Sarah_Jane
Well-Known Member
Well it was certainly an adventure probably managed to bite off a bit more than we could chew really but enjoyed it all the same. It is only my second time abroad so to be taking lorry, horse and travelling ourselves to Ede, Holland was quite a task to start. We left Sunday night and just stabled with friends at Exeter, then travelled Monday to Dover and across on the ferry to Calais. I was worried about the ferry because Sarnita is not great with loud noises. Bought her a hat and sewed in some extra padding to the ears for her to wear, took the ramp down on the ferry and she seemed relaxed yet interested. Can't stay with them on the ferry but other than removing the hat (didn't do much for her image evidently!) when we got back she was eating hay and quite relaxed. Stabled at Calais although did get lost trying to find stables which was fun as still trying to ensure I was driving on the correct side. Any way got to the event ok and parked next to Tamsin Hutchins from Cornwall, travel all that way and park next to one of my closest event riders!
Having only ever done one 3 day before at Weston, Ede was a big contrast. It was extremely relaxed, no sign of a vet to check passports or a secretary until the day after we arrived. The first fence was beside the stables and people lunged and rode beside it I'm fairly sure nobody would have noticed if it was used as a practice fence.
No sign of a program or much information about the event just given a plan. Rode Sarnie on Wednesday only to find her slightly unsound. I immediately panicked imagining bust tendons or some serious injury. Luckily by this time the Weigersma's had arrived and decided that a skin problem in her heel was causing the problem and I should give her antibiotics, the lack of a vet prevented this but some antibiotic cream helped and by trot up on Thursday she was fine after a loosen up. Trot was interesting you seemed to go up in a very vague order had a trot up and down and unless they stopped you you presumed you had past. A lot of the continentals just trotted up in there riding / grooming gear again very laid back.
We did dressage on the Friday.
Her foot was not sore by this time and she was working in fairly well. I then made one of my first major cock up of the week-end. The steward said to go over and I went and showed the judge my number the bell went and I started. There were 4 arenas and guess who promptly did a beautiful up the centre line in the wrong arena!!! I thought I was right and why the judge hadn't pointed me in the right direction I don't know but I don't think it put the judge in the best mood to start. A very red faced rider then re-entered the correct arena for a score of 60 which wasn't too bad the continental dressage is generally very good.
The xc course was super through woods mainly and asked a few questions but was not too technical or huge. The going was sandy which seemed to cope well with wet or dry. My worst problem was my xc time 6.45pm, I was like a cat on hot bricks all day. It was eventually our turn and I knew if I wanted to move up a fast clear was needed. She really has started to mature xc and gave me a super ride. The corner at fence 3 was causing the odd problem as it could be banked easily but she locked on and flew it.
Angled rails she made feel easily and a big quarry type fence with a big brush rails in down a very steep slope and up to some more decent rails she popped through. The coffin was our first slight mistake there was a lot of room between the elements 4 or 5 strides but part c was at right angles well she caught site of the 3* final element and was heading for that and I only just turned in time and she jumped it at quite an angle. There were 4 jumps into water on the course which worried me as she has always been a bit careful with water. The water was also in front of the main viewing area so lots to look at. Any way she did the first log in and house into the next one well.
We then went back into the woods and were met by a loose horse ambling along the track, I circumnavigated this and kept a beady eye out for rider. The next combination was two sknnies on a tight turn on approach I checked for prone rider and negotiated the fence to find rider sitting up with jump judge a further 20 yards on - I guess she was jumped off? Went round her and past loose horse again who luckily decided not to follow! Came back to the next 2 waters. Jumped a triple brush just before and jumped it too bodily and headed for water a bit fast, sat up and kicked she jumped the two element in really boldly unfortunately the earlier rain had made the water a bit deep which caused her to flounder.
Being so honest she focused on the next fence and kept going unfortunately she focused on the 3* fence. I couldn't get her back on track for the 2* option so managed to pull her up in front on the 3* fence turn her and so the 2* option off one stride and then kicked on into the next water by which time I had lost my position and promptly nearly went splat in the next bit of water! I managed to get stirrups and reins back and kicked on although disappointed to hear over tanoy they had given me 20 penalties. Completed the course with only 4,4 time one of the fastest and I must have liost most of those in the water. I appealed the 20 penalties as I never presented at the 2* option initially or crossed my tracks and after much discussion the jump judge admitted he couldn't see which bit I presented at so the 20 penalties were removed. I nearly didn't ask so I guess if you don't ask you don't get. Fast xc moved us up from 30th to 11th.
Show jumping day the less said the better. The course wasn't huge and generally jumped well. We had a little bit of a lazy rail at fence 2 not the best stride but she would usually clear it and it only just fell then. The last fence I asked for a totally impossible stride that was never there and she had no chance. I was so cross with myself and I felt I badly let her down she is a good SJer and to have 2 rails is totally my fault. We finished 16th which if you told me at the beginning of the week would be the case I would have bitten your hand off but with my bad riding causing us to drop after the SJing I was a bit disappointed. However we are now half qualified for a 3* and her xc was great so once I stop beating myself up about my mistakes I will accept it is a huge step in the right direction.
Good journey home stopped at Calais again and stocked up at the Supermarket before returning on one of the last ferries to accept horses that day because of the increasing winds. Sarnita is home bright as a button appears to have lost no weight and is looking great. A few weeks of now before we assess our plans for the rest of the season.
Having only ever done one 3 day before at Weston, Ede was a big contrast. It was extremely relaxed, no sign of a vet to check passports or a secretary until the day after we arrived. The first fence was beside the stables and people lunged and rode beside it I'm fairly sure nobody would have noticed if it was used as a practice fence.
No sign of a program or much information about the event just given a plan. Rode Sarnie on Wednesday only to find her slightly unsound. I immediately panicked imagining bust tendons or some serious injury. Luckily by this time the Weigersma's had arrived and decided that a skin problem in her heel was causing the problem and I should give her antibiotics, the lack of a vet prevented this but some antibiotic cream helped and by trot up on Thursday she was fine after a loosen up. Trot was interesting you seemed to go up in a very vague order had a trot up and down and unless they stopped you you presumed you had past. A lot of the continentals just trotted up in there riding / grooming gear again very laid back.
We did dressage on the Friday.
Her foot was not sore by this time and she was working in fairly well. I then made one of my first major cock up of the week-end. The steward said to go over and I went and showed the judge my number the bell went and I started. There were 4 arenas and guess who promptly did a beautiful up the centre line in the wrong arena!!! I thought I was right and why the judge hadn't pointed me in the right direction I don't know but I don't think it put the judge in the best mood to start. A very red faced rider then re-entered the correct arena for a score of 60 which wasn't too bad the continental dressage is generally very good.
The xc course was super through woods mainly and asked a few questions but was not too technical or huge. The going was sandy which seemed to cope well with wet or dry. My worst problem was my xc time 6.45pm, I was like a cat on hot bricks all day. It was eventually our turn and I knew if I wanted to move up a fast clear was needed. She really has started to mature xc and gave me a super ride. The corner at fence 3 was causing the odd problem as it could be banked easily but she locked on and flew it.
Angled rails she made feel easily and a big quarry type fence with a big brush rails in down a very steep slope and up to some more decent rails she popped through. The coffin was our first slight mistake there was a lot of room between the elements 4 or 5 strides but part c was at right angles well she caught site of the 3* final element and was heading for that and I only just turned in time and she jumped it at quite an angle. There were 4 jumps into water on the course which worried me as she has always been a bit careful with water. The water was also in front of the main viewing area so lots to look at. Any way she did the first log in and house into the next one well.
We then went back into the woods and were met by a loose horse ambling along the track, I circumnavigated this and kept a beady eye out for rider. The next combination was two sknnies on a tight turn on approach I checked for prone rider and negotiated the fence to find rider sitting up with jump judge a further 20 yards on - I guess she was jumped off? Went round her and past loose horse again who luckily decided not to follow! Came back to the next 2 waters. Jumped a triple brush just before and jumped it too bodily and headed for water a bit fast, sat up and kicked she jumped the two element in really boldly unfortunately the earlier rain had made the water a bit deep which caused her to flounder.
Being so honest she focused on the next fence and kept going unfortunately she focused on the 3* fence. I couldn't get her back on track for the 2* option so managed to pull her up in front on the 3* fence turn her and so the 2* option off one stride and then kicked on into the next water by which time I had lost my position and promptly nearly went splat in the next bit of water! I managed to get stirrups and reins back and kicked on although disappointed to hear over tanoy they had given me 20 penalties. Completed the course with only 4,4 time one of the fastest and I must have liost most of those in the water. I appealed the 20 penalties as I never presented at the 2* option initially or crossed my tracks and after much discussion the jump judge admitted he couldn't see which bit I presented at so the 20 penalties were removed. I nearly didn't ask so I guess if you don't ask you don't get. Fast xc moved us up from 30th to 11th.
Show jumping day the less said the better. The course wasn't huge and generally jumped well. We had a little bit of a lazy rail at fence 2 not the best stride but she would usually clear it and it only just fell then. The last fence I asked for a totally impossible stride that was never there and she had no chance. I was so cross with myself and I felt I badly let her down she is a good SJer and to have 2 rails is totally my fault. We finished 16th which if you told me at the beginning of the week would be the case I would have bitten your hand off but with my bad riding causing us to drop after the SJing I was a bit disappointed. However we are now half qualified for a 3* and her xc was great so once I stop beating myself up about my mistakes I will accept it is a huge step in the right direction.
Good journey home stopped at Calais again and stocked up at the Supermarket before returning on one of the last ferries to accept horses that day because of the increasing winds. Sarnita is home bright as a button appears to have lost no weight and is looking great. A few weeks of now before we assess our plans for the rest of the season.
