Our failed attempt at ODE *pics*

[BabyBear]

On Sunday I took Casper to a local RC "express event" which is similar to a ODE - you do your dressage, have a short break and then down a round of SJ then XC (although it was actually WH knock down fences).

It rained all night and all morning - the ground was pretty solid but the grass was quite slippy especially when you have a barefoot horse.

Did our dressage with only one or two slips, SJ warm up went ok but our round did not - he was slipping to much and actually stopped at the 4th jump (very unusual for him), ran out at the second part of the 5th jump and then silly me didn't realised you had to jump both parts of the combination again and I only jumped the second part so we were eliminated.

I decided that it was safer to pull out of the XC and save it for another day - it would have been our first attempt and I didn't think it was fair to ask him to do it in those conditions!

Here are some pics!


Dressage -

http://i1020.photobucket.com/albums/af328/nikkinkia/Casper/DSC04854.jpg

http://i1020.photobucket.com/albums/af328/nikkinkia/Casper/DSC04872.jpg

http://i1020.photobucket.com/albums/af328/nikkinkia/Casper/DSC04870.jpg

http://i1020.photobucket.com/albums/af328/nikkinkia/Casper/ODE9.jpg

http://i1020.photobucket.com/albums/af328/nikkinkia/Casper/ODE8.jpg

SJ warm up -

http://i1020.photobucket.com/albums/af328/nikkinkia/Casper/ODE4.jpg

http://i1020.photobucket.com/albums/af328/nikkinkia/Casper/ODE6.jpg

http://i1020.photobucket.com/albums/af328/nikkinkia/Casper/ODE5.jpg

http://i1020.photobucket.com/albums/af328/nikkinkia/Casper/ODE1.jpg

And the round itself - you can see him slipping and I wsn't pushing him forward but I was too scared incase he slid even more!

http://i1020.photobucket.com/albums/af328/nikkinkia/Casper/th_ODESJ.jpg (http://s1020.photobucket.com/albums/af328/nikkinkia/Casper/?action=view&current=ODESJ.flv)

[joey_olop]

Some lovely pics there-shame about the slipping, I get that when we do SJ & XC on grass its a pain isnt it??

[ameliet1971]

I think you where very wise to pull out of the competition, there will be plenty more and as you demonstrated, your horse's safety is the first and foremost priority.

Well done though, the pictures where good and your horse looks super. :)

[beating_hooves]

Wise decision to pull out :)

Casper is a little stunner isn't he? ;)

[Howengold]

Casper is a sweetheart! Wish our RC would do something like that.

[Skippys Mum]

Thats such a shame - he is looking so good. I dont like competing on grass mind you. I am paranoid about slipping:o. Wise move pulling out.

[BabyBear]

Thanks for the nice comments.

Yes SM that was my main concern - I didn't think it was worth the risk - we had fun though so that's what matters!

[Lucyad]

Lovely pics! Sounds like you made a sensible decision with the slippy ground - there is always next time!

[SarahandSolomon]

well done! you both look fab :D
and you were 100% right to pull out of the xc!
saftey first :)

[NoviceNic]

One of my main fears is slipping too...:o Well done for having a go and pulling out for safety, wise decision.

You look fantastic jumping. How big were the jumps? You are coming along way together. I keep an eye out for your threads cause im hoping Captain and I will be able to do something like this one day..:cool:

[No_Angel]

Great pics:) I am surprised so many people have problems with slipping, all my horses are barefoot and I haven't ever had any slipping on grass:confused:

[BabyBear]

How big were the jumps?

The course was only up to 2' athough some of the WH fences looked about 2'3 - not sure how big the warm up jumps were - I prefer not to know lol!:p

[MrKia+Me]

You both looked brill!!! Shame weather wasnt with you but you looked fabby nonetheless!!

Decision was well made even the horses with studs were slipping.

Next time we will pray for better weather and get some XC pics!!

Nikki xxxx

[Kate&TheHerd]

good decision! nice pics and making me jealous :p next year!;)

[NoviceNic]

not sure how big the warm up jumps were - I prefer not to know lol!:p

Im the same, whack em up but dont tell me how big they are..:p

[lauraandharvey]

he looks fantastic!
can he give harvey one or two tips on how to bloody work!
xx