Tomorrows HT course :)

Off out tomorrow and really looking forwards to it. Just doing the little max 2.6ft course and *fingers crossed* there should be nothing to worry D!

Start over a very little log and then a tiny brush. Then a little log, followed by a small palisade. Then its a little drop followed by a skinny log before a straight forward telegraph pole then the first challenge - ditch! Jumped it before and D was totally fine so hoping she'll be the same tomorrow! Then its up the hill to a nice log pile then left handed to a log ditch double (although ditch it more like a step up so again should be no worries!). Down the hill and right handed over a little arrow head thing, then round the corner and up over a pheasant feeder followed by a little brush fence. Left handed again to a log with a drop on the other side followed by a skinny log. Up the hill to a tiny step up then two step downs then through the water to finish.

SO! Hopefully all should be fab!!

Photos from fence 6 :)

20th September - Dressage Championships

Well today I headed off to one of my local EC's for their end of year dressage championships. I wasn't sure what to expect from Deanna as I havent managed to have a flat lesson recently and she's been going very badly in the school. Thanks to a bit of rain I have been able to school in the fields where she is like a different horse, forwards into my hand and lovely to ride. I think the arena is getting too deep for her at the moment.

Anyway. We did the warm up prelim 12 first, she was ok but I felt she could have been rounder however she was lovely and light in my hand so I didnt want to interfere. Only real blimp came in the B to X, X to E half circles change of rein in walk...Deanna started throwing her head everywhere and umm yeh..that earnt us a 4 ;-) haha oh well, pleased to finish on 61.2% from a BD judge. Nice comment too "lovely willing and obedient pony with 3 active and correct paces" and then a little tip to use my corners more to gain accuracy and more marks!!

Then the championship class, prelim 13. I got Deanna more forwards for this test so I could get her a little more uphill and round. A few movements on the left rein were truly terrible! Dee was trying to drift inwards with her left shoulder and just makes right off leg, unsuprisingly a 5 for the left circle to canter movement!

Otherwise a much better test with 8's for trot and canter work woop!! Finished on 62.92% yay!

More lovely comments "a charming and hardworking pony with attractive, active paces & a lovely attitude" :)

Finished 4th in both tests so happy with that =)

Few piccies...

Wally of the week...

Goes to me :P

Turned to for some BSJA today, arrived around 8:30 and there was no other lorrys there...course was half built but most were X poles, office door is locked and theres no-one in sight. Eventually find someone and umm the BSJA is on sunday...not saturday :P Ooopsss! He very kindly said we could school round, didnt take any money so I think I got off better than if the show had of been on?!

Very pleased with Dee, not a stop or silliness the whole time. Didn't even back off the fences :) Should have put them up a bit/worked on the canter as watching the video she's quite flat but I was just chuffed she was taking me forwards and jumping so nicely. 

Now to find some actual SJ for next weekend!!

Over RC 31st August

Aww lovely day today :) I was seriously regretting the idea of entering a showing class last night as I realised the amount of effort that goes into preparing for a show class. Removed all the bling from my bridle *sob* and also had to plait beastie which never goes too well hehe!

Got there thinking we were early and turned out we were almost late!! Showing class was RC mount with a small course of little jumps, which proved more testing that I think the judges thought..lots of stops! Deanna, for once!, set the example and popped round clear before doing a rather fast individual show haha! Finished 3rd :)

Lunch break and then off for the 2.9ft. Went in early and just had the first fence down, bit upset as I assumed I'd be well out of the placings for that. As it was, the little filler style fence caused mega problems and loads had stops! Ended up 2nd which was a nice bonus!

Into the 3ft and had the first fence down again!! arrrghh! Rider error, rode far too fast!! Popped round the rest clear and ended up winning as only 4faulter and no clears!

Wasnt going for the placings at all, just wanted some nice confidence giving rounds which I got :D Rosettes were a lovely bonus!!

heheheheh :P

2.9ft video

3ft video

British Dressage 30th August

Yay! Fab day today!!

Having had two lessons in the week with Matt, followed by a visit to the European dressage championships to watch Laura B pick up a bronze medal I was feeling rather inspired this morning! Deanna went beautifully in the first test (P13), I was so so chuffed with her. Disappointed to see we only scored 60%, but with the winner only on 62.3% (and looked stunning) it seemed it just a low marked class. Finished 4th so happy with that.

Onto the second test. Often in the second test Deanna can get very disobedient to my left leading to cut corners and at times I can struggle to get her any where near the track! This has been the focus of my lessons recently and it seems to be working!

She was almost as good as the first test! P14 has a few more turns to the left which isnt ideal with our left bend problem but she was much better. Scored just one mark less than in p13 to finish on 59.92% haha so consistent at least....and finished 4th again!!

Prelim 13:

Prelim 14:

Videos to follow!

Prelim 13:

Prelim 14:

Training in August

After a few weeks off due to me being on holiday(!), Deanna is now back in work and off we go again back training! This week we've been to my dressage trainers twice and she's going brilliantly, having a few issues with her left shoulder and getting true left bend so he's been helping us with that and she's coming on really well.

Gave her a jump today, first time she's jumped in 4/5 weeks and she was really fab. Nothing major, just a small grid of 3 and a spread on the other rein. Jumped really sweetly so am really happy with her :)

Got BD on sunday, just two prelims, then an RC show on monday with 'RC horse' class then hopefully the 2.9ft and 3ft :)

Few pics from training :)

Feeling very disappointed with myself

Despite the fact that I can set up a 1m course and jump round no problems at home, jump 1.15m courses in lessons and be calm as a cucumber...even if the idea of a 2.6ft at a show makes me want to cry :( Its not the height, Im just convinced it's all a waste of time as we keep getting eliminated. 

Was meant to go SJ today, was planning on the 2.6ft and 2.9ft - so well below anything we're jumping at home/in training/last weeks course hire - but told Mum this morning I didnt want to go :( Was already thinking about Deanna stopping/getting eliminated and if you ride D negatively she will just stop.

Im going on holiday on friday as I was worried about going to a show and getting elim and then not having time to correct it before we both had breaks. But at the same time Im now wound up that Im about to go away and still haven't sorted the jumping since the last time we were elim plus thinking the longer I leave going to a show the more nervous Im going to be.

Sorry, long rambling post here. Not even sure anyones reading it. Just so cant believe back in April we were flying round 1m courses BSJA and winning....and now I dont even have the confidence to compete her round 2 foot fecking 6 :'(