Chilham BE90 Regional Finals 03-08-14

Not been to Chilham before but no local Regionals for us this year - all at least a 2hr drive and Chilham the first so thought we'd get started.  Easy run down there and straight on for the dressage.  He warmed up ok but was a little reluctant to bend right as nicely as I know he can these days.  He is a couple of weeks overdue his routine physio due to a diary date confusion and I'm suspicious he might just be tightening up slightly.  Nothing major, but just not working as freely as I know he can.  I have been working on getting him to go into right canter off more of an inside leg aid as it helps to keep him soft and round which has always been our issue there.  We have also done lots of them.  It has worked well but for the past few weeks he has been really anticipating right canter transitions and thinking I want them here, there and everywhere.  This came back to bite us in the test and he popped up into canter a corner too early on the right rein - clearly trying to be helpful but I just couldn't believe a mistake like that at the Regionals.  He actually did a very similar thing at BCA Regionals last year but we just about got away with it.  Couldn't be that lucky twice.  The rest of the test was ok although he was a little tight which is unlike him these days, kept spooking at the trees marking the entrance at A and basically told me how much he resented having to do dressage on a lump, bumpy, uphill, downhill grass arena.  We have focused on dressage the last few weeks so he has been spoilt with surfaces.  Didn't think it was going to be a winning test which was gutting as this has turned into his strongest phase recently.

Went off to walk the XC course in a not very positive frame of mind.   Was glad to see nothing too technical, just the second water with big roll top in under the trees and then sharp right turn into a muddy puddle.  Could forsee us running straight past the water but didn't want to point him at the water too much given recent issues. Also step up, then 4 or 5 strides on a right curve to a skinny brush with no trees on the sides to guide you in - friendlier version of the one at Goring 100 so good practice!

Two hours later they finally put our dressage score up.  We got 30 along with 3 others which left us in equal 10th place out of a class of 26 - not good enough.  Only a fence between most of the class but Regionals usually a dressage competition so hopes of Badminton qualifying all gone.  Sulked a bit then stressed about the jumping as not done any SJ for 5wks and was rubbish at Eridge.  Went to Munstead to practice on grass on Wednesday and he was great and didn't touch a pole but didn't trust myself not to balls it up.  He had gone to sleep in the break so had to try and wake him up.  Warmup was ok, just lacking energy.  Didn't get to walk course which was frustrating as really like to know my stridings these days.  Watched loads so had an idea but not the same. First fence went well.  Second fence ok but a little close and he landed close.  Kicked for 5 strides as it was downhill and thought he'd make it but realised he wouldn't so had to hang on for 6 last minute - not so pretty.  Fence 4 ok but still landed without enough impulsion to make the forward 6 so ended up in the bottom of the double on 7 which meant he had no choice but to put 2 strides in and levitate over the 2nd part - something we haven't done for absolutely ages :(  Then managed to put 8 strides in the next forward 6 distance and make it seem easy.  Got my act together for the oxer, 8 strides to planks and made it easy then kicked for my life for final line on 5 strides and flew the last.  Amazingly we went clear - very much thanks to Monts as I didn't do enough to create the quality of canter we need to jump a nice round and should have known to then hold for the shorter stride rather than chase him into the bottom of things.  Sack the jockey, medal for the pony.

Fence one:

Fence 2:

Fence 4:

Fence 5a:

Fence 5b:

Fence 7:

Fence 8:

Fence 9:

Onto the XC. He was towing me round the warmup - great feeling, one he hasn't given me for a while so enjoyed that -  gave me lots of confidence.  Chris, the lovely starter we had at Eridge gave us a nice calm count down into the start box and we had no hysterics at all which was fab.  Time was looking tight to get when I checked the scoreboards earlier so set off like a rocket.  Got in a bit deep to fence 4 and 5, holding for non-existant strides - doh.  Flew the double of logs before the water, then the water sneaks up on you over the brow of a ramp so I steadied to him and told him water was coming, water was coming, he just dropped to trot but happily picked up canter again and flew the house out.  Then onto the second water, steadied but leg on to roll top in and then as predicted he tried to bowl straight on.  Had to anchor him to a complete halt.  Pulled right and he napped through his left shoulder - a muddy puddle of water would be just the sort of thing for him to have a complete nap attack at.  Fortunately he did listen to my request to turn 90degrees right then left so as to go inside the flag and not cross my tracks and then I really kicked on as knew we'd wasted time.  Messed up the tiny brush and got in too deep, then the Helsinki steps up the hill which he looked a bit confused about and was tiring up quite a steep hill so a little laboured but ok.  Popped up the little step and then I really rode him forwards for the skinny brush and he flew it.  He knew he was on the way home now so had to really steady for the angled 2 stride double and almost made it in one!  Then really wanted him to woah back to me for hanging log, steep slope in the dark to a hanging rail but he was on a homewards mission and just bowled on over, charged down the hill and flew the rail, looked a bit at the castle for the last fence but flew it and we were home.  Awesome horse - felt completely back to his normal self.  He'll always be looky but he was wanting to go which gives me so much confidence.

Last few fences:

Hatcam:

Coming to the angled double:

Got him sorted and then went off to check the scoreboard.  Slightly concerned might have crossed my tracks at second water so nervous wait for my score.  Amazingly for a Regionals the jumping had caused some problems, a retirement or two, some SJ faults, the leader after SJ on 25 had a run out XC.  The others on 30 had faulted or were faster then us.  We were 4 seconds inside the optimum time and given clear XC - phew.  So, one after the other the scores went up and we climbed the leaderboard.  All the way to 6th.  Pretty good result, except only the top 5 qualify for Badminton.  5th was on 29.5 so only half a mark in front of us.  Our dressage sheet revealed straight 7's with 8s for FWLR, final centre line and my riding but glaring out at me was a 5 for our mistake in the canter transition.  A very, very expensive 5 :(  Those 2 marks we lost there meant we finished on 30 instead of 29 and finished 6th instead of 5.  Gutted doesn't really describe how I feel.  Very grateful we have some more chances to qualify but frustrated we have to trek around the country to still try to qualify when we should have done it there.  The winner was on 27.8 which is a score he is more than capable of getting - in fact, it's the dressage score he got at Badminton.  Argh!

So, lots more work to do on our dressage to make sure we get those canter transitions but without him anticipating them.  Have had to practice canter-trot-canters for our Elementaries and trot-walk-trots are fab for getting him engaged but now he thinks every downwards transition is soon to be followed by an upwards one.  He even does it on the lunge!  He's only trying to be helpful so it's very difficult to get mad at him but do need to sort it!

Also need to sort my SJ out again - I need to jump at least weekly to keep my eye in.  Have suffered from no SJ lessons since end of May due to Chris being so busy competing.  Have got one in a couple of weeks and seriously need a sorting out.  In the mean time I have to manage to cope with moving back up to 100 at Aston on Saturday - eeek!  Must kick on and stop fiddling at the XC and make sure I have a proper, powerful canter for the SJ and ride forwards.  Horse needs a rocket up his bum too - hoping for cooler weather!