Hunua Training 21 Jan 2012

Well, talk about best laid plans!

Was to have done a XC SJ clinic with Donna Smith and Simone Kann, which I was thoroughly looking forward to (apart from the usual pre-lesson nerves)....only to arrive at the venue with a horse on three legs and a lot of swelling above the hind fetlock.

So back home we went, poulticed, and ice booted to cover all bases. He was happier next day (although still lame, happy enough to leap and bounce around in the paddock).

Farrier found that a cavity between his frog had essentially harboured an infection, so more poulticing etc, and Hunua four days later seemed a long shot.

However we went....he had his first canter on the Friday upon arrival essentially having had only walk exercise the preceding few days with the odd trot (slightly off still).

Dressage not good....LAST!
He actually warmed up not too badly, but the pre trainers were SJ directly behind the judges car and rails clanking was all he needed...big skedaddle before we even got into the arena. The right hand canter transition consisted of a leap up into the air, arched back, head between knees and a succession of rather large bucks...ooops....but we finished the test.

Show Jumping....a little full of it trying to warm up, and flew at the practice jump so I simply went and stood quietly by the ring entrance. In we went, and he actually went ok, apart from bulging his shoulder and getting number 3 to the down hill double wrong having lost focus, but he only took one rail during his round. He was quite forward but looking at the pics it doesnt look like he is really jumping that well??
Unfortunately during my round (probably during the bulgy moment) I had hit the end of my thumb on his shoulder with the impact travelling up and doing something very painful to my shoulder....I was in agony.

Unfortunately, that meant no XC for Sampson (and no SJ for Willie)...however, there was still swelling in the hind leg so probably not such a bad decision anyway; although it does mean going into his first pre novice of the season not having had a run at training...gulp!

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

Woodhill Sands HT 29/30 October 2011

I had been really looking forward to another run on the wee pony, and was trying hard to overcome any negative comments I had coming my way, but I don't think I succeeded very well.

Not really sure how to maintain my positive outlook, and remain mentally strong enough to ward off anything contrary to that - yet another thing to work on :-)

However, we got there and proceeded to warm up for dressage. Apart from a few skedaddles, he managed to hold it together, and didnt do too bad a test scoring 67.5%
I was also pleased in that when he did his wee act in warming up I just rode him through it.

He did come behind the vertical a few times, but on the whole I was quite pleased with him, and some of his work was lovely.

Predominantly 7's, 4 x 8's, and a few 6's (and a 4 for his 'non halt' at the end).

"3 nice paces showing potential. Needs to be more active in his paces esp walk. Dropping behind vertical quite a bit during trot. Push him forward into bridle. Nice test. Watch your shapes to improve test marks."


And onto the show jumping.
He got a bit wound up warming up, so I waited quietly at the ring entrance for my turn.

He jumped very well, and I enjoyed his round although I was really annoyed at myself for taking a bit of a pull too many on the first turn to number two, to pull the rail.

4flts

Next day XC....changes to the track were very welcome and I thought it was a great course, nothing I was worried about (except mucking up in general), although I didnt like the sleeper box off set out of the water - although he jumped it fine.

Once again, he was a little distracted at Woodhill, and thinking about getting back to the truck. Where as last time I dug my spurs in and insisted he focus, I was a little weaker this time.

He did jump the double brush nicely and jumped the wee ramp onto the sand lovely. Bit wiggly woggly and spooky heading across sand to water, although jumped ok. He proceeded to be really spooky, curling under a little, and in hindsight was simply behind my leg....hardly surprising given I wasnt really riding him as positively as I could.

He hit number 11 having got very deep to it, and I called it a day and retired. Again hindsight (wonderful thing that it is), I should have just clouted him, told him to get on with it and carried on....especially as the rest of the course was the easier half. Unfortunately, my mind was filled with the wrong kind of self talk .
Essentially, I let my horse down, and I am determined not to do that again~

Next weekend, I will maintain my positive focus, and any negative comments in my presence will be tossed aside.

Te Rapa Horse Trial 1/2 October 2011

First time for me for a very long time, riding two horses at one trial.
Completely unsure as to my fitness given my lay off following injury....but here goes!

Dressage
Terrible terrible terrible....not the best warming up, although manageable....dust did start him snorting and such however.
On my first trot around the (spooky) arena, XC walkers meant a bit of a skeddaddle just as they rang the bell. I could have done with another trot around but it was not to be.
He did hold it together, but did his whole overbending routine and was quite tense. Also fluffed the canter leads, and had a few coughs and grunts (dust) through the test. But we survived for a GRAND SCORE of..... 50% and all but last! Oh well

Show jumping
Training Show jumped on the sunday morning, whilst the big boys did their cross country which involved galloping past the warm up and show jump ring which proved interesting. He didnt quite manage to hold it together, but in all honesty there were others having a worse time of it.
We got into the ring and he actually jumped very well, just lost him on a right hand corner (to head back away from truck - and willie direction) and he got a little distracted. I failed to sit up and ride him and then wait for him to go. I saw a long one, and he didnt and down came the rail
4 faults

Cross Country
Gave me a fantastic ride!
There were no moments of hesitation whatsoever, apart from a very slight moment before jumping the ditch at the coffin.
He bowled along quite happily, although did tend to hang to the truck park a little along some areas, but kept going in the right direction and was easy enough to get back on the job.
finished 5 seconds under time for our first clear together under time.
0 XC faults

Pulling up to 5th place overall - not so bad after such a dreadful start!

Very pleased with the wee boy.

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)