After my tumble in Ireland we re-routed to Burgie... It is a long way to go as it is in Scotland but I went last year so knew it was a lovely event and well worth the drive!
We took the two water babies... CRISTAL and JAMBI (Mere Oak) and then to fill the lorry we took STEVE (Noble Bestman) for the CIC* and MINIMEE for the CCI*.
JAMBI and CRISTAL had had a week off after Tatts and then XC schooled 3 times the week before Burgie so hadn't really done any dressage... JAMBI was rather tense and made a few mistakes to finish on 53 which left him lying in 9th place.
CRISTAL did a nice test but not as polished as his Tatts test to score 48.1 and top the leader board.
MINIMEE did a lovely test to put him in 3rd place on a 42.5 in the CCI*.
STEVE was rather excited and was cheeky in his test so only scored 54.4 but this was good enough for 3rd in his section.
MINIMEE went XC first and it was a decent track that was catching lots of people out. He went clear and added 1.2 time penalties which left him in his 3rd place.
JAMBI was first to go in the CCI** and he was feeling great up until fence 10 which was a step up, bounce to a log... he jumped up the step but for some reason he didn't get his front legs up over the log and fell...
CRISTAL was next and I was worried that it was going to be a repeat of Tatts but he was awesome! He lost a shoe at fence 5 so I had to slow down on the corners so he didn't slip too much. He came home with 6.8 time faults which dropped him down to 4th place but I was thrilled with him!
STEVE showjumped his normal immaculate clear round and then followed up with a speedy XC round which moved him up to 2nd place as he was the only one to finish on his dressage score!
MINIMEE and CRISTAL both trotted up well with Alex whilst I was doing STEVE!
The CCI* showjumping was first and MINIMEE jumped really well but just rubbed the front rail with his hind legs on an oxer. He ended up moving up to 2nd place which was a great result for him.
CRISTAL was fresh and jumping his socks off outside... he jumped just as well in the ring but had a very unlucky rail but it left him in his 4th place.
He has now qualified for the Young Rider Final Trial and has been put on the shortlist.
A successful and fun week was had....
Tuesday 22 June 2010
Thursday 10 June 2010
BRAMHAM...
Last week we headed North for Bramham, Ginger was competing in the CCI*** Under 25 Championships, Rayef was having his first outing since Europeans last year in the CIC*** and Jitterbug was coming for the Mix and Match. We also had the added nerves of Grace doing her first three day event at Brand Hall on Noble Springbok.... this was the British Pony Championships!!! A busy week was beckoning!!!
On Thursday, Rayef had his dressage, in the warm up arena he decided he couldn't possibly cope with people sat watching him and reversed around the arena acting like a 4yo!!! Alex had to lead him round once to show him they were infact people not monsters!!
After this he was working well, however none of us quite knew what to expect when he entered the arena!! He was however an angel!!!! He did one of his best tests and even managed to perform his flying changes without bucking!!! He scored a 42.5 which left him in 2nd place behind none other than Mark Todd!
Ginger came out on Friday and did her best test ever, she was soft, supple and really moving! She scored a 41.3 which put her into the lead by 4 marks from a Frenchman!
Immediately after my dressage I had to jump in my car and head 15minutes down the road to an airfield where Charlie Walker and his little plane were waiting to fly me to Brand Hall to walk the XC course with Grace... It was an experience... rather like being on a ride at Alton Towers, only it lasted 45 minutes!! I was not feeling so good when I arrived at Brand Hall!!
We walked the course and then back in the plane to trot Rayef up back at Bramham! The timing was spot on but mainly Thanks to Alex who had Rayef ready and waiting down at trot up, with Kate Honey at the ready just incase I didn't make it!!
Saturday morning began with Rayef showjumping... he was chased by a dog in the warm up which he thought was very exciting! When he went in the ring he jumped really well, he just made up too much distance down a line to an oxer and had the front rail so finished with 4faults. We withdrew him before the XC as it was too much of an ask first time out!
All our attentions moved towards Gingers XC... I watched the seniors on the big screen and it was causing chaos! I had decided to go long at the water as not many had attempted the straight route and it was early on in the course so it would have been a long way round if you had a 20 penalties there!
Ginger set off on the course and was flying, I then got held just before fence 15. The next fence was a double of corners on a tight right turn. Ginger had switched off during the hold and as I jumped the first corner she never looked at the second one and annoyingly ran past it. She then turned round and popped it easily, a very frustrating 20 penalties so I then just went in a nice rhythm round the rest of the course which she jumped brilliantly.
I added 20 jumping penalties and 19 time penalties which dropped me down to 15th.
I then had to hot foot it back (in my car this time!!) to Brand Hall to walk the showjumping track woth Grace!
By the time I arrived back at Bramham my bed was more than just calling me!!!
Ginger sailed through the Sunday morning trot up!
I walked the showjumping track and it was quite twisty with lots of related distances! As I met Yogi in the warm up arena we both had a laugh and said the course was not suited to Ginger and that maybe it was a good thing that I had not retained my lead as the chances of her jumping clear were slim to none (bearing in mind she has never showjumped a clear round on the final day before!)
This time though I had an incentive as Alex had said that if I jumped clear she would take me to The Ritz for dinner!!
As I entered the ring I wasn't sure what was going to happen!... Ginger jumped her socks off though and jumped a brilliant clear round!
As I came out Alex said that was the most expensive clear round I have jumped!!!!
So we are off to The Ritz!!!!
I was obviously thoroughly disappointed to have had my 20pens on the XC but now we know that with an incentive like Thr Ritz... Ginger can jump clear!!!!
JITTERBUG was next up and I was paired with George Whitaker in the Mix and Match... this is a fun class where the eventers jump out of the arena onto the XC course where they jump 7 XC fences and then back into the arena, where the showjumper then jumps a course and the whole thing is against the clock!
JITTERBUG has only had one novice run this season so it was a huge ask for her to jump 7 *** fences including into the water! She was amazing though and George went like a rocket but unfortunately roled a pole so we ended up 4th! £400 for us both meant it was fun and well worth it!!
Grace rounded off a good weekend by just rolling one pole to finish 5th in the British Pony Championships!
On Thursday, Rayef had his dressage, in the warm up arena he decided he couldn't possibly cope with people sat watching him and reversed around the arena acting like a 4yo!!! Alex had to lead him round once to show him they were infact people not monsters!!
After this he was working well, however none of us quite knew what to expect when he entered the arena!! He was however an angel!!!! He did one of his best tests and even managed to perform his flying changes without bucking!!! He scored a 42.5 which left him in 2nd place behind none other than Mark Todd!
Ginger came out on Friday and did her best test ever, she was soft, supple and really moving! She scored a 41.3 which put her into the lead by 4 marks from a Frenchman!
Immediately after my dressage I had to jump in my car and head 15minutes down the road to an airfield where Charlie Walker and his little plane were waiting to fly me to Brand Hall to walk the XC course with Grace... It was an experience... rather like being on a ride at Alton Towers, only it lasted 45 minutes!! I was not feeling so good when I arrived at Brand Hall!!
We walked the course and then back in the plane to trot Rayef up back at Bramham! The timing was spot on but mainly Thanks to Alex who had Rayef ready and waiting down at trot up, with Kate Honey at the ready just incase I didn't make it!!
Saturday morning began with Rayef showjumping... he was chased by a dog in the warm up which he thought was very exciting! When he went in the ring he jumped really well, he just made up too much distance down a line to an oxer and had the front rail so finished with 4faults. We withdrew him before the XC as it was too much of an ask first time out!
All our attentions moved towards Gingers XC... I watched the seniors on the big screen and it was causing chaos! I had decided to go long at the water as not many had attempted the straight route and it was early on in the course so it would have been a long way round if you had a 20 penalties there!
Ginger set off on the course and was flying, I then got held just before fence 15. The next fence was a double of corners on a tight right turn. Ginger had switched off during the hold and as I jumped the first corner she never looked at the second one and annoyingly ran past it. She then turned round and popped it easily, a very frustrating 20 penalties so I then just went in a nice rhythm round the rest of the course which she jumped brilliantly.
I added 20 jumping penalties and 19 time penalties which dropped me down to 15th.
I then had to hot foot it back (in my car this time!!) to Brand Hall to walk the showjumping track woth Grace!
By the time I arrived back at Bramham my bed was more than just calling me!!!
Ginger sailed through the Sunday morning trot up!
I walked the showjumping track and it was quite twisty with lots of related distances! As I met Yogi in the warm up arena we both had a laugh and said the course was not suited to Ginger and that maybe it was a good thing that I had not retained my lead as the chances of her jumping clear were slim to none (bearing in mind she has never showjumped a clear round on the final day before!)
This time though I had an incentive as Alex had said that if I jumped clear she would take me to The Ritz for dinner!!
As I entered the ring I wasn't sure what was going to happen!... Ginger jumped her socks off though and jumped a brilliant clear round!
As I came out Alex said that was the most expensive clear round I have jumped!!!!
So we are off to The Ritz!!!!
I was obviously thoroughly disappointed to have had my 20pens on the XC but now we know that with an incentive like Thr Ritz... Ginger can jump clear!!!!
JITTERBUG was next up and I was paired with George Whitaker in the Mix and Match... this is a fun class where the eventers jump out of the arena onto the XC course where they jump 7 XC fences and then back into the arena, where the showjumper then jumps a course and the whole thing is against the clock!
JITTERBUG has only had one novice run this season so it was a huge ask for her to jump 7 *** fences including into the water! She was amazing though and George went like a rocket but unfortunately roled a pole so we ended up 4th! £400 for us both meant it was fun and well worth it!!
Grace rounded off a good weekend by just rolling one pole to finish 5th in the British Pony Championships!
Wednesday 9 June 2010
Lots to catch up on!!
Since my last update ALOT has happened!!
Firstly we had a successful trip to Chatsworth... Ginger didn't win me the £50 from Kenneth for showjumping clear but she did only have 2 down and then flew round the XC which meant we were qualified for Bramham CCI***. Landro, Steve(Noble Bestman) and Mexico all went well with Steve picking up a 5th placing.
The following weekend we were at Mattingly with Minimee and Caster in the open Novice, Caster did a lovely double clear but not such a good dressage left him just out the top 10! Minimee was leading on a 25 going into XC but took a dislike to the white Polar Bear coming out of the water so unfortunatele picked up 20 pens. In the Novice Regional Final, Steve and Mexico both jumped double clear to finish 5th and 9th respectively.... This meant Steve qualified for the Novice Championships but sadly Mexico just missed out!
Next stop was Tattersalls, Ireland with Cristal and Jambi(Mere Oak)... They were both doing their first CCI** Under 25. Jambi was first to go and he was doing a super test until the second walk pirouette, the wind got caught of someones jacket outside the arena and it started flapping... Jambi thought this was terrifying and so messed up the pirouette and the last canter movement down the long side as he thought the 'monster' was still there!!!! He still ended up on 48.8 which was pleasing but annoying to think it could easily have been a 43!
Cristal was next and he can be spooky at home so I wasn't too sure how he would cope in the main arena,however horses love to prove me wrong and he went in and did a beautiful test, he did everything I asked of him and was really impressive. He shot straight into the lead with a 38.5.... This meant I was lying 1st and 2nd with my two boys after dressage!
The XC was a big bold test with lots of ditches and a tricky sunken road at fence 4. Jambi was first out, so I didn't get a chance to watch anyone else... He was absolutely flying round until we came to water complex 3 from home, he jumped the skinny, then I got him right back as 3 strides later was a big step down into water... Jambi never read it as a step and before I knew it we were submerged under the water!!
A quick change of clothes... Polly Stockton very kindly leant me her Body Protector, whilst Winston Williams ran up to the trade stands to get a new air cannister for my Point 2 air jacket!
Then it was a phone call to Yogi to find out what I did wrong.. he assured me that neither me or Jambi were to blame and that it was just unlucky!
He came down to the warm up for Cristal and said he had seen a few falls in the water and that I needed to make sure I had cristal in trot after the skinny and then soften my hands to allow him to look down the step!
I had a plan and I was really looking forward to running Cristal as he was feeling mega in the warm up!
He set off and felt incredible... he was like riding an old campaigner not an 8yo doing his first **!!
As I came to the water I knew my plan... I got him back and he popped the skinny, I had him right back in trot and then softened... he dropped his head to look but didn't jump down... he took a stride so landed on one front leg and lost his balance... he was trying really hard to stand up and I was still sat there waiting for him to find his feet but unfortunately he lost his back legs and fell.
Two duckings was not what i had planned at all..... Thankfully both horses were absolutely fine and we will all live to fight another day!
I had started to ask myself if I could have stayed on Cristal so the next morning I went to watch the video replay... I then realised that if I had stayed on him I would have been underneath him!!!!!
I was so cross that the water had punished the horses unnecessarily... neither of mine did anything wrong they just didn't read it right, along with a number of other horses who also fell.
Onwards and Upwards.....
Firstly we had a successful trip to Chatsworth... Ginger didn't win me the £50 from Kenneth for showjumping clear but she did only have 2 down and then flew round the XC which meant we were qualified for Bramham CCI***. Landro, Steve(Noble Bestman) and Mexico all went well with Steve picking up a 5th placing.
The following weekend we were at Mattingly with Minimee and Caster in the open Novice, Caster did a lovely double clear but not such a good dressage left him just out the top 10! Minimee was leading on a 25 going into XC but took a dislike to the white Polar Bear coming out of the water so unfortunatele picked up 20 pens. In the Novice Regional Final, Steve and Mexico both jumped double clear to finish 5th and 9th respectively.... This meant Steve qualified for the Novice Championships but sadly Mexico just missed out!
Next stop was Tattersalls, Ireland with Cristal and Jambi(Mere Oak)... They were both doing their first CCI** Under 25. Jambi was first to go and he was doing a super test until the second walk pirouette, the wind got caught of someones jacket outside the arena and it started flapping... Jambi thought this was terrifying and so messed up the pirouette and the last canter movement down the long side as he thought the 'monster' was still there!!!! He still ended up on 48.8 which was pleasing but annoying to think it could easily have been a 43!
Cristal was next and he can be spooky at home so I wasn't too sure how he would cope in the main arena,however horses love to prove me wrong and he went in and did a beautiful test, he did everything I asked of him and was really impressive. He shot straight into the lead with a 38.5.... This meant I was lying 1st and 2nd with my two boys after dressage!
The XC was a big bold test with lots of ditches and a tricky sunken road at fence 4. Jambi was first out, so I didn't get a chance to watch anyone else... He was absolutely flying round until we came to water complex 3 from home, he jumped the skinny, then I got him right back as 3 strides later was a big step down into water... Jambi never read it as a step and before I knew it we were submerged under the water!!
A quick change of clothes... Polly Stockton very kindly leant me her Body Protector, whilst Winston Williams ran up to the trade stands to get a new air cannister for my Point 2 air jacket!
Then it was a phone call to Yogi to find out what I did wrong.. he assured me that neither me or Jambi were to blame and that it was just unlucky!
He came down to the warm up for Cristal and said he had seen a few falls in the water and that I needed to make sure I had cristal in trot after the skinny and then soften my hands to allow him to look down the step!
I had a plan and I was really looking forward to running Cristal as he was feeling mega in the warm up!
He set off and felt incredible... he was like riding an old campaigner not an 8yo doing his first **!!
As I came to the water I knew my plan... I got him back and he popped the skinny, I had him right back in trot and then softened... he dropped his head to look but didn't jump down... he took a stride so landed on one front leg and lost his balance... he was trying really hard to stand up and I was still sat there waiting for him to find his feet but unfortunately he lost his back legs and fell.
Two duckings was not what i had planned at all..... Thankfully both horses were absolutely fine and we will all live to fight another day!
I had started to ask myself if I could have stayed on Cristal so the next morning I went to watch the video replay... I then realised that if I had stayed on him I would have been underneath him!!!!!
I was so cross that the water had punished the horses unnecessarily... neither of mine did anything wrong they just didn't read it right, along with a number of other horses who also fell.
Onwards and Upwards.....
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