The last road trip of the year. Off we went on Friday afternoon to Buckinghamshire. Addington was our destination.(Its very posh with very scary security men).
We were on first thing on Saturday morning for the open showjumping. I was the last rider of my team, Stella did a beautiful clear which put us in to the jump off, due to take place in the evening.
Not long to wait before I had to go and do the individual novice dressage, the test was fine but I had not been able to practice it as Stella had needed to recover from Weston and I had only started riding her 5 days before.I came 7th. My score was OK, if I'm honest I used it as a warm up and arena familiarisation for the Individual Elementary, which came next! I was so pleased with my result. I was up against British Dressage Young Riders and a lot of them were older than me and their horses younger and more supple than Stella. We came 3rd! I felt such an achievement.
The showjumping final took place at 7.45pm that evening, we were a little tired! However 3 beautiful clears, secured Farlington as Reserve Champions, what an achievement!
Sunday was a little more chilled with the team dressage. Unfortunately I forgot the test and can you blame me, I had had to learn 3 dressage tests, in a large arena (which we don't have) . I had not even been able to look at this test till Sunday, incase I got confused, Stella still got 70% and the others came 4th and 5th in their arenas, so we secured 4th place as a team. Yay, GO Farlington. I think we were one of the smallest teams, from one of the smallest schools and we all managed to be placed in everything we did! Long trip home, I think we arrived home about midnight!
Saturday, 29 October 2011
Weston :(
Ohhhhhhh Weston Weston Weston........
It all has to go wrong once in a while, unfortunately it was at the last event of the season and it was quite a big one, it was always going to happen!
So the story starts..........
We arrive on Tuesday afternoon on a very cold and windy afternoon. Once we had found Estella's stable and settled her in it was then time to put up the little zebra print, one man tent. That was where I was going to be staying in for the next 5 days whilst mum was staying in the lorry (a little unfair I would say), putting the tent up in the wind was interesting it kept trying to fly off, it was amusing and I got some very weird looks. I'm not going to mention anything about the mix up with stables, but it wasn't our fault! We had lovely neighbours, in fact we made friends with the lorry park attendant who said he would evict them if we didn't like them! No need, Sacha Pemble drew up beside us in her lorry 15 minutes later. Mum, Sacha and Evie, Sacha's groom hit it off immediately. Sacha and Evie came over for a glass of wine or three that night, good night had by all!
Wednesday we had trot up and inspection. Its so nerve racking waiting, even though you know your horse is sound. Anyway all clear and ok to compete. We had nothing else on apart from the riders meeting so I took Stella on a lovely hack around the track that they provided it was beautiful. I also walked the course that day, with Sacha, it took so long to walk and Mum walked it as well, even with her dodgy leg, she still walked all the way around!!! Wednesday night I went off socialising with my friends, arrived back to a dark, quiet lorry. Where was Mum? Over at Sacha's drinking more wine!
Thursday.... ANOTHER DAY OFF!!!!!! I think next time if I have that many days off I will bring another horse so I can ride it and take up some of the time, I had so much free time it was awful I had to try and sit still and chill..... this is not doable for me!!!! But I did get to watch the first of the dressage tests, they all looked amazing.
Friday.... yay finally I had something to do my dressage!!!!!! I had learnt before I had gone to Weston to manipulate Stella's back properly so, I was doing her back once a day leading up to the dressage and even on the day and after, it made her really soft and supple over her back. When I was warming up for the dressage she was feeling so good that she stretched right down and was forward and just so lush, Mum said she looked like a different horse and 10 years younger, it has taken me all season to get this but its better late then never! Grandad also arrived Friday with more wine and fresh supplies for the fridge. All were very welcome.
When I entered my dressage I new it was going to be a good test and it was, she was perfect, soft, listening not once did she hollow her medium trot and the canter was right on the money. I was so pleased and the lovely thing was my score reflected it..... 48.3 which put me right in the mix leaving me in 9th going through to the cross country day. After dressage it was time to walk the course again and I walked to get the minute markers this time and to think about the time to see where I would take cuts.
Saturday....we were warming up and she was flying over the practise fences and she was being quite strong so i knewwww she was up for it! 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 and off we went! We hit the first fence with perfect striding always promising when that happens, we were up on our minute markers and had just flown through the first few complexes, nothing was going to stop us except the the 9th fence where she just didn't take off and ran into the fence, she fell to her knees, I was completely shocked not only did she stop, which she never does, she fell which is not like her at all.... but I had to deal with the situation in hand and I decided that with the stop I probably didn't have a chance anymore, so I thought to myself, I'm going to stop my watch and just school her back, but after that she just wasn't jumping properly and we entered the water and she just stopped, she wasn't listening to my leg or the whip so I knew I had to retire her! she just wasn't right!
I took her back to her stable to see she had two fat legs at the back, one was really swollen and even though I didn't hear her knock herself we think she must have done, it would explain why she could not take off. Then where she fell she had a big knee and it was cut... poor Stella Bella. she wasn't lame so that was good she just had hot swollen legs, it could have been a lot worse
We took good care of her, icing her legs constantly and walking her. We didn't go back immediately because we didn't want to stand her in the lorry for hours. So we stayed the following day and watched the showjumping and the juniors. Well done to all my friends who were in the placings, they all did incredibly well.
Can I just say thank you to my Grandad, Weston was his treat, he paid my competition entry as a well done for France. Sorry it didn't go to plan, but I learn't a lot. x
It all has to go wrong once in a while, unfortunately it was at the last event of the season and it was quite a big one, it was always going to happen!
So the story starts..........
We arrive on Tuesday afternoon on a very cold and windy afternoon. Once we had found Estella's stable and settled her in it was then time to put up the little zebra print, one man tent. That was where I was going to be staying in for the next 5 days whilst mum was staying in the lorry (a little unfair I would say), putting the tent up in the wind was interesting it kept trying to fly off, it was amusing and I got some very weird looks. I'm not going to mention anything about the mix up with stables, but it wasn't our fault! We had lovely neighbours, in fact we made friends with the lorry park attendant who said he would evict them if we didn't like them! No need, Sacha Pemble drew up beside us in her lorry 15 minutes later. Mum, Sacha and Evie, Sacha's groom hit it off immediately. Sacha and Evie came over for a glass of wine or three that night, good night had by all!
Wednesday we had trot up and inspection. Its so nerve racking waiting, even though you know your horse is sound. Anyway all clear and ok to compete. We had nothing else on apart from the riders meeting so I took Stella on a lovely hack around the track that they provided it was beautiful. I also walked the course that day, with Sacha, it took so long to walk and Mum walked it as well, even with her dodgy leg, she still walked all the way around!!! Wednesday night I went off socialising with my friends, arrived back to a dark, quiet lorry. Where was Mum? Over at Sacha's drinking more wine!
Thursday.... ANOTHER DAY OFF!!!!!! I think next time if I have that many days off I will bring another horse so I can ride it and take up some of the time, I had so much free time it was awful I had to try and sit still and chill..... this is not doable for me!!!! But I did get to watch the first of the dressage tests, they all looked amazing.
Friday.... yay finally I had something to do my dressage!!!!!! I had learnt before I had gone to Weston to manipulate Stella's back properly so, I was doing her back once a day leading up to the dressage and even on the day and after, it made her really soft and supple over her back. When I was warming up for the dressage she was feeling so good that she stretched right down and was forward and just so lush, Mum said she looked like a different horse and 10 years younger, it has taken me all season to get this but its better late then never! Grandad also arrived Friday with more wine and fresh supplies for the fridge. All were very welcome.
When I entered my dressage I new it was going to be a good test and it was, she was perfect, soft, listening not once did she hollow her medium trot and the canter was right on the money. I was so pleased and the lovely thing was my score reflected it..... 48.3 which put me right in the mix leaving me in 9th going through to the cross country day. After dressage it was time to walk the course again and I walked to get the minute markers this time and to think about the time to see where I would take cuts.
Saturday....we were warming up and she was flying over the practise fences and she was being quite strong so i knewwww she was up for it! 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 and off we went! We hit the first fence with perfect striding always promising when that happens, we were up on our minute markers and had just flown through the first few complexes, nothing was going to stop us except the the 9th fence where she just didn't take off and ran into the fence, she fell to her knees, I was completely shocked not only did she stop, which she never does, she fell which is not like her at all.... but I had to deal with the situation in hand and I decided that with the stop I probably didn't have a chance anymore, so I thought to myself, I'm going to stop my watch and just school her back, but after that she just wasn't jumping properly and we entered the water and she just stopped, she wasn't listening to my leg or the whip so I knew I had to retire her! she just wasn't right!
I took her back to her stable to see she had two fat legs at the back, one was really swollen and even though I didn't hear her knock herself we think she must have done, it would explain why she could not take off. Then where she fell she had a big knee and it was cut... poor Stella Bella. she wasn't lame so that was good she just had hot swollen legs, it could have been a lot worse
We took good care of her, icing her legs constantly and walking her. We didn't go back immediately because we didn't want to stand her in the lorry for hours. So we stayed the following day and watched the showjumping and the juniors. Well done to all my friends who were in the placings, they all did incredibly well.
Can I just say thank you to my Grandad, Weston was his treat, he paid my competition entry as a well done for France. Sorry it didn't go to plan, but I learn't a lot. x
Monday, 3 October 2011
Tina Cook lesson!
My first lesson in a really long time and it made me realise that I need to get out running!!!!!
What I tried doing this time was riding Estella in a double bridle and Tina's suggestion was just to train her in it and to go back to the snaffle during tests, this in fact works really well!
The lesson went really well too, we worked on just going forwards and coming off my leg. We were doing a sort of shoulder-in on a 10 metre circle, not letting her fall in or lose the outside shoulder, which with her it quite hard because she is a "stiff old bird" as Tina says. We also worked on the straightnesss of the canter so we went down the centre line and I had to make sure she didnt swing her quarters left or right, we did a lot of counter counter to help with this, we worked on me as well, making sure I kept my sholders back and my lower leg just behind the girth, not too far behind and making sure its on the girth when doing laterall work.
We are off to Weston tomorrow till Sunday to do the CCI 1* which i am very much looking forward to! whooooo!!!!!!!
What I tried doing this time was riding Estella in a double bridle and Tina's suggestion was just to train her in it and to go back to the snaffle during tests, this in fact works really well!
The lesson went really well too, we worked on just going forwards and coming off my leg. We were doing a sort of shoulder-in on a 10 metre circle, not letting her fall in or lose the outside shoulder, which with her it quite hard because she is a "stiff old bird" as Tina says. We also worked on the straightnesss of the canter so we went down the centre line and I had to make sure she didnt swing her quarters left or right, we did a lot of counter counter to help with this, we worked on me as well, making sure I kept my sholders back and my lower leg just behind the girth, not too far behind and making sure its on the girth when doing laterall work.
We are off to Weston tomorrow till Sunday to do the CCI 1* which i am very much looking forward to! whooooo!!!!!!!
Friday, 30 September 2011
South Of England
Estella at South of England doing the CIC1*
A little daunting as when I looked at my section of 90 competitors it included Pippa Funnell, Lucinda Fredricks, Ken Spencer, Clayton Fredricks, Gemma Tattesall, Sacha Pemble...................
It was a bit quiet on the Friday afternoon when we turned up to do the trot up and our dressage, it was hard to believe that the showground would be packed out over the weekend. But it was quite relaxed and we had loads of time to walk the xc too.
The dressage was fantastic we got a 45 which I was over the moon about and at the end of the dressage I was in quite a good place I think about 15th.
We went back on the Saturday to walk the xc course again and walk the show jumping.
On Sunday we had a very early start and arrived at the showground for 7.15am I walked the sj course again Then our friend Lisa turned up to watch, though we soon put her to work!
At the SJ Estella jumped well but was a tad careless at one of the jumps and had it down, she was very spooky that day and was backing of everything so she took a bit of riding.
I went straight to the xc to walk part of of it again as there had been a course change and arranged to meet Lisa, Jill and Mum at the warm up with Estella. I didn't have too long to warm up and then we were on. It was a very long course and hilly but we went clear inside the time which I was chuffed with!
With this it left me in 12th place which was very respectable, very much so considering the company of all the professional riders I was in.
Of course it wouldnt be right just leaving it at this without telling you the other things that happened e.g my Mother embarrassing me several times 1.Walking into a chair when it was silent which caused everyone to look round. 2. She fell in to a dip and nearly fell over a ledge! 3. Talking on the phone about a certain professional dressage rider (nice things) but hadn't realised they where walking right in front of us! This caused me to completely disown her! Butttt then I remember its character building!
I am not sure whether I relayed the incident about Mum and the bicycle in France at Haras, but I am slightly worried as apparently we are taking the bikes to Weston next week, god I hope she stays on this time!
Next up date my Tina Cook lessons.
A little daunting as when I looked at my section of 90 competitors it included Pippa Funnell, Lucinda Fredricks, Ken Spencer, Clayton Fredricks, Gemma Tattesall, Sacha Pemble...................
It was a bit quiet on the Friday afternoon when we turned up to do the trot up and our dressage, it was hard to believe that the showground would be packed out over the weekend. But it was quite relaxed and we had loads of time to walk the xc too.
The dressage was fantastic we got a 45 which I was over the moon about and at the end of the dressage I was in quite a good place I think about 15th.
We went back on the Saturday to walk the xc course again and walk the show jumping.
On Sunday we had a very early start and arrived at the showground for 7.15am I walked the sj course again Then our friend Lisa turned up to watch, though we soon put her to work!
At the SJ Estella jumped well but was a tad careless at one of the jumps and had it down, she was very spooky that day and was backing of everything so she took a bit of riding.
I went straight to the xc to walk part of of it again as there had been a course change and arranged to meet Lisa, Jill and Mum at the warm up with Estella. I didn't have too long to warm up and then we were on. It was a very long course and hilly but we went clear inside the time which I was chuffed with!
With this it left me in 12th place which was very respectable, very much so considering the company of all the professional riders I was in.
Of course it wouldnt be right just leaving it at this without telling you the other things that happened e.g my Mother embarrassing me several times 1.Walking into a chair when it was silent which caused everyone to look round. 2. She fell in to a dip and nearly fell over a ledge! 3. Talking on the phone about a certain professional dressage rider (nice things) but hadn't realised they where walking right in front of us! This caused me to completely disown her! Butttt then I remember its character building!
I am not sure whether I relayed the incident about Mum and the bicycle in France at Haras, but I am slightly worried as apparently we are taking the bikes to Weston next week, god I hope she stays on this time!
Next up date my Tina Cook lessons.
Thursday, 29 September 2011
Busy few weeks!
Its sooo upseting to think its nearly the end of the season, but however its been a funpacked season! This is an update of what I have been doing these few weeks.
A couple of weeks ago I competed for the school at the NSEA qualifers, I did the Novice dressage (on stella) and I WON which I was very pleased with and Farlington also won as a Team, then I did the Elementary on her and came 2nd. I also did the Novice test on Pearl, her first ever novice test and first dressage test in a while and she did suprisingly well she got 60%! I also came 3rd on stella in the open jumping with style which was judged on style, speed and faults! So we are off to Addington for the championships in October if we are able to get up there and it doesn't snow to much!
Next... South Of England 1* I will update you on that tomorrow!
A couple of weeks ago I competed for the school at the NSEA qualifers, I did the Novice dressage (on stella) and I WON which I was very pleased with and Farlington also won as a Team, then I did the Elementary on her and came 2nd. I also did the Novice test on Pearl, her first ever novice test and first dressage test in a while and she did suprisingly well she got 60%! I also came 3rd on stella in the open jumping with style which was judged on style, speed and faults! So we are off to Addington for the championships in October if we are able to get up there and it doesn't snow to much!
Next... South Of England 1* I will update you on that tomorrow!
Sunday, 11 September 2011
Update and Goring Heath
Sorry I have not updated for a while, I'm back at school now grrrr but its my last year whooooo!!! I have decided I am not going to College, I have thought about it over and over. Since I can remember I have always told Mum and Dad that I was not going to College and that I just wanted to ride and that certainly hasn't changed so I have decided to absolutely commit to my riding.
I was at Goring Heath last week. We got a 33 dressage, it was ok just a little behind the leg but my canter work was GREAT!!!!! In the Show jumping I came round the corner to first fence and it absolutely bucketed it down, to a point I could hardly see! But even with this inconvenience we did a perfect round every jump we hit perfect stride and I think it was because I treated every fence the same, rode away from each fence and kept that rhythm. I think we lacked that in other rounds previously!
My XC round was ok however, when I went to start my watch it would not work and so I had no idea what speed I was going. I thought we were quite quick but I forgot from last year that the time is tight as it is quite hilly and what I think happened was that I took a few to many pulls just before the fence which slowed her down! Oh well I have learnt from this experience!!!!
BUTTT I still came 3rd which I was very pleased with!!!!!
Also not sure you can see the number of hits on my blog but I have over 5,500 hits on my blog. That's amazing, Thank you for reading it. x
I was at Goring Heath last week. We got a 33 dressage, it was ok just a little behind the leg but my canter work was GREAT!!!!! In the Show jumping I came round the corner to first fence and it absolutely bucketed it down, to a point I could hardly see! But even with this inconvenience we did a perfect round every jump we hit perfect stride and I think it was because I treated every fence the same, rode away from each fence and kept that rhythm. I think we lacked that in other rounds previously!
My XC round was ok however, when I went to start my watch it would not work and so I had no idea what speed I was going. I thought we were quite quick but I forgot from last year that the time is tight as it is quite hilly and what I think happened was that I took a few to many pulls just before the fence which slowed her down! Oh well I have learnt from this experience!!!!
BUTTT I still came 3rd which I was very pleased with!!!!!
Also not sure you can see the number of hits on my blog but I have over 5,500 hits on my blog. That's amazing, Thank you for reading it. x
Wednesday, 24 August 2011
Show Jumping and Cross Country at Haras Du Pin
Friday morning came and I was on early again for the showjumping.
The amount of times I walked the showjumping was absurd especially one particular line where I just could not get the right striding between the fences, it was there, I got it once but I couldn't find the stride again. So I walked it over and over and over and over.... until I remembered where it was exactly or until I made a track in the grass from walking it over and over again!!!
Anyway the preparation seem to really pay off as we did an awesome clear round and inside the time, when everyone that morning seem to be struggling to get a clear inside the time!!! Grant clocked something that I hadn't thought of and said that when I was going over fence 5, I should have a cheeky look at the clock ringside and if it said 32-33 or less then I was on the right time but if it said anything over I needed to kick on so I had a look and I was at 28-29 so it was perfect!!! Best showjumping round I think we have done together!!
Then came the long wait for Cross Country, I wasn't on until 3.35pm, so I had time to have a cooked breakfast and go support the rest of the Brits for the showjumping and watch how the xc was riding.
Again I walked my lines over and over and I think I must have walked my course 5 times!!! For the first time I did minute markers so I knew where I was timing wise throughout the course and they worked a treat! It was the first time that I have come inside the time, I have never ridden so fast and so technically. I thought about it so much where I could take things on a open stride, which ones I could take on a sharp angle to cut out some of the ground and then when we were at the combinations I had some time to ask her to come back to me. For the first time we where inside the time!
Estella was amazing that week she tried her heart out for me and really gave me everything she had! It was amazing to have that feeling!!!
What a week!! But none of this would have happened if it wasn't for my "support" team they were fab. Some people are lucky enough to have grooms but even though my "support team" is just family I wouldn't have it any other way they are F A B U L O U S!!!!!
The amount of times I walked the showjumping was absurd especially one particular line where I just could not get the right striding between the fences, it was there, I got it once but I couldn't find the stride again. So I walked it over and over and over and over.... until I remembered where it was exactly or until I made a track in the grass from walking it over and over again!!!
Anyway the preparation seem to really pay off as we did an awesome clear round and inside the time, when everyone that morning seem to be struggling to get a clear inside the time!!! Grant clocked something that I hadn't thought of and said that when I was going over fence 5, I should have a cheeky look at the clock ringside and if it said 32-33 or less then I was on the right time but if it said anything over I needed to kick on so I had a look and I was at 28-29 so it was perfect!!! Best showjumping round I think we have done together!!
Then came the long wait for Cross Country, I wasn't on until 3.35pm, so I had time to have a cooked breakfast and go support the rest of the Brits for the showjumping and watch how the xc was riding.
Again I walked my lines over and over and I think I must have walked my course 5 times!!! For the first time I did minute markers so I knew where I was timing wise throughout the course and they worked a treat! It was the first time that I have come inside the time, I have never ridden so fast and so technically. I thought about it so much where I could take things on a open stride, which ones I could take on a sharp angle to cut out some of the ground and then when we were at the combinations I had some time to ask her to come back to me. For the first time we where inside the time!
Estella was amazing that week she tried her heart out for me and really gave me everything she had! It was amazing to have that feeling!!!
What a week!! But none of this would have happened if it wasn't for my "support" team they were fab. Some people are lucky enough to have grooms but even though my "support team" is just family I wouldn't have it any other way they are F A B U L O U S!!!!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)