| Dressage Test: BE92 (2009) | Dressage Judge: J Mercer | Dressage Mark: 39.5 |
| SJ Jumping Penalties: 0 | SJ Time Penalties: 0 | |
| XC Jumping Penalties: 0 | XC Time Penalties: 6.4 | |
| XC Distance: 2670m | XC Optimum Time: 5m 56secs | Placing: 21st |
Well, the first event of the season was met with much anticipation, a 05.00 start to a grey, drizzly day. After a couple of false starts yesterday: me mis-fuelling the Range Rover, and the lorry lights not working we ended up having to go in two vehicles. Anyway, Finn had managed to keep her plaits in under her snuggy hood and was relatively clean for a change!
We left late (of course) but arrived at Somerford for just after 8. We walked the Cross Country course straight away: it was quite hilly, with some of the jumps looking quite big and a couple of questions – I was a little concerned about the drop fence to a skinny down a hill.
Dressage was not great!! Could have done with much more working in today (we had 1/2 hour) as Finn was super excited – the last time we saw this many horses together we were going hunting, or perhaps it was first event nerves!? Anyway, I tried to relax and we went in – considering how she had worked in the test went better that I thought. She got a bit tight and tense about 3/4 of the way through and jogged the medium walk down the centre line and was a bit wobbly. We did get 7 for the FWLR though!
Show Jumping was spectacular! Our first clear round – I was thrilled…….. I remembered my lessons and used the arena well, she was listening to me and I made sure that I didn’t let her get too long. Think we’ve got it cracked with the Neue Schule waterford jumper bit – she really likes it, no pulling, snatching or leaning – great….
I got her ready for the XC but had to wait for Ian and Lynsey to come back before I could go down as
my new air jacket was locked in Ian’s car. Probably a good thing really, I was so pumped from the SJ that the adrenaline was coursing and it may have made me a bit reckless?? Anyway, the short wait meant that I had chance to calm down a bit. Had a fantastic round, she looked at a couple: the corner which came 3 strides after a log and the pallasade with a ditch in front, but I sat up and kicked on!! She made short work of the drop to the skinny –
no trouble at all, but we did trot all the way down the long steep hill – I did ask her to canter but she wanted to trot – so we did. A fabulous (but not super fast) clear round.
We finished in 21st place with our best score to date (45.90). So, despite the rain we had a fabulous day, and we got our first foundation point for a double clear. A fantastic start to the season. Roll on Stafford!