Last year was the first time Rockingham Castle had held a BE event, as I walked it then as a spectator I told myself this is where I want to be competing at next year. A super event with a Big feeling to it. The XC for 2013 had been very kind, which I hoped would be the case for 2014!
We were competing on the Fri 2nd May BE100 with very early times-thankfully having the day off on Thursday enabled me to go down to Rockingham to walk the XC at a sensible time of day. Wow! the XC had changed to being an almost Novice course, bold fences and tricky combinations, it would be the biggest challenge for both of us so far yikeeeees!
Studding up for dressage was quite entertaining with rain overnight the mud was like glue making it a worse job to do than normal! Warming Guy up for the dressage was quite different he was full of himself and it was a job to do a simple canter circle without him tying to buck or do a playful flying change. Although to my amazement he actually behaved himself in the test-little bugger!-he didnt even mind the fancy flowers around the arena!
We were competing on the Fri 2nd May BE100 with very early times-thankfully having the day off on Thursday enabled me to go down to Rockingham to walk the XC at a sensible time of day. Wow! the XC had changed to being an almost Novice course, bold fences and tricky combinations, it would be the biggest challenge for both of us so far yikeeeees!
Studding up for dressage was quite entertaining with rain overnight the mud was like glue making it a worse job to do than normal! Warming Guy up for the dressage was quite different he was full of himself and it was a job to do a simple canter circle without him tying to buck or do a playful flying change. Although to my amazement he actually behaved himself in the test-little bugger!-he didnt even mind the fancy flowers around the arena!
The showjumping course was in a big arena,the going was a little slippery but the course flowed well. In the warm up Guy was flying,probably a little too much as in the showjumping we rolled two poles but I knew that was down to me not getting a good enough canter(steadying it but keeping the impulsion)-annoying when you know what to do but it doesnt seem to come right as you are actually in the arena!
Whilst the going for the XC ground was good we headed to the XC. I knew I would have to have my brave pants on as from the start the course needed bold riding. Guy was surprisingly calm entering the xc start box but I could feel he was containing himself as the first fence he went for a huge jump as though there was a tiger underneath it! Making it an entertaining photo! The rest of the course he ate up including the straight route at a tricky combination and we were well within time.
Whilst the going for the XC ground was good we headed to the XC. I knew I would have to have my brave pants on as from the start the course needed bold riding. Guy was surprisingly calm entering the xc start box but I could feel he was containing himself as the first fence he went for a huge jump as though there was a tiger underneath it! Making it an entertaining photo! The rest of the course he ate up including the straight route at a tricky combination and we were well within time.
Rockingham was certainly the biggest event for us in our eventing careers. We tried our best but know where we need to improve-I wanted to finish in the top half of the class which we did finishing 19th out of 42, having a PB in the dressage for 31.5. Through 'Twittereventing' i have met many people connected to eventing, it was great to meet Nikki Goldup a twittereventer member with her super cob Wanda and wish her well for the rest of the season!!! As it was only our second event of the year I was absolutely thrilled how Guy went and the ease of how he went XC . As this is a belated blog we are only a couple of days away to our next event at Shelford Manor BE100- hope to get that double clear!