Yesterday we went Eventing to Prestwold Hall a new venue for the BE calendar. Another localish event to us and as a new course I didnt know what the course would be like but as it was being run by BEDE events it would be to their usual excellent standard. I dont really like running Guy with such a short period of time inbetween events as its only 10 days ago since we were at Shelford but looking at the BE calendar this was the best place/time/venue to go to.
Walking the course on the Friday I was very impressed, lovely hedges to get you started with straight forward fences to get you moving and fences which needed to be ridden accurately-especially 6a&b, 10 and 16!
Walking the course on the Friday I was very impressed, lovely hedges to get you started with straight forward fences to get you moving and fences which needed to be ridden accurately-especially 6a&b, 10 and 16!
Sunday morning came around rather quickly- I was pleased with my early times 9.40dr, 10.48 sj and 11.30 xc not too much time for nerves to kick in:) The weatherforecast was suppose to be sunny but we werent impressed travelling to Prestwold in the rain! A dull morning to start but eventually staying dry for the test. Guy did a good test but ruined it when he heard some dogs barking in the distance thinking the hunt was around = Naughty pony! Not at a good point of the test as going from medium walk to trot he anticipated the next canter movement, marked down for 'disobedient' scoring 36.
The showjumping was running early so we decided to get changed asap and head over. Guy got a little deep into the upright but absolutely flew the spread in the warm up. In the arena he did his usual trick of doing his impression of a racehorse over a hurdle taking off from miles away from the first fence (deffo gridwork homework for him!) but he did settle, unfortunately rolling a pole at fence 4 and getting a bit deep to fence 7 but the rest of the course he found quite easy. A better feeling than Shelford SJ, riding it sightly different allowing him to move forward and flow rather than getting in a battle with him.
The showjumping was running early so we decided to get changed asap and head over. Guy got a little deep into the upright but absolutely flew the spread in the warm up. In the arena he did his usual trick of doing his impression of a racehorse over a hurdle taking off from miles away from the first fence (deffo gridwork homework for him!) but he did settle, unfortunately rolling a pole at fence 4 and getting a bit deep to fence 7 but the rest of the course he found quite easy. A better feeling than Shelford SJ, riding it sightly different allowing him to move forward and flow rather than getting in a battle with him.
After a good showjumping round I was up for the testing Xc course. It was a long course so made my warm up short jumping only a couple of fences. Soon into the start box the course running through my mind. Guy set off boldly all I could hear from the tannoy was 'Ballytarsna D Cloverguy travelling at still at speed over fence 5'. Fences 6a&b (see pics) I made sure Guy was forward but aware there was another fence coming up quickly,keeping my eye on the b part Guy sailed over it. The course took us through the first wood around to a coffin, another fence causing problems as jumping from light into dark but he made nothing of it. The course got a little more twisty over two more hedges, fence 12 was a narrow dog kennel with a road crossing to 13 up two steps. Near to the finish with a couple more easy fences then the troublesome fence 16 an angle narrow brush with a tight approach, Guy had locked onto it and pinged it-WOW! Galloping on to the final steeplechase fence-YIPEEEEE so so pleased with Guy:))))).
BE100 XC fences -course walk-prestwold hall
After cooling down Guy and getting something to eat we headed over to the score board. To my surprise even with a fence down we had finished 6th- my first BE placing.Many riders had had problems on course and the time had been tight, with our clear xc inside time this had pulled us up the placings:)))))))
Our next BE outing is probably Allerton BE, a fair way to travel but recommend as a lovely course. My homework is getting Guy to some dressage competitions and gridwork for the jumping!
Our next BE outing is probably Allerton BE, a fair way to travel but recommend as a lovely course. My homework is getting Guy to some dressage competitions and gridwork for the jumping!