BRC National Finals - the less said the better!?

So we arrived on saturday evening and Deanna quickly settled to her hay. We somehow managed to get ourselves into the poshest stables which was nice and Deanna definitely approved!! Went for a walk round with two of my team mates then had a quick trot and canter round in the outdoor school before leaving the ponies for the night.

Walked the course on saturday was immediately nervous due to the brightness and spookiness of the fences. Walked it again on sunday morning and it seemed better, but I knew at the end of the day it would all depend on Deannas mood. First rider of the competition went in and fell off at the 2nd fence...not the best of starts :S

Deanna warmed up nicely, going forwards, jumping well - went into the ring and jumped one two down the arena, backed off a little but jumped fine.

3 and 4 were back up the arena, 4 on a dog leg, still fine. Then it was a tight left turn back to no 5 which was an odd fence - black filler plank infront, two poles behind. Came round the corner and she got unbalanced and broke to trot, one stop. Smack and round again, stopped again for no real reason. 3rd time she stopped but managed to get her to jump from a standstill. Dog leg to no 6 fine, turn back to no 7 fine, dog leg to 8 fine.

Then it was turn back down the arena to a treble, first part a triple bar then an oxer with a black wall then a pole/plank to finish. D came round the corner, I smacked her on but she was already looking at the black wall so 3rd stop and elimination. Granted, this line was a bit of an eyesore and I know she doesn't like black...but if she could have done it 2nd time, but had already pissed about too much.

 
 
2nd round - course changed I thought she'd be better. 1,2,3,4 were the same and she jumped through well. Turn back from 4 but this time it was just turn back and head straight to what used to be no 8 - so she'd jumped it before, wasn't mega scary, was on a ok stride and still stopped. Fine 2nd time, over 6 and 7, then dog leg to no 8 (which was the old fence 5 that she stopped at twice). More run up this time + jumped it once, still stopped. Ok 2nd time, round the corner to the treble - smacked round the corner, on approach, thought she was gonna take off...stopped. Elimination.
 

Came out the ring, smacked her over an oxer then got off crying :( I was so dissapointed.

 
Team didn't do well anyway, in 1st round one girl went clear, next had 20 faults, next 8. 2nd round, first girl had 16 faults (2 stops + time), then 18faults, then 4 faults. But if D had of jumped like she can, she would have easily gone clear and who knows what will have happened then.

All in all a bit rubbish really. Had been planning two days of BSJA this weekend but not sure what to do now. Maybe drop her down a height and jump the 80cm and 90cm then if goes well do the 90cm and 1m the next day. Damn mares!

Videos to come...

Norton Heath BSJA today

ohh bit of a rubbish day. Tried norton heath today, never jumped there before but as they have a few different fillers I thought it would be a good place to try.

Unfortunately Deanna completely hated it, the minute she was in the arena she was tense and not responding to me well. Did the warm up 80-90cm class and had an annoying stop at the 2nd fence, she wasn't spooking but just wouldnt push for the long stride as she was so tense so ground to a halt. Jumped the rest well.

Then went into the 90cm. Fences were bang up to height and I was a bit worried about some of the spreads and Deanna wasn't going forwards she'd struggled to make the distances. Started off forward and she was jumping ok, but leading through her shoulders so kept getting really dodgy strides.

Came to the penultimate fence, I turned badly and she wasn't straight through her body. Gave her a kick as really it was not a big fence for her, but she stopped (and almost got me off!). Came again and jumped the first part but then threw quite a dirty stop at the 2nd part so was eliminated :( Popped another fence on the way out and called it a day.

On the one hand Im pleased as her stops weren't due to her spooking at fillers, it was more issues with flatwork that were amplified with her being so tense. I know she doesn't jump well in little indoor arenas, theres one venue I never go to for that reason so this is just another to add to the list! As she isn't scared of the fences, hopefully she'll jump there well outdoors - she's much happier in a bigger arena.

Few stills and then the video of the 90cm. Excuse my terrible riding!

A few randoms from the show and once we got back home.

The RC have booked a local venue for SJ schooling tomorrow so hopefully we'll have a good jump tomorrow before hartpury on sunday!!

Bit of training...

No competing at the weekend but managed to have a jumping lesson and did some lovely schooling last night. Very sunny so managed to get a few nice snaps :D

This weekend I think we're off to norton heath to do some BSJA, never jumped there before and I think its quite spooky...really hope D behaves. Only 11 days til Hartpury!!!

Saturdays showjump training!!

And now yesterdays schooling pictures. Really pleased with how she's looking at the minute...if a little bay! :O!

Brilliant SJ today!!

Yay what a good weekend!!

Oh god, it finally seems 3 years of work is paying off!! After being on the winning RC team a few weeks ago and qualifying for the finals at Hartpury, I decided we needed to go "filler seeking". I noticed a local venue I hadn't been to in over a year had lots of new fillers, chess pieces, musical notes, lions, beef eaters and carrot fillers! So trundled off there today. Entered the 2.9ft - 3ft with the feeling of "as long as she jumps it second time, I wont mind". With pouring rain I went in expecting her to be difficult, shouldnt have worried cause she jumped DC :D :)

Her attitudes really changed, she still backed off but I put my leg on and said "go" and she did! Ended up 5th :D  

Luckily the rain eased off but were soaked through and freezing so went in first for the 3ft - 3.3ft. Deanna jumped another super double clear, even when I got a complete no stride and good girlie just took off anyway! Watched the rest of the class and was sure there were plenty quicker, was getting worried that I was out of the placings completely...ended up...first!!!

Go super Dee!!!

80 - 90cm video

90 - 1m video

Brilliant flat lesson today!

After a demoralizing week of not being able to get any decent work out of Deanna on the flat I went for a lesson. Tried a new bit today too, a Neu Schule loose ring snaffle with a lozenge. I think she approved :) 

Went really nicely! Excuse the jumping boots haha! I was planning to do 1/2 flat and 1/2 jumping as Im going out SJ tomorrow but we got a bit carried away on the flat and soon our hour was up! Oh well, hopefully she'll jump nicely tomorrow :) Just going out unaffiliated as this venue doesnt run BSJA yet, but they have fillers similar to Hartpury so I thought we should practice them a bit before we go for the RC finals!!

Couple of pictures :)

Video (does her more justice than the pictures do!!)

Not so dissapointed now...

Not quite so disappointed about the RC dressage yesterday. Have just realised  Royal Windsor runs from the 13th - 17th May. And as my first AS exam is on the 13th, with one on the 15th and one on the 18th...I dont think Mum would have been very happy to take me to the finals! Good job I didnt qualify then eh?