Hovis_and_SidsMum
Well-Known Member
I had one on saturday!
I took the Destroyer to a little competition for the first time in nearly a year. We've not jumped a full course in a year and not jumped on grass in two years. I have a fear of jumping on grass that cannot be put into words - just think blind terror. I fell heavily 2 years ago on grass and the thought of it makes me want to barf. Thats why I chose the venue i did as they do a lovely little course inside in a nice little safe arena..
So imagine my joy when we turned up and said competition was outside.........on the green stuff.
After palpitaions and several trips to the loo later i summoned up the courage to go and warm up Hovis in the warm up ring - another major major terror of mine is warm up rings. I HATE them with a passion that is extreme. He was ok but snorting like a dragon. Fair dos he's not been out in ages so he was scared. I was pooing myself so we made a right pair.
Then hubby finally prised me out of the warm up ring on the nice surface into the grass arena. Where I proceeded to do a great demonstration of how to look like you've never ridden before in front of a ground full of people. Hovis got so strong he nearly pulled my arms out, jumped beautifully but wanted to do it in canter - i didn't.. His canter is so big and i was riding like such a plum we missed a couple of jumps and had to come back round to them. I rather suspect the children in the crowd learnt a lot of new words that day. My apologies to all that were there for my language but you try stopping the destroyer in full flow when you are tense with fear and wanting to throw up halfway round!
Anyway the good news was we got round, we only actually knocked one fence down (although our route to a few more is best described as unorthadox) and i didn't fall off.
The bad news is i think i need a LOT of practise.oh and i split the front of my jodphurs so showed the crowd glimpses of my black knickers. Classy...
Ever felt you'd be better off taking up knitting?
I took the Destroyer to a little competition for the first time in nearly a year. We've not jumped a full course in a year and not jumped on grass in two years. I have a fear of jumping on grass that cannot be put into words - just think blind terror. I fell heavily 2 years ago on grass and the thought of it makes me want to barf. Thats why I chose the venue i did as they do a lovely little course inside in a nice little safe arena..
So imagine my joy when we turned up and said competition was outside.........on the green stuff.
After palpitaions and several trips to the loo later i summoned up the courage to go and warm up Hovis in the warm up ring - another major major terror of mine is warm up rings. I HATE them with a passion that is extreme. He was ok but snorting like a dragon. Fair dos he's not been out in ages so he was scared. I was pooing myself so we made a right pair.
Then hubby finally prised me out of the warm up ring on the nice surface into the grass arena. Where I proceeded to do a great demonstration of how to look like you've never ridden before in front of a ground full of people. Hovis got so strong he nearly pulled my arms out, jumped beautifully but wanted to do it in canter - i didn't.. His canter is so big and i was riding like such a plum we missed a couple of jumps and had to come back round to them. I rather suspect the children in the crowd learnt a lot of new words that day. My apologies to all that were there for my language but you try stopping the destroyer in full flow when you are tense with fear and wanting to throw up halfway round!
Anyway the good news was we got round, we only actually knocked one fence down (although our route to a few more is best described as unorthadox) and i didn't fall off.
The bad news is i think i need a LOT of practise.oh and i split the front of my jodphurs so showed the crowd glimpses of my black knickers. Classy...
Ever felt you'd be better off taking up knitting?
rewards are always nice.