Wowee! Brit Pack survive their first USEA 3DE in California!

[Firewell]

Oh my WORD!! I don’t know how many three day events I can take in the future lol. It was the longest, most tiring, most nerve wracking weekend of my life! However it was also amazing, inspiring and went in a blink of an eye (does that make sense?!).
The day before the event was spent getting ready. I was lucky as I have my sister helping from England and she was great at helping me tack clean, pack and organise everything. I was happy that we were going very well prepared in terms of the Dressage and Showjumping. We have really upped our game winning with scores of 70% in recent dressage competitions and we have won or been highly placed in every showjumping competition we have done here from 80cm to 1m at local and rated shows. In fact Jae hasn’t had a pole since we got here. XC I haven’t done any in two years and Jae hasn’t done anything in a year and even then only a handful of events so I was cautious and entered the Beginner Novice. I also didn’t know what the atmosphere and fences would be like.
The stabling opened on the Thursday and as the event is not too far from where I keep my horse I decided to take him over on the Friday instead before his dressage. I went over on Thursday to lay his bed and have a look around. It seemed like everyone had arrived. 200 horses stabled in temporary stables, there were horses EVERYWHERE! There was so much hustle and bustle. People shouting, horses neighing, horses being lunged, horses being unloaded off gigantic trailers, horses being ridden, people setting up, horses and riders practicing their dressage. OH MY! I was worried I had missed a trick not bringing my horse that night like everyone else had and getting him used to it. However I knew in my heart of hearts that it was in HIS best interest to spend the night in his field, so he might be a bit more uppity than the others on the Friday but then again he has had one less day at the show so come showjumping day might be fresher .
Friday dawned and I overslept!!! I wanted to get him there early in an attempt to get him used to the atmosphere before my test and I was late. Cr@p. My sister and I rushed to the yard, plaited him up, loaded the trailer with my trunk and ten tons of tack, threw him on and we were off!
Jae had his eyes on stalks when we arrived, he wanted off the trailer asap so I’m flying around trying to get his bridle on before I unloaded him so he wouldn’t ****** off ha ha. He came off like he owned the world prancing to his stable with me dangling by his side. We threw his saddle on and me on and we bounced up to the dressage warm up to get him going. The steward nearly didn’t let me in! My dressage wasn’t until the afternoon and the warm up was heaving with people getting ready for their tests. Pleeeeeeeease, I had to beg her! We only arrived just now, he needs to get used to it! She supposed it would be alright. In we went and he did a massive sigh and went into donkey mode typical lol, so much for fire breathing dragon, I’m now sat on riding school pony! I hadn’t had time to put on my spurs or take my whip so I had to do a couple pony club kicks to get him moving. We did 15/20 mins of walk, trot, canter and I took him back to the stable. It was hot and I knew that would be enough to get him in work mode and settle him. I popped him in his stable and polished him up and he was so calm! It’s OK he said I know why I am here, I am an international traveller and I can be a proper event horse, don’t worry about me.

Half an hour before my test I got on and went to warm up properly. He started off feeling a bit wooden and off the bridle but we got into our bubble and he was going great. It was so hot though, nearly 40 degrees and I was dying. I had blood throbbing in my ears and I literally thought I was going to faint. Luckily we were allowed to remove our jackets but only if we also removed our neck wear. Typical California, we had to be ‘proper’ or casual. Not half and half . I removed my jacket and stock. It was too hot for British me although fair play most competitors kept their stuff on!
The test was good, we went in like we owned it. I rode that center line lol. They had watered the arena just before my test and there was puddles everywhere, fab Jae loved it. He doesn’t mind stuff like that. A lady from my barn was there watching and she said she could tell he was an English horse splashing through, she said the Californian horses would have tip toed around it . Right canter was rubbish in the test, it was a wall of death, the right rein is his tough rein and I obviously had not unlocked him enough in the warm up oh well.
I finished totally puce in the face, I probably looked awful . The judge as I rode out complimented me on my ‘through’ riding. Blimey!!! That’s a first! So that got me all excited that maybe I had done well and I spent the rest of the day feeling completely sick waiting for my score to go up. When I went back in the evening, I warily approached the score board. We had scored 31.5 in a tough marking section and were lying joint third with three other people. Second place was on 30.5, first place was on a whopping 24. Pretty good I thought! We had everything to play for and the pressure was on.

Later on I walked Jae round the showground in the cool evening air, letting him pick at some grass as the sun went down. I had already walked the XC course and it looked huge and totally impossible. There was an open ditch I was worried about and a brush fence off a tight turn going into the water that I knew would need riding. Please be brave for me tomorrow boy I whispered in Jae’s ear. Please jump everything in front of you, don’t let me down my beauty. Jae was loving every second of being at the show, he was calm and happy and he gently nipped me on my leg to let me know he understood.

Continued...

 

[Firewell]

The next day I felt so sick. Oh my GOD. WHY do I put myself through this? I haven’t got the nerve for this. This is almost painful each day slowly dragging by while I hop around from foot to foot nervously chewing my finger nails, unable to eat, laying awake at night unable to sleep. C’mon we can do this, we can prove we can do this. My husband said to me ‘let Jae be Jae, don’t hold him back, this is easy for him’.
Everything that morning was a blur and before I knew it we were in the start box being counted down. 10, 9, 8, 7 Oh my god. 5, 4, 3. Get Jae ready to go, Jaes ready to go, 2, Oh no Jae not yet wait, 1. Go. Jae leaps in the air in a mini rear and we are off. Cr@p too fast, too fast!!! Over one, two, three and I have no breaks, steady Jae! 4 we land and I take a pull and he leaps into the air steady Jae but we musn’t get time faults. 5 the brush before the water. Sit up, get him back, coffin canter, there’s not much coffin canter he’s locked on and he’s going. The water he suddenly slows, he looks and gently enters the water we wander through the water where’s the next jump? He’s looking at a different one, no this one Jae. Which one? This one!!! He’s on it but it’s an awkward jump, we climb over it, taking out the flag. Oh dear that was awful. Better get our act into gear! Jae is more respectful now, he’s listening. Fence 8, a chunky log with flowers. I had seen horses stop at this, I don’t know why. I sit up. No worries we are over it but I keep seeing long strides and he is being safe and see’s short strides. 9 the ditch, slow him up, give him time to look but keep the canter bouncy, between hand and leg, stare into the distance and kick. While I am thinking he’s already jumped it, almost derisive. You were worried about ‘that?!’ he snorts. The next jump a log pile into water, he chips in a short stride, he is being careful. Through the water at a trot, turn and over a simple table at 12. 13 is a palisade. Looks small and easy but it’s jumping through a fence line, it’s off the walk way, light to dark and there are people everywhere. I make sure he knows what to do, no worries he’s not looking at anything else anyway he’s in the zone. Over that and he feels weird. A few short strides? Is he OK? He picks up and we fly the next combination, we do the bank and fly the second to last. There it is again a few short strides… should I pull him up? There’s the last jump, I hack over it at a slow canter, the jump judge shouts well done (that’s America) and I am barely through the finish and I jump off of him. The steward is there. There’s something wrong with him I shout! Please hold him. I pick his foot up and he has lost a shoe, over the jump we did the bad jump over.
The ground was really stoney (hard and stoney, they did their best but this is Cali, we have had no rain for three years). I had put pads on him to protect his feet and then he lost a shoe and did most of the course with a barefoot. Brave boy!! He hobbled back to the stable. My poor horse. I am on the phone to the farrier, I want MY farrier not the show farrier. He is over right away and we put the shoe back on. I trot him up and he is sound phew! We cover ourselves in water and Jae gets stuffed full of treats. He is very proud of himself. I look at the scoreboard and we are clear a whopping minute and 10 seconds under the time.

That evening I get him ready for bed and walk him around the showground. I decided to lunge him to ease off any stiffness before a night in the stable. I get him in the lunge area and he is lame on the soft. I could have cried. We are now lying 2nd/3rd as the lady on 24 dressage had fallen off on the XC and retired. I call my farrier and he says he has a tender frog or heel from the stones, he had tested his foot when he put the shoe back on and said he didn’t bruise his sole but his frogs were soft and tender to touch. Only time would tell if he is OK to showjump the next day, my farrier said he would either be OK on the surface or he wouldn’t.

Continued...

 

[Firewell]

I went to bed that night preparing myself for the worst. My nerves really were frayed now. We were in with a real chance of a top three placing, maybe even winning this thing. All my hard work, all my dreams. That’s horses for you.
The next day dawned and I am on the showground at first light. I don’t showjump until 2pm but I have to know. The tanoy starts up as the first riders make their way to the Showjump warm up, it’s 7am. There are a lot of horses to get through the showjumping. ‘Good morning Shepherd Ranch’ the man on the tanoy says ‘we kick off Stadium today with the Preliminary senior division, in the lead on a current score of…..’ I stop listening, I have tacked up and I am on Jae for a wander round. I can’t put him on the lunge, I don’t want him to have a buck or charge off and potentially re hurt his foot. We walk around he’s striding out beautifully. I walk him over the lunge arena, he’s not footy at all. I jump off and put him back in the stable. That will do, I don’t want to push my luck.
I go home and try to eat breakfast, it’s like ash in my mouth. My stomach is turning. I have lost 4lbs already over the weekend. I can’t stand this. We all make our way over to the showground at lunch time. I have my show gear on, we polish Jae and tack up. Is this all for nothing?? I make my way over to the warm up, my heart in my mouth. We walk in the arena, he’s fine, we trot in the arena he feels OK, we canter he is fine. We jump a jump, he’s fine. Jae you tough nut!!! I don’t do more than one jump. I don’t want him to land on a stoney patch of ground and re hurt himself. We wait in the shade. The division (section) before mine finishes. We walk the course. It’s easy. The showjumping is in an arena that has been watered and harrowed, it’s really good footing. That makes me feel better but I am still not sure if I should do it. What do I do? I ask my sister. She says ‘you know Jae best, do what you feel is right’. Do you want to jump Jae? I ask my horse. He stares at me. What does that mean??? It could mean yes, it could mean no. I am an awful person, I should be withdrawing. But he feels sound a little voice says in my head, don’t take away his moment.
I decide to go for it. If at any moment he starts backing off his jumps I will pull up. Jae NEVER EVER stops unless the ground is rock hard. He has only stopped at a competition twice in his whole life both times because of rock hard ground (hence the pads for XC!!) so I know if he is not happy with the footing he will tell me.
My class starts. The first person is eliminated, that bodes well. The riders keep coming. It’s in reverse order of standings so I am right at the end. Hurry up I pray!! Then the competition stops, the commentator says we are taking a break. What???? I am standing in the sun waiting. I cannot take this waiting. A spectator has choked on her sandwich and has passed out, the ambulance is on it’s way and until it comes the competition is on pause. Even Jilly Copper couldn’t write this stuff! I hop off Jae and we stand under a tree, I give him water out of my water bottle and whisper in his ear. If we go clear we could win this thing.
The ambulance comes and luckily the lady is OK, it was just a scare but they take her to hospital just in case. The competition starts up again and it’s time for us! In we go, I put him into canter determined to put thoughts of sore feet out my mind and we are over the first. The second fence he locks on and pulls me into. His canter doesn’t feel as flowing as it normally does but he’s keen and he’s picking his feet up like his life depends on it. 4,5,6,7,8,9 all clear, number 10. Careful I say to Jae, he snaps his feet up and we are clear and within the time. YIPEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!

I ride out and I am hugging my horse, I jump off him and literally burst into tears sobbing into his mane. The rider tied with me goes clear and then the girl in the lead enters. Everyone goes quiet. She has a solid type of horse, the sort of horse that always does it’s job well. They are looking good, they come to number 4 and she panicks! He has to stand off and brings the back pole down with his hinds. OMG have we won??? Have we come joint first with the rider who is on the same mark as me?
I can barely wait to see what has happened. Then the commentator announces that they are going to do the next class before they announce the winners! WTF?? More waiting!!! They do the smaller class and I can at least relax now and enjoy the competition knowing that whatever happens we have done our best. Jae is showered in treats and kisses, he’s tired and is sleeping.
At last it is the presentation of prizes for my class and I have come SECOND!!!!!!!! I would have won but the rider I was tied with went a little slower on the XC and was closer to the optimum time. I didn’t care though. It had been such a massive massive weekend. Jae was flawless from his centre line to the last showjump and in my wildest dreams I didn’t think we would get placed yet alone come second and only by a technicality. The owner of the ranch asked where I would like my ribbon, on my bridle or boot? Jae would like it on his bridle please I said. She said ‘nice accent’ and hooked the ribbon on his bridle. Jae stood at the top of the line up with his head arched and the ribbons gently blowing round his face, his ears forward. I love, love LOVE this horse. He is everything to me. I’m not sure how many three day events we will get to do, they are expensive, time consuming and hard work so I will cherish this one in case the next one doesn’t come around for a while.

Jae is having a well deserved week off now in the field, he is sound but occasionally sore if he stands on a stone so I think it will do him good to let his frog heal completely before we resume any work. Plans for the future are a dressage championship show we have qualified for and another rated jumper show.
I am proud of my ex racer!!!!
Thanks for reading  
p.s sorry for the picture quality, they were taken on my phone. It takes ages in Cali for the pro togs to put the images online .

 

[Sheep]

Ooooh have been looking forward to this thread! Huge congratulations to you and Jae! Lovely photos!

 

[frannieuk]

Fantastic report and massive congratulations to you both!

 

[siennamum]

what a great report, i really enjoyed reading it. Very well done, Jae is a superstar.

 

[asmp]

Brilliant! Great report. Well done!

 

[vam]

Fab report, felt i was right there with you! Well done and very well deserved

 

[EveningStar]

Oh yay I've been wondering how you got on
What a fabulous report - you had me on tenterhooks! What an epic weekend
What a clever horse Jae is, so pleased you did well. Jae is a little star you should be so proud!

 

[humblepie]

What a fab report and well done, he looks so good. You should send a report to Retraining of Racehorses for their website - am sure they would love to hear of his success overseas.

 

[almostthere]

Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant report...I think I held my breath until the end. Huge well done to you and Jae!

 

[dianchi]

Wooohooo, what a lovely lovely report!

 

[ahml100]

Well done! that is an amazing achievement, out of curiosity how does the heights work out in the US? Is it similar to the UK or completely different?

 

[Lolo]

I was so excited reading your report, it felt like I was reliving every second with you! Jae looks absolutely amazing, the sunny weather clearly suits him

 

[Lynsey&Smartie]

Brilliant report! Well done and it looks lovely out there.

 

[Orangehorse]

That was so good, well done, and what a huge rosette!

As for the foot, I had a book written by a USA female vet, (I think she may have been the first female and was also a national show jumper) and she had a tip for a bruised foot. Soak a pad of cotton wool in iodine and place it on the foot for 16 hours, no longer. I used it once in similar circumstances and horse was sound for the competition, after being sore at home. But suggest that you discuss this first with your vet and farrier!

 

[dollymix]

Absolutely fab report! Massive well done

 

[PorkChop]

Whoop Whoop

Brilliant report and great pictures!

 

[Twiglet]

Brilliant report - am a big Jae fan, and have been following your progress.

What an amazing result....it's so clear how much you adore him.

 

[claracanter]

What a gripping report and so beautifully written.

Well done with your result, you must be over the moon. What a beautiful boy.

 

[Lucyad]

Loved reading your report - so gripping! Well done!

 

[Hedgewitch13]

I love reading your reports! Flipping well done to both of you, what a combination you are

 

[spookypony]

Fantastic! You two have really fallen on your collective 6 feet over there!

 

[georgiegirl]

wahoo - I love the british showing the americans how its done

Epic report that was lovely to read, it almost sounds like something out of a movie.

 

[angelish]

well done
lovely report enjoyed reading it he looks like he really enjoyed himself too

 

[Goldenstar]

Great report , I bet your looking forward to the next one .

 

[Honey08]

Really well done, you're doing us proud! I nearly cried for you at the end of that lovely report. And he looks superb, it obviously suits him out there.

Wasn't there a snotty woman on your yard who kept chipping at you? I hope she got to hear your results!

 

[stencilface]

Wow, he looks fab (as ever!). Huge congrats, you ended up with a red rossie, so could have pretended to us that you won

 

[biggingerpony]

Yay congrats! So chuffed for you xx

 

[CAH7]

Such a lovely report, very well done you two!