So, yesterday was meant to Munstead BE100 but it frigging snowed on Saturday so it got cancelled :( Gutted as really wanted Munstead to be lovely first 100 run. Now it's straight in at Larkhill followed by AUW the week after.
So, instead managed to grab a super last minute entry to RC dressage at Parwood - nice and close! Bloody freezing. He didn't feel amazingly up for it in the warmup but then he surprised me with some super simple changes in both directions. He was doing everything but not much pizazz. Went into indoor school - been there once before for a lesson and it's quite spooky so was surprised he was ok with it. He did a very obedient test. His right canter just felt a bit stuffy but otherwise everything went nicely. He managed to get 71.15% from a List 5 judge and won by 4% in a class of 7. Bagged himself his first trophy. Got an 8 for my riding! Also, 8 for entry, FWLR and both medium canters, final change of leg across X and final centre line. 7678 collectives.
Put him away for 20mins or so and then got back on for Elem. He felt a bit off trotting on a loose rein but felt fine when I picked him up again. Only did about 5mins as someone withdrew before me and was freezing so went in. Was a bit distracted by thinking he might not be quite right so although trot work was ok my mind went blank in the canter and forgot the 5m loop so lost the class on that error. Canter work didn't feel great though - definitely not 100% right. Broke canter before the simple change but managed to get it back together to finish ok. Still got 64%. Winner on 64.8% and we were 2nd. Same judge as the Novice. E44 wouldn't be the best test for him as not much in it. Potential for much more.
Tuesday 26 March 2013
Monday 25 March 2013
Evening clear round Merrist Wood 20-03-13
Warmup went well. Worked hard on creating the bigger canter into the outside rein and he felt really up for it (perhaps having the previous 3days off helped!) Met all the warmup fences ok and didn't touch one.
Class was 90cm-1m. Most fences around 90-95cm, probably just the last oxer with brush underneath was 1m although not overly wide. First round went well - 5strides related distance to a one stride double, then round the corner, hugged the wall, leg on to a related 4 strides across the diagonal, right handed to a 3 stride related distance across the other diagonal then left handed to related 4 strides down the long side and he just dropped his back legs on it for no good reason other than he was gawping at the final brush fence that he then got a fab stride to and flew no probs so disappointing 4 faults.
Quick walk while they put fence up then straight onto next round. Messed up first related distance and got in ridiculously close to first part of double so had to put 2 strides in. Managed the 2 diagonal lines ok but then in too deep to the penultimate vertical and then had to put 5 strides in before the oxer so again far too deep. However he went clear - work that one out!
I think as usual I struggled to remember how to ride each individual fence when they were all there as a course. When it's just a single fence I can think about everything but soon as it's a course I mess up - grrrrr.
Class was 90cm-1m. Most fences around 90-95cm, probably just the last oxer with brush underneath was 1m although not overly wide. First round went well - 5strides related distance to a one stride double, then round the corner, hugged the wall, leg on to a related 4 strides across the diagonal, right handed to a 3 stride related distance across the other diagonal then left handed to related 4 strides down the long side and he just dropped his back legs on it for no good reason other than he was gawping at the final brush fence that he then got a fab stride to and flew no probs so disappointing 4 faults.
Quick walk while they put fence up then straight onto next round. Messed up first related distance and got in ridiculously close to first part of double so had to put 2 strides in. Managed the 2 diagonal lines ok but then in too deep to the penultimate vertical and then had to put 5 strides in before the oxer so again far too deep. However he went clear - work that one out!
I think as usual I struggled to remember how to ride each individual fence when they were all there as a course. When it's just a single fence I can think about everything but soon as it's a course I mess up - grrrrr.
Monday 18 March 2013
Merrist Wood BD 16-03-13
So, on Saturday we managed to dodge the worst of the rain and set off on the long journey 8mins down the road to Merrist Wood. Warmed up mostly in the dry - Monty had a strop when the rain did come down and just wanted to swing his bum into it but generally warmed up nicely.
First test was N30. Came out thinking it was quite a sweet test. Slightly spoilt his left canter with a spook which I quickly rescued and a spook halfway through his halt (I called him a doughnut fair few times in the test) then the flipping photographer dropped her clipboard halfway down our centre line which meant our final halt was awful but generally quite happy with how it went as it wouldn't be the best test for him with give and retake in trot twice, medium trot twice and not a lot of other trot work for him to show that he can actually trot nicely!
We had 10mins to walk around before E44. I did one unaff Elem with Monts last year before his injury but otherwise I haven't ridden Elem since my old horse back in 2006 - at least you can rise to the trot these days! Unfortunately Merrist Wood have decided to put 2 large wooden advertising boards below the mirrors since we last competed there. He is used to the mirrors but the new boards necessitated a complete mental breakdown. I knew he was looking at them as we trotted down the long side and his ears were creeping up towards my nose and then in typical Monty style he leapt up in the air, spun 180 and disappeared across the arena with me. Idiot horse. Lovely judge gave me time to circle him a few times up that end before ringing the bell but he was tense for the entire test and ruined his walk to canter by crabbing sideways spooking. Came out feeling rather disappointed as knew he could do so much better.
Cheered up a bit when friend appeared with a pretty blue ribbon for the Novice. He had only gone and scored a PB of 68.85% with a few 8's including one for my riding!!! We were 2nd out of 10 in the Restricted, 5th out of 20 overall.
Put Monts away and then wandered back round to check score for Elem and nearly fell over with shock when saw that we had got 65.2%! In the end we finished 6th out of 13 in the Restricted, 7th out of 21 overall and only 2% behind 3rd place. Our score would have got us 2nd place in the Open. Without the silliness he could have pulled in a really cracking score for first ever aff Elem. That's better than my old boy ever scored at Elem. Hey, at least there's an alternative career for us if eventing keeps on getting rained off!
Novice score sheet. Not got my Elem one yet.
Friday 15 March 2013
Dan Jocelyn SJ lesson 13-03-13
Went over to Dan Jocelyn's yard on Wed afternoon with a friend for a SJ lesson.
Slightly traumatic journey there when lorry in front of us suddenly swerved onto hard shoulder and we were faced with 2 cones in the middle of the inside lane. Thank god they were just cones as despite friend swerving we still hit them with my side of the lorry - slight near death moment!
Anyway, made it there safely. Horses both came off lorry with eyes on stalks as football match the other side of a hedge halfway up the hill and various odd noises coming from that direction but managed to get them focused on jumping and had a really successful lesson. SJ is my least favourite discipline - my old horse was a serial last minute runner-outer culminating in me breaking my wrist at Merrist Wood and getting shipped off to hospital under blue lights - spent 3days in hospital and it just served to convince me that jumping wasn't for me.
I bought Monty as a confidence giver in the SJ but I still always feel this need to panic if I cant see a nice stride and panicing generally involves hanging onto the reins and killing the canter. I dont think anyone ever taught me to jump - I just worked it out myself which means no-one has ever really told me what sort of canter I need and how to ride a SJ course. Have had various lessons over the years but think I learnt more with Dan in an hour than I have in all of those. We spent a while really developing the canter that he needed for jumping which was much bigger than I would normally ride, especially in an arena and working him into the outside rein, not letting him get strung out and rigid. Keep his bum underneath him on the turns, half halt with the outside rein and let the fence come to you. Well, it certainly worked. We finished with jumping a 1m/1.05m course and he was flying! I met one fence wrong all session and that was because I saw a stupidly long one and pushed for it and horse stuck in a short one - if I'd stayed calm and let fence come to me I'd have been ok but I learnt from it! The good thing was with the canter like that I didn't feel the need to panic and hold for any of the fences even though they were definitely outside my comfort zone height wise. Definitely recommend Dan - I will be going back for sure!
Final course one way:
Final course the other way:
And just the related distance, followed by turn to upright:
Warming up to jumping a course vids:
Monday 11 March 2013
Tweseldown BE90 10-03-13
So, first event of the season and not quite the run up I had planned. After combined training last weekend he had Monday off, my friend worked him Tuesday concentrating on walk to halt transitions as they've been a bit ropy recently - he's forgotten I taught him how to stand square! Wed went for a pipe opener on Hankley Common. He then ended up having Thur/Fri off as it rained cats and dogs and suddenly Tweseldown was in jeapordy as photos flooded in of swamp like conditions. The forecast for the weekend remained dry though so was crossing fingers the sand would do its job and it would dry out. Popped down there in my lunch break on Sat and was encouraged to see they had moved as many arenas as possible and only dressage warmup and XC warmup remained like bogs. Little bit precious about my boys legs given his tendon injury last May but it looked ok to me so made the decision to go for it! Quick after work schooling session, plaited up and cleaned out stud holes.
Hardly slept and bounced out of bed when alarm went off at 6am. Stuck pony on lunge for 15mins so he had a chance to stretch his legs on a decent surface - he looked so pretty in his plaits on the lunge.
Then 15min drive to Tweseldown became 25mins due to road closure. Getting a little stressed now as was nearly 8am when we arrived and due on in dressage at 9.06. Long walk to sec to get number so jogged there and back. Then had massive battle with studs - bought big chunky ones the day before but couldn't get them in. Tried to be a bit tougher with one but it got stuck! Then couldn't get any others in so ended up putting standard jump ones in and only on outsides as totally ran out of time. Hopped on and found a slightly dryer bit of warmup by one of the entrances - did 10mins of transitions and in we went. They had moved the dressage arenas from the day before but still meant the plough like long side of the day before went across the centre of my arena. First centre line involved wibbling from side to side, falling into the bog and was glad to make it to the end! Just tried hard to keep him balanced and was generally very happy with it but not sure it was worth less than 35 which is our best yet at Tweseldown.
Found a friend to help with the studs and he managed to get more little jump studs into the insides of each foot but couldn't get the monster stud out. Fortunately ground so soft dont think pony noticed he was a bit lopsided.
Onto the SJ. Quick warmup which went well and over the road to the arena. Cue a load of napping as people walking course so he had to wait and he doesn't do waiting. But then off we went - they announced my dressage score and thought they said 39 so was in a right strop :( Saw a bit of an unsure one to the first but he took over and off we went. 2 to 3 was on a related distance downhill so tried to hold him off it and then kept leg on for the planks before handbrake right hand turn to double then left to another related distance downhill before left again to uphill related distance and we were clear! Yay! Had another strop about getting 39 and sent friend off to check scoreboard!
Back to lorry and quick change for XC. Friend comes back and says we actually got 29 and were 5marks ahead of anyone else although only about 8 scores up. OMG! 29 at a BE event - sooooo excited! Whizzed on down to the XC start which was a complete bog and popped over each warmup fence once to remind him XC was next - dont think he needed reminding. He hasn't been XC since last May but you wouldn't know it - he's such a pro! He did his usual napping in the warmup and had to be led into the start but then we were off and he flew. He felt amazing - sometimes he feels like he's running in blind panic round T/down but this time felt like he was taking everything in his stride and not spooking too much at the puddles either! Had an amazing round - someone actually commented as we went through the half coffin how well I rode it! Saw a great shot to the 2nd last, the corner and galloped for home taking the last a bit on the angle and clipping the flag with my foot but we were clear! Commentator was complimenting us all the way round apparently. Horse finished without a drop of sweat on him and not even out of breath. He looked like he'd been for a walk in the park! No need to worry about his fitness then!
Pics courtesy of MDR photo - i have bought them and have permission to post them.
long awaited hatcam video: I love it! Permission from BE has been obtained to publish on this website.
Managed to contain myself enough to sit and eat lunch before braving the long walk to the scoreboard to see if we made the time and check we didn't go too fast as course bit less twisty than usual. 4 seconds inside the time - perfect! And still in the lead in the dressage with only about 10 more scores to go up. Took the pony to visit the onsite farrier to get stud removed with some difficulty and then home to have a nice roll in the field before heading back to the scoreboard at which point all the dressage scores were up and we were still in the lead so unbeatable - we had actually won! Could not believe it. After all that hard work rehabbing him from his injury - we only went and won our first event back! I am still on such a high! Have had phone call from H&H today - they want to put a photo in and everything!
Hardly slept and bounced out of bed when alarm went off at 6am. Stuck pony on lunge for 15mins so he had a chance to stretch his legs on a decent surface - he looked so pretty in his plaits on the lunge.
Then 15min drive to Tweseldown became 25mins due to road closure. Getting a little stressed now as was nearly 8am when we arrived and due on in dressage at 9.06. Long walk to sec to get number so jogged there and back. Then had massive battle with studs - bought big chunky ones the day before but couldn't get them in. Tried to be a bit tougher with one but it got stuck! Then couldn't get any others in so ended up putting standard jump ones in and only on outsides as totally ran out of time. Hopped on and found a slightly dryer bit of warmup by one of the entrances - did 10mins of transitions and in we went. They had moved the dressage arenas from the day before but still meant the plough like long side of the day before went across the centre of my arena. First centre line involved wibbling from side to side, falling into the bog and was glad to make it to the end! Just tried hard to keep him balanced and was generally very happy with it but not sure it was worth less than 35 which is our best yet at Tweseldown.
Found a friend to help with the studs and he managed to get more little jump studs into the insides of each foot but couldn't get the monster stud out. Fortunately ground so soft dont think pony noticed he was a bit lopsided.
Onto the SJ. Quick warmup which went well and over the road to the arena. Cue a load of napping as people walking course so he had to wait and he doesn't do waiting. But then off we went - they announced my dressage score and thought they said 39 so was in a right strop :( Saw a bit of an unsure one to the first but he took over and off we went. 2 to 3 was on a related distance downhill so tried to hold him off it and then kept leg on for the planks before handbrake right hand turn to double then left to another related distance downhill before left again to uphill related distance and we were clear! Yay! Had another strop about getting 39 and sent friend off to check scoreboard!
Back to lorry and quick change for XC. Friend comes back and says we actually got 29 and were 5marks ahead of anyone else although only about 8 scores up. OMG! 29 at a BE event - sooooo excited! Whizzed on down to the XC start which was a complete bog and popped over each warmup fence once to remind him XC was next - dont think he needed reminding. He hasn't been XC since last May but you wouldn't know it - he's such a pro! He did his usual napping in the warmup and had to be led into the start but then we were off and he flew. He felt amazing - sometimes he feels like he's running in blind panic round T/down but this time felt like he was taking everything in his stride and not spooking too much at the puddles either! Had an amazing round - someone actually commented as we went through the half coffin how well I rode it! Saw a great shot to the 2nd last, the corner and galloped for home taking the last a bit on the angle and clipping the flag with my foot but we were clear! Commentator was complimenting us all the way round apparently. Horse finished without a drop of sweat on him and not even out of breath. He looked like he'd been for a walk in the park! No need to worry about his fitness then!
Pics courtesy of MDR photo - i have bought them and have permission to post them.
long awaited hatcam video: I love it! Permission from BE has been obtained to publish on this website.
Managed to contain myself enough to sit and eat lunch before braving the long walk to the scoreboard to see if we made the time and check we didn't go too fast as course bit less twisty than usual. 4 seconds inside the time - perfect! And still in the lead in the dressage with only about 10 more scores to go up. Took the pony to visit the onsite farrier to get stud removed with some difficulty and then home to have a nice roll in the field before heading back to the scoreboard at which point all the dressage scores were up and we were still in the lead so unbeatable - we had actually won! Could not believe it. After all that hard work rehabbing him from his injury - we only went and won our first event back! I am still on such a high! Have had phone call from H&H today - they want to put a photo in and everything!
Monday 4 March 2013
Combined training weekend
Busy weekend of combined training for the orange one. All at Munstead - ground was super - didn't even need to stud up!
Started with RC qualifier on Saturday. Rode N27 and was 3rd after the dressage on 72.1%. His dressage has come on leaps and bounds and loved seeing a sheet full of 7's and 8's and even an 8 for submission - not a horse you would historically have described as submissive in any sense of the word!
onto the jumping and it wasn't a very nice course in our book - nasty right handed dog leg 3 to 4 then sharp right hander to a planks then another sharp right hander to a related distance. We dont like sharp right hand bends, let alone 3 in a row! You'd think at 85cm we could manage a clear but seriously fluffed up the dogleg and had the oxer down
Fortunately it didn't affect placings so cant kick myself too much. Finished in 3rd place. Slightly gutting as 2nd qualified for Festival of Horse Finals Still, pleased with improvement in the dressage.
Onto Sunday. We did BE92 first, followed 15mins later by BE102. I was pleased with both tests - he was attentive and submissive and obedient - all things we've been missing in the past! We managed to score 29 for both - really really hope we can keep that up this season - I could really do with getting some sub 30 dressage scores in our quest for Regionals. All 7's and 8's and in the 102 judge said I "made it look SO EASY" and gave me an 8 for my riding - well chuffed! We were 2nd after dressage in the 92 out of 31!!!! And 6th out of 17 in the 102.
http://youtu.be/otqkfDOd-tk
http://youtu.be/4GmMqRG0_-0
Onto the jumping. He warmed up nicely and went into the 90 jumping and jumped a lovely clear - focused on thinking forwards and not seeing any nasty backwards strides and a nice flowing course in a big arena really helped with that. So that meant we finished 2nd overall in that big class so very pleased with that.
Had a bit of waiting around before could jump the 100 but stayed on board and walked him around - bad idea in hindsight. Should have put him away for a break then got him back out as he totally tuned out and then started napping badly when asked to go near the ring which is a habit of his that recurs in certain circumstances. He warmed up well though. However, the course was identical to the one that had caught me out the day before and contained all the nasty right hand turns except now it was 15cm higher! He backed off the first fence, chucked in a short one and had that down and I think it upset him for the rest of the round - he doesn't like knocking fences. He launched over number 2, flew number 3 but then again fluffed the dogleg to a now humongous oxer at number 4 which he put down on the back bar, made it round to the planks but then totally missed the turn to the related distance, got in too close and landed on the back bar again. Cleared 6 but again in too close at 7 and took it out behind before flying the final double. 16 faults - terrible! I've only ever once had 8 faults on him and never more - he is such a clean jumper. He didn't feel tired, I think he'd just mentally switched off and plastic poles fall so easily. He knows he's an eventer - 2 dressage tests and 2 SJ rounds is just not right! So, trying to put that behind me as we have T/down on Sunday and I really want a nice confident first outing before doing the 100 at Munstead end of March and then the 100 at Goring. Hopefully we can master jumping 100 SJ again before then - got a couple of lessons lined up but have jumped that height no probs recently so think perhaps just a bit much this weekend.
One little pic of fence 3 in the 100 - rubbish quality as a still but all the other pics are pro pics so cant post them.
90 jumping:
http://youtu.be/2MpCFkSw444
Started with RC qualifier on Saturday. Rode N27 and was 3rd after the dressage on 72.1%. His dressage has come on leaps and bounds and loved seeing a sheet full of 7's and 8's and even an 8 for submission - not a horse you would historically have described as submissive in any sense of the word!
onto the jumping and it wasn't a very nice course in our book - nasty right handed dog leg 3 to 4 then sharp right hander to a planks then another sharp right hander to a related distance. We dont like sharp right hand bends, let alone 3 in a row! You'd think at 85cm we could manage a clear but seriously fluffed up the dogleg and had the oxer down
Fortunately it didn't affect placings so cant kick myself too much. Finished in 3rd place. Slightly gutting as 2nd qualified for Festival of Horse Finals Still, pleased with improvement in the dressage.Onto Sunday. We did BE92 first, followed 15mins later by BE102. I was pleased with both tests - he was attentive and submissive and obedient - all things we've been missing in the past! We managed to score 29 for both - really really hope we can keep that up this season - I could really do with getting some sub 30 dressage scores in our quest for Regionals. All 7's and 8's and in the 102 judge said I "made it look SO EASY" and gave me an 8 for my riding - well chuffed! We were 2nd after dressage in the 92 out of 31!!!! And 6th out of 17 in the 102.
http://youtu.be/otqkfDOd-tk
http://youtu.be/4GmMqRG0_-0
Onto the jumping. He warmed up nicely and went into the 90 jumping and jumped a lovely clear - focused on thinking forwards and not seeing any nasty backwards strides and a nice flowing course in a big arena really helped with that. So that meant we finished 2nd overall in that big class so very pleased with that.
Had a bit of waiting around before could jump the 100 but stayed on board and walked him around - bad idea in hindsight. Should have put him away for a break then got him back out as he totally tuned out and then started napping badly when asked to go near the ring which is a habit of his that recurs in certain circumstances. He warmed up well though. However, the course was identical to the one that had caught me out the day before and contained all the nasty right hand turns except now it was 15cm higher! He backed off the first fence, chucked in a short one and had that down and I think it upset him for the rest of the round - he doesn't like knocking fences. He launched over number 2, flew number 3 but then again fluffed the dogleg to a now humongous oxer at number 4 which he put down on the back bar, made it round to the planks but then totally missed the turn to the related distance, got in too close and landed on the back bar again. Cleared 6 but again in too close at 7 and took it out behind before flying the final double. 16 faults - terrible! I've only ever once had 8 faults on him and never more - he is such a clean jumper. He didn't feel tired, I think he'd just mentally switched off and plastic poles fall so easily. He knows he's an eventer - 2 dressage tests and 2 SJ rounds is just not right! So, trying to put that behind me as we have T/down on Sunday and I really want a nice confident first outing before doing the 100 at Munstead end of March and then the 100 at Goring. Hopefully we can master jumping 100 SJ again before then - got a couple of lessons lined up but have jumped that height no probs recently so think perhaps just a bit much this weekend.
One little pic of fence 3 in the 100 - rubbish quality as a still but all the other pics are pro pics so cant post them.
90 jumping:
http://youtu.be/2MpCFkSw444
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