Tweseldown again

Tweseldown dawned along with 'Storm Brian'.

I had been watching the forecast on tenterhooks all week, hoping it would improve. It did slightly so a brand newly clipped pony was duly washed and plaited.

Lexi warmed up tensely for the dressage and spooked like a five year old at the judge's car but oddly seemed to relax as we entered the arena. We did a nice test, my only complaints were a naff halt and a free walk without much stretch but I was pleased.

We were awarded with a 28.8 which turned out to be second in the section.

The showjumping was wet but didn't look too big following our bsja debut a few weeks ago. Someone returning from it commented she hadn't seen a clear and everyone was getting time faults. Lexi hasn't touched a pole since May so I felt if we were to break that streak today it could be forgiven. She warmed up well enough and didn't seem too bothered about the ground.

In the arena she set off well but became a little hesitant over 3, 4 and 5. Her confidence grew despite the ground and she jumped well to bag herself another clear!

I was nervous about the step back up to 90. Lots of airy fences, the fence before the water was bright, there was a tricky line with a fence on top of a mound followed by an angled double which had a decent fence coming out with the brush on top.

Lexi definitely knew what was coming and shot out the start box but had her usual bit of a look at the first couple of fences. We then got into more of a rhythm over a related distance of birch log oxers (very gappy!) and flew the log pile.

She had a good look at the fence before the water but duly jumped it, followed by a big leap into the water and jumped the house out out of trot. We then had a good gallop along the old racetrack popping a wagon in our stride.

Next was the mound combination - mindful we had a stop at something similar last time I kept my leg on. She looked then popped it. I aimed left at the first part of the combination. The distance felt long and I stupidly took a check only for her to run out at the second fence. Disappointed, the next attempt I rode for the three long strides and Lexi showed me why she ran out - apparently brush is not to be touched! So she went clean over the top which was around 1.10m. I have ordered a beautiful photo!

After that she really settled. We jumped a decent size house, flew the coffin and another table. Finally we faced our nemesis - the dragon. A little look, a bit of leg and a growl and we bounced over, finishing exactly on the optimum time even with the stop! Oops. 

The big catch up.

Calmsden horse trials was never going to be the best day. Overnight my beautiful, beloved dog took a turn for the worse and we made the decision to put her to sleep in the morning. She was the best dog. The floofer, the subwoofer. My best friend and constant companion for 10 years.

I'm just quickly going to skip through the next few reports because I'm getting behind and struggling to catch up.

We decided to go eventing after Tara being put down because I had late times and we felt better to stay busy than sit in an empty house but sadly a good day was not to be.

A 27 dressage and clear SJ left us in by the leaders but Lexi put her foot down xc and I retired at fence 4.

Aston was similar, a 30 dressage and clear SJ and then we were eliminated at fence 5, a log before the water.

We dropped down a level and went to Solihull be80. It wasn't a nice xc course involving an owlhole and a few other nasty fences - not the easy encourage the babies course I wanted! We scored a 24 dressage, clear SJ and to my surprise bombed round xc clear inside the time to win!

We followed this with a pairs xc which involved another owlhole, we had good fun and went clear to come second.

We then went to Ascott under Wychwood 80. We scored a 28 dressage, clear SJ and a clear (of a bit more hesitant as I had the handbrake on to prevent too fast time faults) and we had another win! 

The week following this we went to Munstead BE80. I didn't learn my test properly and received a deserved dressing down from the judge and a 32 dressage followed by a clear SJ and a bold clear xc which gave us 4th.

This ended my run of weekends off work so I registered BS and took Lexi for a show jump. We did the BN where we had a stop in the jump off as I got carried away and Lexi locked on to the wrong fence. We also did the discovery which was massive but she was fantastic. We had one stop early on where I took my leg off but she jumped the rest including the timed section which was hoooge.

Behind again! Tweseldown

I have a confession. 

I find it very hard to blog when things aren't goings right. But it means I lose valuable lessons. I now have a mammoth catch up session which I never find time for! So I will start little and often.

So we set off to Tweseldown 90 feeling a. It more hopeful.

Lexi was a dragon in the warm up but settled and did a beautiful test. I was very pleased, I felt it was one of the strongest we'd done. The judge did not agree at all and gave us a 37!

I dealt with this with a shrug as frankly I was confused - one of her nicest tests and one of the worst marks she'd ever received. It still left us in 10th but it felt frustrating. The test sheet did not match the test - I was even told off for doing my free walk where I did it despite that I did it how it was stated on the test sheet. My instructor told me if it had been BE I should send the test sheet and video in as a complaint because frankly the sheer and the video did not match.

So that left me appeased as at least the horse didna good job!

The SJ seemed enormous but Lexi stormed round clear which was very pleasing!

We set off xc well although I found reverting back to a snaffle for this phase made my brakes a little too good. A small check made her compress too much really.

We had a disappointing stop at a little log on a hill where I took my leg off and another at our hated dragon. Overall I felt fairly pleased as she did give me a better feeling.