FigJam
Well-Known Member
So finally got off the yard and out and about today.
Last outing was a jumping lesson mid-November, also the last time we jumped.
Just some unaff SJ for us today.
Went down to local show centre far too early (always super paranoid about being late!
) but Hopalong was happy to stand on the trailer and munch while I watched some of the earlier classes and mooched about.
Went out to get tacked up and changed into show jacket/riding boots. Went to pull the zip of my gaiter up and "snap"- the actual zipper part (that slides up and down) totaly sheared in half leaving me with no way of zipping it up!
Bad times!
Think it was maybe the cold that has weakened the metal?
However, the good girl guide in me had a roll of black gaffer tape in my boot so a few wraps of that around and job's a good 'un... from a distance!
Very carefully zipped up the other gaiter and it's zip survived- good times!
Warmed up, kept it quite easy and just popped the upright/spread a couple of times each. 1st class was the 85cm and my "it's unaff, they won't build to height" theory hadn't panned out! Their coursebuilder was def still in BSJA mode and poopies (who has competed at Blair *!) kept muttering about them looking huge, hmph!
Was far too nervous and did farr too much panicing about strides, got lucky at a couple of fences where I heard a rub but they managed to stay up. My horse is just fabulous and I really doubt I will ever find another who can sort it all out when it's wrong and be so genuine/honest. Jump off went a bit better, we were first to go, took a couple of very tight turns but a chipped in stride at the last fence (I was too slow to kick on after the penultimate one and so we got to the last on a funny 1/2 stride) prob cost us the 2s we lost out on 1st place by. Still very happy with 2nd place.
Decided to stay and do the 95cm class but if we went clear and the JO was whacked up we would w/d. However, a tiny class of only 4 with us going last and the first 3 all picking up 4 faults meant a nice steady clear round would nab us a red ribbon without needing to worry about the JO!
We actually rode the best round of the day (I tried to focus on breathing, waiting for the fences and not panicing, mostly managed!
) and managed the clear round with a flier over the last.
So 1st place and Hopalong loved leading the lap of honour!
So pleased with her and hopefully the first class was just rusty rider nerves. Was much more positive and forward in the second class (think maybe the JO in the first calss helped?!) and need to focus on doing this from the start next time!
Mr FigJam in the bad books as he choose to go do something that he wanted to do today, pah!
So no Mr FigJam photos today I'm afraid.
There was a 'tog there though, so will post a link to them if they're not too embarassing when they go online!
PS- new jumping saddle was brilliant, can't believe I haven't switched to one before, the difference was huge compared to my old GP! Felt much mure secure in the air.
Oh and whinges of the day;
- Ponies competing in the horse classes! Get up early for your own morning classes!
- Above mentioned ponies with children riders standing along the edge of the warm up area watching/chatting instead of in the holding area.
- Again, above mentioned pony & child standing in front of practice fence, then cutting folk up repeatedly with absolutely no peripheral vision or awareness of others.
- Person at the yard being so lazy parking their lorry squint and not leaving enough room for my trailer when they had plenty room on the other side of them.
Yes, I know my trailer is only wee, but next time I'll call them up to reverse park it in the dark with about 6 inches to spare either side on their own!
(did it though, first time!
)
Went down to local show centre far too early (always super paranoid about being late!
Went out to get tacked up and changed into show jacket/riding boots. Went to pull the zip of my gaiter up and "snap"- the actual zipper part (that slides up and down) totaly sheared in half leaving me with no way of zipping it up!
However, the good girl guide in me had a roll of black gaffer tape in my boot so a few wraps of that around and job's a good 'un... from a distance!
Warmed up, kept it quite easy and just popped the upright/spread a couple of times each. 1st class was the 85cm and my "it's unaff, they won't build to height" theory hadn't panned out! Their coursebuilder was def still in BSJA mode and poopies (who has competed at Blair *!) kept muttering about them looking huge, hmph!
Was far too nervous and did farr too much panicing about strides, got lucky at a couple of fences where I heard a rub but they managed to stay up. My horse is just fabulous and I really doubt I will ever find another who can sort it all out when it's wrong and be so genuine/honest. Jump off went a bit better, we were first to go, took a couple of very tight turns but a chipped in stride at the last fence (I was too slow to kick on after the penultimate one and so we got to the last on a funny 1/2 stride) prob cost us the 2s we lost out on 1st place by. Still very happy with 2nd place.
Decided to stay and do the 95cm class but if we went clear and the JO was whacked up we would w/d. However, a tiny class of only 4 with us going last and the first 3 all picking up 4 faults meant a nice steady clear round would nab us a red ribbon without needing to worry about the JO!
So pleased with her and hopefully the first class was just rusty rider nerves. Was much more positive and forward in the second class (think maybe the JO in the first calss helped?!) and need to focus on doing this from the start next time!
Mr FigJam in the bad books as he choose to go do something that he wanted to do today, pah!
PS- new jumping saddle was brilliant, can't believe I haven't switched to one before, the difference was huge compared to my old GP! Felt much mure secure in the air.
Oh and whinges of the day;
- Ponies competing in the horse classes! Get up early for your own morning classes!
- Above mentioned ponies with children riders standing along the edge of the warm up area watching/chatting instead of in the holding area.
- Again, above mentioned pony & child standing in front of practice fence, then cutting folk up repeatedly with absolutely no peripheral vision or awareness of others.
- Person at the yard being so lazy parking their lorry squint and not leaving enough room for my trailer when they had plenty room on the other side of them.
