Waerenga HT 12.11.11

For once he was relatively settled warming up for dressage, although the ground was so incredibly rough that it was difficult to really get any of them working. Unfortunately, the arena itself was of similar condition.
However, he did a relatively good test in the conditions, apart from a few moments where he got distracted by something in the distance, but all in all I was very pleased with his behaviour.
He got predominantly 6's and 7's for a score of 61.5, and 9th place after dressage. I was a little disappointed with the score given how well he went, but I guess the judge can only judge what she sees, regardless of ground conditions. But she did say in passing to me later that she thought he was a really nice horse :-)

Onto show jumping, and after popping over each practice jump once, it was into the ring. I'm afraid we were both a little lackadaisicle to start and didnt get a great jump over number one...however, we both then picked ourselves up a little and he jumped round really nicely, just taking the rail at the planks. I came off the corner and couldnt decide to go short or long...should have just sat and waited for whatever came up.

Cross country...all on one day at this event.
Warmed up happily, and off we went.
He just chugged around happily jumping everything very well, including straight through the water without backing off at all.
One slightly concerning moment when I could feel him eyeing up the bounce as a rather large oxer, and ignoring my signals to shorten....he did listen a little, but we were still a little strong into it...thankfully he is relatively athletic!
And interestingly, he came in ten seconds under time, only one of four in his ring to do so, and the fastest!

This meant despite going into XC in about 14th place he pulled up to fourth.

YAY
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RIverdale HT - 5/6 November 2011

Well, he was rather interesting warming up for dressage - but then had also been awful riding there the previous afternoon. Completely lacking in focus apart from wanting to get back to Willie and the truck - despite having Saarin's mare there with him.

Quite a few leaps and bounds etc while trying to prepare for dressage, only worsened by someone falling off when their horse reared and bucked, and then proceeded to gallop directly past us. The result of which was not pretty and culminated in me being tanked off with having lost my stirrups. But all salvaged, well, all barring the chance of a reasonable test!

However, we got to the arena, went around it once, and in we went. Once again, he did hold it together for the test and basically did everything he was asked - albeit leaning on my hands doing his rolkur impression, going nowhere.

All 5's and 6's for a score of 54% and second last in the class

SHOW JUMPING
Just popped over each practice jump once, and stood quietly waiting for our turn. He just toddled around popping over the jumps to finish with a clear round.

CROSS COUNTRY
Hmmm; interesting warming up!
Yes, had another moment of being carted around somewhat out of control when someone hitting the practice fence was just the excuse to be a pratt he'd been waiting for.
However, into the start box and off we went.
He was great at the beginning of the course, but when we had to start turning through gateways etc, (and I hung on I guess) he started to curl up and really lean on me and get very strong. Needless to say, I was completely worn out before even the half way marker, and I'm sure spectators could hear me coming I was puffing so loudly.
But, apart from lacking focus and getting completely distracted by everything bar the jumps, he jumped around happily.
Last few jumps I simply didnt have the energy to hang on any longer, and to be honest, I think he was much happier.

Although Saarin told me I looked to be going painfully slow, he only clocked up 7.2 time faults to finish the weekend in 5th place.

He had initially been in fourth, but having waited for an hour for a protest in my ring to be resolved, we found that we had been pushed back to fifth....only to find that placings only went to fourth!

So once again he missed out on a rosette by a very slim margin.

Project for next weekend is to try to leave his mouth completely alone XC.....eeeeek