Started with walking the course. Jumps themselves didn't look too challenging but there was a tricky quarry to navigate on the way out and back. Otherwise looked like good galloping course. Pleased the corner was a right one as it came after a steep slope up and sharp left hand turn.
Then went to watch some SJ. Initial thoughts were couple of tricky sharp dogleg turns and a really dodgy looking distance in the final double. It seemed to be riding on a really long one stride or 2 short ones. Even the pros were struggling and watched someone have 2 stops at final part as just couldn't get it to ride on anything other than 1.5strides. Poles were flying everywhere!
Onwards to dressage. Hot weather so planned short warmup. Tried to keep him forwards and up. Went ok but still could keep him more up and together looking at the video.
SJ was a bit disorganised. They weren't taking people in order of arrival or in order of times. You just had to warmup then go over and say you were ready and see how many before you. Not easy on a nappy horse who needs to have one final jump before he goes in. Missed our final jump but just had to go in. I had to work hard all the way round but he did try very hard and having got a bit deep to part a of the final double I sat and asked him to put 2 little strides in the double and he went clear. Phew!
Looking excited about the prospect of going SJ:
No idea of dressage score still at this point but not really important. On to XC. Little bit of waiting then quick warmup and off we went. Galloped well over the first three which were straightforward. Fence 4 was a big brush downhill, 6 strides to another one and he backed off quite a bit off both of them, partly due to the ground changing and it being downhill. Steep uphill and then over a timber wagon. Next onto a very skinny chunky log with brush on top on a steep downhill - proper little wobble at this one but leg on and he leapt it then had to quickly pull left to get my line round to the right. Good powerful stride to the step up but still couldn't make the 2 strides to the twisted table so had to squidge in 3. Onwards on a good stride to a big table (looked identical to the one we did at Badders) then a straw rack and a trakehner - quick growl to make sure no ditchy thoughts but over no probs. Then wiggle down through the woods, up a skinny step then very quickly swing left to the right handed corner - ended up drifting right slightly to get more room and snapped the flag off which made a loud noise and made him run fast for a bit! Nice stride to a house then try to get him back with me for the water which was a downhill chunky boat and just got quite deep as didn't get him off his forehand. Trotted through the water and never picked up canter again so just trotted at part c, another big boat, over we went and away again. Wide, sloping skinny table at 16 no probs (on video), then let him trot down the very steep hill back into the quarry, back into canter for the uphill and lovely stride to skinny brush at the top. Nice stride to big, wide table at 18, had a fight with him to get him back for 2 skinny wishing wells at 19 and he was distracted by some people with a dog at the Intermediate fence next door so jinxed left at the last moment - was fortunately still awake and caught him so over we went and got a nice, straight 3 strides to the 2nd one before a lovely gallop over the final fence. He finished a long course full of running and made it mostly feel very easy. I just need to work on jumping downhill as he gets on his forehand galloping and I struggle to get him back and get his bum underneath him. Found out dressage was a good 30.8 and was confident we should have gone inside the time so fingers crossed for a placing.
Wishing wells:
Sorted Monts out and went over to scores to find out we were 20secs inside the optimum time so penalty free and we managed to come 5th in a competitive section with the likes of Lucinda Fredericks and Gemma Tattersall coming below us. Less than 50% of the class SJ clear. Won a nice cheque for £43 and another Regional Final qualification. 3rd, 4th and 5th in his last 3 outings with some real questions for him XC but he is just storming at the moment! He's now won £100 and a rug in the last month! The SJ is frustrating me a bit as they're nowhere near as big as Badminton and I'm riding a bit backwards. Need to sort myself out and ride forwards more!
Spent today helping out at Farley Hall Horse Trials for the BE100 day. The water jump still caused plenty of problems so very glad I chose to go to Nunney instead after last year's big E! Enjoyed a day in XC scoring though - even got to do some starting! Going back there on Wednesday for a XC clinic with Nick Gauntlett so will hopefully get over the water jump then!
Video of the whole day at Nunney:
On to Rackham next then he'll have a break from eventing until Regionals end of August.
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