showpony
Well-Known Member
Still on cloud 9 - so Sunday dawned, the day of the biggest thing I have done with my Mare & what a cracker of a day, sun shining, blue skys couldnt have asked for better conditions
Had course walked twice so was happy I knew the course & my coach had given me pleanty of advice...
Pony parties are very exciting I discovered, expecially when we had other horses from the yard there aswell.. My Mare was a bit excited & when it came to first canter she just couldnt contain her excitment anylonger & threw a HUGE Buck & couple minutes later she spooked & spun & tanked off - Ok so this time 6mths ago I would have freaked out & probably fallen off or got of but I just put my leg on & got her back listening to me - to be fair she was so much more settled as soon as we popped couple of jumps as think she realised what we were there to do..
First class we did was the pairs with a friend of mine & wow, the horses couldnt have gone better, Course was technical in places with some tight turns & navigation around trees in the forest part but once through the forest it flowed much better ... First fence after the forest was a mini tiger trap & did have a OH S*** Moment, my Mare ballooned it and I lost a stirrup & my balance and nearly went out through the front & side doors lol... My Partner was roaring at me to sit in & I managed to regain composure thankfully... so kicked on , home stretch, steps followed by log you couldnt see over until you were mid air ( bit of a rider frightner but rode great ) down through the water, small back & onto the final fence & we had done it - CLEAR ALL THE WAY....... Massive deal for both of us - course was not huge, 75cms but up to height in places & some of the fences caused issues as out of 35 pairs that competed only 4 were clear - We managed to bag ourselves 2nd place which was the total icing on the cake & many a happy dance was done...
So onto the singles & don't think Ive ever felt so good jumping - Mare listned to me every step of the way, got a bit strong at one point but with a half halt & talking to her she was fine - very very smooth round I felt & I was ready for her to balloon the tiger trap again which she did but I didn't lose balance etc... Have to say my adrenelin was pumping on the line to the final fence - not only were we clear I rode what I was feeling & rode on rather than being really defensive ...
So Hello new found confidence - Its been a battle but we have gotten there , best day ever, it was a big achievement for me to have finally done myself & my mare some justice & to come home with a blue ribbon for the pairs class just made me so happy... Ive worked so damm hard so its finally paying off...
I could have given up and got a plod last year but i am very determined & glad I stuck at it - have a fab coach & friend who have been a total part of this journey.
Couple pics of course below & one of us over the final fence in the singles
Had course walked twice so was happy I knew the course & my coach had given me pleanty of advice...
Pony parties are very exciting I discovered, expecially when we had other horses from the yard there aswell.. My Mare was a bit excited & when it came to first canter she just couldnt contain her excitment anylonger & threw a HUGE Buck & couple minutes later she spooked & spun & tanked off - Ok so this time 6mths ago I would have freaked out & probably fallen off or got of but I just put my leg on & got her back listening to me - to be fair she was so much more settled as soon as we popped couple of jumps as think she realised what we were there to do..
First class we did was the pairs with a friend of mine & wow, the horses couldnt have gone better, Course was technical in places with some tight turns & navigation around trees in the forest part but once through the forest it flowed much better ... First fence after the forest was a mini tiger trap & did have a OH S*** Moment, my Mare ballooned it and I lost a stirrup & my balance and nearly went out through the front & side doors lol... My Partner was roaring at me to sit in & I managed to regain composure thankfully... so kicked on , home stretch, steps followed by log you couldnt see over until you were mid air ( bit of a rider frightner but rode great ) down through the water, small back & onto the final fence & we had done it - CLEAR ALL THE WAY....... Massive deal for both of us - course was not huge, 75cms but up to height in places & some of the fences caused issues as out of 35 pairs that competed only 4 were clear - We managed to bag ourselves 2nd place which was the total icing on the cake & many a happy dance was done...
So onto the singles & don't think Ive ever felt so good jumping - Mare listned to me every step of the way, got a bit strong at one point but with a half halt & talking to her she was fine - very very smooth round I felt & I was ready for her to balloon the tiger trap again which she did but I didn't lose balance etc... Have to say my adrenelin was pumping on the line to the final fence - not only were we clear I rode what I was feeling & rode on rather than being really defensive ...
So Hello new found confidence - Its been a battle but we have gotten there , best day ever, it was a big achievement for me to have finally done myself & my mare some justice & to come home with a blue ribbon for the pairs class just made me so happy... Ive worked so damm hard so its finally paying off...
I could have given up and got a plod last year but i am very determined & glad I stuck at it - have a fab coach & friend who have been a total part of this journey.
Couple pics of course below & one of us over the final fence in the singles
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