Dressage first - warmed up a la William Fox-Pitt - following on from demo on Wed night I did lots of canter off his back and some sweeping leg yields to help supple him, followed by some shoulder-in in trot. Sadly I didn't quite contain him in the test and just let him get a bit nose pokey at times and he was a bit resistant on the right rein in trot as I was a bit scared to use too much inside leg and make him pop up into canter which he can do when tense so I rode a safe, clear round kind of test, Canter transitions were a bit naff, although trot was more forwards than last couple of tests which considering hot, muggy weather was an improvement. He can do much better though.
Little break to go and learn the SJ course but no chance to walk the course which is always a shame as like to know the stridings. Watched a few good ones though so went with theirs! Warmed up for SJ ok after a few reminders behind the saddle a la Chris lesson on Wed to wake him up and get him taking me forwards. After he managed to knock the front rail and then the back off an oxer as half asleep he did seem to wake up and start jumping. Went in and didn't get quite it right to the first one but the next few went ok. Bit of a surprise to find fence 5 was a triple bar as couldn't see that from where I was watching. I then rode for my 4 strides and because hadn't walked it or registered the whole triple bar to vertical conundrum he got a bit forwards and tipped the top rail in front. Very frustrating as tiny fences and was a bit lax on his behalf as was on good stride and could understand if it had been 1m20 but at all of 85-90cm he really should have picked up. Frustrating to feel you finally ride a good, smooth round and he just gets complacent. If I'd buried him into it he'd probably have cleared it! Rest of round went nicely. Very frustrating especially afterwards when I found out our dressage score was 28 and 3rd place. Only 4 to qualify so knew the pole would be influential.
No time to dwell on it though. Time for some fun on the XC. Most of it looked like a breeze. I just knew I'd need to give him time at the double steps down at 6 or we'd end up in the corn field and to ride on at the steps up at 13 or something like that as it was a bounce then a long one stride to a small brush coming uphill. Only thing that concerned me slightly was a water complex not dissimilar to Farley in terms of jumping a boat before the water coming back towards the car park and the dressage warmup. Fortunately all on his right so nothing to nap towards on the left which is his weak side. We had another civilised start with lots of talking and stroking at the start and then he just flew round - barely broke rhythm the entire way round. I let him trot down the steps, he just about made the bounce steps up with one loooong stride to the brush and he didn't even look at the water question. Came home 21secs inside the time without even trying on a 5min54sec course (long!) - Badders was only a minute longer than that.
So, as predicted, the pole was influential and we dropped from 2nd to 7th so no qualification for us. Figure it's fate though. Destined to have to man up, grow a pair and go and tackle Badminton at BE100 - the nerves start when I just think about it so lots of training for us over winter! Starting with hunting next weekend and as many ditches and anything coffin like, skinny or angled that I can find! Final event for us will be the BE100 Plus at Coombelands in 2wks time - the SJ will look huge after today! Got a 9 for our final halt in the dressage today and 8's for one of his trots, the FWLR, his paces and my riding :) Judge said "3 promising and correct paces, medium walk could now be more active and forward but a pleasing and consistent test. Looks ready to start to work more from behind to a more elastic and forward contact for the higher marks. Carefully ridden"
Looking forwards to South of England tomorrow - chance to catch up with my fab sponsors, West Kent Saddles, who have been helping me to find a new jumping saddle and check out the new Prestige saddles they have in stock. Fence judging in the afternoon which will be great as the OI is a who's who of eventing, including Chris on Nobilis who won the 2* at Barbury this year.
Full video of all 3 phases:
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