Michen
Well-Known Member
Boggle and I are entered for Swalcliffe 80 this weekend, then he is running next weekend at Munstead 100 with rider.
I haven't jumped since last Saturday and can't get a lesson in before Sunday (don't like jumping without instructor as doesn't help the nerves), haven't been able to ride all week (though he has been ridden all week!). The weather is shocking, I'm currently in a hotel with a full day of work to do today and will need to tomorrow from home as well and I'm shattered mentally and physically. Under a huge amount of pressure with work, no bad thing but it is a bit all consuming and horses seem like another life at the moment. I'm guessing Swalcliffe will be a mud pit and I'm worried about skidding around into muddy SJ fences (Boggle hates mud despite hunting!) and loosing confidence when its so fragile.
But, it's a big ask for a horse to do his first 100 with no lower prep run (and he's only run 3 times at 90 last year, the rest were 80's), even just the reminder about going around an XC I would think is fairly important to make sure he doesn't go overly green about fence judges etc when going straight in at a bigger height. I have no reason to think he would, but you never know how they are going to come out...
So, assuming Swalcliffe runs, do I pull myself together and stop whining/making excuses, or withdraw and avoid the possible lost of confidence/miserable day if it's muddy and slippery and hope Boggle remains as mature as he was last season and has no issues going straight in at 100? If he wasn't entered for Munstead next weekend, I'd be withdrawing from Swalcliffe this weekend without hesitation, on the basis that my brain is currently buzzing with financial year end targets and a day of doing nothing on Sunday is far more appealing!
I haven't jumped since last Saturday and can't get a lesson in before Sunday (don't like jumping without instructor as doesn't help the nerves), haven't been able to ride all week (though he has been ridden all week!). The weather is shocking, I'm currently in a hotel with a full day of work to do today and will need to tomorrow from home as well and I'm shattered mentally and physically. Under a huge amount of pressure with work, no bad thing but it is a bit all consuming and horses seem like another life at the moment. I'm guessing Swalcliffe will be a mud pit and I'm worried about skidding around into muddy SJ fences (Boggle hates mud despite hunting!) and loosing confidence when its so fragile.
But, it's a big ask for a horse to do his first 100 with no lower prep run (and he's only run 3 times at 90 last year, the rest were 80's), even just the reminder about going around an XC I would think is fairly important to make sure he doesn't go overly green about fence judges etc when going straight in at a bigger height. I have no reason to think he would, but you never know how they are going to come out...
So, assuming Swalcliffe runs, do I pull myself together and stop whining/making excuses, or withdraw and avoid the possible lost of confidence/miserable day if it's muddy and slippery and hope Boggle remains as mature as he was last season and has no issues going straight in at 100? If he wasn't entered for Munstead next weekend, I'd be withdrawing from Swalcliffe this weekend without hesitation, on the basis that my brain is currently buzzing with financial year end targets and a day of doing nothing on Sunday is far more appealing!
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