New horse - first show!

[thaxted]

Hi

Well - I've just returned from my first Working Hunter show with the horse I'm now riding. It was her first time doing anything - in fact she only did her first full course of jumps on Wednesday.
In the first class - 'Novice Working Hunter ' we were 3rd!!! We got a score of 84/100.
She was really brilliant, she jumped very well and was very relaxed in the ring, she poked her nose somewhat in the ridden bit, but she stayed relaxed.
We then entered the 'Small Hunter' class - same course, same height and we were 7th out of 14. Our score this time was 83/100, we got lower marks in the jumping because she was a little strong a couple of times but our ridden marks were higher.
I can't believe how well she went, it was as though she had sone this sort of thing for years. I'm really pleased with her - and it was my first rossette outside of shows held in my local riding school.
I've attached a photo of us back at her stable with her rossette.
I want to thank 'intouch' for being there, not least to convince me that fence 5 was not as bad as I thought it looked. Thanks for the support.

Thaxted

[maverick927]

Brilliant!! Well done to the pair of you.

Whats the horses name and I want some details!

I'll be looking out for your name in the paper

[maverick927]

PS i just looked at your site and read a bit more on Venus and it sounds like you will have an exciting winter (also that is one rather flash picture of you).

[galadriel]

Oooh, congrats! You look so thrilled :D

[thaxted]

Thanks Mav and Galadriel

Venus is a 15.2 -15.3, very, very dark brown 6 year old, but after being broken at 4 she did nothing for two years (for various reasons). I started riding her in November and she has come on really well. We'd like to do some dressage after Christmas but have to sort out the fact that she really doesn't want to drop her head. Its not that she cant' just that she won't. We've been attending a dressage clinic and the instructor rode her for 10mins or so and she said that she was a very bossy mare and I just have to insist that she does what I want. So we'll keep at it - she is improving. She is a super jumper though - she did the 70cm jumps today as if they were nothing, in fact she took off a whole stride too soon at one and it was still easy for her. I just hope that I'm a good enough rider for her ability.

Mav - I had to change my photo on our riding club page since I'm no longer riding Lady - that photo was taken in the Dorchester Hotel (London) at a very posh awards dinner.
I scrubbed up reasonabley well didn't I?

Thaxted

[kedwards]

You two look beautiful! Well done to both of you!

[TamaraC]

Congradulations, that is so exciting!! You two look so happy togehter.