riaseed007
Well-Known Member
Looks terrible on paper, but I'm so so happy with my superstar!
Ok, dressage wasn't good but I wasn't there to be competative, the main aim was to come home in one piece. He was so hyper, my excuse is that we've not competed anywhere since the PC champs and he was excited to be out. I think he would have rather galloped round the test just to get it over with so he could move onto the fun bits! Jogged 3 times in the walk and got a 4
where he would normally get a 7 or 8. Not surprised with 44.8 but it's by far the worst score we've had all year!
Walked the sj and it looked ok. Although our sj hasn't been great lately (was eliminated in the 2nd round at the open pc champs
) Warmed up great, then I stupidly had a little break before I went in, must have switched off a little because he completely clattered through the first fence
then he jumped fabulously despite me burying him a little in several fences. Numpty me sat like a lemon coming to the last and waited for a stupidly deep stride and the poor wee man couldn't get his legs up high enough so had that down too. 8 faults not too bad and the course was causing carnage for some reason, only 3 clear rounds in the whole section I think (magic_magpie was one of them
) quite a few finishing with penaties over 20.
Then onto the scary bit! Was quite worried after seeing the course, was worse than I remembered. Although two lovely ladies walked the course with me and gave me lots of tips since it was my first novice
so a big thanks to them! There were six fences with ditches in them
and the biggest open ditch I've seen in a competition.
Keats started off brilliantly, straight over one and 2, had a little look at the ditch down the steep hill at 3 and 4 but jumped fine, 5 was a little wall, 6 was the step up with ditch in front of it he had a good look but with a big kick he jumped it fab. Then 7, oh dear! A palisade with big ditch in front of it, came up to it fine then saw the ditch at the last minute and put in the hugest leap over it. Numpty me couldn't stay on so that was annoying to say the least especially considering he didn't do anything wrong. Worst of all my lovely shiney new body protector got covered in mud
So I got back on the poor lad who must have been wondering why his fun was interrupted! I was scared that he'd got a fright but I needn't of worried, he flew over the big double of logs then down over the horrid ditch drops (with a little bit of swearing from me). Had an silly glance off at the skinny roll top down hill but I took the alternative which he jumped great. Flew the huge ditch like it was nothing. Over the roll top, down the hill into the water, popped the skinny brush in the water, out again and back in over a big roll top, like a complete pro. This is the horse who used to refuse to even go into water, I couldn't even enter a novice hunter trial because I knew I couldn't get him into the water jump! Ever the box, then steeplechase. Next was the horrible spikey rail and turn to other rail, probably the fence I was most worried about but even though I sat like a lemon he jumped it perfectly! leapt over the trakhener, and flew over the widest part of the huge brush corner, I swear I saw his hooves up at his nose to stretch over it
perfect over the last few: whisky barrels, palisade to bounce of drops, white house and drop into the water. Was such a relief to get over the last! Walked back to the van with the biggest smile on my face, everyone must have thought I was mad being so happy considering I was covered in mud! Got 44.7 time faults which I didn't think was too bad since I dithered about for ages once I'd fallen off, had a run out and took the long route at that skinny fence.
sorry this video isn't very good!
Came last of all that completed but I'm completely over the moon to get round my first novice! Was actually a lot of elimations and stops in my class. I didn't think I'd ever actually have the guts to do one, but thanks to my super-cob we've managed
Ok, dressage wasn't good but I wasn't there to be competative, the main aim was to come home in one piece. He was so hyper, my excuse is that we've not competed anywhere since the PC champs and he was excited to be out. I think he would have rather galloped round the test just to get it over with so he could move onto the fun bits! Jogged 3 times in the walk and got a 4
Walked the sj and it looked ok. Although our sj hasn't been great lately (was eliminated in the 2nd round at the open pc champs
Then onto the scary bit! Was quite worried after seeing the course, was worse than I remembered. Although two lovely ladies walked the course with me and gave me lots of tips since it was my first novice
Keats started off brilliantly, straight over one and 2, had a little look at the ditch down the steep hill at 3 and 4 but jumped fine, 5 was a little wall, 6 was the step up with ditch in front of it he had a good look but with a big kick he jumped it fab. Then 7, oh dear! A palisade with big ditch in front of it, came up to it fine then saw the ditch at the last minute and put in the hugest leap over it. Numpty me couldn't stay on so that was annoying to say the least especially considering he didn't do anything wrong. Worst of all my lovely shiney new body protector got covered in mud
sorry this video isn't very good!Came last of all that completed but I'm completely over the moon to get round my first novice! Was actually a lot of elimations and stops in my class. I didn't think I'd ever actually have the guts to do one, but thanks to my super-cob we've managed
