Warwickshire Team Chase report! *Helmetcam*

Hoof_Prints

Hoof_Prints

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Wow what a fantastic day :) Lovely course, and brilliantly organised.

I wasn't sure if I was going to run at first, I've had a very unlucky few months having had a very bad fall just two days before the Fernie TC , resulting in a crushed foot with four broken metatarsals and a split open toe joint that had to be operated on. Got back in the saddle, knew it was just a freak accident so wasn't too concerned, I'd never fallen off my horse before that in the 3 years I've had to do all sorts of crazy things on him ! Not long after my other horse tripped up a step, I just lost my balance and came off with my hands out, so that was both wrists broken :( also I'd only run one TC before at the Atherstone so it's all new.

So I've been back riding properly about a month or two, I can't remember exactly ! My foot is still a bit dodgy, especially the toe and my wrists are still weak so I had a big confidence knock. I didn't really think too much about it when I agreed to enter, I am in a team and just went along with it now my bones were healed, and surely the first one of the season would be small... well... Saturday we walked the course and oh my god it was huge ! 3'3 fixed height but hedges on top and very, very wide, not what we were expecting and my Aunt who walked it with us went very pale ;)

So we got to about fence 8 which was probably the biggest and said to my team member "no way can this be our fence, it's massive!" and I'd decided in my mind that I probably wasn't going to run. My team members persuaded me and in the end I agreed to go, and if I couldn't face it then I would have to pull up, I can't even explain how nervous I was ! I went well prepared with my new gel seat saver, sticky-bum breeches, body protector and shoulder pads, two layers of long sleeves, point 2 air jacket plus boots and chaps in case I broke my leg as I didn't want my long boots cutting up (optimism at it's finest!).

We warmed up well, Finn was a superstar and really looked after me, I was unsure because we only had fronts on so couldn't stud up but luckily despite the heavy rain the ground was very good. After jumping the warm up fences I was a bit more in to the swing of things so decided to go on course, but was going to run near the back in case I had to pull up :o We set off and the fences started off small enough, I think it was fence 6 that was pretty beefy, got to fence 7 and was trying to put 8 out of my mind, the other team member had a stop and I was in the best position to jump so I just went for it , bit of vocal encouragement and we took the lead :) Flew round leading right to the last fence ! lots of hugs and a big dinner for Finn for being so good, we had no stops and although the fences felt big, he made them feel easy.

Unfortunately our time didn't count as I was the only one to go around the flag the right direction at the water, but it wasn't clearly pointed out, couldn't be happier with my team and so glad to all be home safe :) So here are some photos of course and also a link to my helmet cam video! Can't wait for the next one.

and they're off !
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Helmet cam link --> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjUk_XHsHwY

Thanks for reading :)
 
Well done!! Was this the novice?? We're planning to do the Cotswold, but question in if I have the guts for 3'3" plus brush?!!!! Were there only 3 in your team too?
 
Glad to hear you have a good round TeamChaser :) cracking jump on that horse! Not sure if we are doing the Belvoir, going to the Atherstone to face those scary drops though ! Team Chasing seems to be pretty unpredictable at the best of times ! Yes I love Finn to bits, he is a super horse , he's having a weeks holiday now as a treat as he's done a lot of fitness work to get him ready recently.

This was a novice LizzieRC1313, the fence heights do vary depending on the course, this was much bigger than the Fernie for example, which was only about 2'9 with the odd bigger hedge, that would be no problem to jump round if you are feeling a bit unsure. Check the schedule of the team chase, I'm sure the Fernie states that the jumps are about 2'9 whereas the Warwickshire says they are 3'3. The hedges do look huge from the ground but they jump so much nicer than a 3'3 + show jump, my horse is a pretty good showjumper at 1m ish, but point him at a 4ft hedge and he switches to a different level ! They just ride very well as the horses can judge them easily. We had 4 in our team, all four of us got round but one of the members refused a couple of times so got held back, they caught up though :)
 
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That looks so much fun! To come back from those injuries and have the guts to do that course is very impressive! It's on my bucket list to have a go at team chasing, but up north it doesn't seem as common?

x x
 
AlexHyde said:
That looks so much fun! To come back from those injuries and have the guts to do that course is very impressive! It's on my bucket list to have a go at team chasing, but up north it doesn't seem as common?

x x
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I nearly bottled it! I didn't think I was going to run until I got in the warm up and Finn was jumping so well. There is a map here of all the events http://www.teamchasing.co.uk/map.asp#.VeV1TPlVhHw
 
Good round!! Looks like you had great fun!

I had my green 5yo there for the pairs and solo HT and have to say I liked the look of the Novice course :)
We will be at the Belvoir for another HT and then hopefully some novice TC's by November, Pytchley and Grafton most likely if anyone has any reviews?!
 
gingerlegs said:
Good round!! Looks like you had great fun!

I had my green 5yo there for the pairs and solo HT and have to say I liked the look of the Novice course :)
We will be at the Belvoir for another HT and then hopefully some novice TC's by November, Pytchley and Grafton most likely if anyone has any reviews?!
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The fences were very nice and jump-able , I walked the Pytchley as we were entered until one of the horses broke his jaw, it is built big.. they have one very, very large hedge , I think we will be going. We have the Atherstone next and that's got some big drops, I just hope Finn is expecting them this time, on the first drop last year he had to catch himself as he was expecting a level landing, luckily he got the idea for the next one !
 
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