Results from my First ever ODE.

[DITZ]

Eliminated:rolleyes:

Missed a fence out on the XC. We were leading after the dressage and the sj (which I was paticulary pleased with as I totally expected to get eliminated from that yet we went clear with no time faults). Went into the XC, he popped the warm up log with no problems, first fence was a brush fence into the woods, refused that but then went OK second time. The next 5 fences were on a track with fence one side and trees the other, with loads of scary plastic rubbish littering the floor (the stuff you support new trees with). Refused fence 4 tyres, OK 2nd time but the last fence coming out of the woods he would have NONE of it. We were last but one to go so when eventually the other horse came up behind me I tried to take a lead but still wouldnt have it. The next fence was the water so I gave up in the hope I could take a lead into that. No. It had a boat in it. Not that that mattered, he wouldnt go near it. Next fence was haystacks, didnt like that and took a good 8 attempts but we did go over, next fence was small log which he refused 1st and final fence he refused first time too but accepted 2nd time.

Not sure what happened, whether he just lost his bottle halfway round or got distracted but either way it wasnt for want of trying.

But it was a good day, to say he's never been there before I guess its to be expected. Even his advert said he was green XC.;)

[phyzelda]

aww thats ashame.

But still:

CONGRATULATIONS! and well done!

[Ginger Thing]

Well done (I think? :confused: ) :D

At least you went and did it! I fell off at tyres yesterday, so know what you mean about them! :rolleyes:

Did you trot or canter up to the dodgy fences? After having read DavidH's advice to you I thought 'yep, canter' (I hate jumping from trot too) but yesterday when we refused at the tyres I would have a nastier fall if I'd been cantering. Found that when I did come at trot, he would take hold and canter a few strides out, then I knew he was going over!

At least you persevered and got him over most of them! We will probably have the same problems as you, but even if you get eliminated you get chance to go round the whole course anyway!

Better luck next time (will there be one?;) )

ETA: Well done on the dressage and sj though! Just need more xc practice.

[Neptune]

Well done!!! Enjoying it and getting round in one piece is the main thing as far as I'm concerned :D

I did my first ODE last summer on a hired RS horse and never thought I'd be so pleased to finish with about a zillion penalties (decent dressage, 2 refusals in SJ and a few more XC!) :rolleyes:

Glad you had a good day anyway :)

[Est]

A HUGE well done Ditz! Fantastic result on the dressage and SJ, you must be buzzing about that :D I'm really impressed you got out there and had a go. Shame about the XC but it's nothing that more time and trips out won't sort - so we'll be expecting *lots* of updates through the season :D

[drookitsheep]

Well done Ditz! That's a great result for the dressage and SJ, and as Est says, the XC will improve - the main thing is you got round safe and sound. At the end of the day, it's all experience that you can build on for next time. Well done :D

If it's any consolation btw, we got eliminated at our XC on Saturday despite it being a lower, less spooky course that our recent ones :rolleyes: Horses - don't you just love them?!

[DITZ]

I am pleased, honest!

I knew the XC was going to be a nightmare. Didnt think he'd be quite so stubborn but it is his weakest area and yes a few more sessions should see him get better. Had I had the time to take him round the course earlier in the week it might have been a different story but hey. The best bit was that I wasnt in the slightest bit nervous or scared, definitely did have a 'go' attitude. Shame my horse didnt.:(

GT - I started off in trot as it with the stuff all over the floor he was spooking left and right but after my first refusal I did try cantering into them. It didnt make any difference he just ground to a halt either well in advance and wouldnt go near it or last minute at another one.

I have some pics, I'll attach them in a mo.

[Ross]

Well done :) It's all experience...

Where are you based? Are there clear round things you can go to, or a course you can hire to play with? Only nothing beats practise!

And well done on the dressage and show jumping :)

Ross

[domane]

Well done! Lead in dressage and SJ - brilliant. As you say, you knew he was green XC so you have an area which needs work and the only way to gain the experience is to do what you did yesterday.... sounds like a battle which you more or less won so well done for that too. Looking forward to photos now....

[DITZ]

Well done :) It's all experience...

Where are you based? Are there clear round things you can go to, or a course you can hire to play with? Only nothing beats practise!

And well done on the dressage and show jumping :)

Ross

I am in Nottm, there is a local XC course which I can hire out and have done but only just started. The place I went yesterday is also not far and cheaper too;) so I might start going there instead. I think it was the whole competition environment as much as anything yesterday which blew his brains. With the exception of the water which I know he hates there was really no reason he should have refused the other fences in isolation.

[DavidH]

Running all 3 diciplines in one day does tend to throw some horses off balance a bit mentally. Just keep going,lots of XC practice at as many different courses as you can.
I will all come together eventually.
At least you have 2 of the 3 phases cracked by the sound of it :)

[DITZ]

2 out of 3 aint bad - as they say!