'finding the right buttons to press'
After viewing xc photos from previous years on Shoestring Eventing website and looking at videos on UTube I decided that Allerton would be the next event for Guy. It fell right between competing at Prestwold and our next venue Little Downham. Allerton is well known as an event which gives you a big atmosphere feel with a bold up to height XC designed by Ian Stark.
As I only get one in four Saturday off due to work I cannot usually compete on a Saturday but as BE100 was on Saturday only I had to have a jiggle around with days off. It was an early start leaving at 6.30am taking us 2hrs to get to Allerton. A beautiful venue with the castle in the background of the XC. Dressage wasnt until 11.00 but I needed to walk the XC course beforehand. Typically we got parked the furthest away from everything so it was quite a trek to all disciplines-thankfully I hand allowed that extra time!
The dressage warm up was very busy but Guy coped very well. Guy did a confident test, in a lovely rhythm gaining us 37-judges remarks being 'allow him to go forwards more'.
As I only get one in four Saturday off due to work I cannot usually compete on a Saturday but as BE100 was on Saturday only I had to have a jiggle around with days off. It was an early start leaving at 6.30am taking us 2hrs to get to Allerton. A beautiful venue with the castle in the background of the XC. Dressage wasnt until 11.00 but I needed to walk the XC course beforehand. Typically we got parked the furthest away from everything so it was quite a trek to all disciplines-thankfully I hand allowed that extra time!
The dressage warm up was very busy but Guy coped very well. Guy did a confident test, in a lovely rhythm gaining us 37-judges remarks being 'allow him to go forwards more'.
Showjumping was in a main arena in front of all the tradestands and tents, I wondered if this would spook Guy but he handled it extremely well. The warm up was entertaining as he finding it a bit exciting taking long ones to the warm up fences-naughty pony!! He did a positive round to unfortunately roll one pole, but the improvement was fantastic the homework gridwork was paying off and I was finding the correct buttons and in the right order-yipheee!
A quick change into XC attire and a trek to the xc warm up, our XC time was 13.11.The stewards were taking numbers as we came in to the warm up area, I had 6 riders before me to go. It had been a long day so I kept warm up to a minimum to reserve his energy for the XC. Guy has started to find the start box a rather exciting place doing mini rears to get us going-apologising to the starter as I set off for his rudeness lol!! The XC was on old parkland,the going was perfect Guy ate up the course very easily taking all fences in his stride, a little greeness and a lack of my experience at the sunken road but he showed what a genuine horse he was taking me clear around a course which was causing alot of problems. I thought the time was going to be tight but Guy had actually picked up time faults yet again for going TOO FAST!!!! 10 pens!!!!
We didnt finish in the placings but I was over the moon with the way Guy had improved and the xc was a great education for him. I find it difficult judging Guys speed over different xc courses,he covers the ground easily and goes a speed we are both confident at, but this will come with experience at least i wont have to push him on for BE Novice! Roll on Little Downham!!
A quick change into XC attire and a trek to the xc warm up, our XC time was 13.11.The stewards were taking numbers as we came in to the warm up area, I had 6 riders before me to go. It had been a long day so I kept warm up to a minimum to reserve his energy for the XC. Guy has started to find the start box a rather exciting place doing mini rears to get us going-apologising to the starter as I set off for his rudeness lol!! The XC was on old parkland,the going was perfect Guy ate up the course very easily taking all fences in his stride, a little greeness and a lack of my experience at the sunken road but he showed what a genuine horse he was taking me clear around a course which was causing alot of problems. I thought the time was going to be tight but Guy had actually picked up time faults yet again for going TOO FAST!!!! 10 pens!!!!
We didnt finish in the placings but I was over the moon with the way Guy had improved and the xc was a great education for him. I find it difficult judging Guys speed over different xc courses,he covers the ground easily and goes a speed we are both confident at, but this will come with experience at least i wont have to push him on for BE Novice! Roll on Little Downham!!