My kind of eventing this - RC qualifier - ride course of 10 SJ then straight out onto XC course against an optimum time of 450m/min and 0.4pens over or under the optimum time.  No poxy dressage!

Given that we have been so ridiculously far under the time last 2 BE events this season I thought we would have room to play with the ridiculous elements RC had decided were appropriate to include in a Novice qualifier max 90cm in height.  After fence 4 we had to wiggle our way through some woods which was fine but then towards the end you had to take a sharp turn right to jump a ridiculously skinny log between 2 trees then curve left handed downhill 2 strides to another not quite so skinny log with a drop!  Then suddenly veer off to the right to jump a palisade before sharp turn left to a log pile, then out from the trees into a massive open field with loads to look at and jump an arrowhead with no trees either side, just plonked in the middle of a field!  Reckoned if we got through that lot we'd be home and dry as rest of course ok for him.

So we started with the SJ and he put in the obligatory clear round (only 85cm so really no excuse to knock any but you never know when I might start riding like an idiot again).

video: http://youtu.be/aFbJFK5qVnE

PS-none of these are pro piccies before anyone gets button happy :D

fence 3:
[URL=http://pets.webshots.com/photo/2820191090048766437diexQU][IMG]http://inlinethumb14.webshots.com/51021/2820191090048766437S425x425Q85.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
fence 10:
[URL=http://pets.webshots.com/photo/2452108680048766437ELgAJm][IMG]http://inlinethumb57.webshots.com/47288/2452108680048766437S425x425Q85.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
and fence 10 from another angle:
[URL=http://pets.webshots.com/photo/2524873990048766437lREMzB][IMG]http://inlinethumb16.webshots.com/50639/2524873990048766437S425x425Q85.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

Then straight out onto the XC course which you can see the 1st couple of fences on the SJ vid.

Just about to go through the start:
[URL=http://pets.webshots.com/photo/2502458510048766437vryZgL][IMG]http://inlinethumb04.webshots.com/49859/2502458510048766437S425x425Q85.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

First 3 fences v straightforward then uphill to a wall followed by a little sunken road then the wiggle through the woods.  Given that we have had a serious lack of control our last 2 events I brought him back to trot way in advance of the skinny log and then we ended up actually walking round the corner to get the right line to it, leaving us less than a stride away.  Thank god for hunting - he is used to jumping from nothing.  I just put my leg on, he popped over and locked on nicely to the 2nd part.  Then wiggled our way through the trees over 7 and 8 no probs before out into the field to tackle the arrowhead - skinnies always been my nemesis and have always tended to hook at them to try and make him straight but determined to ride forwards I felt him wiggle a bit but legs on then he locked on and flew it - yay!  Onto a let up fence then swing left to a ditch, 2 short strides to a skinny log no probs, sloping ski jump type thing then trotted through the uninviting water, flew over the chair and the trakehner then bit more trotting down a steep hill out of the 2nd set of woods to make sure we kept control.

Back into canter and through what they call the bomb hole which is a sort of sunken road type affair.  choice of small step in, wiggle right, step out, 2 strides to skinny or big step in, stay straight, 1 stride in the bottom, pop up and 2 strides over skinny.  We're better at straight than wiggles so went for that option before flying the last 2 fences.  Another double clear under our belts :D

Video:
http://youtu.be/1RY5EU85X74

bomb hole part a:
[URL=http://pets.webshots.com/photo/2445007250048766437UOqITg][IMG]http://inlinethumb64.webshots.com/50495/2445007250048766437S425x425Q85.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

part b:
[URL=http://pets.webshots.com/photo/2540956060048766437UOeAit][IMG]http://inlinethumb25.webshots.com/47448/2540956060048766437S425x425Q85.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

part c:
[URL=http://pets.webshots.com/photo/2579633800048766437uORqXe][IMG]http://inlinethumb16.webshots.com/48015/2579633800048766437S425x425Q85.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

2nd last fence:
[URL=http://pets.webshots.com/photo/2554189900048766437izapuS][IMG]http://inlinethumb33.webshots.com/50912/2554189900048766437S425x425Q85.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

So, mega chuffed with the orange pony as accuracy questions would have had us all over the place last yr and there were plenty today but he locked onto everything and jumped like a complete pro.  So pleased with him.  We ended up 20 odd seconds over the time so in 4th place which was slightly disappointing as 3rd place qualified for the National Champs and we were only a few seconds slower than her so should have kicked on more - underestimated the amount of time wasted at the tricky bits.  Pleased I took my time at those though as more speed might have resulted in a run out.  All in all, a good learning experience and I do love my ginger ninja so much.  Have even forgiven him for having a huge nap attack on entering the SJ arena - cheeky sod.