Sunday 20/10/13 was my last event of the season (half season for us). It was at Oasby, Lincolnshire only 20mins away, bliss! Unlucky with the times I had , we were first to go in my section 8.00,8.40 and 9.30. Whilst going early would mean hopefully my nerves wouldnt have time to kick in I knew I would be the 'pathfinder' for XC!! |
Trotting around the dressage arena Guy felt lovely flicking his toes, looked like I should have been going into a Novice test!! On entering the arena tracking right the judge honked as though I had gone wrong. My judge said 'its track left', I just replied 'OK' thinking oh bugger I've learnt the wrong test, so tracked left, started my 10mtr loop to be honked again. On conversation with my judge and looking to the other arenas everyone else was in the same position, the judges had been given the wrong test to judge!!!!!!!!!!!!! After a short delay while the judges were given the correct test we restarted. Guy produced a much more balanced test feeling much improvements from other events gaining us 35.5. I was really pleased with this score as it was one of our best.
A very quick change to get to showjumping, the stewards hadnt been informed about the mishap with the dressage!! After a few laughs the stewards were very understanding and let me have a few warm up fences, which did not go to plan!! Going into the showjumping arena I thought just ride him forward let him sort himself out. The course rode well but we had an unlucky pole at the second fence-4 faults:( I did have better control as I now have Guy in a Neue Schule full cheek with trans angle lozenge, great to have steering and breaks!!
Onwards to the XC- cantering Guy around for the Xc warm up I was apprehensive as my last outing resulted me falling off. After a couple of warm up fences I had my 'bloodup' and we felt super. We got the green light to go,counted down and Guy set off with his lovely ground covering pace. Guy was full of confidence even through the quarry fence, I relaxed for the next few fences as I wasnt worried about them, got to the corner, set him up and at the last moment glanced off it-whoopsie! Relaxed too much! Represented and he popped it well, it felt more like a misunderstanding of what I wanted him to do. We finished the course full of running and he grew in confidence. Not the best result on paper but a great event for our partnership education:)