Rackham BE100 28-06-15 - a win!

We arrived with loads of time as it took less time to get there than I thought.  This meant a nice, relaxing start to the day.  We watched some SJ which looked rather interesting.  For a start there were 11 fences - everyone knows eventers can only count to 10!  I am very prone to getting lost in long courses so this didn't fill me with joy!  The other thing was that practically the whole course rode on a related distance.  For me this is generally a good thing as I love nothing better than just keeping a rhythm and counting strides rather than aiming at single fences, but it does mean you need to get a good shot into the first or be good at adjusting to sort out the mess!  Four of them were on a right curve though and we're not so hot at right curves as he tends to fall in.  No time to walk course so just watched several.  Poles were flying everywhere but the course rewarded forwards riding.  Worked out 8 strides from 1 to 2, sharp turn uphill to 3, five good forwards strides uphill to a one stride double, turn right to a little downhill upright that was coming down a lot, 5 strides to a big yellow oxer, 6 strides to a bright orange upright, 5 strides to a 2 stride double, turn right round to a big oxer then left to a spooky upright that was causing issues then 4 good strong strides to a big oxer with the back pole at the max 1.05m.  We heard from the lorry park elimination after elimination and several falls sending people to see the doctor.  Not confidence inspiring for the phase I dislike the most!

Off to walk the XC - few extra loops back on yourself, down the steps instead of up, a few 2 stride distances which are always my nemesis XC as we like to stick in extra strides, a right corner on a tight left turn after the steps down, enough to keep it interesting but nothing overly concerning.  Aim was to try and ride all the combinations on the strides they walked as we really need to start doing this if we have any chance of moving up to Novice.  Stopped and had a nice chat to a couple of friends fence judging and then wandered back to get ready for the dressage.

Love eventing dressage warmups as so much room I can practice all the dressage moves I can't do in my school at home - did some HP and changes and then I tried the half canter pirouette into counter canter and change at C from the PSG test.  Just once on the left rein but he did a fab job of it.  So excited about him at the moment.  Had him going nicely forwards for the test and kept him more up.  The more advanced work in the warmup really helps him.  He did a brilliantly straight centre line then tripped over at the end and lost his balance for the start of the next movement.  Managed to get him back ok though and the rest of the test went fine other than him anticipating another left canter transition when you come off the diagonal for the second time in the same place and doing a step of canter.  Finished with a fab centre line and final halt.

Straight onto the SJ.  Heard our dressage score of 28.5 but no idea where that would put us in the section.  He jumped his socks off for a fab clear round.  Have been using flicker boots on his back legs for the last couple of events and he is really picking up better behind rather than being careless and dragging his back legs which is very frustrating on a horse who likes to clear them by 3ft in front.  I let him cut the corner to the orange upright at 7 so he really tried hard to clear this one as far too close.  Made all the right distances apart from squidging nine strides between 1 and 2 when I just didn't have him going forwards enough.  He just tried his heart out the whole way round.  Very pleased.

Yellow oxer at 6

First part of double at 4

Video:

Waiting to SJ:

Straight onto XC.  He was very naughty in the warmup.  For some reason Rackham always brings out the worst of his nappiness.  Had to be led into the warmup, every jump he napped and then when Chris tried to lead him over to the start he swung away, reared up, smacked me on the cheekbone with his head and leapt about all over the place for a minute.  He then consented to being led calmly to the warmup and started absolutely fine.  He is without fail like this at Rackham - the XC is very close to the lorry park and it just makes him super nappy.  Anyway, once we were off we were fine.

Fence 2:

Fence 3:

He didn't think much of the ground in the woods and felt a bit weird so I didn't ride him very strongly at the hanging log out which meant we got in deep and ended up squidging 4 strides in a 3 stride distance to the 2nd skinny log.

Moved onto fence 6 which was fine:

Sunken road no problems - got my 1 stride in the bottom and then 2 strides to part c no probs.

Then into the woods, over a tiny roll top and back out, spook at something, fly sideways, get straight for the coffin, flew this on the prescribed 2 and 2 strides to a skinny brush on the way out.  

Onwards to a log on top of a mound which we got a bit deep to so had to really ride the 4 strides to the next skinny log on a left curve.

Onto the water which we actually cantered through for once!  

Flew the trakehner:

Onwards to a big brush and then a house;

Really collected up the canter for the steps down which was the only point he thought about a little nap but onwards we went.  Let him drop back to trot for the steps down to avoid overshooting the turn to the corner.  Sharp turn but rode forwards and it rode well.

penultimate fence was a nice chair:

and final fence a flower box.

Video:

Was walking back to the car park to hear we had gone into the lead in our section!  Washed Monts off, cooked some yummy sausage baps and then went over to the scoreboards to see where we had come.  4 scores still to go up but no-one could go ahead of us.  We had been second after dressage but the leader had a run out XC.  We ended up winning by 4 marks!  So pleased with the boy - he has been knocking on the door all season and finally got what he deserved.  He has earned a holiday from eventing until we get some rain now.  Very pleased to get some 8's on our dressage sheet, including one for my riding which is always lovely.

There was no prize giving as someone had had a nasty fall on the XC and the air ambulance was called delaying the end of the BE100 XC by an hour so they just handed out prizes but we got a free photo and a £39 voucher to spend in Horses in Sport which I spent on some new gloves and some shiny hoof polish.  Very very glad to read today that the faller is going to be ok as it put a bit of a sombre end on the day.

Big thanks to Kim for all the brilliant XC piccies, Spidge for the trakehner and SJ piccies and Chris for videos and dressage pics.  And of course to everyone who gave up their time volunteering to make a great event run.  Must be our lucky event now - we won the RC Horse Trials there in 2011, the BE90 last year and now the BE100.

Now, all set for some dressage.  First Medium since January this weekend, Summer Regionals at Elementary end of July then our Advanced Medium debut beginning of August - very excited!

And Monts relaxing at home to finish:

SJL lesson Merrist Wood 26-06-15

We worked on the canter half pass again, making sure when we do it from centre line to the track that I guard the quarters from falling out round the corner without using too much outside leg and making him go into the HP quarters leading.  Also must keep him round in the half pass and then it looks so much better.

Worked on the changes making sure he is straight before asking for the change and then need to ride forwards in the change.

Then the extended canter to change - this took a couple of goes as have to be sure to get the canter back on the straight line and then get the change before going round the bend.

extended canter to flying change:

We then ran through all the canter work from the toughest Advanced Medium.  The changes after the HP were clean but the serpentine needs more work.  Still, I think it's definitely within reach this year.

AM98 canter work:

Here's some work on the canter half pass.

canter half pass left

We also broke down all the work from M69 in preparation for this weekend which will be our first Medium since January and first time riding M69.  Not bad - looking forward to the weekend!  Watched a video of the PSG test and realistically think this could be within our grasp - the only thing we haven't yet mastered is the half canter pirouette and his tempi changes need smoothing but he is very much capable.  Obviously we're not going to be winning, he doesn't really have much in the way of extended paces and doesn't have the cadence of a big moving warmblood but it would be amazing to give it a go!

Nick Gauntlett XC clinic Farley Hall 24-06-15

Took the opportunity for some schooling at Farley Hall today.  Fell off twice at the jump before the water last year so didn't enter it this year but was keen to get him over it.  I jump much better with someone there to shout at me so when I found out Nick Gauntlett was there today I jumped at the chance.

We started off warming up over a log - first just treating it like it was then pretending it was the first part of a coffin which he did well.  So next we headed over to the Novice coffin (no BE100 coffin).  Went off to jump the BE100 table first then gallop on, then get him back, miss out element a, over the ditch and out over skinny brush part c.  I let my shoulders get far too far forwards on my first attempt which was ok as he jumped it but wouldn't have been if he hadn't.  It seemed to take him by surprise as it was down the slope so if we'd been jumping part a as well I'd definitely have had to be sitting up with shoulders back!

2nd time I kept my shoulders back and it was much better!

Then we moved onto a straightforwards roll top working on getting a really good positive shot in.

Also did the corner both ways making it first right handed, then left - he was good and stayed straight despite me seeing backwards strides.  Got told to set up sooner then ride forwards more positively.  had one more go at it right handed and got a bolder stride although does require a bit more trust!  Not sure I have that with left ones!

Onto the skinny brushes.  First the BE100 - told it was 2 strides and to really ride for it.  He struggled and dived at the 2nd part which wasn't pleasant and not the kind of stride you want to a skinny.

Was more positive for the Novice version and really rode forwards to the first part so stronger jump in and made the distance to the triple brush easier.  Got told to really try and ride for the proper stridings but just be prepared for him to put in the extra one.  Need to try harder to be bolder and more positive.  Set up and then ride forwards.

On to the water.  Had a trot through first then decided to do it backwards as it avoided the napping left issue which given where we were parked could still be an issue.  No probs so straight back round and through the proper way easily.  Decided that was enough and not to try the Novice version today as competing again Sunday and don't want to create any issues.

Finished with jumping the big pink skinny Novice houses on 2 strides at the end.  They didn't have their flags on though and he was a bit spooky so didn't make the distance and just ran right past the 2nd one.  Probably needed to jump the first on more of an angle so I didn't need to turn between them.  Decided just to jump the 2nd on a straight line which he did fine and not repeat the combination as he was struggling with the distance and no flags.  Finished with the last fence with the roof on and true to form he ducked - silly pony!

Got home and took some lovely photos of him in the evening sunshine.