ScampiBigMan
Well-Known Member
First thread and competition report from me. Have had intentions for some time but have not followed through 
. Having met several HHO people in RL and found them (and their horses) lovely, thought should get on with it.
I think this a great resource and have gained a huge amount over the past two years of lurking from which XC boots /stud girth /saddle to how to tackle suspected gastric ulcers (big thank you again to Spotted Cat and also to Tempi more recently) and various other ailments and of course the fantastic lessons with Louisem at Alexs (EliteSportHorses) lovely yard. Plus I really enjoy reading everyones competition reports. All reasons for me to put something back in.
On Monday we were all very tired as you can see (even those who didnt go anywhere):
http://www.dropbox.com/gallery/72791647/1/Lying%20down%20040612?h=cff663
On Saturday I did mine and Millis (grey horse with rug above) first BE Novice. She did the BE90 there last year and has been awesome XC since starting her off with BE last year. The SJ has been her weakness (well dressage is her major weakness...). Milli did try BE at seven but was going through a very nappy phase at the time and then my work intervened for several years. Weve had alot of training, dressage and jumping over the past 12-18 months and weve picked up much useful information /techniques (and discarded the not so useful). I bought Milli at 10 months old, bred a foal from her aged four, she was good at 5 and 6, lost her way a bit at 7, I was working too much for the next 3 years, got going again at 10 with a few ups and downs and she came right last year at a (young) 12 .
I will spare you our dressage it is heading in the right direction but at quite a slow rate (in a test situation which I realise must be (at least!) partly due to me). We got 46.5 and nice comments about Milli as we always do (she has big ears that she points forwards throughout -hence generally getting a willing horse type comment).
Our SJ round is below. I am doing too much over the fences which is one of my (many) weaknesses but it felt fantastic and am very happy with the progress we have made over the past 12 months and how she is thoroughly enjoying her SJ. I tried to apply our learning from Louise in the warm-up and during the round and felt that the round had quite a good rhythm and Milli was giving the fences some height (her weakness which I exacerbate is getting long and flat). She rolled a pole coming out of the double of verticals which is uncharacteristic for her as she usually jumps out of doubles well. But was pleased with 4 faults as the SJ seemed to cause q a few problems. She does seem to prefer the challenge of bigger fences and makes some more power available (she got 16 faults at Somerford in our first event this season, in the BE90 after schooling beautifully around approx 1.2m course at an EHOA clinic the previous week...she was a bit too happy to be back out eventing...)
http://youtu.be/7i9UvxueDKM
Onto XC, Millis strength...up to now! Overall, wasnt worried about any specific fences after walking the course. She gives me so much confidence XC, attacking her fences whilst staying really rideable. So just kept reminding myself that Milli is good XC and to ride her properly. She felt awesome! Love her XC, is the best feeling, she is so good at figuring out problems and so confident about tackling them. There were several combinations and she made them all feel very easy. The bigger fences seemed to wake her up and as soon as she jumped a fence, she was looking for the next one. Delighted with her. Three videos below, first of a barrel treble combination and then through the water; second jumping out over the trakehner and then two tables and a bed; third is over the last fence.
http://youtu.be/qnKPAhfDrkM
http://youtu.be/ssRBA5XazbM
http://youtu.be/bkpL5kxHR9w
We got 14 time faults, I let her set the pace and slowed around bends as the grass was quite wet so know we can go quicker. The objective was to give her a fun, confident round that felt easy to her. She was barely sweating at the end and she had recovered before we reached the horsebox. We ended up on 64.5 which placed us 18th. So pleased with how easy it felt and how much fun we had. So pleased to have had this experience with Milli, have been close to giving up with her in the past. She has become a professional over the past 12 months, switching off as soon as we return to the horsebox, switching back on as soon as I get back on her. She is a pleasure to event and compensates for her grumpy behaviour all the time she isnt eventing! Milli is a very focussed horse who does not suffer fools and I take it as a huge compliment that she trusts me as a partner.
Onto Sunday...and the BE90 with Millis daughter Ledo (Bay horse with rug in lying down photo). The past 18months have been a rollercoaster with Ledo. She started off great after being backed late around 5 and taken slowly as she was tall and weak. Completed a BE80T and BE90 in 2010 and she felt and looked great. Started off well again at BE90 in 2011, tried moving up to BE100 and SJ was easy but we ran into serious napping problems XC. She earned the nickname Sicknote over the next 12 months as we looked for and found numerous ailments and problems which were treated. After building her up again slowly this year to test whether the XC napping had been resolved, she did Kelsall Hill BE90 in April and did a good double clear . A couple of minor naps XC but nowhere near fences and she thoroughly enjoyed her XC jumping. Onto Brand Hall.
Again, will spare you our Dressage is heading in the right direction but similar comments apply. We got 46 (at least Im consistent across horses and classes).
Sunday was not a nice weather day, it rained pretty constantly and the SJ warm-up turned to a mud slick. The SJ course held up pretty well but the ground seemed to be holding the horses in front of the fences. There were many faults being accrued. We did the minimum warm-up due to the conditions and went in. Ledo likes her SJ, she always feels like she grows a little when we go in the SJ ring. Due to how the horses appeared to be jumping, I rode her forward to keep her confident and compensate for the ground holding her, whilst still trying to maintain a rhythm. She was very good and honest and jumped clear . There are a couple of minor displays of her 'spirit' but she keeps going forward . Video below:
http://youtu.be/7li9N_6IpoE
Onto XC, ground looked much better on the XC course and I considered that it was the BE90 and that if we were there for schooling, it certainly would not concern me. The course rode really well and was very pleased with Ledo, we had a short nap half way between 1 and 2 (half hearted) and then she flew the rest. Made sure to balance her on the turns as falling over with Sicknote would undo many (many...many) months work.... Couple of XC videos below, first coming round and through the water and second jumping the bed.
http://youtu.be/F2KaYT-4iHE
http://youtu.be/76Od0LXb4nc
So, delighted with Ledo to achieve a second double clear this year. Particularly as she hates wind, rain and mud which were all much in evidence. We picked up 3.2 time faults which is very unusual for Ledo, she is usually >15 seconds inside the time without pushing. Milli picked up several time faults at Brand Hall BE90 last year which is also very unusual so think the (quite) twisty course and restricted galloping sections make it a bit tighter than normal. Ledo recovered very quickly and barely sweated all day, but it was freezing! Several withdrew before SJ in the BE90 and there were many faults SJ so we ended up 12th which is our best placing so far, despite an atrocious dressage mark. Ledo is a happy horse again which makes me happy.
So very, very happy with both horses and that I helped rather than hindered. Big thank you to OH (ace videographer, lorry driver, and anything else that needs doing) and friend who helped me on Sat and came with us with her horse on Sun in the BE90. She also went double clear at her (and horses) very first BE event. Her horse has only SJ (to Newcomers /1.15 Open) before and has taken to XC really well. So was an excellent weekend despite getting so cold and wet on Sunday! Really like the Brand Hall event, conditions were tough on Sunday and must have been horrible for all the volunteers so thank you very much for being cheerful and helpful throughout .
Thanks for reading, it did end up pretty long....
. Having met several HHO people in RL and found them (and their horses) lovely, thought should get on with it. I think this a great resource and have gained a huge amount over the past two years of lurking from which XC boots /stud girth /saddle to how to tackle suspected gastric ulcers (big thank you again to Spotted Cat and also to Tempi more recently) and various other ailments and of course the fantastic lessons with Louisem at Alexs (EliteSportHorses) lovely yard. Plus I really enjoy reading everyones competition reports. All reasons for me to put something back in
.On Monday we were all very tired as you can see (even those who didnt go anywhere)
:http://www.dropbox.com/gallery/72791647/1/Lying%20down%20040612?h=cff663
On Saturday I did mine and Millis (grey horse with rug above) first BE Novice. She did the BE90 there last year and has been awesome XC since starting her off with BE last year. The SJ has been her weakness (well dressage is her major weakness...
). Milli did try BE at seven but was going through a very nappy phase at the time and then my work intervened for several years. Weve had alot of training, dressage and jumping over the past 12-18 months and weve picked up much useful information /techniques (and discarded the not so useful). I bought Milli at 10 months old, bred a foal from her aged four, she was good at 5 and 6, lost her way a bit at 7, I was working too much for the next 3 years, got going again at 10 with a few ups and downs and she came right last year at a (young) 12 .I will spare you our dressage it is heading in the right direction but at quite a slow rate (in a test situation which I realise must be (at least!) partly due to me). We got 46.5 and nice comments about Milli as we always do (she has big ears that she points forwards throughout -hence generally getting a willing horse type comment
).Our SJ round is below. I am doing too much over the fences which is one of my (many) weaknesses but it felt fantastic and am very happy with the progress we have made over the past 12 months and how she is thoroughly enjoying her SJ
. I tried to apply our learning from Louise in the warm-up and during the round and felt that the round had quite a good rhythm and Milli was giving the fences some height (her weakness which I exacerbate is getting long and flat). She rolled a pole coming out of the double of verticals which is uncharacteristic for her as she usually jumps out of doubles well. But was pleased with 4 faults as the SJ seemed to cause q a few problems. She does seem to prefer the challenge of bigger fences and makes some more power available (she got 16 faults at Somerford in our first event this season, in the BE90 after schooling beautifully around approx 1.2m course at an EHOA clinic the previous week...she was a bit too happy to be back out eventing...)http://youtu.be/7i9UvxueDKM
Onto XC, Millis strength...up to now! Overall, wasnt worried about any specific fences after walking the course. She gives me so much confidence XC, attacking her fences whilst staying really rideable. So just kept reminding myself that Milli is good XC and to ride her properly. She felt awesome
! Love her XC, is the best feeling, she is so good at figuring out problems and so confident about tackling them. There were several combinations and she made them all feel very easy. The bigger fences seemed to wake her up and as soon as she jumped a fence, she was looking for the next one. Delighted with her. Three videos below, first of a barrel treble combination and then through the water; second jumping out over the trakehner and then two tables and a bed; third is over the last fence.http://youtu.be/qnKPAhfDrkM
http://youtu.be/ssRBA5XazbM
http://youtu.be/bkpL5kxHR9w
We got 14 time faults, I let her set the pace and slowed around bends as the grass was quite wet so know we can go quicker. The objective was to give her a fun, confident round that felt easy to her. She was barely sweating at the end and she had recovered before we reached the horsebox. We ended up on 64.5 which placed us 18th. So pleased with how easy it felt and how much fun we had. So pleased to have had this experience with Milli, have been close to giving up with her in the past. She has become a professional over the past 12 months, switching off as soon as we return to the horsebox, switching back on as soon as I get back on her. She is a pleasure to event and compensates for her grumpy behaviour all the time she isnt eventing! Milli is a very focussed horse who does not suffer fools and I take it as a huge compliment that she trusts me as a partner
.Onto Sunday...and the BE90 with Millis daughter Ledo (Bay horse with rug in lying down photo). The past 18months have been a rollercoaster with Ledo. She started off great after being backed late around 5 and taken slowly as she was tall and weak. Completed a BE80T and BE90 in 2010 and she felt and looked great. Started off well again at BE90 in 2011, tried moving up to BE100 and SJ was easy but we ran into serious napping problems XC
. She earned the nickname Sicknote over the next 12 months as we looked for and found numerous ailments and problems which were treated. After building her up again slowly this year to test whether the XC napping had been resolved, she did Kelsall Hill BE90 in April and did a good double clear . A couple of minor naps XC but nowhere near fences and she thoroughly enjoyed her XC jumping. Onto Brand Hall.Again, will spare you our Dressage is heading in the right direction but similar comments apply. We got 46 (at least Im consistent across horses and classes)
.Sunday was not a nice weather day, it rained pretty constantly and the SJ warm-up turned to a mud slick
. The SJ course held up pretty well but the ground seemed to be holding the horses in front of the fences. There were many faults being accrued. We did the minimum warm-up due to the conditions and went in. Ledo likes her SJ, she always feels like she grows a little when we go in the SJ ring. Due to how the horses appeared to be jumping, I rode her forward to keep her confident and compensate for the ground holding her, whilst still trying to maintain a rhythm. She was very good and honest and jumped clear . There are a couple of minor displays of her 'spirit' but she keeps going forward . Video below:http://youtu.be/7li9N_6IpoE
Onto XC, ground looked much better on the XC course and I considered that it was the BE90 and that if we were there for schooling, it certainly would not concern me. The course rode really well and was very pleased with Ledo, we had a short nap half way between 1 and 2 (half hearted) and then she flew the rest
. Made sure to balance her on the turns as falling over with Sicknote would undo many (many...many) months work.... Couple of XC videos below, first coming round and through the water and second jumping the bed.http://youtu.be/F2KaYT-4iHE
http://youtu.be/76Od0LXb4nc
So, delighted with Ledo to achieve a second double clear this year. Particularly as she hates wind, rain and mud which were all much in evidence. We picked up 3.2 time faults which is very unusual for Ledo, she is usually >15 seconds inside the time without pushing. Milli picked up several time faults at Brand Hall BE90 last year which is also very unusual so think the (quite) twisty course and restricted galloping sections make it a bit tighter than normal. Ledo recovered very quickly and barely sweated all day, but it was freezing! Several withdrew before SJ in the BE90 and there were many faults SJ so we ended up 12th which is our best placing so far, despite an atrocious dressage mark. Ledo is a happy horse again which makes me happy
.So very, very happy with both horses and that I helped rather than hindered. Big thank you to OH (ace videographer, lorry driver, and anything else that needs doing) and friend who helped me on Sat and came with us with her horse on Sun in the BE90. She also went double clear at her (and horses) very first BE event
. Her horse has only SJ (to Newcomers /1.15 Open) before and has taken to XC really well. So was an excellent weekend despite getting so cold and wet on Sunday! Really like the Brand Hall event, conditions were tough on Sunday and must have been horrible for all the volunteers so thank you very much for being cheerful and helpful throughout .Thanks for reading, it did end up pretty long....
