Not to much to update here to be honest. I've been a bit quiet after Puhinui HT.
First off Pencil has had a pretty nasty virus, and I concluded I should NOT have run him at Puhinui, I knew it, but had entered on the basis of cost sharing with a friend and didn't want to let her down.
So he had close to 6 weeks to recover from that, I had the vet up nearing the end of April to consider using a drug that opens the lungs up to help prevent him coughing so I could continue working him, and maybe finish off the last two HT's of the season. I had entered. But low and behold - banned substance, and the withholding period was to long, so I scrapped that idea and just had him to the Chiro, pulled his shoes, did a few light hacks up the road, and have now turned him out.
I went in for surgery (Rotator cuff) on the 1st May, and I'm still in a sling now. I'm counting down the days to start riding. Being that it will be the worst of winter hitting as soon as I can ride, I decided (and I can't help myself) to still work Pencil in any manner I can. Hand walking was going to be easy with one hand, brought a halter I can get on with one hand and off I toddled. Until day 4 a bird flew out at him, he spun around into e, pushing me down a small drain where i suffered a dignity loss, a rope burn on my good arm, and radiating searing pain in my shoulder. **** me that hurt. So I left that for a week now, I'm not risking that again.
So I've fallen back to clicker training Pencil loves it. He will go to a target up to 5m away and return. I've had to read up a bit on where to go next with it, as I'm not confident in myself in this. The new book I read also had me go back a few steps and change a few things around. The ultimate thing I took from the book though is my lack of praising him - and likely his lack of understanding of what is praise. This has been addressed with the clicker easily. When he hits the jackpot, the tone, pitch and words I have been keeping the same, so he now (i Think) understands praise (YAY).
Fast forward to being 4 weeks post surgery and I'm starting to get antsy. So I put a "round pen" of tape and standard up in the paddock to free lunge. What makes me think that he "gets praise" is that I have been using a de gouge (through a halter type bridle not the bit), to have him travel more rounded. He has been doing so, but only travels the way i would like near the end of the session... so couple my new "tool" for praise, and free lunging I start using this as soon as he travels remotely how I would like, forward wither lifted, he lowered (not worrying about bend for now) and BINGO, within a 5 odd minute period he is travelling this way more and more often. Each time he goes there he gets praise, if he sustained it for a while, break and rest, recover. As the jackpot. Ended the session very happy indeed. Going to go repeat the lesson today. The goal is to have him move this way with no equipment on him (so easy).
I've charged the camera to do some show and tell in next few days. This has taken a long time one handed. Apologies for typo's
Wednesday, May 28, 2014
Tuesday, March 11, 2014
Puhinui Horse Trial 8/9 March
A 5.5 hour drive, and off to Puhinui Pencil and I go in the truck with Megs.
I was in two minds whether to go, with the cough from the lesson the day before, and how shitty I was feeling after the lesson I had. But some cool friends made me see the lesson for what it was. Passed on the note re Pencils cold and putting him in with another horse in the truck, and got the ok anyway, so off we went.
Dresage: It was OK. Literally just OK.
He was coughing a lot in warmup, and had a small meltdown over leaving the other horse behind. I had some really nice moments in the warmup, and some bloody terrible ones. About to enter into the arena, when the bell had gone... and low and behold- the tounge goes. On Jutta's advice, I had dropped the bit a hole, so some small 5m circles in walk at the entrance, and SOMEHOW, he put his tounge back - MONKEY. I didn't know if I was allowed to adjust my tack before going in once the bell rings.
So the OK test, was reflected in my very average mark 56.5% result. Very fair for the test I rode. My arena craft went out the window as I was trying to stay VERY soft in the hand and let him go around very softly lovely, rather than pushing into the corners and keeping him balance through leg/hand and risking another tounge flipping.
Megan daughter video'd for me (thankyou!) so here is my very average test... its a little wobbly :)
Showjumping I went to straight after the Dressage, I didn't walk the course (normal practice for me). Pencil didn't need much of a warmup, and there were about 10 down to go infront of me, so I put my name down. He took a couple of rails in the warmup, on the upright... not sure why, but he was pulling a little bit, and did leave it be with his cold (he was coughing again and the dust got pretty bad). Short and sweet. The round went ok, took one rail - but rubbed a few others. The one rail was MY fault, 100%. I came around the turn, so we were off, and didn't make a decision fast enough on what to do about it, so I kinda held, then went for it. I think if I had just waited for the fence to come to me, it would have been fine.
Video'd again (yay)...
XC day... this was interesting, as I heemed and hawed all night, and ALL day about riding or not. Was it fair, was it going to make his cough/cold worse... (there were green bogies over night). It wasn't a tough course at all, very easy full of simple logs and roll tops. So do I/don't I.... well I did, then almost regretted it when I fell of at the warm up fence. Pencil put in a dirty stop when he caught sight of his girlfriend to the left and weeee down I went. Held on to the bastard though, I wasn't going to be chasing him all over the show. Did the next ones nicely. Thanks for that buddy.
No normal photo's my battery died, but they weren't that exciting anyway. Had a almost stop at fence one (expected of course), and a few looks at the different ground coverings.... and then rocked on. Clear over all the fences, but 6.4 time penalties, I was just cruising him along with the cold thing and not worried about the time at all.
Eventful drive home, truck's alternator must have gone, and we died about a hour away from home. THANKYOU FIL, who came with 2 charge 12v batteries that got us home a couple hours later.
17th Place at the end of the day, with 28 riders in my class. A very Average result LOL. Got to fix that dressage.
Two more horse trials for the season for us, and heap of lessons/training to be done. 4 weeks to the next one, and I really want to improve the dressage by then.
I was in two minds whether to go, with the cough from the lesson the day before, and how shitty I was feeling after the lesson I had. But some cool friends made me see the lesson for what it was. Passed on the note re Pencils cold and putting him in with another horse in the truck, and got the ok anyway, so off we went.
Dresage: It was OK. Literally just OK.
He was coughing a lot in warmup, and had a small meltdown over leaving the other horse behind. I had some really nice moments in the warmup, and some bloody terrible ones. About to enter into the arena, when the bell had gone... and low and behold- the tounge goes. On Jutta's advice, I had dropped the bit a hole, so some small 5m circles in walk at the entrance, and SOMEHOW, he put his tounge back - MONKEY. I didn't know if I was allowed to adjust my tack before going in once the bell rings.
So the OK test, was reflected in my very average mark 56.5% result. Very fair for the test I rode. My arena craft went out the window as I was trying to stay VERY soft in the hand and let him go around very softly lovely, rather than pushing into the corners and keeping him balance through leg/hand and risking another tounge flipping.
Megan daughter video'd for me (thankyou!) so here is my very average test... its a little wobbly :)
Showjumping I went to straight after the Dressage, I didn't walk the course (normal practice for me). Pencil didn't need much of a warmup, and there were about 10 down to go infront of me, so I put my name down. He took a couple of rails in the warmup, on the upright... not sure why, but he was pulling a little bit, and did leave it be with his cold (he was coughing again and the dust got pretty bad). Short and sweet. The round went ok, took one rail - but rubbed a few others. The one rail was MY fault, 100%. I came around the turn, so we were off, and didn't make a decision fast enough on what to do about it, so I kinda held, then went for it. I think if I had just waited for the fence to come to me, it would have been fine.
Video'd again (yay)...
XC day... this was interesting, as I heemed and hawed all night, and ALL day about riding or not. Was it fair, was it going to make his cough/cold worse... (there were green bogies over night). It wasn't a tough course at all, very easy full of simple logs and roll tops. So do I/don't I.... well I did, then almost regretted it when I fell of at the warm up fence. Pencil put in a dirty stop when he caught sight of his girlfriend to the left and weeee down I went. Held on to the bastard though, I wasn't going to be chasing him all over the show. Did the next ones nicely. Thanks for that buddy.
No normal photo's my battery died, but they weren't that exciting anyway. Had a almost stop at fence one (expected of course), and a few looks at the different ground coverings.... and then rocked on. Clear over all the fences, but 6.4 time penalties, I was just cruising him along with the cold thing and not worried about the time at all.
Eventful drive home, truck's alternator must have gone, and we died about a hour away from home. THANKYOU FIL, who came with 2 charge 12v batteries that got us home a couple hours later.
17th Place at the end of the day, with 28 riders in my class. A very Average result LOL. Got to fix that dressage.
Two more horse trials for the season for us, and heap of lessons/training to be done. 4 weeks to the next one, and I really want to improve the dressage by then.
Lesson with Someone DIFFERENT
Well first off, I thought Pencil had been going ok. I know there is some root issues that HAVE to be addressed... I mean you aren't covered in the basics if your horse still flips his tounge over the bit. Maybe I should have had this "fixed" sooner, but for everyone I've had lessons with, has noted it, but got on with the lesson and other things anyway.
So a lesson with Jutta.... I got in last minute for one. I was a little nervous (that seems to be a theme). But what made it worse was Pencil was coughing a lot. Hymmm
So I get befuddled with lefts and rights and other things... and this lady had me confused straight away. If she asked what my issues were in how the horse goes, I could have said straight away. But I got confused. On the positive side - I wasn't TOLD what my issues were, I was questioned about my horses way of going (and felt pleased) that I got the answer straight away. I told her what I was having issues with, and why I thought so. Comes back to Pencil not being straight.... Yep, ok. I get that. But I'm not sure where on the scale of straightness she is talking in relation to Pencil is. I know its all interchangeable... but I haven't been really concerned about it as much as I have as getting him on the aids. Straightness is one under collection... he ain't near that collection right now.
What I did really like, is being yelled at (its a theme again) and sworn at, that I'm not staying balanced through his rough moments. YAY someone sees it, IRL and while I'm riding. And gets ME before they go to the horse - and the being pulled out of the saddle thing (ee my ears after that happening from the coughing).
So the lesson was all round really good. I did feel a bit dismayed when I was trying to address the tounge flipping and got told - its all you. When I go to my next lesson, I'm going to have no flash on, and a loose cavesson and see what happens when she rides... heck I can't ride up the road on no contact without him flipping the tounge. So while I understand what and why she said as much (I am after all the rider all the time, and he still does it so yes it is my fault), I wish that she had taken what I was trying to say on board a little more. But I will be going back for lessons (and a bruised ego), because its the first lesson I've EVER had - where I was the issue. Not something the horse was doing. YAY.
So a lesson with Jutta.... I got in last minute for one. I was a little nervous (that seems to be a theme). But what made it worse was Pencil was coughing a lot. Hymmm
So I get befuddled with lefts and rights and other things... and this lady had me confused straight away. If she asked what my issues were in how the horse goes, I could have said straight away. But I got confused. On the positive side - I wasn't TOLD what my issues were, I was questioned about my horses way of going (and felt pleased) that I got the answer straight away. I told her what I was having issues with, and why I thought so. Comes back to Pencil not being straight.... Yep, ok. I get that. But I'm not sure where on the scale of straightness she is talking in relation to Pencil is. I know its all interchangeable... but I haven't been really concerned about it as much as I have as getting him on the aids. Straightness is one under collection... he ain't near that collection right now.
What I did really like, is being yelled at (its a theme again) and sworn at, that I'm not staying balanced through his rough moments. YAY someone sees it, IRL and while I'm riding. And gets ME before they go to the horse - and the being pulled out of the saddle thing (ee my ears after that happening from the coughing).
So the lesson was all round really good. I did feel a bit dismayed when I was trying to address the tounge flipping and got told - its all you. When I go to my next lesson, I'm going to have no flash on, and a loose cavesson and see what happens when she rides... heck I can't ride up the road on no contact without him flipping the tounge. So while I understand what and why she said as much (I am after all the rider all the time, and he still does it so yes it is my fault), I wish that she had taken what I was trying to say on board a little more. But I will be going back for lessons (and a bruised ego), because its the first lesson I've EVER had - where I was the issue. Not something the horse was doing. YAY.
Thursday, February 27, 2014
Part 2 - Long awaited finishing...
Part 2 starts with some fun, after the horse trial while I was hanging around waiting for friends to leave, we got talking, and it was decided that we were to take the horses 15mins away and go for a swim in the lake.
I've never been "swimming" with a horse, although I have taken them in water at the beach, and further to that Pencil has only ever seen water jumps!
So much fun had in the water! And without further waiting... Pictures!!
It was absolutly beautiful to take them down to the lake for the swim! I had a absolute blast :)
Sadly, Megz went home, and I took Pencil to a friends place who backed onto Landcorp land... so that evening Pencil got to stay in a paddock instead of a yard, which I was so relieved about.
The next day, we went for a ride through the Pine Trees on the landcorp land... was a fantastic ride. I did think it was going to be a stroll in the trees, but the rider I was with had a different idea, and we blasted up a few hills giggling and whacking trees out of our face, and trying to avoid blackberry!
Come Tuesday morning, the day for the clinic with Lucinda Green (nee Palmer), I was pretty darn nervous.
There were a myrid of things at the Clinic I felt I did wrong, but better I did it wrong and got things corrected and got my moneys worth, rather than sitting there watching others being taught.
I was going to go to into details about everything, but its not that important to be honest. What is important is what I took away from the clinic.
The first day was to focus on having the horse looking for the fence, looking where they are going - getting them to search out the next fence..... Pencil and I were NOT very good at this. I also got told off that he keeps pulling me out of the saddle (not new). I got yelled at a bit for letting Pencil go past a skinny. If they skip off the side, I got told to not keep on riding and circling back, because you haven't made a correction of any type - even re-inforced that its ok to do that. So I had to slam on the breaks, and back the horse up. Then jump it again. Once that was sorted out better.... it was a foward canter over a fence, a few strides over a skinny, over a side of a corner then out the back side of a double... the line was something else! We got it reasonably easy... but not by looking for the fences... so had to do it again.
Day two, was interesting - within the first 10mins I was yelled at "didn't we spend two hours teaching you this yesterday!" (blush). If you walk down a bank, you walk up a bank. If you trot down a bank, you only trot UP the bank (or any combination) was the first words of advice, or it leads to teaching the horse to rush. So I was walking up and down and in and out for a bit... and then promptly got asked how often I fall off... shoulders back - I was going down the bank before the horse was. So that got addressed. What I liked about using the banks, was how we had to leave the horses completely alone. They had to make a mistake.. and it related straight to the water fence later on. To teach a horse to go up/down banks we were told to pretty much drop the contact and just sit. Do nothing. Let the horses figure out how to get the legs out, especially with waves in the water. Something I had been thinking I needed help with as Pencil had been leaping out into water jumps. But once he stumbled, and steped, leaped and scrambled.. (it was only 2 times up the bank really) he figured it out and was now nicely popping up and down banks, and the water jump. Focus on where we were going was not forgotten, with the use of two drums and a narrow gap to get the horses through on the up and down side of the water.
Had a good galloping and play to finish off with, and a summary with Lucinda. We both agreed my horse is a little thick at times :) .... and that I'm a bit slow on it as well LOL... in my reactions that is. RIDE Pip RIDE.
I've never been "swimming" with a horse, although I have taken them in water at the beach, and further to that Pencil has only ever seen water jumps!
So much fun had in the water! And without further waiting... Pictures!!
Sadly, Megz went home, and I took Pencil to a friends place who backed onto Landcorp land... so that evening Pencil got to stay in a paddock instead of a yard, which I was so relieved about.
The next day, we went for a ride through the Pine Trees on the landcorp land... was a fantastic ride. I did think it was going to be a stroll in the trees, but the rider I was with had a different idea, and we blasted up a few hills giggling and whacking trees out of our face, and trying to avoid blackberry!
Come Tuesday morning, the day for the clinic with Lucinda Green (nee Palmer), I was pretty darn nervous.
There were a myrid of things at the Clinic I felt I did wrong, but better I did it wrong and got things corrected and got my moneys worth, rather than sitting there watching others being taught.
I was going to go to into details about everything, but its not that important to be honest. What is important is what I took away from the clinic.
The first day was to focus on having the horse looking for the fence, looking where they are going - getting them to search out the next fence..... Pencil and I were NOT very good at this. I also got told off that he keeps pulling me out of the saddle (not new). I got yelled at a bit for letting Pencil go past a skinny. If they skip off the side, I got told to not keep on riding and circling back, because you haven't made a correction of any type - even re-inforced that its ok to do that. So I had to slam on the breaks, and back the horse up. Then jump it again. Once that was sorted out better.... it was a foward canter over a fence, a few strides over a skinny, over a side of a corner then out the back side of a double... the line was something else! We got it reasonably easy... but not by looking for the fences... so had to do it again.
Day two, was interesting - within the first 10mins I was yelled at "didn't we spend two hours teaching you this yesterday!" (blush). If you walk down a bank, you walk up a bank. If you trot down a bank, you only trot UP the bank (or any combination) was the first words of advice, or it leads to teaching the horse to rush. So I was walking up and down and in and out for a bit... and then promptly got asked how often I fall off... shoulders back - I was going down the bank before the horse was. So that got addressed. What I liked about using the banks, was how we had to leave the horses completely alone. They had to make a mistake.. and it related straight to the water fence later on. To teach a horse to go up/down banks we were told to pretty much drop the contact and just sit. Do nothing. Let the horses figure out how to get the legs out, especially with waves in the water. Something I had been thinking I needed help with as Pencil had been leaping out into water jumps. But once he stumbled, and steped, leaped and scrambled.. (it was only 2 times up the bank really) he figured it out and was now nicely popping up and down banks, and the water jump. Focus on where we were going was not forgotten, with the use of two drums and a narrow gap to get the horses through on the up and down side of the water.
Had a good galloping and play to finish off with, and a summary with Lucinda. We both agreed my horse is a little thick at times :) .... and that I'm a bit slow on it as well LOL... in my reactions that is. RIDE Pip RIDE.
Monday, February 10, 2014
Waitemata Horse Trial - Part 1
I'm going to break this up into two parts... the first part being the horse trial that I went to over the weekend, and Part 2 for the clinic I attended in Taupo a day after the HT.
First things first though - I have updated the Central District Horse Trial blog with photo's from the photographer there. Sometimes I thank my lucky stars my horse is athletic enough - the photo coming over the hedge he has a wicked twist going on - some of this is due to coming in crooked, and part coming from trot... least I look secure up there! Anywhoo...
Friday was the drive up, it seemed to take FOREVER!! I left plenty early enough, and had next to no traffic to deal with on the roads, but the amount of road works was phenominal! So what should have been about 4.5hr drive came to almost 5.5 hrs as I had to stop for 20mins at one stage while they were spraying tar. I was thankful that I had carried water on me as it was hot, so I got out while stopped poured Pencil a drink and had some lunch myself while I waited. I was a smidge creeped out as I was the only car waiting for the entire 20mins and the lollie-pop men weren't that enticing.. in fact down right intimidating! Behind the dark sunnies, and toothless smiles I'm sure they were nice, and seemed nice enough when I greated them.. but still I looked around several time looking for another person to come up behind me!
Arrived, and was about the 5th to arrived, so drove around until I found my yard (right next to the poo pile darn it, and halfway between the 3 water supplies - double darn it). But the yard was large, and the base good. Unloaded, walked P-man around for a bit to stretch his legs and nibble on the non-existant grass there. Put him up with water and hay, and went for a walk to check the place out, its been a few years since I've been there. Found the SJ arena, and dressage arenas. Went back, tacked up and took P-man out to stretch his legs and have a look around the place. I wasn't intending on doing any schooling, but changed my mind last minute and decided to re-inforce the lesson from the day before. I didn't get him pinging as well as the lesson, but I didn't want to ask to much either. Hosed him off, feed and sorted out my gear/vehicle and put my bed down in the back of the car.
Friend arrived just after riding, so gave her a hand with the horse, and joined them for tea - YUM. I wasn't on until 10:14 the next morning, so I didn't need to plait, but I banded the sections as I've learnt it helps the mane lay flat for plaiting - especially after washing it day before last.(fuzzy monkey!!).
I didn't sleep to well, I had one less blanket down than the week before and my hip noticed it big time, so comes to 5:45 in the morning and I was up! I was hurting :(
Fed P-man, and took him out for a walk around to stretch legs again, put him back and plaited up. I get really antsy when I have to much time to wait before I ride... and thats what happened this morning.. mega ants in my pants! Got on a little bit early, and just walked around for a bit longer than I normally would. Pencil warmed up ok, not stella but after the last weekend failures I was determined not to go that way again. So we put some decent effort into it, and got mouthfuls and nosefulls of dust flying off the warmup arena, and got run into a few times... and as the rider before me went I gradually made my way over and carried on riding transistion and thinking bend and flex, leg and flex - no outside rein to keep him over. Time to go in, and as soon as I got to the arena he started to rush, whether thats my nerves notching up, or a different area to ride in, who knows, but another lap of the arena with the bend and flex mantra going, as well as "sitting on the marshmellow" to keep my rising slow we settles back into a good rhythm. Toot, and in we enter - this was a 60x20m arena an when you enter on a horse that isn't that straight - thats a hell of a long long long straight line to ride.... how to go straight - go faster! So thats what I did, I powered down that center line, and while I knew it wouldn't aid me at the far end for the turn, we only had one wobble! Most of the test went pretty good, the first canter we had a whoops when the gravel/sand hit the plastic... I didn't think he broke then, comments said we did and only got a 4 there (bummer). I was pretty happy with it as I could tell he wasn't being fussy in the mouth this time, and he was pretty well infront of my leg and on the aids so he was pretty good. Got a few more 8's for the 15m trot circle, and the free walk, and medium walk. YAY. 13th Place out of the 30 riders, I was quite happy with that, although I was hoping for top ten.
I could have stayed on and gone straight to the SJ in ten minutes, but the ring was open for 3 hours, so I decided to get off and give him a break and it meant I could help my friend through her dressage. Helped her warm up and she did a lovely test which I'm really pleased for her. So went back, tacked up and went to warm up for SJ. I had walked the course the night before (although not 100% on it, it was the same once I had watched a couple of rider through). This time, warmup was not about going for it. I wanted round, rhythm, and attentive. Got that - Yay, and he jumped nicely and I was counting out loud (not that I realised it). In the ring, and I knew they were ringing the bell fast - so I picked up canter quickly and put him on the cirlce straight away getting him a little deep and soft. Bell rang and off we went. I was happy with the round except for one related line he got long and strung out and left a back foot and took a rail. Doh.
Blobbed out for the rest of the day, helped Megz by holding her horse while she walked the SJ, and walked the xc. I slept in the truck this time on the couch rather than my car again - thank goodness for that!
XC day... oh vey... I wasn't running until 11:30 ish or so, and I got massive ants in my pants, a couple of fences had me worried....
Course plan:
Fence 1, quite decent and designed to get rolling. A little hard for P-man as we had to gallop right alongside all the horses in the warmup ring and then had maybe 30m to cover where the horses were left behind. He was pretty good, he got a little sticky but I sat closed my legs and gave a cluck and we cantered on over (OMG fall down dead, he cantered over the first fence! horraaah!)
Fence 2, you can see it in the distance in above, again should be a easy gallop fence to get rolling, but still being in the vacinity of warmup area and other horses... and boogey men in the trees, plenty to look at and be sticky about... back to trotting over this :/ oh well
Fence 3.... I knew this was going to be hard... it was a loop back towards the start box, between fence 1 for other classes of which one was bright green barrels, and then a turn away from all the horses and "home". And rightly so, I had so so much trouble with him here, first we came around and he saw all the horses and tried to shoot off, then we wiggled and jumped to the side past the green jump, then jumped back from the big jump on the left, and stared/fixated on the horse in the start box, so I'm hauling trying to get him around the corner, and boom - a jump was there before he knew it and he hadn't even seen it! Stopped. BASTARD, quick circle around and over it we went... idiot.
Fence 4, nothing to much to worry about here, maybe looking at the one beside it, and maybe still worried about leaving home. but time to start getting into the swing of things and looking for the fences now. which he did, a little wiggly coming up to it, but cantered over it nicely.
Fence 5, coffin on a curving line. Not to worried about this fence, aim to come in slow so I have steering and just pop through it quietly. Often I used to find myself chasing a horse through these, but have since learnt differently. He went through lovely, cantered A, trotted down to B, and trotted out over c :) I did wonder when walking if he would look at the sand put down, but needn't have worried, he was starting to look for fences now.
Fence 6, shiver me timbers.... argh, put the ambulance next to it ready to cart me off to hospital. I was packing myself. For what looks a relatively straight forward and simple gallop fence, had me packing myself and wondering why I do this sport... Not only was it a large steeple chase fence, it had a distinct downward slope to it, and a hairy ugly corner for another class to distract the horse right before it. This is where I also question my judgement as well, do I slow down to keep him straight, or kick on and run at it as fast as possible on a wish and a prayer?? I ended up doing something in the middle, yes he scattled sideways at the other fence mentioned, so I half halted and then kicked on. He ALMOST stopped at the base and went for it at the last moment eeeekkkk, it was a climber because I was a large fence, he rapped his back legs hard on it. One part of me thought - good you will pick them up in future, next part was "don't canter away lame, please dont be lame" I'm telling you that picture makes it look small. Looking at the results for my class there were 6 stops here.
Fence 8, is the bank complex, relatively simple, down, curve a line and up a bank. All I had to think on this one was to pull up enough that I was sure he had seen it, and not let the reins go to far so as to miss the turn for up the bank, I do not ever want to angle banks, if they hang a leg and catch it - eek. Had to get onto it straight, plenty of room to do so though so not a major.
Fence 9, a cool fun fence to power up the hill to and pop over :) not much to it. A nice reprieve. Second one from the left was mine.
Fence 10, water fence - more questions to be asked. I still go slow into the water after he power launched it one day which said to me he isn't confident yet. But on the other hand that worried me, as a rather large fence on the exit of the a.b.c combo. Never mind though, we are used to trotting fences XC LOL. In the water, I TRIED to get him moving through it, but didn't happen, out cluck cluck to him and over the fence out, to gasps from the on-lookers - my clever pony!
Fence 11, heading back towards the trucks, a good gallop space and off we went, cantered this! Yay
Fence 12, similar fence to above, although can't power over it as it was a land and turn so we don't hit the fence.
Fence 13 - heading away from the trucks again, and it was a drop fence, with sand in front, so figured a little sticky here was to be expected, and rightly so.. we popped over it (still from canter - YAY pony)
Fence 14, at the bottom of the hill, and its a bit odd shaped, wasn't to worried, just had in mind to keep straight and push on for it. I think we trotted over this in the end, I can't quite remember for sure. But he jumped it in good form :)
Fence 15 AB... the next reson for the ambulance to come park up LOL. No not as bad, but a fence I was still questioning whether it would go well or not. There was a option and had he been sticker, would have gone for the option... but I went ahead and gave it a go... what I DID NOT account for was crossing a driveway/path 3 strides before hand and Pencil looking at the frigging driveway and scuking back from that..so much for keeping his eyes up!
So he stopped dead at it, I kept him straight, he just plain ole stopped - naughty! I whipped him around quickly, and didn't the option which was a time thing, but cause we trot fences often we were SUPER QUICK!
Fence 16 - last fence, and it was as easy gallop fence, YAY all done.
I never checked the scoring until it was to late, but they mucked up my time, so was eliminated on taking 2 x the allowed time (I emailed them to find out why), wasn't me, and there was no way I took twice as long even with the 2 stops. Not concerned about it as not even near placing...
Part 2 coming later :)
First things first though - I have updated the Central District Horse Trial blog with photo's from the photographer there. Sometimes I thank my lucky stars my horse is athletic enough - the photo coming over the hedge he has a wicked twist going on - some of this is due to coming in crooked, and part coming from trot... least I look secure up there! Anywhoo...
Friday was the drive up, it seemed to take FOREVER!! I left plenty early enough, and had next to no traffic to deal with on the roads, but the amount of road works was phenominal! So what should have been about 4.5hr drive came to almost 5.5 hrs as I had to stop for 20mins at one stage while they were spraying tar. I was thankful that I had carried water on me as it was hot, so I got out while stopped poured Pencil a drink and had some lunch myself while I waited. I was a smidge creeped out as I was the only car waiting for the entire 20mins and the lollie-pop men weren't that enticing.. in fact down right intimidating! Behind the dark sunnies, and toothless smiles I'm sure they were nice, and seemed nice enough when I greated them.. but still I looked around several time looking for another person to come up behind me!
Arrived, and was about the 5th to arrived, so drove around until I found my yard (right next to the poo pile darn it, and halfway between the 3 water supplies - double darn it). But the yard was large, and the base good. Unloaded, walked P-man around for a bit to stretch his legs and nibble on the non-existant grass there. Put him up with water and hay, and went for a walk to check the place out, its been a few years since I've been there. Found the SJ arena, and dressage arenas. Went back, tacked up and took P-man out to stretch his legs and have a look around the place. I wasn't intending on doing any schooling, but changed my mind last minute and decided to re-inforce the lesson from the day before. I didn't get him pinging as well as the lesson, but I didn't want to ask to much either. Hosed him off, feed and sorted out my gear/vehicle and put my bed down in the back of the car.
Friend arrived just after riding, so gave her a hand with the horse, and joined them for tea - YUM. I wasn't on until 10:14 the next morning, so I didn't need to plait, but I banded the sections as I've learnt it helps the mane lay flat for plaiting - especially after washing it day before last.(fuzzy monkey!!).
I didn't sleep to well, I had one less blanket down than the week before and my hip noticed it big time, so comes to 5:45 in the morning and I was up! I was hurting :(
Fed P-man, and took him out for a walk around to stretch legs again, put him back and plaited up. I get really antsy when I have to much time to wait before I ride... and thats what happened this morning.. mega ants in my pants! Got on a little bit early, and just walked around for a bit longer than I normally would. Pencil warmed up ok, not stella but after the last weekend failures I was determined not to go that way again. So we put some decent effort into it, and got mouthfuls and nosefulls of dust flying off the warmup arena, and got run into a few times... and as the rider before me went I gradually made my way over and carried on riding transistion and thinking bend and flex, leg and flex - no outside rein to keep him over. Time to go in, and as soon as I got to the arena he started to rush, whether thats my nerves notching up, or a different area to ride in, who knows, but another lap of the arena with the bend and flex mantra going, as well as "sitting on the marshmellow" to keep my rising slow we settles back into a good rhythm. Toot, and in we enter - this was a 60x20m arena an when you enter on a horse that isn't that straight - thats a hell of a long long long straight line to ride.... how to go straight - go faster! So thats what I did, I powered down that center line, and while I knew it wouldn't aid me at the far end for the turn, we only had one wobble! Most of the test went pretty good, the first canter we had a whoops when the gravel/sand hit the plastic... I didn't think he broke then, comments said we did and only got a 4 there (bummer). I was pretty happy with it as I could tell he wasn't being fussy in the mouth this time, and he was pretty well infront of my leg and on the aids so he was pretty good. Got a few more 8's for the 15m trot circle, and the free walk, and medium walk. YAY. 13th Place out of the 30 riders, I was quite happy with that, although I was hoping for top ten.
I could have stayed on and gone straight to the SJ in ten minutes, but the ring was open for 3 hours, so I decided to get off and give him a break and it meant I could help my friend through her dressage. Helped her warm up and she did a lovely test which I'm really pleased for her. So went back, tacked up and went to warm up for SJ. I had walked the course the night before (although not 100% on it, it was the same once I had watched a couple of rider through). This time, warmup was not about going for it. I wanted round, rhythm, and attentive. Got that - Yay, and he jumped nicely and I was counting out loud (not that I realised it). In the ring, and I knew they were ringing the bell fast - so I picked up canter quickly and put him on the cirlce straight away getting him a little deep and soft. Bell rang and off we went. I was happy with the round except for one related line he got long and strung out and left a back foot and took a rail. Doh.
Blobbed out for the rest of the day, helped Megz by holding her horse while she walked the SJ, and walked the xc. I slept in the truck this time on the couch rather than my car again - thank goodness for that!
XC day... oh vey... I wasn't running until 11:30 ish or so, and I got massive ants in my pants, a couple of fences had me worried....
Course plan:
Fence 1, quite decent and designed to get rolling. A little hard for P-man as we had to gallop right alongside all the horses in the warmup ring and then had maybe 30m to cover where the horses were left behind. He was pretty good, he got a little sticky but I sat closed my legs and gave a cluck and we cantered on over (OMG fall down dead, he cantered over the first fence! horraaah!)
Fence 2, you can see it in the distance in above, again should be a easy gallop fence to get rolling, but still being in the vacinity of warmup area and other horses... and boogey men in the trees, plenty to look at and be sticky about... back to trotting over this :/ oh well
Fence 5, coffin on a curving line. Not to worried about this fence, aim to come in slow so I have steering and just pop through it quietly. Often I used to find myself chasing a horse through these, but have since learnt differently. He went through lovely, cantered A, trotted down to B, and trotted out over c :) I did wonder when walking if he would look at the sand put down, but needn't have worried, he was starting to look for fences now.
Fence 7, not overly worried, rail over a ditch, the jump was small enough if he trotted in, and the ditch shallow, almost non-existant for the world of Pencil. The hardest part about it, coming off the turn to face it after a good gallop stretch. Popped over this from trot at the last minute. And then we rocketed on afterwards!
Fence 8, is the bank complex, relatively simple, down, curve a line and up a bank. All I had to think on this one was to pull up enough that I was sure he had seen it, and not let the reins go to far so as to miss the turn for up the bank, I do not ever want to angle banks, if they hang a leg and catch it - eek. Had to get onto it straight, plenty of room to do so though so not a major.
Fence 9, a cool fun fence to power up the hill to and pop over :) not much to it. A nice reprieve. Second one from the left was mine.
Fence 10, water fence - more questions to be asked. I still go slow into the water after he power launched it one day which said to me he isn't confident yet. But on the other hand that worried me, as a rather large fence on the exit of the a.b.c combo. Never mind though, we are used to trotting fences XC LOL. In the water, I TRIED to get him moving through it, but didn't happen, out cluck cluck to him and over the fence out, to gasps from the on-lookers - my clever pony!
Fence 11, heading back towards the trucks, a good gallop space and off we went, cantered this! Yay
Fence 12, similar fence to above, although can't power over it as it was a land and turn so we don't hit the fence.
Fence 15 AB... the next reson for the ambulance to come park up LOL. No not as bad, but a fence I was still questioning whether it would go well or not. There was a option and had he been sticker, would have gone for the option... but I went ahead and gave it a go... what I DID NOT account for was crossing a driveway/path 3 strides before hand and Pencil looking at the frigging driveway and scuking back from that..so much for keeping his eyes up!
So he stopped dead at it, I kept him straight, he just plain ole stopped - naughty! I whipped him around quickly, and didn't the option which was a time thing, but cause we trot fences often we were SUPER QUICK!
Fence 16 - last fence, and it was as easy gallop fence, YAY all done.
I never checked the scoring until it was to late, but they mucked up my time, so was eliminated on taking 2 x the allowed time (I emailed them to find out why), wasn't me, and there was no way I took twice as long even with the 2 stops. Not concerned about it as not even near placing...
Part 2 coming later :)
Thursday, January 30, 2014
Trainer C - another lesson - oh vey
Today I had a lesson booked in with a lady I've never lessoned (is that a word?) with before. She is recommended by friends who do do very well with their horses, and has also ridden a bit of everything including eventing. I've seen her kids go and always admired them.
It was a dressage lesson, and we had a rope arena up (yay), and it was a long one 60 x 20m. I haven't even LOOKED at my dressage test for this up coming weekend didn't even think about it when booking my class... and whoops, maybe I should have.
Its NZ eventing test A3... trot in, track left change rein H to B, 15m trot circle, change rein B to K, walk over L. Canter before A, P 20m circle give inside rein over V, B change rein, I trot through to H - rinse repeat above on other rein, except back at C after cantering, walk, S 20m circle on long rein, E trot, V half Circle to L, X halt salute.
A few things, YAY there is no changes of rein from H-F etc - that's a long long way to keep a wiggly horse straight, same for going down the long sides, to took AGES to get it today. Noted, do NOT use the outside rein to keep him over, inside rein to flex and inside leg to push him over. I must must MUST remember this.
So the lesson went really well, it had ugly moments, but what was nice is that I was not forgotten, even when Pencil was having fits, and resisting I got reminded to sit tall, keep the elbows in, hands down and thumbs on top... this is while the horse is reefing on me, or throwing pig roots...
After the customary time that Pencil likes to say - ENOUGH, it is time to flip my tongue over the bit and get a rest! We tried to work through it, but after boot camp yesterday with sprints, and a session at the gym today for a hour I was buggered about not, hip started to get tight... and it wasn't going well -Trainer decided to hop on to have a feel... half way through that - you must ride this horse better than I do - he is so wiggly, not straight, and ***K it went for the 15 mins. She didn't have spurs on and found him a little hard work (OK a lot).
I jumped back on, and got some BEAUTIFUL work from him, I actually felt like I had a short coupled horse instead of a long gangly galloot!
Got home, washed him (with shampoo even) and it didn't take me hours today dancing around his hooves, must be tired and just did a few dances, even got the mane and tail washed. I promptly let him go in the paddock full of grass, thinking if he rolls (likely) its not on dirt/dust.. he found the one spot the grass was thin on and voila dirty! Only on one side.
While I was chatting after my ride, teacher said - you need to fix that tail and trim it up. So i decided to have a go at it when I got home, I must say I'm proud of how I've done it. I'll take a picture over the weekend and show and tell. :)
Now I need to finish packing, shower, pick the husband up and get some sleep, I want to be on the road by ten tomorrow morning. Think its about 4.5 hours to to Taupo with the float on... maybe more like 4.
It was a dressage lesson, and we had a rope arena up (yay), and it was a long one 60 x 20m. I haven't even LOOKED at my dressage test for this up coming weekend didn't even think about it when booking my class... and whoops, maybe I should have.
Its NZ eventing test A3... trot in, track left change rein H to B, 15m trot circle, change rein B to K, walk over L. Canter before A, P 20m circle give inside rein over V, B change rein, I trot through to H - rinse repeat above on other rein, except back at C after cantering, walk, S 20m circle on long rein, E trot, V half Circle to L, X halt salute.
A few things, YAY there is no changes of rein from H-F etc - that's a long long way to keep a wiggly horse straight, same for going down the long sides, to took AGES to get it today. Noted, do NOT use the outside rein to keep him over, inside rein to flex and inside leg to push him over. I must must MUST remember this.
So the lesson went really well, it had ugly moments, but what was nice is that I was not forgotten, even when Pencil was having fits, and resisting I got reminded to sit tall, keep the elbows in, hands down and thumbs on top... this is while the horse is reefing on me, or throwing pig roots...
After the customary time that Pencil likes to say - ENOUGH, it is time to flip my tongue over the bit and get a rest! We tried to work through it, but after boot camp yesterday with sprints, and a session at the gym today for a hour I was buggered about not, hip started to get tight... and it wasn't going well -Trainer decided to hop on to have a feel... half way through that - you must ride this horse better than I do - he is so wiggly, not straight, and ***K it went for the 15 mins. She didn't have spurs on and found him a little hard work (OK a lot).
I jumped back on, and got some BEAUTIFUL work from him, I actually felt like I had a short coupled horse instead of a long gangly galloot!
Got home, washed him (with shampoo even) and it didn't take me hours today dancing around his hooves, must be tired and just did a few dances, even got the mane and tail washed. I promptly let him go in the paddock full of grass, thinking if he rolls (likely) its not on dirt/dust.. he found the one spot the grass was thin on and voila dirty! Only on one side.
While I was chatting after my ride, teacher said - you need to fix that tail and trim it up. So i decided to have a go at it when I got home, I must say I'm proud of how I've done it. I'll take a picture over the weekend and show and tell. :)
Now I need to finish packing, shower, pick the husband up and get some sleep, I want to be on the road by ten tomorrow morning. Think its about 4.5 hours to to Taupo with the float on... maybe more like 4.
Wednesday, January 29, 2014
Back to on time and Lesson back with Trainer B
So after what I considered a flop last weekend... I rang and grabbed a lesson with Trainer B today...
It went really really well, short sweet and to the point!
Started of in trot on both reins spirraling in, and leg yeilding out - easy peasy.
Same in canter - this is where is amazes me sometimes, one thing - one little itty bity thing can make such a big difference. I explained how he had been leaning on me... so for the circle to the right, all the trainer told me was, don't let the inside contact go, and allow with the outside to let him keep coming. BING! Got it straight away.
Next we had 3 poles set up in a bounce, 3 strides to another pole, 5 strides to the last pole, angles were all a bit funny - but made me ride. Took a few times through before we got that.
Following on from that, the first single pole went up to a small fence, as did the last two pole through the bounce. Canter through that twice, then carry on back through the bounces and straight for 3 strides to a oxer, 20m half circle to the next oxer - YAY good pony straight through that.
Rinse, repeat - add in another line - continue after the oxer through change of rein to the right, 15m turn off the end and back up over two verticles one stride apart. Done, not perfect, but he left his knees down over the first verticle, and rubbed, learned and picked them right up over the second verticle! Repeat one more time.
Change things up a little... over a tiny icky thing that set one stride off the rail going across shortways... make the turn to the left around the end to the second oxer (I'm going to put a picture in of the arena now so it makes sense), land go to the right over the verticles again, land to the left back to the same oxer, to the right, through the bounces and over the last oxer. Fence height went up significantly for this... rubbed them, and we lost rhythm through the bounce so we did it one more time.
PERFECT - such a clever pony, and the trainer was really really positive.. considering last lesson I had with her, I got yelled at, told to get off the horse and convinced to leave it there for training for a week with her!!
Another lesson tomorrow with someone different again that has been recommended to me before the next horse trial in the weekend. I'm half packed to go already!
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It went really really well, short sweet and to the point!
Started of in trot on both reins spirraling in, and leg yeilding out - easy peasy.
Same in canter - this is where is amazes me sometimes, one thing - one little itty bity thing can make such a big difference. I explained how he had been leaning on me... so for the circle to the right, all the trainer told me was, don't let the inside contact go, and allow with the outside to let him keep coming. BING! Got it straight away.
Next we had 3 poles set up in a bounce, 3 strides to another pole, 5 strides to the last pole, angles were all a bit funny - but made me ride. Took a few times through before we got that.
Following on from that, the first single pole went up to a small fence, as did the last two pole through the bounce. Canter through that twice, then carry on back through the bounces and straight for 3 strides to a oxer, 20m half circle to the next oxer - YAY good pony straight through that.
Rinse, repeat - add in another line - continue after the oxer through change of rein to the right, 15m turn off the end and back up over two verticles one stride apart. Done, not perfect, but he left his knees down over the first verticle, and rubbed, learned and picked them right up over the second verticle! Repeat one more time.
Change things up a little... over a tiny icky thing that set one stride off the rail going across shortways... make the turn to the left around the end to the second oxer (I'm going to put a picture in of the arena now so it makes sense), land go to the right over the verticles again, land to the left back to the same oxer, to the right, through the bounces and over the last oxer. Fence height went up significantly for this... rubbed them, and we lost rhythm through the bounce so we did it one more time.
PERFECT - such a clever pony, and the trainer was really really positive.. considering last lesson I had with her, I got yelled at, told to get off the horse and convinced to leave it there for training for a week with her!!
Another lesson tomorrow with someone different again that has been recommended to me before the next horse trial in the weekend. I'm half packed to go already!
26 Jan 2014 - Central Districts Horse Trial
New Season started with the Central Districts Horse Trial in the weekend just been!!!
Quick update (10.02.2014 - photos added)
Few days late but the weekend can be considered a success... or not depending on how you look at it :/ I was wanting to wait for results to be posted so I knew where we ended up overall, but I haven't seen them yet.
Saturday was the drive down, and my oh my, after a hour I almost turned around and went home. Pencil was NOT happy.... when I stopped to see what was going on about 20mins into the 3.5 hour drive the pin had come out of the bum bar again and it meant the partition was swinging open/shut on him... so that would account for all the moving around he was going, got some twine and tied the darn thing to the bum bar and the other side and off we went again. He was better but still not standing still like he normally does, and a lot of either pawing or stomping going on, pulled over to check on him again thinking maybe the twine has snapped - nope nothing. So I just shrugged my shoulder and drove on trying to ignore the stomping and carrying on as much as possible before it got me stressed out - I had to remind my self to let my shoulders relax/drop a few times. Last 2 hours of the trip went MUCH better! Phew. Got to the grounds and YAY course looks awesome, everything looks awesome, only 5 odd other trucks/floats there so I got to park directly in front of Pencils yard (yus for not lugging gear around!) Turns out, one of the boots on the offside hind had dropped down to his fetlock and he was likely kicking at that annoying him (note to check I've done them up properly! - never done that before).
Let him have a walk around, threw him in the yard with some hay/water, cleaned out the float (note I need a hose to take with me in future to make it easir as theirs was to short).
Hopped on and went for a ride around the place to check it out, see where everything was, found my dressage arena, the showjumping and the xc start. Did 15min of schooling since I hadn't done any all week (whoops), put him up for the night, friends had arrived and parked next to me so I hung out with them and helped with their 3 horses. Plaited up, and walked the xc course.
Got a little bit boozy with friends and before I knew it, it was 1am and I freak out race to bed knowing I'm riding at 8:50!!! Stupid stupid LOL... turns out it didn't matter, the moon shone on my face in the back of the wagon and woke me up hourly anyway.. no sleeping in for me.
Dressage time, got on and went over, a little bit of a pain as his old owners came along and started to talk to me as I was warming up - I didn't want to be to rude, but it was at my own detrement - 10mins warm up probably wasn't enough, before I stopped to talk to them he was going lovely and kindly, soft and relaxed. When I picked up to carry on, he got tense and distracted - DOH. I thought the test was average, and it was... turns out average isn't that great.. can't have been any toerags in my class we ended up last! I was a bit peeved about it, but when I read the comments it was all extrememly fair and relevant - lack of straightness (true), fussy in the mouth (true), loss of rhythm (true).. so 43 penalties was fair... on the most positive note of the whole test we actually halted square and facing at OUR judge.. something we had not managed to achieve to date! Excited for my friend as she was sitting in 2nd after dressage (same class).
Showjumping... ICK, le sigh.. I am SO SO dissapointed in myself there, and Pencil... 4 FOUR rails... horse, could you please please stop being distracted and pick up your feet. It was NOT pretty, he warmed up ok, but motoring at the fences, not rushing but not relaxed and rhymic... in the ring - and BANG distractions galore.. the truck, the people, the filler on the ground beside the ring... (here I think - give him a chance, he has done 8 SJ rounds in his life) but still... grrr. Afterwards I think, I should have slowed him down and asked for more, but sometimes you get in the ring and everything flies out and its just getting through the round that you concentrate on... not each individual fence.... that is one thing I MUST improve on this coming weekend.
SO we reach the highlight of the day! XC! YAY GREAT PONY, he did SO SO well. Ok, maybe not SO SO, but SO well. LOL. The goal, and one and only goal I set for myself was no stops at fence one and two. ACHIEVED. YUS. Good Pony - so proud.
Doesn't mean he wasn't sticky though - so to achieve my objective, the idea was to FLY out of the start box, as I normally just wind up to a canter after trotting out... He is a funny horse because he warms up fantastically, goes, comes back, jump out of stride, and then we go to leave and boom, its goners. Anyway, we cracked on into a canter straight out of the start box and I was PUSHING him to GO. Got to the first fence, he got a 1,2 with the whip when he backed off, and another one with the whip when he broke to a trot - but jumped it from the trot and landed and weeeee off we went.
Fence One - Red numbered are my fences
Fence 2 - its ugly, no ground line, up hill and camber isn't right... we trotted and got a smack to make it over this one as well - they also opened the flags out so where the girl is standing could be jumped too.
Fence 3 - what a UGLY ugly fence, luckily we didn't have the shadows to deal with when jumping, he got a bit wiggly and rather close to rapped it.
Then there was a decent gallop down to the tree line in the distance of that photo
Fence 4 - this had me a little worried because it was in the shadows, and will be dark and gloomy when its time to jump the next day, the gallop stretch helped, but still trotted the last stride and popped over it. Then it was a curving line straight off this to the next fence. What was worry as well, is all the trucks and floats were parked and thats all you could see through here the next day, no paddock...
Fence 5 - had me a smidge worried leaving the paddock where all the horses were, and its a large fence (luckily sun wasn't a problem), I was rather thankful when I got here, because Pencil could see a horse in the distance further on in the course, but he was very very wiggly and we just about missing the darn fence, jumped it from trot again and on the angle! Happy he jumps from trot so easily!
I then cracked on, gave a smack and a hoi up to get moving - was over this sticky trotting business...
Fence 6 and 7 - normally this would be a A and B fence, with the related strides... but because it was different number meant we could circle between them if needed. Sucked back a little, but cantered through these really nicely, I was really pleased with how he went through here.
Fence 8 - rut rooo.... we erm, ah, had a extra er pass at this one... directly between the jump and the tree... rather than going over the fence. Because I had cracked on at him, we were going a littttlllle to quick, and when he goes faster, sometime the steering responses decrease... never mind, we came around and popped over it nicely second time. What you also can't see is there was a lot going on here with major corner complex and we were right under the trees... so probabaly should have accounted for this some more.
Fence 9 - 90 degree turn off the corner, popped over this (from a trot again), and off for another stretch to move out for a gallop.
Fence 10 - meant to be more of a galloping fence, but we trotted the last stride in as he had a wee look
Fence 11 a/b - under more trees, skinny on a curve and the a fence wasn't really small - this was the fence that had me the most worried and where I expected to have issues... but no, we still trotted into it (BIG effort) and made it through
Fence 12 - there was another long stretch to this, where you can see after is the water complex which was AWESOME, and I went straight over this, carried on and down into the water.. turn left around the "island"
To the left of this pic, we came up out of the water up a small step, 2 strides and over the roll top (Fence 13) you can just see, then turn hard right and back into the water over the small logs (Fence 14) you can see flagged on the RHS of the pic.
Looking backwards at them from Fence 15 just out of the water... these can be a little tricky if the horse is sticky coming out of water, especially up a bank... luckily this was low enough you can trot over it.
Fence 16 a,b,c - up a bank with a small ditch in front (you can't see), down the bank, 4 strides and over C.
Fence 17 - straight forward but a slightly funny line off the C above, I'm standing at the back of C... we cantered this one!
Fence 18 - I nearly come off him here... as you can see - its not that visible, and Pencil nearly tripped over it!! Jeepers creepers, how would that be for bad luck to fall off between this and the flags.
And that was the xc course of 3600m - phew... tired pony and pip at the end - but grinning like mad!
Quick update (10.02.2014 - photos added)
Few days late but the weekend can be considered a success... or not depending on how you look at it :/ I was wanting to wait for results to be posted so I knew where we ended up overall, but I haven't seen them yet.
Saturday was the drive down, and my oh my, after a hour I almost turned around and went home. Pencil was NOT happy.... when I stopped to see what was going on about 20mins into the 3.5 hour drive the pin had come out of the bum bar again and it meant the partition was swinging open/shut on him... so that would account for all the moving around he was going, got some twine and tied the darn thing to the bum bar and the other side and off we went again. He was better but still not standing still like he normally does, and a lot of either pawing or stomping going on, pulled over to check on him again thinking maybe the twine has snapped - nope nothing. So I just shrugged my shoulder and drove on trying to ignore the stomping and carrying on as much as possible before it got me stressed out - I had to remind my self to let my shoulders relax/drop a few times. Last 2 hours of the trip went MUCH better! Phew. Got to the grounds and YAY course looks awesome, everything looks awesome, only 5 odd other trucks/floats there so I got to park directly in front of Pencils yard (yus for not lugging gear around!) Turns out, one of the boots on the offside hind had dropped down to his fetlock and he was likely kicking at that annoying him (note to check I've done them up properly! - never done that before).
Let him have a walk around, threw him in the yard with some hay/water, cleaned out the float (note I need a hose to take with me in future to make it easir as theirs was to short).
Hopped on and went for a ride around the place to check it out, see where everything was, found my dressage arena, the showjumping and the xc start. Did 15min of schooling since I hadn't done any all week (whoops), put him up for the night, friends had arrived and parked next to me so I hung out with them and helped with their 3 horses. Plaited up, and walked the xc course.
Got a little bit boozy with friends and before I knew it, it was 1am and I freak out race to bed knowing I'm riding at 8:50!!! Stupid stupid LOL... turns out it didn't matter, the moon shone on my face in the back of the wagon and woke me up hourly anyway.. no sleeping in for me.
Dressage time, got on and went over, a little bit of a pain as his old owners came along and started to talk to me as I was warming up - I didn't want to be to rude, but it was at my own detrement - 10mins warm up probably wasn't enough, before I stopped to talk to them he was going lovely and kindly, soft and relaxed. When I picked up to carry on, he got tense and distracted - DOH. I thought the test was average, and it was... turns out average isn't that great.. can't have been any toerags in my class we ended up last! I was a bit peeved about it, but when I read the comments it was all extrememly fair and relevant - lack of straightness (true), fussy in the mouth (true), loss of rhythm (true).. so 43 penalties was fair... on the most positive note of the whole test we actually halted square and facing at OUR judge.. something we had not managed to achieve to date! Excited for my friend as she was sitting in 2nd after dressage (same class).
Showjumping... ICK, le sigh.. I am SO SO dissapointed in myself there, and Pencil... 4 FOUR rails... horse, could you please please stop being distracted and pick up your feet. It was NOT pretty, he warmed up ok, but motoring at the fences, not rushing but not relaxed and rhymic... in the ring - and BANG distractions galore.. the truck, the people, the filler on the ground beside the ring... (here I think - give him a chance, he has done 8 SJ rounds in his life) but still... grrr. Afterwards I think, I should have slowed him down and asked for more, but sometimes you get in the ring and everything flies out and its just getting through the round that you concentrate on... not each individual fence.... that is one thing I MUST improve on this coming weekend.
SO we reach the highlight of the day! XC! YAY GREAT PONY, he did SO SO well. Ok, maybe not SO SO, but SO well. LOL. The goal, and one and only goal I set for myself was no stops at fence one and two. ACHIEVED. YUS. Good Pony - so proud.
Doesn't mean he wasn't sticky though - so to achieve my objective, the idea was to FLY out of the start box, as I normally just wind up to a canter after trotting out... He is a funny horse because he warms up fantastically, goes, comes back, jump out of stride, and then we go to leave and boom, its goners. Anyway, we cracked on into a canter straight out of the start box and I was PUSHING him to GO. Got to the first fence, he got a 1,2 with the whip when he backed off, and another one with the whip when he broke to a trot - but jumped it from the trot and landed and weeeee off we went.
Fence One - Red numbered are my fences
Fence 2 - its ugly, no ground line, up hill and camber isn't right... we trotted and got a smack to make it over this one as well - they also opened the flags out so where the girl is standing could be jumped too.
Fence 3 - what a UGLY ugly fence, luckily we didn't have the shadows to deal with when jumping, he got a bit wiggly and rather close to rapped it.
Then there was a decent gallop down to the tree line in the distance of that photo
Fence 4 - this had me a little worried because it was in the shadows, and will be dark and gloomy when its time to jump the next day, the gallop stretch helped, but still trotted the last stride and popped over it. Then it was a curving line straight off this to the next fence. What was worry as well, is all the trucks and floats were parked and thats all you could see through here the next day, no paddock...
Fence 5 - had me a smidge worried leaving the paddock where all the horses were, and its a large fence (luckily sun wasn't a problem), I was rather thankful when I got here, because Pencil could see a horse in the distance further on in the course, but he was very very wiggly and we just about missing the darn fence, jumped it from trot again and on the angle! Happy he jumps from trot so easily!
I then cracked on, gave a smack and a hoi up to get moving - was over this sticky trotting business...
Fence 6 and 7 - normally this would be a A and B fence, with the related strides... but because it was different number meant we could circle between them if needed. Sucked back a little, but cantered through these really nicely, I was really pleased with how he went through here.
Fence 8 - rut rooo.... we erm, ah, had a extra er pass at this one... directly between the jump and the tree... rather than going over the fence. Because I had cracked on at him, we were going a littttlllle to quick, and when he goes faster, sometime the steering responses decrease... never mind, we came around and popped over it nicely second time. What you also can't see is there was a lot going on here with major corner complex and we were right under the trees... so probabaly should have accounted for this some more.
Fence 9 - 90 degree turn off the corner, popped over this (from a trot again), and off for another stretch to move out for a gallop.
Fence 10 - meant to be more of a galloping fence, but we trotted the last stride in as he had a wee look
Fence 11 a/b - under more trees, skinny on a curve and the a fence wasn't really small - this was the fence that had me the most worried and where I expected to have issues... but no, we still trotted into it (BIG effort) and made it through
Fence 12 - there was another long stretch to this, where you can see after is the water complex which was AWESOME, and I went straight over this, carried on and down into the water.. turn left around the "island"
To the left of this pic, we came up out of the water up a small step, 2 strides and over the roll top (Fence 13) you can just see, then turn hard right and back into the water over the small logs (Fence 14) you can see flagged on the RHS of the pic.
Looking backwards at them from Fence 15 just out of the water... these can be a little tricky if the horse is sticky coming out of water, especially up a bank... luckily this was low enough you can trot over it.
Fence 16 a,b,c - up a bank with a small ditch in front (you can't see), down the bank, 4 strides and over C.
Fence 17 - straight forward but a slightly funny line off the C above, I'm standing at the back of C... we cantered this one!
Fence 18 - I nearly come off him here... as you can see - its not that visible, and Pencil nearly tripped over it!! Jeepers creepers, how would that be for bad luck to fall off between this and the flags.
And that was the xc course of 3600m - phew... tired pony and pip at the end - but grinning like mad!
18 Jan 2014 - Big boy, he is growing up!
Photo comparison
2012:
Yesterday:
Lastest video from early this week.... a few booboos made by me...
Finally - one video. !
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=skqmY...ature=youtu.be
What was so fantastic about this ride, and its a shame you can't see it, is that Pencil collected himself up to hit a decent spot on the fence you can here me praising him lots for, without falling behind the leg! The rails over the far right fence I don't care about - the striding was way off (should have checked that first) and then I frazzled him by going at him with the stick. And the other rail you can see he just wasn't balanced coming around the corner - I should really have circled around.
He hadn't seen a double cross rail before and got a bit sticky to it, which is why I rode off the second fence there, second time through I made him go through anyway. The grid was pole, one stride, bounce. That was the first time through it, before video was a warm up, and over the single rail on the left hand side.
There are 3 fences you can't see to the left, and the single rail you can't see was a exercise on a 30m circle, so same fence that you can see... did that a few times and you can only see the second fence... still turning to work on. Today was more about just having a jump, and keeping rhythm on landing, as he quite often backs off on landing and dribbles to nothing.
2012:
Yesterday:
Lastest video from early this week.... a few booboos made by me...
Finally - one video. !
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=skqmY...ature=youtu.be
What was so fantastic about this ride, and its a shame you can't see it, is that Pencil collected himself up to hit a decent spot on the fence you can here me praising him lots for, without falling behind the leg! The rails over the far right fence I don't care about - the striding was way off (should have checked that first) and then I frazzled him by going at him with the stick. And the other rail you can see he just wasn't balanced coming around the corner - I should really have circled around.
He hadn't seen a double cross rail before and got a bit sticky to it, which is why I rode off the second fence there, second time through I made him go through anyway. The grid was pole, one stride, bounce. That was the first time through it, before video was a warm up, and over the single rail on the left hand side.
There are 3 fences you can't see to the left, and the single rail you can't see was a exercise on a 30m circle, so same fence that you can see... did that a few times and you can only see the second fence... still turning to work on. Today was more about just having a jump, and keeping rhythm on landing, as he quite often backs off on landing and dribbles to nothing.
10 Jan 2014 - New Year!
I've done 1 more HT's at training since I last posted - so I moved Pencil up a level, and one went well, one not so well. And I've done a couple of One Day events at training level as well (non affiliated). They were all pre-christmas. During december I had a couple of lessons with a dressage instructor which were fantastic - the goal is SLOW, slooow sloweer, So the rhythm and tempo don't fly out the window, and we will add the power back in later, other wise he rushes to much, and drops the forehand immediately. I'm going to try get another with her in the next couple of weeks.
I have given pencil 3 weeks off over xmas time, and now I'm getting ready to get him fit for the remainder of the season. (A copy of a post from elsewhere) from last nights riding below.
Took pencil XC schooling last night - had a blast - he is such a dude! I rode Wednesday night, and then took him out last night - and thats after he has had 3 weeks off.
We did some big kids jumps too! Took him a little bit to figure it out, but we are getting more and more in sync its so cool. I can ask him to go - and he goes now. For example - the water jump - i've not done much schooling around it because he has been happy to walk in - and thats how I school - go slow and the rider does as little as possible so the horse has faith in himself, and that the rider hasn't asked them to do anything that causes hurt or doubt. It always has to be a good experience. I know some riders who watch me wonder on what I do - but its making itself shown now. I had popped over a roll top, and a couple of showjumps (small) that were in the paddock to start off with. Then went direct to the water jump - walking over, and walked straight up to the drop in and dropped my reins - let Pencil walk in. Trot out the ramp. Canter down the bank next. Canter over a 80cm jump, one stride and in - once through - he is happy and confident. Go straight to the next option up - canter in over a 95cm jump, one stride and jump over a log into the water - that was his first time jumping over something into water - and he did it like he has done it before
Did that one more time so I could have him canter out the ramp and keep moving as he was trotting out (water was deep and splashing us!) So I thought righto - big girl panties on, let try the out options. So over a different log into the water - and a bounce up out of the water over a 1m fence. This IS a ask, its a question for Pencil - he has never bounced up a bank, or done a bounce on XC. First time through he trotted up - so I wasn't worried that he ran off the bounce... he was to busy looking - it was probably confusing for him. Next time through, I put my leg on to say go - and go he did - but don't ask me how he fitted a stride into the space for a bounce up!! But he went over - and that is where the training comes in. He knows where his legs are and how to get them through places that are awkward! I laughed at everyone gasping! Good BOY! Third time through he did is perfectly!
Next I went down a trebble of logs - he was a little sticky so I did it twice. Then let him have a rest for 10 mins, he has just had time off LOL.
Next went over the trac, some pipes, and then I wanted to play around with the bank complex. Up the little steps, then up and down the big bank - he had a wee look at the down bank at first. So did it again. Then the panties got put back on. What we had was a jump up onto a individual "bank" or say a step up onto a box that was seperate from the bank complex, so a 3 x 3m "platform" the back edge has a small log for a ground line, then a 1.5m gap/dtich to the main bank complex that also had a larger log on the edge. So you jump onto the platform, bounce on that over the log and land on the top of the complex. So I trotted up to the platform, let pencil have a look, and asked him to step up onto it, got his front legs up, and then stepped off again. Came in (canter was a little bit pokey) and not quite bounced over it but - got through it
Next time - went through PERFECTLY - YAY - then we toddled off (well cantered) to do a couple of simpler fences to end on. And although they were simple - we jumped the BIG ones! The 1.05m (or what we call Pre-Novice) and he jumped them LOVELY he Looked, I felt him check himself (and he would normally fall behind my leg if he did that), but I could put my leg on, sit and drive and weee he went with no hesitation! I left it at that, I didn't want him sweaty and puffing to hard or to give him a hard workout with the little work he has had lately. I'll start gearing him up now with interval training over the next three weeks, and head back out for more schooling next week where I'll feel happier to send him more forward, and do more.
I'm signed up for a Lucinda Green Clinic - super exciting - there is a Horse Trail at the same location the weekend before, so I'm going to make a week of it - travel up Friday, do the HT over Sat/Sun, hang around Monday and do the clinic Tues/Wed, come back Thursday - which will be fantastic if I have any issues XC at the HT we will be schooling over the same course to go back and fix them! Super dooper excited - haven't told the husband yet (oops). Its 4.5hrs away from home.
Pencil has also filled in HEAPS, I need to post a photo. Some many people commented last night with that look of "wow" can't believe tone - saying he "IS" a solid horse isn't he. Well yes he is - he is just gone 7 now, and has always had a weedy look to him because he hadn't filled OUT and now he is His canter also felt fantastic and light last night too.
I have given pencil 3 weeks off over xmas time, and now I'm getting ready to get him fit for the remainder of the season. (A copy of a post from elsewhere) from last nights riding below.
Took pencil XC schooling last night - had a blast - he is such a dude! I rode Wednesday night, and then took him out last night - and thats after he has had 3 weeks off.
We did some big kids jumps too! Took him a little bit to figure it out, but we are getting more and more in sync its so cool. I can ask him to go - and he goes now. For example - the water jump - i've not done much schooling around it because he has been happy to walk in - and thats how I school - go slow and the rider does as little as possible so the horse has faith in himself, and that the rider hasn't asked them to do anything that causes hurt or doubt. It always has to be a good experience. I know some riders who watch me wonder on what I do - but its making itself shown now. I had popped over a roll top, and a couple of showjumps (small) that were in the paddock to start off with. Then went direct to the water jump - walking over, and walked straight up to the drop in and dropped my reins - let Pencil walk in. Trot out the ramp. Canter down the bank next. Canter over a 80cm jump, one stride and in - once through - he is happy and confident. Go straight to the next option up - canter in over a 95cm jump, one stride and jump over a log into the water - that was his first time jumping over something into water - and he did it like he has done it before
Did that one more time so I could have him canter out the ramp and keep moving as he was trotting out (water was deep and splashing us!) So I thought righto - big girl panties on, let try the out options. So over a different log into the water - and a bounce up out of the water over a 1m fence. This IS a ask, its a question for Pencil - he has never bounced up a bank, or done a bounce on XC. First time through he trotted up - so I wasn't worried that he ran off the bounce... he was to busy looking - it was probably confusing for him. Next time through, I put my leg on to say go - and go he did - but don't ask me how he fitted a stride into the space for a bounce up!! But he went over - and that is where the training comes in. He knows where his legs are and how to get them through places that are awkward! I laughed at everyone gasping! Good BOY! Third time through he did is perfectly!Next I went down a trebble of logs - he was a little sticky so I did it twice. Then let him have a rest for 10 mins, he has just had time off LOL.
Next went over the trac, some pipes, and then I wanted to play around with the bank complex. Up the little steps, then up and down the big bank - he had a wee look at the down bank at first. So did it again. Then the panties got put back on. What we had was a jump up onto a individual "bank" or say a step up onto a box that was seperate from the bank complex, so a 3 x 3m "platform" the back edge has a small log for a ground line, then a 1.5m gap/dtich to the main bank complex that also had a larger log on the edge. So you jump onto the platform, bounce on that over the log and land on the top of the complex. So I trotted up to the platform, let pencil have a look, and asked him to step up onto it, got his front legs up, and then stepped off again. Came in (canter was a little bit pokey) and not quite bounced over it but - got through it
Next time - went through PERFECTLY - YAY - then we toddled off (well cantered) to do a couple of simpler fences to end on. And although they were simple - we jumped the BIG ones! The 1.05m (or what we call Pre-Novice) and he jumped them LOVELY he Looked, I felt him check himself (and he would normally fall behind my leg if he did that), but I could put my leg on, sit and drive and weee he went with no hesitation! I left it at that, I didn't want him sweaty and puffing to hard or to give him a hard workout with the little work he has had lately. I'll start gearing him up now with interval training over the next three weeks, and head back out for more schooling next week where I'll feel happier to send him more forward, and do more. I'm signed up for a Lucinda Green Clinic - super exciting - there is a Horse Trail at the same location the weekend before, so I'm going to make a week of it - travel up Friday, do the HT over Sat/Sun, hang around Monday and do the clinic Tues/Wed, come back Thursday - which will be fantastic if I have any issues XC at the HT we will be schooling over the same course to go back and fix them! Super dooper excited - haven't told the husband yet (oops). Its 4.5hrs away from home.
Pencil has also filled in HEAPS, I need to post a photo. Some many people commented last night with that look of "wow" can't believe tone - saying he "IS" a solid horse isn't he. Well yes he is - he is just gone 7 now, and has always had a weedy look to him because he hadn't filled OUT and now he is
His canter also felt fantastic and light last night too.
13 November 2013 - Pencil's First Training Level
Pencil's First Training (NZ) One Day Event
If you manage to read through all of this - its not in vain LOL!! Skip down to the bolded "The event" if you wish to miss other musings
Pencil is my now 7yr old Irish x TB Gelding, whooo I've had for 2 years now - time flys!
This season, we have now competed in two Pre-training HT's (80cm) to get going - he hasn't done much, just the 3-4 ODE's we competed in last season (Feb/March 2013) I was going to do dressage and SJ over winter but it just didn't happen - so we have been schooling all winter.
The first two ODE's can be read about here:
First HT's of the season
So, I decided to move him up to training for this one, I know there will be plenty of people who disagree with that decision given we still have runoffs, and rails at the events. But I have my reasons and can go into them if people ask.
I've ridden this course a lot over the years with different horses, so I knew what most of it was going to entail... more on that later.
I'll start with the week prior because I've got time, and nothing else to fill in the afternoon hours at work.
Thursday evening I went for a ride, and the plan was to do a couple of rounds of SJ at 95cm or a smidge higher since we haven't actually done that before.. plenty of schooling over fences/exercises at height, but no courses.
And this is what happened:
I had a rather funny evening ride today. I wear a HR monitor every ride (trying to drop some weight/get healthy etc while TTC)... and my total time from pulling Pencil from the float (sorry trailer!) to putting him back in was 24mins, that included brush/saddle a quick 4 laps around the arena warm up, a course of 11 fences, 4 times through a simple (but large - squeals!!!) grid, and getting him back in the float. WHY you may ask, did it only take 24mins (and 193cals, av HR of 153bpm)... I got there in the SUN, bright happy sunny weather - lightweight T-shirt and jods - sparkly new boots on too.
By the time I climbed aboard (or was ready to lead him to the arena) I had rain sprinkles.. and saddle cover was thrown on, and I put a rain jacket on.
By the time I was on my third lap of the arena in trot - I had thunder overhead, In the 4th lap, I had the first lightening strike.
As I went over the first fence/jump, thunder struck and I swear I considered checking my undies it was that loud.
On the second time through the grid, I had hail hitting us (hence the big jump at 1.25m - done with ease, and no question about going over - knew he was ready, but I always chicken out, it just happened the grid was set up with it like that and I wasn't getting off to put it down a bit for the first few times through, for interest is was low bounce, one stride med verticle, one stride big ascending oxer) I can't just do it once, have to make sure a) its not a fluke and b) he is confident in it, and not just runnign scared through it
By the time I walked out of the arena (still on) I had thunder, hail, wind picking up and fork lightening hitting near by - I rode straight into my little float LOL
Unsaddled in there, and hefted out.. max speed of 60km/hr on the drive home on open road due to intense rain.
This is heading up my road, and shows that there was sun shining a mere 35mins earlier... if I plot the map on a direct line its 6.6km from home to the arena, and it wasn't raining at home - approx 3 km up this road:
That was not taken in black and white - it was the shear difference in light where I was, to the sun on the Mt you can just make out!
I then went to ride on Sat, a gental hack up the road ready for the ODE the next day... and I could not catch the twerp!!! We had visitors coming for a BBQ in 2 hours and I couldn't catch him. So I though stuff, got the lungewhip out, and essentially free lunged him in the paddock - and he worked HARD.
I also decided it was due time, that I just shampoo'd him, he's never been washed before, I'm not big on washing horses at all (rather lazy), but decided if I'm not going to plait for the show, I should at least make sure he is clean and shiny. So the efforts began. It starts with standing about 4m back from him, getting the hose and just raining it on him. Then emptying a bottle of shampoo over his back and rubbing it in while dodging feet and teeth. Then standing back again with the hose, and having at him until I think all the suds are washed out! And the result - one very PO'd clean horse
THE EVENT - start here if you want to skip the word vomit
Up early in the morning, booted up and on the float(trailer)at 6:30am - a lovely sunny day with a 2ish hour drive there to do
Leaving home:
I snapped some pics on the drive, because its pretty slow going on a lot of it around the twisty turns and you should be able to see them here: http://s281.photobucket.com/user/Pip...PioPio%20drive
My fav from the drive:
Got to the event fine, a little weary to be honest, and no traffic which was cool. And decided I had enough time to walk the XC... wizzed around that - found that they were running it backwards to every other year and didn't quite fill my nappy, but a couple of fences that I though were unfair and squeak worthy.
Rode the dressage, and while I didn't think it was spectacular, and his lack of balance showed (we just don't ride into the corners yet), it was decent. I was dissapointed that the judge wrote very very little in the comments. One comment on the entry, and the horses paces/submission were all that were filled inbut a respectable score of 70% or 30 penalties, leaving us 4th out of the 6 rider in the class.
Getting ready for XC:
XC was next, and whoops - made my way down to that a bit late, got my gear checked and went across to see there were only 2 riders before me to go EEEEEEEK, so straight into canter and over the practice fence, I haven't done that in YEARS. I hate it, just pure HATE being rushed through warmup for xc. I have a very set in stone routine that I follow every single time. I guess I was just lucky the course was a short one, but not something I wanted to do on his first training xc grrr.
So off we went - jump one was a simple log, wiggle and pop that one - which is good, less sticky than the previous HT's YAY
Jump 2, stacked tyres, we were a bit distracted between fence 1 and 2, and keeping him straight was a bit of a task, and he looked at it at the last minute, so I gave a growl and we chipped in and popped it
Going better now, can't see the parking area anymore, fence 3 looked like it caused some issues, it was just tractor tyres cut in half and mounted on skids... he looked, wbacked off a little and then popped over it nicely though
Fence four was a bit of a ugly line... had to go around a bank that was in the way, and we got a little discombobulated by it, so we trotted the next fence - a simple hutch.
Fence 5 was the bank complex as was unfair as far as I was concerned. A hard turn onto it, almost a roll back from the fence line, up the bank, down the bank, one stride right hand 90deg turn two strides and over a skinny fence. We came back to a trot around the turn because it was to tight and he was a bit strung out, then cantered last stride before going up the bank. It was maybe two across the top, and I thought he was being bold and going for the down bank, but he pecked at the last minute before jumping down, I lost my iron, and dropped the reins - but CLEVER pony, I pulled him around the turn and SQUEEEZED hard and we got over the skinny on long reins and one iron
Fence 6 was a wide shallow ditch, this one, I didn't want to come back to a trot, which is what I've been doing previously to make sure he sees it and goes over confidently - mainly due to the width that its easier to jump it from a canter, and its time for him to be a bit bolder with ditches now. So a "sj" canter and he looked, chipped and popped over it - YAY.
Now we are bowling along between fences, but we got a bit unstuck here
Fence 7, was a sharks tooth or W fence of single rails... he hasn't seen one of these before, and they had big rocks under the points... so when walking, the goal was to line up on the rail on the far right hand side, so to jump it like a straight forward rail... but, but LOL, Pencil looked at it from quite a ways back, and instantly backed off and slowed up to have a good look, he really wasn't sure on it at all, so rather than pulling him of the line he was looking at, we headed into the point of the V to go straight over, a cluck and some leg - YAY
So now we have got a little sticky, the fence 8 was always going to be a big ask, it was a large bank, with a ditch at the base of the bank, and the landing carried away uphill further. Quite intimidating to the rider, horses normally jump banks better with the ground line brought forward from the base - which is what the ditch did (edged by a rail). But the uphill was the killer. We ran off it, the line wasn't direct, it was 8 strides exactly from fence 7, and we didn't get moving again inbetween. This sort of stop is not something I worry about or consider a "bad" thing - its dissapointing it happened, but when you know its a ask for your horse in the first place, and you rode the best you could to get the horse through it, you shrug your shoulders and carry on. We circled around and came again, and he popped up it.
The next fence I was really disspointed in, continue uphill for a bit of a hike, and Pencil still didn't get the rhythm back, and really truely get in front of my leg, its was a full sized roll top, so something that should have been a breeze over... and he quit on me on it maybe 5 strides back and I didn't catch him in time, so by the time I had the whip on him for the smack we were at the fence and not enough gumption/go to go over it, and probably a little big to trot it, so turned around and came again
Between fence 9 and 10 was quite long, so I had enough time to get pencil in front of the leg, it was also downhill which helped.
Fence 10a/b was a one stride, log to skinny log with a drop on landing, which was straight forward
Fence 11 was a pallisade, - quite large, big enough they had a O option fence beside it for the 5 penalties. But he flew it - YAY
Fence 12 was a lovely oxer - and where we got the photo: http://www.spotonphoto.co.nz/events/...watkins&page=1
Fence 13, I was questioning a little bit when walking, again - he hasn't seen a true brush fence, or anything resembling it was so little he jumped the entire thing, but we couldn't do that on this fence, and it had a top to it as well... so I got the expected look, fall back and pop over it
Fence 14a,b was the water, and JEEPERS, it had a massive drop into it - I stood in it and the drop was at my shoulder height, pretty sure that it wasn't legal height... and the had a time option to the side. I thought lets just see what he does and how he is feeling when I get there, he paused at the edge and then jumped on in - YAY Go PONY
Fence 15 was the last one, and a little ugly in that I don't like completely upright faces to xc fences, I like a good ground like otherwise they tend to rap them with the hinds... but because we jumped out of the water, we weren't moving along, but a slighlyt more compact canter, and essentially SJ it (it was also a corner) and through the flags.
Again, I felt unfair, I walked him back to the trailer after cooling down, got him hosed off and was about to just start chilling out before SJ, when they called us to SJ - he wasnt even dry yet and I started saddling up. Poor guy must have been rather tired.
SJ warmup at this place is terrible, its less than a 40 x 20m arena, and they Always put the two fences in the middle, so to canter around and onto them - its ride a wobbly line, or canter half a 10m circle - and thats just not in the realm of Pencils capabilities.
3 practice jumps, and in the arena.
No t to much to say, he clipped a rail with a front foot when he lost impulsion coming out of a corner (more my fault for letting him fall behind), and the combination was a bit ugly so he peaked at that and took a rail there too (that was really just plain naughty).
So I was right in the xc being a bit tough, only 3 of us weren't eliminated of the 6 in my class (the over 25ys) and no clears. I ended up secondand I claimed it as Pencil's first ribbon. Never mind the score of 110 penalties LOL.
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