DITZ
24th Aug 2008, 06:13 PM
having been ballotted out of tomorrows ODE I managed to get someones withdrawal into Eland Lodge so with some last minute memorising of a new dressage test we set off at 9am.
Dressage was OK, not great. I managed to drop my phone in the warm up which then got trod on and now, sadly, is no more:o
SJ was OK again, took a bad corner and had a pole down but otherwise no problems.
XC was what I had come for. 2 weeks ago he was a complete git doing the same course, refusing almost every fence at least once, and some he wouldnt go near. Fence 3 was a real problem last time and he wouldnt even go near it in the pairs either. Its a decent size fence in itself but its also the first fence where the horse sees the spectators, tents, tannoy, marquees etc and no end of people have problems at it.
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a170/walker1234/novicerail.jpg
Decided to adopt very positive riding style and jumped first 2 fences with one hand to enable me to give him a quick reminder with my crop. Worked a treat. Took a slightly wobbly approach to fence 3 but popped it first time. Downhill to the house, through the water and the double of sheep feeders all without a hesitation. Big hanging log, pheasant feeder and uphill to the log and sunken road. Downhill to a decen sized stone wall before dropping the 2 steps. Downhill again into the water and over a bright blue roll top in the water before another hanging log. Good gallop now to a small rail fence and sharp left to step up and off an island. Next fence the sharks fence and my back is starting to ache now. Over a small painted crocodile, a log pile and the final log fence and we were home - clear - and with a time of 5.04 only 15 seconds over the time. (last time it took me almost 13 minutes to *complete* the course.
Got a nice pic and will post it when it arrives, not where we came in our section as had to go home but reckon midway or thereabouts.
Well chuffed:D
Dressage was OK, not great. I managed to drop my phone in the warm up which then got trod on and now, sadly, is no more:o
SJ was OK again, took a bad corner and had a pole down but otherwise no problems.
XC was what I had come for. 2 weeks ago he was a complete git doing the same course, refusing almost every fence at least once, and some he wouldnt go near. Fence 3 was a real problem last time and he wouldnt even go near it in the pairs either. Its a decent size fence in itself but its also the first fence where the horse sees the spectators, tents, tannoy, marquees etc and no end of people have problems at it.
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a170/walker1234/novicerail.jpg
Decided to adopt very positive riding style and jumped first 2 fences with one hand to enable me to give him a quick reminder with my crop. Worked a treat. Took a slightly wobbly approach to fence 3 but popped it first time. Downhill to the house, through the water and the double of sheep feeders all without a hesitation. Big hanging log, pheasant feeder and uphill to the log and sunken road. Downhill to a decen sized stone wall before dropping the 2 steps. Downhill again into the water and over a bright blue roll top in the water before another hanging log. Good gallop now to a small rail fence and sharp left to step up and off an island. Next fence the sharks fence and my back is starting to ache now. Over a small painted crocodile, a log pile and the final log fence and we were home - clear - and with a time of 5.04 only 15 seconds over the time. (last time it took me almost 13 minutes to *complete* the course.
Got a nice pic and will post it when it arrives, not where we came in our section as had to go home but reckon midway or thereabouts.
Well chuffed:D