little_flea
Well-Known Member
Just in case there are any of you who have been lucky enough to escape my previous prattling on about this horse: Vanilla is my 8-year old mare, she is still quite green as only broken in at 6, I have ridden her on and off for my trainer coming up to 2 years and bought her at the end of last year. 
She has been jumping Newcomers really well and a move up to Foxhunter has been on the cards for a while but haven't been to the right shows - everywhere we've been recently have had super strong Fox tracks so not ideal for a first go.
Went to Brook Farm on Saturday - never jumped in the new arena before. Walked the Newcomers, thought it looked really easy, came in completely switched off, had planned to show Vanilla fence 1 as I knew she'd look at it but didn't - and of course had a silly spooky stop. Then halfway round the track I had sat nav failure and went the wrong way and were promptly and embarrassingly eliminated. I just don't seem to be able to ride whatsoever unless I am a bit nervous (read ***** scared). See also report from Felbridge the other week when I fell off in between fences in the 1.05 I am the Bubbles of the horse world.
Walked the Foxhunter and thought it looked absolutely fine and built more for amateurs like myself so decided to give it a go. Bit risky since she hadn't seen half the fences (and it is spooky) due to my plonker riding in the class before but received much needed talking to from trainer and it was agreed that I'd step up my game.
Vanilla was just amazing and jumped her little socks off - Foxhunter debut done for 4 faults. Had a rail in a related distance oxer to vertical - this is always where it goes wrong as she jumps in big, has a big stride and I don't really manage to set her up. Practise, practise. I will also watch a million Meredith Michaels Beerbaum videos to inspire my lower leg which is terrible in this round.
Video here - cc welcome of course. I am working on the lower leg and trying to think about "showing the soles of my boots to the fence" but any other tips very welcome, I do get jumped out of the saddle a bit. Bit deep to the water tray and a flyer to the last but other than that I think it was reasonably ok though I never like watching myself ride.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fu6eOV4KuXQ&feature=youtu.be
But I am so proud of Vanilla, she has really stepped it up and is becoming so much more relaxed and rideable now, she has such scope and such a good attitude, always tries so hard for me and I just love her so much. This height is super easy for her and its only really where she starts to actually use herself, so very excited about the future.
Some pics on my Facebook - just because she is pretty - the one over the vertical isn't very good but I had to buy it because she is looking into the camera - this is very often the case with both this horse, her father and siblings - they all LOVE a camera or a mirror
https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/954652_10151681858528933_1764490108_n.jpg
https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/480082_10151681858653933_1277787801_n.jpg
Thank you for reading.
She has been jumping Newcomers really well and a move up to Foxhunter has been on the cards for a while but haven't been to the right shows - everywhere we've been recently have had super strong Fox tracks so not ideal for a first go.
Went to Brook Farm on Saturday - never jumped in the new arena before. Walked the Newcomers, thought it looked really easy, came in completely switched off, had planned to show Vanilla fence 1 as I knew she'd look at it but didn't - and of course had a silly spooky stop. Then halfway round the track I had sat nav failure and went the wrong way and were promptly and embarrassingly eliminated. I just don't seem to be able to ride whatsoever unless I am a bit nervous (read ***** scared). See also report from Felbridge the other week when I fell off in between fences in the 1.05 I am the Bubbles of the horse world.
Walked the Foxhunter and thought it looked absolutely fine and built more for amateurs like myself so decided to give it a go. Bit risky since she hadn't seen half the fences (and it is spooky) due to my plonker riding in the class before but received much needed talking to from trainer and it was agreed that I'd step up my game.
Vanilla was just amazing and jumped her little socks off - Foxhunter debut done for 4 faults. Had a rail in a related distance oxer to vertical - this is always where it goes wrong as she jumps in big, has a big stride and I don't really manage to set her up. Practise, practise. I will also watch a million Meredith Michaels Beerbaum videos to inspire my lower leg which is terrible in this round.
Video here - cc welcome of course. I am working on the lower leg and trying to think about "showing the soles of my boots to the fence" but any other tips very welcome, I do get jumped out of the saddle a bit. Bit deep to the water tray and a flyer to the last but other than that I think it was reasonably ok though I never like watching myself ride.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fu6eOV4KuXQ&feature=youtu.be
But I am so proud of Vanilla, she has really stepped it up and is becoming so much more relaxed and rideable now, she has such scope and such a good attitude, always tries so hard for me and I just love her so much. This height is super easy for her and its only really where she starts to actually use herself, so very excited about the future.
Some pics on my Facebook - just because she is pretty - the one over the vertical isn't very good but I had to buy it because she is looking into the camera - this is very often the case with both this horse, her father and siblings - they all LOVE a camera or a mirror
https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/954652_10151681858528933_1764490108_n.jpg
https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/480082_10151681858653933_1277787801_n.jpg
Thank you for reading.
They are better at shows and both well schooled so they do go off the leg, but you wouldn't believe how slow they can both be in the school at home...
well done 
Gutted, really want to go with both horses but its such a lot of money! Are you doing them all this year? how is your boy getting on?