crackersluvrat
Well-Known Member
Reminder to self, don't try and fit too many things into 1 week, it's only 7 days long you know! Well we started our week last saturday competing in the combined training at Felbridge, this actually went quite well to be honest (see previous post).
Then on tuesday we travelled for 3hours to Berkshire for the masterclass with Major Richard Waygood, this was fantastic although we struggled a bit with the drops and steering through a bank combination. However we both learnt a lot and I felt prepared for my next intro (after both us having a month off due to horse's injury).
On thursday I rushed up to the yard at lunchtime to lunge Red and he went really well, plenty of energy lol! I then jumped in the car and drove the 3 1/2hours to Lincoln to go out for two of my friends 21st's. Got back very late friday night.
Woke up saturday with EVERYTHING to do before we were due at Firle for the intro (dressage at 12:22) so I plaited and cleaned the horse, left the yard an hour late, got to Firle just in time to run round the XC in the sunshine and watch a couple SJ to learn the course (which seemed to be causing quite a few problems). Forgot my start fee so couldn't collect my number and had to wait for dad to arrive and send him for it, phew! and we hadnt even started yet!
Anyway report as follows; we were late going in for dressage due to not receiving our number in time (cue rant at dad
) and hadnt had as much time to warm-up as I would have liked so Red was feeling very lazy and not at all supple, hence a test of 36 (not good for us). On to the SJ and he warmed up nicely, once he saw the fences he woke up despite the heat! In to the ring and he jumped beautifully until fence 8 where... ...I fell off, not really sure what happened but I had seen a couple of horses have trouble there, the line to the fence was off a turn away from the warm-up and slightly downhill and he went to refuse then ranout and I came out the side-door luckily I pretty much landed on my feet and managed to keep hold of him (there would have been no hope if i'd let go!!!) anyway we represented and he got a bit close but jumped it then we went on to have the last down (as per usual) which was the planks, again most had this one down! I was passed 'medically fit' to go XC and was feeling pretty determined by this point, we had a sticky moment at 4 where we just didnt get a stride then he flew until fence 11 which was a rail with some tyres leaned up against it and a red sponsor banner on the other side which you could see through the holes in the tyres and he was a bit spooky so we had 1 runout then at fence 13 which was a really small fence with a drop the other side we had a refusal. He finished boldly though and despite the faults I was pleased as it was our best XC round to date since going BE.
It has taught me a lesson though as I just felt rushed all week and Red didn't get the time/preparation he should have had. We are back to Lincoln next week as am going back to uni, woohoo! Our next and probably last intro this season is at Winkburn Park on 13th sept.
Blimey, a whole hamper of goodies is deserved if you got this far!!!!!
Then on tuesday we travelled for 3hours to Berkshire for the masterclass with Major Richard Waygood, this was fantastic although we struggled a bit with the drops and steering through a bank combination. However we both learnt a lot and I felt prepared for my next intro (after both us having a month off due to horse's injury).
On thursday I rushed up to the yard at lunchtime to lunge Red and he went really well, plenty of energy lol! I then jumped in the car and drove the 3 1/2hours to Lincoln to go out for two of my friends 21st's. Got back very late friday night.
Woke up saturday with EVERYTHING to do before we were due at Firle for the intro (dressage at 12:22) so I plaited and cleaned the horse, left the yard an hour late, got to Firle just in time to run round the XC in the sunshine and watch a couple SJ to learn the course (which seemed to be causing quite a few problems). Forgot my start fee so couldn't collect my number and had to wait for dad to arrive and send him for it, phew! and we hadnt even started yet!
Anyway report as follows; we were late going in for dressage due to not receiving our number in time (cue rant at dad
It has taught me a lesson though as I just felt rushed all week and Red didn't get the time/preparation he should have had. We are back to Lincoln next week as am going back to uni, woohoo! Our next and probably last intro this season is at Winkburn Park on 13th sept.
Blimey, a whole hamper of goodies is deserved if you got this far!!!!!
