Marvellous Munstead

Finally FINALLY out event season started.

On my birthday, none the less. I had slight heart palpitations when I saw the course photos and saw a rather bushy owl hole which is our archille’s heel. Lexi just doesn’t quite ‘get’ them. This led to an impromptu last minute xc school instead of an SJ lesson (god bless my instructor) so we could actually jump one. She had a stop the first time then was class and was perfect over everything else although we didn’t do too much.

The day dawned, dry if not particularly sunny. My civilised times became less civilised with the clock change so I dragged a slightly begrudging partner up at what felt like 4am. We arrived slightly behind schedule (4am starts not being partner’s strong point) and hustled round the course. There were a couple of things to think about and of course, the dreaded owl hole.

We racked up and rode to the dressage before I realised I’d left my number bib at the lorry to had to hurtle back and grab it then had a quick warm up. She felt fabulous in the warm up and we trotted down to our ring. Of course we had the wettest one with a very soggy corner. Lexi went a little tense (Weee we are on grass!) but overall did a good test. She relaxed as the test went on and did everything where I asked, including one of her best free walks. Walks have been emotional for us in the past as Lexi is very sensitive and pretty sharp so keeping her relaxed and avoiding jogging can be tricky. I was pleased and felt in another outing or two she would relax to being back on grass.

We went on to the show jumping. The ground was very soft and getting pretty cut up in the ring. Thankfully, possibly because our fields are pretty wet and our school is a bit deep, Lexi wasn’t fussed at all. She warmed up well then we went in. Towards the end of last year, she’s become very consistent in this phase and produced her customary clear. Show jumping was causing a few problems so I was very pleased! 

I was equally pleased when I heard our dressage score of 22.8! I checked the results after the SJ. The judge was using a full range of marks; the leader was on 22 and a few more in the 20s but equally plenty in the 40s so a real mixed bag.

Time to set off for cross country. My heart was in my mouth. I was excited but also nervous - after last season, I wasn’t sure what I would have coming out of the start box.

Lexi warmed up well then off we went. She started jogging as we went over to the starter and frankly flew out of the startbox.

I kicked on as we set off as I know from previous experience she goes far better if ridden forwards. So over fence one. By fence 3 I was smiling. She was galloping and jumping, not at all looky, just galloping and jumping. Fence 5 were a couple of angled palisades on two strides so I got her back a little but she was as straight as a die and knew what to do.

We had a great shot to the trakhner and the hay wagon then rounded the corner to the water. She did grind her brakes here and stopped to sniff it then went in. Bit naughty as she has done plenty of waters and been fine but I’m sure she’ll get back into the swing of it. Popped the fence coming out.

Time for the owl hole. We came round the corner, I sat deep and leg on. We got a bit deep to it but she never hesitated and went straight through. At this stage I glanced at my watch and realised we were going far too fast so I applied the brakes a bit and tried to steady our rhythm. Next was a step up, stride across and a step down. Not an issue for this mare.

The next fence was the only other fence I thought could be a bit tricky for us. It was a step down then 1 stride to a hanging log on an angle. The trouble was the 80cm fence was straight on from the drop and there have been times my steering has gone a little awol in my bitless so I was slightly concerned we would lock on to the wrong fence. Didn’t happen - popped down, turned and over the log.

Popped a couple of easy fences then a double of relatively narrow hanging logs. Again no problem. At this stage I felt a bit like I was playing one of those eventing pc games - press spacebar and horse jumps. 

Tried to slow down and pop the last and cantered through the finish line 22 seconds too fast 😳

Sadly the too fast pens cost us the win but we came 4th in a competitive section and with 41 starters, our first regional Q under our belt!

I couldn’t be more pleased (or had a better birthday present!). In 2016 she was an xc machine. She would need a bit of encouragement over the first couple then cruise control would come on and I would point and she would jump.

Our fall lost me my nerve which ended up coming through to her and most of last season was spent retiring or eliminated with stops either SJ or XC. We dropped down the levels and regained it but after a break I wasn’t sure what we would have. Just need to go a bit slower next time! It’s hard with her, she isn’t unsafe when she is going quick - she doesn’t need setting up for the easy fences, just jumps out of her stride and her stride is very long. And she goes better when ridden forward. But we will figure it out.

And yes it might not be socially acceptable to post pictures of a dressage sheet but I’m proud of it. Pity about the awol quarters, this isn’t our strong point. I usually manage in trot but I came into the arena on the right rein (all my tests recently have been track left at A and instructor said to enter on the rein you go into but I wonder if she finds it harder to stay straight in the R rein so I couldn’t correct her? And walk I would always struggle with as she can be inclined to jog if I apply leg).