SteveGG
Well-Known Member
Arrived at Hambleden reasonably early saturday after an early start to give me time to walk the Novice XC. Couldn't walk the SJ as the only break for the SJ was during my dressage - don't you just hate that !
In the dressage warm up Bina was being awful - must remember to give her more work the day before an event ! Anyway spent most of the warm up on a 15m circle to try to settle her. The test was not particulary good especially the canter, so I was expecting around 40 so imagine my surprise at getting 35.2 !
The SJ can be a problem as Bina just wants to take the fences on. I have to spend the early part of the warm up halting her after every jump just to get her to listen. Anyway in the ring we got an awful stride to the first and then I let her lengthen to the triple bar & ended up with 8 Faults. It could so easily have been better.
On to the XC and time to have fun. Bina loves the XC although we can pick penalties if I'm not in control ! Anyway she was on form today, listening when asked and gave me a lovely round coming home on the optimum time.
Ended up 11th (0.4 pen off of a placing) - it could of been better but a satisfactory result especially when looking at the names above me.
Sunday was another early start as we travelled to Pulborough with Ginny (OH's horse) for a 2'6" hunter trial. Walked the course - why do they call it 2'6" when most of the course is only 2' ? Anyway Ginny is very green as despite being 8 or 9 (can't remember) she had not done very much before we got her. Had to remind myself that I was not riding Bina (so don't expect any stand off strides) and there was plenty for her to look at. The route to fence 1 was not particularly straight but the further she went round the better she got. We had a lovely confidence giving clear round. We didn't bother hanging around for any results - just headed home to have a restful afternoon.
In the dressage warm up Bina was being awful - must remember to give her more work the day before an event ! Anyway spent most of the warm up on a 15m circle to try to settle her. The test was not particulary good especially the canter, so I was expecting around 40 so imagine my surprise at getting 35.2 !
The SJ can be a problem as Bina just wants to take the fences on. I have to spend the early part of the warm up halting her after every jump just to get her to listen. Anyway in the ring we got an awful stride to the first and then I let her lengthen to the triple bar & ended up with 8 Faults. It could so easily have been better.
On to the XC and time to have fun. Bina loves the XC although we can pick penalties if I'm not in control ! Anyway she was on form today, listening when asked and gave me a lovely round coming home on the optimum time.
Ended up 11th (0.4 pen off of a placing) - it could of been better but a satisfactory result especially when looking at the names above me.
Sunday was another early start as we travelled to Pulborough with Ginny (OH's horse) for a 2'6" hunter trial. Walked the course - why do they call it 2'6" when most of the course is only 2' ? Anyway Ginny is very green as despite being 8 or 9 (can't remember) she had not done very much before we got her. Had to remind myself that I was not riding Bina (so don't expect any stand off strides) and there was plenty for her to look at. The route to fence 1 was not particularly straight but the further she went round the better she got. We had a lovely confidence giving clear round. We didn't bother hanging around for any results - just headed home to have a restful afternoon.
