SteveGG
Well-Known Member
Saturday we were up at 4am in order to feed & plait up and set of for Nurstead. Walked the Novice XC and thought that it looked small. Most was straightforward although I did spend some time looking at 13 & 14, two offset brush fences one stride apart which if taken directly required an accute angle. The problem was to get lined up would require me to slow Bina up and move off the direct line - in the end decided that I would waste as much time going direct as circling between them.
Bina warmed up nicely for the dressage and we went in and did a reasonable test. Last week at Hambleden we were given 35.2 which was generous (probably should have been around 38) but this week thought the test was better so extremely disappointed with 44.3.
The show jumping has been a problem in the past as Bina sometimes tries to take the fences on too much. Anyway a nice rhythm around the SJ and clear ! The second SJ clear this year.
On to the XC and due to the dressage score I decided that I would just go for a slowish clear. Bina was brilliant around the XC taking everything in her stide coming home clear with 10.8 time penalties which wasn't too many considering I wasn't trying to go fast.
Looked at the results this am to find out I was 12th which wasn't too bad and another point for a double clear. All I need to do now is have a good dressage when I go clear SJ !
On Sunday it was off to Ardingly with Ginny (OH's horse) for her first ODE. She warmed up ok for the dressage but found it very difficult to find her balance on the grass as she has only done dressage on a surface. The test was quite nice apart from the fact that she broke from canter on both reins. The ring had a slope on it and it was as if she was saying "I couldn't possibly canter down hill". Anyway she got a 38.9 which was ok.
On to the SJ and teh warm up was very difficult for her. She is a large horse and I was having problems getting to the jump as there were lots of other horses getting in the way. In teh ring she was fine apart from crashing through one jump - I saw a long stride (I must remember I'm on Ginny not Bina) for 4 faults. On to the XC which could have been better. It was only her second time XC and she was very unsure of it all but kept jumping until fence 12 where we has a refusal. She did it second time and did get better the further she went and came home with just the 20 pen plus time. Didn't stay to see the results but the XC did seem to be causing carnage ! Antway looked at the results today and she was 6th so really pleased with her. Lots to work on but a good start.
Bina warmed up nicely for the dressage and we went in and did a reasonable test. Last week at Hambleden we were given 35.2 which was generous (probably should have been around 38) but this week thought the test was better so extremely disappointed with 44.3.
The show jumping has been a problem in the past as Bina sometimes tries to take the fences on too much. Anyway a nice rhythm around the SJ and clear ! The second SJ clear this year.
On to the XC and due to the dressage score I decided that I would just go for a slowish clear. Bina was brilliant around the XC taking everything in her stide coming home clear with 10.8 time penalties which wasn't too many considering I wasn't trying to go fast.
Looked at the results this am to find out I was 12th which wasn't too bad and another point for a double clear. All I need to do now is have a good dressage when I go clear SJ !
On Sunday it was off to Ardingly with Ginny (OH's horse) for her first ODE. She warmed up ok for the dressage but found it very difficult to find her balance on the grass as she has only done dressage on a surface. The test was quite nice apart from the fact that she broke from canter on both reins. The ring had a slope on it and it was as if she was saying "I couldn't possibly canter down hill". Anyway she got a 38.9 which was ok.
On to the SJ and teh warm up was very difficult for her. She is a large horse and I was having problems getting to the jump as there were lots of other horses getting in the way. In teh ring she was fine apart from crashing through one jump - I saw a long stride (I must remember I'm on Ginny not Bina) for 4 faults. On to the XC which could have been better. It was only her second time XC and she was very unsure of it all but kept jumping until fence 12 where we has a refusal. She did it second time and did get better the further she went and came home with just the 20 pen plus time. Didn't stay to see the results but the XC did seem to be causing carnage ! Antway looked at the results today and she was 6th so really pleased with her. Lots to work on but a good start.
