'. Before that it was 's£@t' before every fence.

You had a good xc over a very tough course.

Sorry you feel so down about it but it could be worse - you could be me

 

[PorkChop]

Don't be sad, like Tarrsteps has said he went on to jump around the cross country.

Another day in the rollercoaster that is eventing!

Winter showjumping anyone?!

 

[Joyous70]

Oh such a shame, but like the others have said don't be too hard on yourself, your lovely horse went out a jumped a fantastic clear over the XC, and you took all the direct routes, so take the positives from that.

 

[HotToTrot]

That sucks.

But your bold, honest horse jumped a bunch more jumps after that one and the world did not end so I'm sure he's forgotten all about it. Given the circumstances, it was the right choice to go xc.

Also, your BHH probably has quite a few white marbles in his sj jar, given from whence he came. You've got some spare ones.

All that said, you need a mantra. Something to access and play when you want to think of cauliflower. You're getting all the tricky bits consistently right, this is just the final piece of the puzzle.

Now, do you actually think that the good XC will have gone some way to counteract the bad SJ, or are you just trying to make me feel better?! XC is different, right? I don't think he is too precious about having a bad jump. I saw him crash through a fence with his previous pro rider and carry on oblivious. That said, I am very aware that I have a finite number of white marbles and I absolutely hate putting him in that position. I do have a mantra, but I didn't use it! I didn't think I needed to, which was pretty dumb. I guess that's part of it - recognising when I am about to have an issue. Ugh. I so don't want to put him off.

As ever a great report, but how gutting to be eliminated on a technicality With regard to the chasing habit, I had this in spades, but I've been training a couple of days a month with Mark Hallion at Mayhill Stud, and he has mostly cured me of this (without me noticing) as well as making me start to look like I know vaguely what i'm doing - not sure how far he is from you, but maybe worth seeing if you can find a similar SJ trainer to have a couple of sessions with?
Either way, (staying) onwards and upwards for you, and hopefully get to see you at Aldon!

That sounds good. I do have a good guy that I go to, and I also thought I was over my chasing. Not really done it since June! I did it slightly at Purston, but I also held, so it sort of balanced itself out. I've decided against Aldon this yr!

Bum

Totally feel your anxiety with the SJ as its my weakest phase and I always manage to cock it up somewhere, in my case by over thinking and then either abandoning her or over riding.

As Tarrsteps says find something to take your mind off it. In my case I say 'leg' every stride after landing. A few weeks ago it was 'look up'. Before that it was 's£@t' before every fence.

You had a good xc over a very tough course.

Sorry you feel so down about it but it could be worse - you could be me

But you're Andrew Nicholson! Hum. I say "Keep the canter", except I didn't yest. I thought the course looked easy and I didn't think I needed to! Wrong. The XC was nice, that part felt fine!

Don't be sad, like Tarrsteps has said he went on to jump around the cross country.

Another day in the rollercoaster that is eventing!

Winter showjumping anyone?!

Yes. I hope that means he's not too scarred.

Oh such a shame, but like the others have said don't be too hard on yourself, your lovely horse went out a jumped a fantastic clear over the XC, and you took all the direct routes, so take the positives from that.

Thanks. Yes, he was great.

 

[TarrSteps]

I'm not being kind. Ask anyone, that's not really my thing.

Book in with your sj guy, get back on the program, and don't make more out of it than it was. I agree, you can't go to the well too many times, but that's not the situation here, is it. As you say, live and learn.

 

[Lolo]

While there is a finite number of marbles I think it's easy to forget how quickly you can replace them. Last year Reg and Al where nervous wrecks SJ and were in marble debt in a big way. Some very good lessons and this year he's been really happy to be out and he has been too exuberant and jolly!

XC will have helped, a foot perfect clear up to that fence will have, and if all it said was a 4 on your record would you be this down?

 

[AnShanDan]

Total rubbish about the SJ, at least you got the sec. to see reason I had a friend, a few years ago, who managed to fall off in the SJ after the last jump and actually rolled under the arena rope (was quite funny to watch in a slapstick sort of way ) got back on, but was E for leaving the arena dismounted. Rules eh?

Def. the right decision to go XC, you finished on a positive and enjoyable note. You've been going really well, esp. considering you have to deal with babies/helpful dads/other random stuff, and providing us all with some (in my case) very much needed light hearted, eventing based, entertainment. Look forward to hearing more

 

[Thistle]

All eventers worry about the SJ phase because if you screw that up you don't get to do the best bit, the XC.

Winter is coming, use your time wisely and get out SJ until it becomes easy peasy. Start with a smaller class to build confidence.

Was your dad armed with baby and a collie? If so I was chatting to him at dressage ( I was steward)

 

[JFTDWS]

Oh dear, not ideal. On the plus side - your reports are amusingly written *comments on the only bit I feel qualified to* Better luck next time, everyone cocks up sometimes!

 

[quizzie]

Now, do you actually think that the good XC will have gone some way to counteract the bad SJ, or are you just trying to make me feel better?! XC is different, right? I don't think he is too precious about having a bad jump. I saw him crash through a fence with his previous pro rider and carry on oblivious. That said, I am very aware that I have a finite number of white marbles and I absolutely hate putting him in that position. I do have a mantra, but I didn't use it! I didn't think I needed to, which was pretty dumb. I guess that's part of it - recognising when I am about to have an issue. Ugh. I so don't want to put him off.

TS is definitely right....the good XC will have gone a long way towards replacing any lost confidence.....& with an experienced SJer, it is unlikely to take more than a couple of sessions to re-establish.

If it is of any help, almost exactly the same thing happened to me at Borde Hill UA, BE 100, this year. I have a very (very) keen leggy 17.2 (nicknamed "the tarantula"....gives you a clue!). He normally takes (tanks?) me to his fences, so I have to be as quiet as possible. We turned to the planks, on a nothing stride, I sat there, he suddenly stopped & span, depositing me in the planks!. A totally unexpected scenario for this horse. By the time we caught him, & I then completed the rest of the course with no further incident...we were out of time, & technically eliminated!

I then asked, & was allowed to go XC.....he flew round clear, with lots of very positive commentary.

Did it affect him at his next event.....not at all

Did I over-ride the next set of planks at that next event...YUP....that's human nature!

Just one of the joys of this crazy sport we do!.

 

[HotToTrot]

I'm not being kind. Ask anyone, that's not really my thing.

Book in with your sj guy, get back on the program, and don't make more out of it than it was. I agree, you can't go to the well too many times, but that's not the situation here, is it. As you say, live and learn.

I hope it's not the situation here. I reckon that in ten events this yr, I've had three really bad jumps. And no bad ones in training/warm ups.

While there is a finite number of marbles I think it's easy to forget how quickly you can replace them. Last year Reg and Al where nervous wrecks SJ and were in marble debt in a big way. Some very good lessons and this year he's been really happy to be out and he has been too exuberant and jolly!

XC will have helped, a foot perfect clear up to that fence will have, and if all it said was a 4 on your record would you be this down?

I was thinking of Reg and Al, actually, and how they've overcome their issues. You make a good point. If I'd stayed on, or indeed got back on him, it wld have said 4. A record shdn't really matter, but I guess it does make me feel a bit more rubbish! I hope that the good round up until that point was helping to put plenty of marbles in the jar.

Total rubbish about the SJ, at least you got the sec. to see reason I had a friend, a few years ago, who managed to fall off in the SJ after the last jump and actually rolled under the arena rope (was quite funny to watch in a slapstick sort of way ) got back on, but was E for leaving the arena dismounted. Rules eh?

Def. the right decision to go XC, you finished on a positive and enjoyable note. You've been going really well, esp. considering you have to deal with babies/helpful dads/other random stuff, and providing us all with some (in my case) very much needed light hearted, eventing based, entertainment. Look forward to hearing more

Oh my goodness, how funny!! Yes, I suppose the XC is why we do it, and the fact that we can now go round Novs easily must be a positive.

All eventers worry about the SJ phase because if you screw that up you don't get to do the best bit, the XC.

Winter is coming, use your time wisely and get out SJ until it becomes easy peasy. Start with a smaller class to build confidence.

Was your dad armed with baby and a collie? If so I was chatting to him at dressage ( I was steward)

I'm scared I'll have no time over the winter! Once he's had a holiday and been brought back to fitness, it'll be the new year. Will go out showjumping next week - either BS or to a lesson.

Yes, that was dad! What a shame I didn't get to say hi. Did you see me, or just dad?

Oh dear, not ideal. On the plus side - your reports are amusingly written *comments on the only bit I feel qualified to* Better luck next time, everyone cocks up sometimes!

Thanks! It's easy to be amusing when you're as shambolic as I am.

 

[HotToTrot]

TS is definitely right....the good XC will have gone a long way towards replacing any lost confidence.....& with an experienced SJer, it is unlikely to take more than a couple of sessions to re-establish.

If it is of any help, almost exactly the same thing happened to me at Borde Hill UA, BE 100, this year. I have a very (very) keen leggy 17.2 (nicknamed "the tarantula"....gives you a clue!). He normally takes (tanks?) me to his fences, so I have to be as quiet as possible. We turned to the planks, on a nothing stride, I sat there, he suddenly stopped & span, depositing me in the planks!. A totally unexpected scenario for this horse. By the time we caught him, & I then completed the rest of the course with no further incident...we were out of time, & technically eliminated!

I then asked, & was allowed to go XC.....he flew round clear, with lots of very positive commentary.

Did it affect him at his next event.....not at all

Did I over-ride the next set of planks at that next event...YUP....that's human nature!

Just one of the joys of this crazy sport we do!.

That's good to hear. It's easy for us to get hung up on our errors, isn't it?

 

[Thistle]

Does he NEED a complete holiday?

We never used to give the pony a full holiday, she was too hard to get fit! She always stayed in work, just dropped the intensity. If you do that you can still make the most of your 'gap' year and do the SJ.

I bet athletes don't take a prolonged pig out holiday just lounging by the pool and stuffing their faces. I think eventers holidays were invented to suit the riders to give them time off and a chance to get away without guilt

I complemented your dad on his very capable multi tasking. A well behaved baby and dog!

 

[Thistle]

Argh, won't let me edit

Not sure I saw you. You weren't my section, just saw you dressaging in the distance.

 

[HotToTrot]

Does he NEED a complete holiday?

We never used to give the pony a full holiday, she was too hard to get fit! She always stayed in work, just dropped the intensity. If you do that you can still make the most of your 'gap' year and do the SJ.

I bet athletes don't take a prolonged pig out holiday just lounging by the pool and stuffing their faces. I think eventers holidays were invented to suit the riders to give them time off and a chance to get away without guilt

I complemented your dad on his very capable multi tasking. A well behaved baby and dog!

I was wondering this. If I kept him, I cld do six weeks of DR, for example, no jumping, so it wld be a rest in that respect, and wld give me a chance to nail the DR. Then he'd be fit enough still for me to start jumping again.

Heidi is a rescue dog, she is very timid! Mum was about with the other collie (which was not al all behaved and barked at some poor horse).

 

[longdog]

Just to say sorry for the rubbish end to your sj, as a very ex-eventer, sj was always my achilles heel
Did you get the cannon back to its rightful owner? Did make me giggle, know EXACTLY where you are coming from on this!
LD

 

[TableDancer]

Poor you, really stinky Happened to me at the last fence in a Newcomers only I did it so badly (going for the time and a stride which wasn't there...) horse and I both hit the deck. I wasn't hurt at all but I felt dreadful for him AND for my baby as I was 5 months pregnant at the time I stopped jumping after that, not surprisingly, so we didn't jump again for quite a few months but neither of us (none of us if you count Zac who is now a robust 10 year old...) were any the worse for wear, it was just one of those horrible annoying things which happen from time to time, with no long-term consequences at all.

That said, I think TS is right about finding coping strategies. Discuss it with your trainer - if they are one of the modern, "coaching" brand of trainers they should have lots of ideas to help; if they are not, might be worth having a session or two with someone else who is, there are lots of good people around

Chin up, you have had a fantastic season all things considered, and have a great platform to build on for next season

 

[HotToTrot]

Just to say sorry for the rubbish end to your sj, as a very ex-eventer, sj was always my achilles heel
Did you get the cannon back to its rightful owner? Did make me giggle, know EXACTLY where you are coming from on this!
LD

I tried to turn the cannon on myself, but I'd run out of gunpowder....

Poor you, really stinky Happened to me at the last fence in a Newcomers only I did it so badly (going for the time and a stride which wasn't there...) horse and I both hit the deck. I wasn't hurt at all but I felt dreadful for him AND for my baby as I was 5 months pregnant at the time I stopped jumping after that, not surprisingly, so we didn't jump again for quite a few months but neither of us (none of us if you count Zac who is now a robust 10 year old...) were any the worse for wear, it was just one of those horrible annoying things which happen from time to time, with no long-term consequences at all.

That said, I think TS is right about finding coping strategies. Discuss it with your trainer - if they are one of the modern, "coaching" brand of trainers they should have lots of ideas to help; if they are not, might be worth having a session or two with someone else who is, there are lots of good people around



Chin up, you have had a fantastic season all things considered, and have a great platform to build on for next season

Reassuring to know that it happens to good riders.... though of course am sorry that it happened to you, and at that particular time!

The frustrating thing is that I have a coping strategy. It got me round SoE ok when I was terrified, but I didn't use it yest. I thought I needed it only when I was scared, and I wasn't scared yest. I think that makes it worse. Incompetence is one thing, but failure to even recognise one's incompetence is another level again.

 

[j1ffy]

Great report as ever, even if the outcome wasn't ideal. I'm sure that if it was the start of the season you'd also be less hung up about it, you'd get to the next event and sort it out fairly quickly. I think few trips showjumping over the winter would help, in fact I'd be tempted to get out quickly to put it behind me, though I'm a bit of a masochist in that way!!

 

[Farma]

Oh no that's so annoying! The cannon reference really made me lol!

No holiday needed for vito just a nice few months of BD'ing with your friend will be nice

 

[HotToTrot]

Great report as ever, even if the outcome wasn't ideal. I'm sure that if it was the start of the season you'd also be less hung up about it, you'd get to the next event and sort it out fairly quickly. I think few trips showjumping over the winter would help, in fact I'd be tempted to get out quickly to put it behind me, though I'm a bit of a masochist in that way!!

I'm going out on Tuesday and will jump at home this week....

Oh no that's so annoying! The cannon reference really made me lol!

No holiday needed for vito just a nice few months of BD'ing with your friend will be nice

You've seen me do it a few times on Melody. I really really thought I was getting better at not doing it.

Ha! BD deffo on the menu.

 

[frannieuk]

I know that I start firing off the long ones when my canter's not right - to start with, I don't think I really realised that the canter was duff and just sort of arrived at the fence, and if it was good, great and if it was duff, I was a bit, "Holy whatsit!" and shot her off a flyer. Now I 'get' the canter more, and mostly seem to arrive in mostly the right place without any effort. Also, because the canter's usually mostly pretty decent, if I do (and touch wood, it seems rare) get a misser and try and boot her off a long 'un, she's confident and got enough canter now to say, "sod off" and put in a short one which is nearly always more successful and better than the ridiculous flyer I think we should take.
I guess the point of this ramble is to say that having a good canter seems to mean you end up at the jump on a nice stride without doing anything much at all! Shame you won't be at Aldon, let me know if you change your mind

 

[oap]

I don't suppose this will make you feel better but may amuse slightly... I managed to jump a clear round in the novice on Sunday at ld... That is a clear round in the technical legal sense of we left all the poles in their cups and didn't refuse any fences... But managed to rack up 71 penalties( after a nearly pb dressage of 32) . My non show jumper turned himself inside out to jump final element of treble, I got unbalanced, he buggered off , I fell off. On flat. Trouble was, steward had cap on. Horse hates caps. Every time steward tried to catch him he ran off! Hence zillion time faults. Eventually got back on, jumped clear. Complained of the injustice of life to my trainer " don't moan" says he "some poor girl today got eliminated for leaving ring unmounted after jumping a great round" you've had a fabulous season, you cocked up one fence. On the time sheet of eventing life it's hardly a loo break.

 

[HotToTrot]

I don't suppose this will make you feel better but may amuse slightly... I managed to jump a clear round in the novice on Sunday at ld... That is a clear round in the technical legal sense of we left all the poles in their cups and didn't refuse any fences... But managed to rack up 71 penalties( after a nearly pb dressage of 32) . My non show jumper turned himself inside out to jump final element of treble, I got unbalanced, he buggered off , I fell off. On flat. Trouble was, steward had cap on. Horse hates caps. Every time steward tried to catch him he ran off! Hence zillion time faults. Eventually got back on, jumped clear. Complained of the injustice of life to my trainer " don't moan" says he "some poor girl today got eliminated for leaving ring unmounted after jumping a great round" you've had a fabulous season, you cocked up one fence. On the time sheet of eventing life it's hardly a loo break.

Oh no!! How funny. Did you xc? Was the poor girl me, or did someone else do it too?

 

[HotToTrot]

I know that I start firing off the long ones when my canter's not right - to start with, I don't think I really realised that the canter was duff and just sort of arrived at the fence, and if it was good, great and if it was duff, I was a bit, "Holy whatsit!" and shot her off a flyer. Now I 'get' the canter more, and mostly seem to arrive in mostly the right place without any effort. Also, because the canter's usually mostly pretty decent, if I do (and touch wood, it seems rare) get a misser and try and boot her off a long 'un, she's confident and got enough canter now to say, "sod off" and put in a short one which is nearly always more successful and better than the ridiculous flyer I think we should take.

I guess the point of this ramble is to say that having a good canter seems to mean you end up at the jump on a nice stride without doing anything much at all! Shame you won't be at Aldon, let me know if you change your mind

Thank you, yes. I know you are right. I have also struggled with getting the canter! Thing is, I had the canter! It was all fine. But it was The Last Fence, so I panicked.

 

[oap]

Think it must have been you.. yes, did go Xc, thought I'd have a nice steady ride round... And managed to sit like a lemon thinking about the water as we came to the wierd wiggly log thing as he ran through his shoulder and ran out. Very poor riding. Jumped a fab round apart from that, all the straight ways, and I thought it a big track. Repeat to myself... If it were easy it'd be no fun...

 

[HotToTrot]

Think it must have been you.. yes, did go Xc, thought I'd have a nice steady ride round... And managed to sit like a lemon thinking about the water as we came to the wierd wiggly log thing as he ran through his shoulder and ran out. Very poor riding. Jumped a fab round apart from that, all the straight ways, and I thought it a big track. Repeat to myself... If it were easy it'd be no fun...

Ha ha! Can I take the "great round" part of that ?!

Wiggly log..... No 17 or such? How annoying.

Quite. It IS hard. That be the point. It is a challenge. I didn't think it was that big, but I liked the waters. It was good to have something new there as it's been the same for a while, I think.

Well done on your clear sJ and your XC! How did you get back on, though? Can you mount from the ground? I can't, and presumably getting a leg up results in elimination for outside assistance? So even if I'd known to get back on, not sure how I wld have. I used to do lots of mounted games, so maybe I can still vault on?