ecrozier
Well-Known Member
Well, apparently mum had walked the course last night (no idea why she walked it rather than me - I do all the work after all!) she was apparently feeling rather nervous - she seems to class us as 'inexperienced' (third time over a BE track) and 'not your typical eventer' (I prefer small but perfectly formed and who said arabs can't jump?!)
Anyway, got there safely, warming up was fun because my two best friends were there too - in fact my part-time girlfriend was doing her test in the next arena from us at the same time. I lulled my human into a false sense of security by behaving impeccably in the warm up but as soon as the dressage markers came into view I decided to give her a bit more to think about! Anyway I was fairly kind to her and didn't buck or canter sideways like I did at the last place - the one she called Munstead?
Then a little break before the other saddle and the boots went on so I knew something was afoot. Off to the SJ I decided to wake her up with a few rather sticky jumps over the upright in the warm up. She has had some lessons recently with a new instructor (finally, one that has realised that I am GREAT and all the problems I have with poles falling are when SHE tips her weight forward or makes me canter too fast, I need to use my hindquarters you see as I am a little vertically challenged!). Well she was doing OK with what the new lady has told her, we rattled the back of the double (they make these related distances rather long for me - how inconsiderate) and I think she thought it had fallen as I rather took off towards the last (don't like hitting things) and she didn't really stop me, and then she looked down so I knocked it over. Apparently we scored 39.5 for our dressage but mum took rather a long route round the SJ and got us a time fault to add to the 4 jumping so we are now on 44.5.
Then off to the fun bit. We have had some ad luck (or rather bad riding on her part) at the other two of these we have done and I have had to refuse to jump one fence each time when presented with a wide fence on a silly angle or a fence after a step up where we have slowed down too much. She had warned me that she thought fence 4 was rather huge, and I spoke to my friend Charlie on the way down and he said he had decided not to go any further than 4 as it was too wide....and mum also said I had to slow down and behave for 5 as it was an angled double of skinnies whatever that means.
Well, my friend went off before me, so we went to the start box. I like to have a little rest before starting so stood in the box looking like I might nod off - but again its a bit of joke on my part, as soon as they say go I am off like a rocket! 1 was quite small, then we had a good gallop downhill to 2 (mum seemed to think I should slow down - no idea why!) and then up a good gallopy hill and back down the other side (again, she seemed to be trying to tell me that to come down at the speed I went up was not appropriate - rubbish!). 3 was a bit bigger so after that I thought I had better listen to her as she seemed to want to get involved. We skipped through the skinnes, she didn't seem to want to try the corner - I wasn't convinced as we haven't done those before and she had said better safe than sorry - cracked on a bit o make up lost time, which I do like to do, and had great fun round the rest, I even agreed to jump the one before the water not quite knowing if my feet would get wet when I landed. Anyway, mum had a bit of job stopping after the finish but when she did convince me, she seemed very pleased with me so I anticipated a good portion of polos. Then it was off home, and out overnight to make up for a lost day of grazing - seemed quite a fun day, don't mind doing that again!
Oh, also, does anyone know who took the photos? I am quite handsome if I do say so myself, so would like to take a look.
Anyway, got there safely, warming up was fun because my two best friends were there too - in fact my part-time girlfriend was doing her test in the next arena from us at the same time. I lulled my human into a false sense of security by behaving impeccably in the warm up but as soon as the dressage markers came into view I decided to give her a bit more to think about! Anyway I was fairly kind to her and didn't buck or canter sideways like I did at the last place - the one she called Munstead?
Then a little break before the other saddle and the boots went on so I knew something was afoot. Off to the SJ I decided to wake her up with a few rather sticky jumps over the upright in the warm up. She has had some lessons recently with a new instructor (finally, one that has realised that I am GREAT and all the problems I have with poles falling are when SHE tips her weight forward or makes me canter too fast, I need to use my hindquarters you see as I am a little vertically challenged!). Well she was doing OK with what the new lady has told her, we rattled the back of the double (they make these related distances rather long for me - how inconsiderate) and I think she thought it had fallen as I rather took off towards the last (don't like hitting things) and she didn't really stop me, and then she looked down so I knocked it over. Apparently we scored 39.5 for our dressage but mum took rather a long route round the SJ and got us a time fault to add to the 4 jumping so we are now on 44.5.
Then off to the fun bit. We have had some ad luck (or rather bad riding on her part) at the other two of these we have done and I have had to refuse to jump one fence each time when presented with a wide fence on a silly angle or a fence after a step up where we have slowed down too much. She had warned me that she thought fence 4 was rather huge, and I spoke to my friend Charlie on the way down and he said he had decided not to go any further than 4 as it was too wide....and mum also said I had to slow down and behave for 5 as it was an angled double of skinnies whatever that means.
Well, my friend went off before me, so we went to the start box. I like to have a little rest before starting so stood in the box looking like I might nod off - but again its a bit of joke on my part, as soon as they say go I am off like a rocket! 1 was quite small, then we had a good gallop downhill to 2 (mum seemed to think I should slow down - no idea why!) and then up a good gallopy hill and back down the other side (again, she seemed to be trying to tell me that to come down at the speed I went up was not appropriate - rubbish!). 3 was a bit bigger so after that I thought I had better listen to her as she seemed to want to get involved. We skipped through the skinnes, she didn't seem to want to try the corner - I wasn't convinced as we haven't done those before and she had said better safe than sorry - cracked on a bit o make up lost time, which I do like to do, and had great fun round the rest, I even agreed to jump the one before the water not quite knowing if my feet would get wet when I landed. Anyway, mum had a bit of job stopping after the finish but when she did convince me, she seemed very pleased with me so I anticipated a good portion of polos. Then it was off home, and out overnight to make up for a lost day of grazing - seemed quite a fun day, don't mind doing that again!
Oh, also, does anyone know who took the photos? I am quite handsome if I do say so myself, so would like to take a look.
