Weekend plans :p

Aus - the spotty hooligan is super cool, but I'm afraid pictures are an absolute necessity....

No problem!

19990518_10155995896590730_4069991634885278368_n.jpg


20031613_10155995896875730_8418565647086940904_n.jpg


20229071_10155995897125730_1337314993043388525_n.jpg
 
Thanks Aus :D
That's sorted my spotty fix for the day....I don't care what people say, I love the human eye for the look of utter condescension it enables them to give you when, for example, you offer them cake with the wrong coloured icing
 
Thanks Aus :D
That's sorted my spotty fix for the day....I don't care what people say, I love the human eye for the look of utter condescension it enables them to give you when, for example, you offer them cake with the wrong coloured icing

I love his eyes - so expressive.
I'm not speaking to him re the cake. He said he wanted some, so I broke a bit off mine for him. He blew his nose on it, and then refused to eat it. Sod...
 
Coolio :) got anything else planned?

Aus - the spotty hooligan is super cool, but I'm afraid pictures are an absolute necessity....

There's another show near me next Sunday. I think I'll do the performance class again. Getting judged on my way of riding helped me pay more attention to riding nicely aswell as just jumping the fences. By the way, your horse looks lovely in the photo you posted.
 
What an odd comment DabDab!? I too hope she didn't mean exactly that and it was just an unfortunate phrase!

*Mini Report*

We went to Tweseldown again yesterday, feeling lots of pressure after our win last week :D dressage was a bit flat after a rushed warm up because they were running 20 mins early and although they said i could go at my time, i could feel them waiting for me so went in a bit earlier. Test was ok, not our favourite test as has 2x 3 loop serpentine's which are not a strong point, but it was accurate and 'quiet'.

Bit of a wait until Showjumping as the 80's were running late, but actually managed to walk the course this time so worked out my related's. Also made a last minute decision to jump in her dressage bit/ bridle combo as i felt last week she was just a bit behind me, not taking me forward in her usual set up. Yesterday was like a different horse, confident in the contact and giving the fences some real Ruby air. I managed to ride every fence properly and not bury her at anything but we had a really unfortunate pole at the last, a tiny little upright *face palm* no reason for it; good stride, just a tiny little tap that would work out very costly!

80's were running really behind after quite a few fallers and loose horses, so when they eventually started running the 90's about 45mins late we were told they would be running strictly to order just 45 mins late, so went down 40 mins after my supposed time, to find that they'd scrapped that idea and were just taking number on the board and i had 35 (!!) horses to go. After waiting another hour, we were off! With the aim of not getting more too fast faults, we kept it steady and she cruised round and despite forgetting to start my watch until fence 3, we made it inside the time with 10 seconds (rather than 30!) to spare.

That showjumping pole would work out very costly because without it we would have won on our dressage of 32.5, not to dwell though as we still managed 4th place on a final score of 36.2 :D Pictures to follow
 
VTJrwf1.jpg


Picture as promised....so yeah, as I said bit 'lacking', but surely not too disgraceful to be doing a novice test - it certainly never used to be

Picture is rather lovely. I am a long time away from competitive dressage, but I have tended to notice with other liveries that those who turn out a solid, accurate but perhaps 'uninspiring' test in terms of movement aren't really getting the marks I would have expected. I have a horse who struggles to work properly from behind, but could do with a few outings just to help her grow up and stop thinking the world is full of gremlins. When I used to have the time and energy to take green horses to prelim tests the judges were always very considerate in their comments, but I'm beginning to wonder that if I rolled up nowadays they'd tell me I shouldn't be there!
 
Well done to everyone who's been getting out and about! Scat- sorry to read about Diva, how sad :(

DabDab - I'm shocked at that comment. BD have a feedback process for judges, if you can be bothered I'd suggest you send them a copy of that sheet. PM me if you want the details and the form, I used it to feed back on some bizarre comments in my Area Prelim test.
 
"Hasn't got the paces for this level"

I'm hoping that this was just an unfortunate turn of phrase, and what she actually meant was that she didn't see enough impulsion and self carriage. D's paces are not extravagant, but they are by no means bad, so if that is now considered insufficient for NOVICE level....well...

It would be a real shame if the judges started to reward flash over training. As you said it might have been the way she phrased it.
I'm going showjumping tomorrow. My first time doing 90cm

I'd be tempted to raise that with BD too.

If lack of flashy paces was a thing, Alf wouldn't have 250 odd dressage points, several of which are at PSG level. He's very ordinary in that respect!
 
Our XC clinic at Bonfleur was a success! I felt very nervous on the day and very sick once I was on and warming up.

Thankfully it was with a trainer familiar to us, and he knows Bowser & I very well. Once we had gotten over the first jump it was better, but really had to dig deep at first.

Turning point was jumping a hay wagon that was a bit bigger than I was comfortable with - had a stop on first attempt. Second attempt was "not classically beautiful" as trainer put it, 3rd attempt was much more fluid and together. We did drops, ditches, coffins - linking lots of things together.

Had a great time at the water complex, jumping a box (that 2 years ago made me cry because I felt was so huge - but now no problem... funny how your perspective changes without really noticing!), into the water, then out and up over a boat. Then going the other way. Eventually linking it to a roll top with brush, double of skinnies, over the boat, through the water and then out over the box. With a jolly good gallop in between!

We had a great time (eventually!), B's attitude was fantastic; just standing patiently whilst the others galloped off one by one, and listening to me. Such a good boy.

Quick pic, please excuse my beetroot face :D

VKE5tTq.jpg


Well done to all those that were competing, and hope everyone else had loads of fun!
 
What a fab training session Embo, well done. It's taken us a while but it is so good to have that progression. We're jumping stuff I'd never dream of jumping just a few months ago ��
 
Picture is rather lovely. I am a long time away from competitive dressage, but I have tended to notice with other liveries that those who turn out a solid, accurate but perhaps 'uninspiring' test in terms of movement aren't really getting the marks I would have expected. I have a horse who struggles to work properly from behind, but could do with a few outings just to help her grow up and stop thinking the world is full of gremlins. When I used to have the time and energy to take green horses to prelim tests the judges were always very considerate in their comments, but I'm beginning to wonder that if I rolled up nowadays they'd tell me I shouldn't be there!

Aww, thank you - glad it's not just me that's noticed a bit of difference. Thanks for the comments about making a report, I may do, though not something I've ever done before so even the thought makes me feel a bit awkward :o
Well done everyone else - lots of exciting stuff going on for everyone
 
Top