rara007
Well-Known Member
And first course, first affiliated, first clear and first placing! I had planned on doing the training stakes at Keysoe in the week but as that class clashed we missed it 
Undeterred we prioritised the workers today for the Novice BSPS class which was slightly bigger but still well within his ability.
Started off with a token flat class where we were 3rd. His show is getting more established each time
Followed by time to warm-up! As (comparatively) the classes were small the warm-up fence height was rather variable with everything from 122cms doing their first course popping crosses to 143cm welsh Ds warming up over 90. Without a person on the ground it was a bit pot luck but we did manage a few nice jumps and he was enjoying it so after he got one down we called it a day!
Whoops!
The into the course! It was 'only' 2'3, but for his height that's the equivalent to a 15.2 doing 1m or a 14.2 85cm so actually a fair test for a first course. He has been 100% bold over things we have mocked up at home but you can never quite replicate a full course with different new things under each. Of course number 1 had the boldest filler under and to 2 was a dog leg line to get to so you did need some steering on landing! It is fair to say we gave them some space but we did keep travelling forwards, and the most important thing we did go clear! I'm confident the over jumping will stop once he has seen a bit more- already by the last few fences he was getting closer to them. He didn't get at all worried and he didn't scare himself= I'm so pleased! I was more than happy to pull out at the first stop (not that he has ever stopped to date) as I really had no idea how he would respond to seeing an arena full of fences let alone so many 'things' he hasn't seen before.
A few pictures, for comedy value as much as anything, I am fully aware of my style failings but do bare in mind the biomechanics of an over jumping 12.3 wearing a show saddle- there's a reason you don't want to get too far forwards!:
Number 1:
to number 2:
to number 3:
and 4:
and made it over the double despite putting an extra stride in, followed by number 6:
and quite a bit of space over 7:
followed by some slightly more sensible jumps over the last 2:
As you can imagine although clear our jump mark wasn't the most convincing But he gave a mannerly show to finish 5th. I honestly couldn't be more chuffed with him! We will stay at novice level for at least this season to get his confidence up but the opens (2'6) and qualifiers (80cm) are evidently well within his scope!
Next outing is a bit of a surprise one to an Athur Kottas clinic! (yes- really!), followed by a TSR clinic. No 'away' jumping on the cards for March but we'll be sure to find some in April!
Undeterred we prioritised the workers today for the Novice BSPS class which was slightly bigger but still well within his ability. Started off with a token flat class where we were 3rd. His show is getting more established each time
Followed by time to warm-up! As (comparatively) the classes were small the warm-up fence height was rather variable with everything from 122cms doing their first course popping crosses to 143cm welsh Ds warming up over 90. Without a person on the ground it was a bit pot luck but we did manage a few nice jumps and he was enjoying it so after he got one down we called it a day!
Whoops!
The into the course! It was 'only' 2'3, but for his height that's the equivalent to a 15.2 doing 1m or a 14.2 85cm so actually a fair test for a first course. He has been 100% bold over things we have mocked up at home but you can never quite replicate a full course with different new things under each. Of course number 1 had the boldest filler under and to 2 was a dog leg line to get to so you did need some steering on landing! It is fair to say we gave them some space
but we did keep travelling forwards, and the most important thing we did go clear! I'm confident the over jumping will stop once he has seen a bit more- already by the last few fences he was getting closer to them. He didn't get at all worried and he didn't scare himself= I'm so pleased! I was more than happy to pull out at the first stop (not that he has ever stopped to date) as I really had no idea how he would respond to seeing an arena full of fences let alone so many 'things' he hasn't seen before. A few pictures, for comedy value as much as anything, I am fully aware of my style failings but do bare in mind the biomechanics of an over jumping 12.3 wearing a show saddle- there's a reason you don't want to get too far forwards!:
Number 1:
to number 2:
to number 3:
and 4:
and made it over the double despite putting an extra stride in, followed by number 6:
and quite a bit of space over 7:
followed by some slightly more sensible jumps over the last 2:
As you can imagine although clear our jump mark wasn't the most convincing
But he gave a mannerly show to finish 5th. I honestly couldn't be more chuffed with him! We will stay at novice level for at least this season to get his confidence up but the opens (2'6) and qualifiers (80cm) are evidently well within his scope! Next outing is a bit of a surprise one to an Athur Kottas clinic! (yes- really!), followed by a TSR clinic. No 'away' jumping on the cards for March but we'll be sure to find some in April!
