millitiger
Well-Known Member
So we have had a bit of a quiet winter; possibly as I just wanted to hibernate with all of the rain and also because Vinnie decided that 1/2 a slice of hay a day was sufficient for an 18hh horse and refused to eat a stalk more than that so spent most of winter looking like a racing greyhound 
So onto Solihull and we had dressage of 8.36 so early start, made more early by the clocks changing- I really loved my alarm that morning!
Dressage warm up was well behaved but a bit uninspiring and he was a little bit tight and 'fake' through his neck.
This continued when we went through the hedge and into the arena but he didn't use the tension against me and so we piloted a clear round but nothing to right home about.
SJ was... interesting! In hindsight, he needed more time warming up but the warm up at Solihull is v.tight and I couldn't really get him where I wanted in front of my leg.
Jumped the first nicely and then the behind the leg issue came and bit me and we exited stage left rather sharply before I'd even lined him up for the 2nd fence! So with some pretty riding I reminded him we were here to jump and I didn't care a damn how we got to/over the fence, he was going. As soon as he realised there was a fence, he locked on and sailed over but I had upset him slightly with my 'correction.'
Had an absolute launch at fence 3 (in the photos his back feet are about 10ft in the air over it) and the ground rushed up to meet me but I was caught by his giant llama neck, phew!
Little circle to regroup as we were stationary in a related distance and everything got a bit better and more together and he sailed around clearing everything by 3 feet which is slightly uncomfortable for me but at least I was landing in the saddle!
Finished with 10 faults, I was a bit gutted afterwards but then I remembered he has only been to one SJ party this year so it is my own fault really.
Onto XC... we went schooling at Swalcliffe 2 weeks before and he warmed up beautifully and then I fell off twice in 5 minutes First time between fences, second time we went over a fence and I fell off as we landed He really is the most difficult horse to sit to!
So schooled again the weekend before (in a different saddle) and he was superb And I didn't fall off
So back to Solihull and I rode him like I stole him for the first 3 fences to ensure we were definitely going!
Fence 5 was a train type thing and I thought he may bobble at it so went extra wide to ensure we were definitely straight.
As we swung back towards it, we were about 50 yards out and the little git dropped the anchor and decided to rear and leap sideways 3-4 times
Once the tantrum had finished, I repointed him at the fence and he went 'oh, a jump! Why didn't you tell me?' and trotted in and popped it with no issues at all Git.
After that, he literally flew and didn't look or hesitate at anything Super confident everywhere, lovely through the water and down the step and I really just had to point and confirm fences for him.
Wasn't sure if he would get a 20 or not for disobedience for the waving at the crowds; we weren't anywhere near the fence but we were definitely disobedient!
Went to the scoreboard to check and then saw he had a 26 dressage!! Totally unexpected and I'm not entirely sure what he did to warrant it but I'm not complaining.
No penalties for the waving, just 7 time to add so finished on around a 42 and in 14th place.
Lots to work on and improve but I was very pleased with him. This time last year, I never would have imagined we would be out eventing as i really couldn't ride one side of him, very pleased with his attitude make over
So off the ALW on Sunday, then schooling at Sapey the weekend after as I have entered him for Broadway in 2 weeks in the next class up, exciting to have him registered BE at last!
Thanks for reading
So onto Solihull and we had dressage of 8.36 so early start, made more early by the clocks changing- I really loved my alarm that morning!
Dressage warm up was well behaved but a bit uninspiring and he was a little bit tight and 'fake' through his neck.
This continued when we went through the hedge and into the arena but he didn't use the tension against me and so we piloted a clear round but nothing to right home about.
SJ was... interesting!
In hindsight, he needed more time warming up but the warm up at Solihull is v.tight and I couldn't really get him where I wanted in front of my leg.Jumped the first nicely and then the behind the leg issue came and bit me and we exited stage left rather sharply before I'd even lined him up for the 2nd fence!
So with some pretty riding I reminded him we were here to jump and I didn't care a damn how we got to/over the fence, he was going. As soon as he realised there was a fence, he locked on and sailed over but I had upset him slightly with my 'correction.'Had an absolute launch at fence 3 (in the photos his back feet are about 10ft in the air over it) and the ground rushed up to meet me but I was caught by his giant llama neck, phew!
Little circle to regroup as we were stationary in a related distance and everything got a bit better and more together and he sailed around clearing everything by 3 feet which is slightly uncomfortable for me but at least I was landing in the saddle!
Finished with 10 faults, I was a bit gutted afterwards but then I remembered he has only been to one SJ party this year so it is my own fault really.
Onto XC... we went schooling at Swalcliffe 2 weeks before and he warmed up beautifully and then I fell off twice in 5 minutes
First time between fences, second time we went over a fence and I fell off as we landed He really is the most difficult horse to sit to!So schooled again the weekend before (in a different saddle) and he was superb
And I didn't fall off So back to Solihull and I rode him like I stole him for the first 3 fences to ensure we were definitely going!
Fence 5 was a train type thing and I thought he may bobble at it so went extra wide to ensure we were definitely straight.
As we swung back towards it, we were about 50 yards out and the little git dropped the anchor and decided to rear and leap sideways 3-4 times
Once the tantrum had finished, I repointed him at the fence and he went 'oh, a jump! Why didn't you tell me?' and trotted in and popped it with no issues at all
Git.After that, he literally flew and didn't look or hesitate at anything
Super confident everywhere, lovely through the water and down the step and I really just had to point and confirm fences for him.Wasn't sure if he would get a 20 or not for disobedience for the waving at the crowds; we weren't anywhere near the fence but we were definitely disobedient!
Went to the scoreboard to check and then saw he had a 26 dressage!!
Totally unexpected and I'm not entirely sure what he did to warrant it but I'm not complaining.No penalties for the waving, just 7 time to add so finished on around a 42 and in 14th place.
Lots to work on and improve but I was very pleased with him. This time last year, I never would have imagined we would be out eventing as i really couldn't ride one side of him, very pleased with his attitude make over
So off the ALW on Sunday, then schooling at Sapey the weekend after as I have entered him for Broadway in 2 weeks in the next class up, exciting to have him registered BE at last!
Thanks for reading
