Well that was exciting..XC

Deanna was fantastic yesterday. Just amazing, didnt look at anything, Straight over all the ditches and the big fences. Made everything seem so easy

We'd almost finished when I went to jump another fence. Deanna just misjudged the fence as the stride was right, but she just put her feet out in front of her as if she was going to bank the fence. Not going to happen and it caused us to flip over (her and me!). Probably the most terrifying thing to happen to me on a horse, I was so scared she was hurt. Thankfully she got straight up and is seemingly fine today (monday). Im just praying it hasnt wrecked her confidence, she was jumping so honestly and just loving every second of it..

Why didn't I go jumping?!

Ah god so today was the trailblazer 2nd rounds. I wasn't really fussed about TB, as for one thing Im hoping to jump at hickstead which is 2 days before the trailblazer finals so wouldnt be able to do both. However as I'd qualified for the 2nd rounds, we thought we'd go along anyway.

First test was p14 and she warmed up lovely, went to go show the judge my number and D spots the SJ timer (attached to the fence next to our arena) que major spooking, kicking white boards everywhere and refusing to go near it! This makes her totally tense throughout the whole test, kept having to cut the 'scary' corner. Later, whilst in canter she tossed her head and pulled my rein out of my hand, went to grab it back and it was caught over her nose...so had to go back to walk in the middle of my "canter circle" to sort it out!

Unsurprisingly we scored very very low...

So then into the novice 27; wasn't expected much from this as we haven't really been practicing! But Deanna was going really nicely, bit too forwards but on the bit and tracking up lovely. Medium trot was a bit non-existent but it always is! All in all I came out pretty chuffed...and suddenly was very very dissapointed as I'd scored less than in the prelim test :'( I honestly don't know how, different judges of course but still.

God I hate dressage.

Few pics from the novice, prelim was in the other ring and the stills aren;t very clear

14th April - XC schooling

Aww good pony! Think she enjoyed today!

We haven't been out XC since october so I wasn't sure what to expect, it was an RC clinic with Nat Dixon and I was a little worried as I've never actually had a lesson on the XC!

Nat was amazing, such a good trainer, really want to have some more sessions with her! Started with 5 simple fences, linking together - D popped through like a pro. Then onto two fences then a log on a bit of an angle - still a pro. Absolute star through the water! Trotted straight in, jumped in first time and generally was fab!

Only issue was ditches! Now this has always been an issue with D and whilst every ditch we encountered today we did get over, we did have to have a lead first or someone walking up behind. Definetely the area we need to work out.

Mainly worked over introduction (3ft) fences today as thats the height of the Area horsetrials qualifier course but did jump some PN stuff. Deanna just found all the non-ditched fences soo easy and (dare I say it?!) I really want to event her!!!

The venue we schooled at today run unaffiliated ODE's over introduction and PN courses all up to BE spec so aiming for them...but need to make sure we're ditch proofed!!

Anyway..pics, sorry not many. We were mainly linking fences so Mum would only ever be stood near one and then its lots of bum shots!

My horse is incredible!!

Another fantastic trip out BSJA today!! With pouring rain last night, I woke up this morning half thinking I wouldnt bother going today...my bed seemed far cosier :P

 

Set off and arrived it perfect time and set off into the British Novice (90cm). After a very odd jump over the first fence (watch the video, my brother describes it as a 'bunny hop' haha!) we got round clear :D I was 2nd in the for the jump off and really went for it, took an inside turn that only one other person tried and came home clear and in the lead...and stayed there!! Our first BSJA win!! :D:D

 

Dragged my brother along to take pictures! :)

 

Jump off

 

And video!

 

Next up was the discovery, jumped clear in the first round and then had to wait quite a while for the jump off. Deanna went in and felt a bit tired, after jumping an oxer (3rd fence of jump off) she felt a bit flat so I went wide for the final line, this cost me time and as unfortunately as we tipped the last fence down we were just pushed out of the top 3 to finish 4th!

 

Video stills from the disco

 

Jump off stills

 

Real pics from the discovery

 

 

Jump off photos

 

 

 

Video from the discovery

5th April BSJA

Decided I would go out for some more SJ on the sunday, so pleased I did!!

Started in the 90cm amateur qualifier, the course was fair but there were a few spooky fences (particularly fence 3, a black and white double with chess pieces) so I rode quite forwards, unfortunately this resulted in two fences down but I was pleased that Deanna was so open and taking me to the fence.

Into the 1m qualifier and even though I rode pretty badly we got round clear :D wooop! Waited for ages for the jump off and then felt very.. :S!!!! The next class after the 1m was the 1.10m, so they decided to straight out put our jump off up to 1.10m - it was huge!!

Felt a bit intimidated by the people jumping well above 1.10m in the warm up so just popped a small upright then went in. Unfortunately due to only jumping a small upright I dont think D had quite realized the fences had gone up ;) and she just brushed over the first and we had it down. Then jumped lovely round the rest and finished on 4 faults! So pleased as Ive never competed over that height before and she was awesome!! Finished 7th so just out of the ribbons

Pictures and video of the 90cm round

Pictures of the 1m first round

1.10m jump off

Video

So gutted there was a photographer there! :(