Wrong course....AGAIN!!!!

[evsj]

Can't believe I have stuffed up another ODE by jumping the wrong fence on the cross country for the second time in two outings.

I know there are lots of worse things to be down about but I feel so stupid right now... should I just give up?

My poor horse is so honest - she jumped this incorrect fence from a standstill - and I have let her down again. They were both unaffiliated events but I am doing Firle PN next weekened and if I can't get it right at unaff what hope is there?!

I always walk the course and always on my own but my tired old brain got muddled up as to which colours we were meant to be jumping.

Before this year I'd never got lost XC - why now? I am only 34!!!!!

 

[Ferdinase514]

Oh b***er. It's so annoying whne this happens. I usually do it when i'm nervous...my brain just stops functioning properly.

 

[henryhorn]

If it's possible to walk the day before take pics of every fence in order, then watch them back several times.
My husband has often taken the wrong course, his best being last to go in the jump off of a Newcomer's Class, he glanced up at the clock as he approached the last jump to see he was easily winning on time, then jumped number 8 backwards instead of the last jump...or what about the time his horse flicked his tail through the start incurring 3 faults as he passed when warming up? Or at hatherleigh ODE last year he came storming home after a clear XC only to go the wrong side of the finishing tape and have to turn round and retrace his steps. that cost him 4th place....
Don't beat yourself up or you will be even worse, just prepare better next time and You'll be fine.