We went to BSJA last week and jumped the 95cm Amateur class and the 1m Open. He jumped a lovely double clear in the 95cm and was unlucky to just tip a pole in the 1m Open jump off, especially as it was the smallest one on the course! I mustn't get complacent at the smaller fences - they need as much respect as the big ones!
We had another jumping lesson this evening and worked on not letting him get long and flat around a course - I have been having monthly lessons with a local BSJA trainer over the winter and he has really upped our confidence levels. 1m10 no longer seems utterly terrifying but quite an attractive prospect! Monty feels happy and I think our confidence is rubbing off on each other. On Sunday we did an arena eventing clinic with Ginny Howe and worked on skinnies, corners and turns which was really worth doing - Badminton will certainly be technical so we need all the practice we can get!
We haven't made it out XC schooling yet due to the ground but are hoping to get to Boomerang next week for a play before Munstead. We have made it to the gallops though which Monty thought was great fun!
And last but not least, we mustn't forget what appears to be the most important phase if you want to win - the dressage! Monty was clever enough to qualify for 3 classes at the British Dressage Winter Regionals. I wasn't expecting him to get placed - from past experience the standard is very high and you should normally expect your scores to drop by around 5%. I just wanted to do our best. However, Monts is on form and his dressage has come on leaps and bounds since starting training with List 2 judge and top level rider, Sara-Jane Lanning. He eyes went out on stalks when we entered the arena for our first class - his local dressage venue was suddenly adorned with flowers, trees, banners and flags - he can be quite spooky and this just blew his brain. Our first class was the Novice Freestyle to Music which fortunately meant I could do some ad-libbing but his tension put us behind in the music and he performed far under the level he is capable of. I was amazed to come 6th. The judge at C had us in 2nd by just half a mark. What a result and meant we got to do a prize giving and lap of honour which Monty enjoyed and was a good chance to get back in the arena.
The following day we were back at the crack of dawn to do the arena walk - half an hour of wandering around confronting flowers and banners meant for a much calmer Monty in our test, the Novice Restricted. I was over the moon with how he went (forgetting the one confusion over a canter strike off) and his score of 66.7% was very competitive. It was very close and the class was won on 69%. We snuck into another prize giving with 9th place - what a weekend but better was yet to come!
A couple of quiet days at home and then another early start. We were 2nd to go in the Prelim. His trot work was a little tense but as soon as the canter started he relaxed and did some lovely work. I was not, however expecting to see a score of 72.224% - I nearly fell off my chair! There followed a long, long, long 3hour wait for each individual result to go up, knowing only the winner would qualify for the Nationals. Last to go was the winner of the Novice but she couldn't quite pip us to the win. I still don't think it's quite sunk in - Prelim Regional Champion and off to the Nationals. Couldn't wish for a better prep for Badminton as that is a very similar test. We got a 9 for our entry and a 9.5 for our final halt from the judge at C and his personal best score. What a horse!
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