Woodhill Sands HT 24 Sept 2011

I was unsure if I would be ok to ride at Woodhill - or indeed if I should.

But when Frank became unavailable to jump on, I thought I would take the pony anyway, and just play it by ear. However, as I could not get off onto the ground without a lot of pain, I thought it was time for me to take back the reins. Yippee

Dressage; not too bad and he was actually ok warming up. Unfortunately however, I managed to forget to drop my whip so that incurred penalties. However; he did score 62% and was sitting 12th in a very large class.

Show jumping; he jumped very well, just losing his concentration at one point ('Hey mum, Willie is over in THAT direction") to take a rail. So completed his round with 4 faults.

Cross country.
Very wet...raining and the ground was a bit of a bog. One jump later on in the course had had several classes of pre novice jump it already, and I reckon it would have added about another foot onto the size of it... and it was already one of the better sized jumps on the course. The going probably added about a foot onto all the jumps in actual fact.

However, Sampson jumped very well, just taking each jump as it came, with no real problem anywhere on the course. Definitely not the going to make a stand and go for time though! Regardless, and with 16.8 time faults, Sampson pulled up to 7th place.

So not too bad for a first outing for the partnership.

Taupo Training Trial 11.09.2011

Well, having fallen off twice in two days Mid August (and managing to knock myself out, and damage my ribs and butt muscle) I was not ready to jump yet - let alone compete.

Thankfully, Frank stepped into the Breech, and as usual did a sterling job with the wee pony.

Saturday was practice show jumping, and Sampson was lucky enough to have a rider that was happy to step up the height quite a bit. He jumped very well, although to be honest watching, it still didnt really look like he had to make a heck of an effort!

I did notice however, that in his yard Sampson was quite wound up, and far less relaxed than he would normally be in the safe sanctum of his yard. Not much hay was eaten and mucking out was nigh on impossible given the fact he had not stood still at all. Perhaps he knew this was a "real" outing ?? and was excited?

Anyhow, Poor Frank was swapping between horses with barely moment to catch breath. I led Sampson over to the warm up area, and (Murphy's Law) commented as to how relaxed he seemed and that for the first time ever at Taupo I had been able to lead him across on the buckle with no passage moments. I had also taken my "shit strap" off the saddle thinking no way would it be required.

Seems pony had a complete meltdown when he went to the warm up area for his ring (right in front of Charisma Hall)....apparently there were a lot of leaps and interesting movements, before he was put into a 15m canter circle and basically had to keep going till sanity returned. He JUST managed to hold it together for his test, and actually did some nice work...not so easy to ride when he has got to the curling under stage prior to his test. 10th in the dressage with ~65%

Show jumped clear, although had two attempts at napping, which Frank quickly put right, and went very well XC to finished 18 secs under time on his dressage score, placing 5th out of a very large class - not too bad for a horse that became a feral beast prior to his dressage.

I was also pleased with his fitness, as due to my injury he has not had the last few weeks proper build up - not that I wanted him too fit at this end of the season. However, the consistent work he has had, meant that he finished happily, and not blowing.

Now to get myself back in the saddle, and get my brain back into the right mode.
(Brave pills would still be on the menu if I could source some)

Winter Show Jumping WEC

Ok, time to hand over the reins again...hopefully just short term till I'm properly back on deck and feel I am healed enough to clamber back on the wee guy.

Been interesting for him this week since I fell off....Counting me on Sunday (when I went splat) he has been ridden by five different people - gotta be good for him (and I cant say he was unduly concerned by anybody who hopped on) . Even Saarin has had a couple of rides this week, and I think is keen to have a bit of a jump on him - interestingly she found him easier to ride than Willie.

HUGE thanks to Angela Magee who rode him today at the Winter Show jumping...she rode him beautifully and I could see that he enjoyed himself.

First in the first class, and unsure as yet as to his placing in the second.

Speed Bumps

Ok, so we didnt do too wonderfully at the last Kaurilands; he was a bit spooky and I basically failed to ask for enough forward. But we did everything in both tests.

So onto Andrew Scott for an indoor show jumping lesson next day. Not sure what my problem was but for the first half of the lesson I reverted to hanging on being a really nervous nanna, but we did get through it and towards the end of the lesson all was good again...he jumped VERY well though.

I do still have anxious days, and that is both riding, and driving (as well as in general), but they are considerably less frequent than previously when I could have panic attacks driving at least twice a week.

On to a wee jumping session at home.
Started with an upright with roll back to barrels set at about 95. Came round corner well, plenty of canter, then about two strides out it turned to custard and last stride instead of sitting up and keeping leg on, I badly tilted off came leg, but he decided to go anyway....slow motion with no impulsion....managed to tumble over on rail and down I came, catapaulting into metal jump stand. OUCH....and back very sore....soon forgot that when I thought he was going to stand on reins...up I jumped (double ouch) and grabbed him.

Saarin reconstructed both jumps and off we went again - this time of course remembering to sit up and keep legs on...he jumped fine, and went through the grid with oxer at about a meter which he jumped beautifully.

Saturday, headache all day, bit sore, and purchased a new helmet.

Sunday Cross country play.....BAD BAD idea. Head ache again, and although not fuzzy or giddy, just not entirely 'with it', also feeling a little vulnerable (which results in additional nerves). But carried on anyway. Rode extremely badly....had no reactions.... and coming into one small log he lost focus, I sat like a prune, got very deep and he clambered over from nothing, managing to deposit me on his neck.

If anyone has tried to ride a horse sitting on their neck, you will know it isnt particularly easy. Stupidly when he started trotting off, I turned him, ....should have just pulled up with both reins but brain not exactly in thinking mode since bump on Friday.

Anyway, went splat, knocked out, and now have worsened the back I hurt Friday...now VERY sore, but in addition have probably broken ribs - now that is painful!

However, what I am now having to deal with is being told I should get rid of the horse, not ride him again, or just do dressage.

This is not helping me. The horse actually did nothing wrong...not like he repeatedly bucks me off, or rears or anything nasty.

We've just had a bit of a run.....I should not have jumped him until I was right again.

Although all these people now telling me to get rid of him is NOT helping my confidence, I know he is a very good horse, and we are both capable of doing very well. I had been really looking forward to the season starting, and had hopes and goals. On the one hand all their comments is making me determined to show them what we really are capable of, but their opinions likewise dont much help one to rally confidence and ambition.

So, just a bit of an upsetting time at the moment with my lovely horse.

Meantime, Saarin has been riding him to keep him ticking over.

Winter SJ 17.06.2011

First show jump outing for Winter.
Unfortunately Willie came up lame yesterday, so Sampson went on his own.

He was actually quite well behaved warming up, with just the odd quite small moment, so that was great (for me!).

Just entered 80 and 90, with the intention of working on my forward and ensuring he is going forward with enough power to jump easily. Worked on this yesterday with Wendy, and the new catch phrase is "power up", which sums it up perfectly....."power up" on the turn etc, then just let the jump come up.

He was good in the 80 and jumped a nice clear round.

In the 90 I think we had a good forward rhythm (felt fast to me, but everyone told me it was a good speed)....he jumped really well, until I stuffed up the last jump....came around corner, got line wrong, was crooked and leaned forward....if I had sat up and just waited he would have jumped it properly and we could have had a go at the jump off....there had however been very few clear rounds, and even fewer clear jump offs. Oh well, next time I'll make sure I get it right over EVERY jump.

Very pleased with his behaviour, and how he went.

Plan is to start at 90 next time, and also pop around the meter.

Kaurilands 03.07.011

Having received quite a difficult draw, I decided to do the best I could to adhere to it. In my first horse's second test, I had one horse drawn to follow him, then a break, then Sampson.

In order to attempt to achieve this, I had both horses up by the grass arenas (Sampson covered as it was rather cold), and Saarin held him while I did my two tests on Wilson. It was a bit of an ask for Saarin though, as Sampson become very upset every time he thought Wilson was going anyway and he would leap about and play a fool. Not very confidence inspiring for a wee slip of a lass trying to hold a demented 17.3 lad.

Having completed my test on Wilson, we rushed over to the picnic tables (so I had some means to clamber on the wee beastie), and got the saddle changed over (poor Saarin couldnt even reach to get it off Wilson, let alone being able to help saddle up Sampson).

And on I got.

Hmmmm - interesting....he kept skedaddling and trying to return to Wilson, but in the end I got him cantering (ok, so it was RIGHT in front of Willie) and just kept him on a circle...round and round and round.

Keeping an eye on the arena, but there didnt seem to be any break and the riders just kept going through, so we wandered over there, and I started to wander around the arena....only to be asked by the judge if I was even going to bother to ride, and basically being firmly told off for not being there sooner (it was the same judge that had judged me on Wilson). I advised that I had been drawn to ride after the break but it seemed that the riders just kept coming through....only to be told that there was no break, and was I going to ride or not!

Well, that rather got my dander up!

Probably to the good, because I was so annoyed that I didnt even think about getting nervous about what the wee beastie might do, and I actually rode him....and....he did the whole test without skedaddles. Ok, he was somewhat lacking in impulsion but it was a MUCH better effort than the previous Kaurilands outing!

52.17% in Test 1.5
with the sum up comment - needs to reach and cover ground freelyl carry rider forward with purpose and expression (which was fair comment)

Straight onto the second test
1.6

He actually went very well and I did start to RIDE him....it was only at the last trot up the centre line though that he really felt loose and free - but hey, at least we got there - even if it was at the end.

He couldnt resist doing a skedaddle in one of the canters though (for a course error), but I was actually able to laugh at it, and just carried on ... YAY

Scored 63% (despite course error deduction without which he would have been 5th)

Test was all 6's and 7's with sum up being essentially that he needs to go much more forward throughout.

So, the next question is of course whether him having his buddy up there helped or hindered. Next time I will ask that Sampson be first on the draw so I can warm him up properly, and hopefully not have to have the two of them there together. That way I can really see how we get on, and learn to get through the demented flea stuff without the security blanket.
Will that mean he reverts to his fantastic scores of the last outing.....can we achieve a further zero?? I guess we will find out in due course.



Thanks to Debbie Stevens for the photos from the day.

My very first ZERO

Kaurilands 05.06.2011

Well, the wee boy was just a tad full of himself, skedaddling at every opportunity and at every excuse. Warmed him up on the grass arena and it was somewhat interesting. I rather think he was nappy because he had TWO friends back at the yards.

I got really frustrated, as I just couldnt work him through it...he just remained stuck behind my leg, overbent, and skedaddling.

Oh well, went in and gave the tests a go anyway - he was quite simply not going to get away with that behaviour without at least doing a test.
First test he was pretty awful, and I hadnt intended to try the canters he was so awful, but did anyway only to be rewarded with an interesting skedaddle, spin around (and nearly slipped over)...oh well, at least I tried. We consequently got a course error for that (? - he did actually do the correct movement - he cantered between the markers...it was after that he skedaddled), and a zero for the circle R 20m(were trotting again by that stage).

Not sure why I got marked with the second course error either...we were to walk at A, which we did??

Oh well, it was such a dreadful test, it's not like it made any difference anyway...AND...I at least completed the test on the naughty wee pony!

Ended up on 45% (there were a couple of 6's -GO me!)

Second test, was perhaps marginally better, and he did get some 7's, funny enough for his canter trans (the trans was great, it was the skedaddle that followed that wasnt so great), his walk, and a trans to trot.

And we scored ... a grand total of....52.8%

Rider comment "You did the right thing in taking him quietly to get him through it"

Not particularly looking forward to his next outing either, but at least I got more frustrated than scared....not that I enjoyed it!!