Elementary debute

I won't lie I was pooping buckets because our elementary debut. My aims were simple. Do not disgrace ourselves. Score over 55%.

I found the warm up difficult. I'm used to big fields not a 40 x 40 school with 8 other horses! And with it being elementary and medium tests, it was impossible to know if someone intended on suddenly going sideways or forwards, whether it was true canter or counter canter, or if they would suddenly do a direct transition from canter to walk.

I went in for my first test, 44, which was in their indoor. Lexi was quite spooky in the indoor so the test felt tense. The first walk to canter resulted in a bit of a kick as she wasn't expecting it at all! But she went. We completed the test and did everything where it was meant to, but I felt it was definitely a bit lacking.

We had a little wait for 59 which upon reading it, I felt was a horrifying test and I couldn't quite believe we were attempting it. It was a 60 x 20 arena and my first long test with her and second long test ever! I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was much more fluid and I positively beamed when we hit a super walk to canter transition bang on the marker. My left leg yield was rather L shaped through her shoulder but overall I was pleased - the best test we could of done.

I swear I almost fainted when I saw the scores. 69% in the first test which was 2nd in the bronze section and 3rd overall. I then looked at 59....we scored 67% under a different judge and only won it all overall!! I was overjoyed and gobsmacked. I couldn't believe it.

Lots of praise for the dressage pony!

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.

A BCA disaster, and a nearly there Offchurch and Tweseldown

I havn't written for a while because truth be told I was fed up.

We went to BCA and Lexi did a good test for 30.3. However the showjumping phase was big and our nerves failed us. We went home on a big fat E.

Enough was enough. Back to basics. I dropped my offchurch bury entry down to 80cm because
I just wanted a nice day. I was getting sick of walking xc courses I didn't end up riding and sick of wondering if it was going to be a nice day whilst plaiting.

At a fair trek away I'd never been to Offchurch Bury but it was an easy drive and a beautiful venue. Lexi warmed up quite nicely for the dressage although she didn't feel entirely connected from the leg to hand. My downwards transitions were both rubbish but beyond that I felt it was a decent test.

I almost fainted when I saw my score.

A WHAT?! A 22.8?! Okay maybe an 80 but the judge clearly wasn't an let's encourage the lower levels with the score comparison.

No pressure then going SJ...

This was the first time competing and second time jumping in Lexi's new flower hackamore. Warming up, I wasn't convinced I had brakes but she was forward and she needs to learn to go more
Forward into a fence so for now it seems to be working.

She did a lovely, easy clear which was just the confidence boost I needed. Even if they were building tiny, she took me into everything which was just what we needed.

Then I had the debate. Do I try the hackamore xc? I havnt jumped her in s bit in ages albeit a Dr Cooks bitless not the flower hackamore. I wasn't sure I'd have brakes. But equally I would always wonder otherwise...and best to test it at 80 (even if for the one And only time at a BE event that I'll ever be in the lead by 4 points on a 22.8)

I decided to try. And I wish I hadn't. She set off spooky and I found it very very difficult to steer in the hackamore. Finally at fence 5 the inevitable happened. She spooked at people on the corner and I couldn't steer her properly and we had a stop.

Well that sucks.

She did settle after a few more fences and finished boldly, bang on the optimum time even with a stop (she's a bit too quick for grassroots 😳)

Almost but not quite. Our dressage still saw us to be 13th which shows how good her dressage was.

Tweseldown report will come!

A bit fed up

I am fed up.

This year isn't going to plan.

A few weeks ago we headed to Chepstow for our first BE100 of the year.  The rain started and came and came. I was last in the section.

I unloaded a demon mare. Peacocks were screeching, it was pouring and it took about ten minutes to mount. She actually settled nicely in the warm up but they were running late so I sheltered for a bit under a tree. Unfortunately I didn't time it well and she tenses up again. A further delay due to me being last in the section and then running out of dressage sheets led to is breaking into canter four times and a jog instead of a walk. I don't think the judge could see through her windscreen and awarded us 29.8.

By the time we got to the show jumping it was deserted. I felt pressured to warm up quickly and I had a confidence meltdown. I couldn't get Lexi forward enough. In the ring it was better until I almost went the wrong way and gave her no stride to jump a fence from which we had down. I then didn't get her forwards enough into the double and she tried to put two strides in then had no room and stopped. We jumped the rest but I withdrew xc as the ground was rubbish and I was ridig like rubbish.

Last weekend I felt I needed a brush up so we went and did some sJ. I had an unfortunate run out in the 95cm jump off because I tried to angle left and the poor horse did just what I asked her to do and ran out left. Every time I panic I pull out left. The 1.05m was up to height and she was great, we just had the last down as I lost the impulsion round the last turn.

The Monday we went xc - bitless I might add - and she was incredible. Ate it up, I felt confident and good.

This Saturday was Ascott under Wychwood. I was so excited and really looking forward to it.

Lexi warmed up well for the dressage and did a lovely quiet rest. I felt it lacked sparkle and impulsion but I believed she was learning to relax and from now I would be able to get my leg on and really ride.


Apart from she was equally quiet warming up for SJ. No matter what I did I couldn't get her forwards. She seemed to lose energy into a fence not gain it. (Which led to me having a meltdown and pulling out of a couple). Usually in the ring she perks up and takes a hold anyway. She didn't. Maybe very slightly. We managed the first three but I felt her backing off so had to give her a flick with my whip before each fence. She then heaved herself over the double like a broken down cart horse. How she jumped out I don't know but she then said a clear no thank you to number 5 and I retired.

She'll have a day or two off then we will see how she is. I'm going to buy her a boost supplement but if she's no better I'll call the vet out.

I'm feeling very frustrated as for lots of little reasons this season just isn't coming together. In February I thought we would be doing novice by now but we have yet to complete a 100. Obviously her welfare is of utmost important but given she was so good at the weekend I think she's
Feeling a little under the weather. We still have a couple more events planned this month so fingers crossed!

A catch up as usual

Hunter trials, eventing and show jumping championships is what we've been doing and not a minute to write!

I'll keep these write ups brief and then hopefully I'll stay caught up.

First up was an 85cm pairs hunter trial. Whilst we didn't have the result I hoped for, it was a good confidence boost and made me want more! My friend's horse had never done a hunter trial before and unfortunately had a few run out, as well as Lexi having one which meant we were eliminated halfway round but it definitely wetted my appetite.

Next outing was Goring BE90. Lexi warmed up beautifully for the dressage then decided the boards were pony eating things and we had a tense test for 35. Show jumping followed along the same lines. She went beautifully until a related distance into the trade stands which backed her off and we catapulted into the air and I just didn't get myself together enough to ride the second fence and we had a stop. The rest was fine although we clocked up an almighty number of time faults.

The xc was lovely bar my nerves and I almost cried in the warm up as both warm up jumps were my hated hanging logs but she gave me a brilliant ride. She didn't hesitate at a thing and it felt like clockwork. We finished exactly on the optimum time so I was one happy camper.

Next was the show jumping championship in Wales. I had Lexi in the 105m and Squirrel playing in the 85. I was tempted to drop Lexi down a height as my nerves were still there but I went for it in the end.

Squirrel behaved terribly the whole weekend. He got loose on numerous occasions, had fast times but a pole in each class, bucked and eventually pulled a sickie with a fat leg for his last class which mysteriously went down by the time we left.

Lexi stresssed the life out of me for not eating the first two days but eventually settled. I rode terribly in our first warm up class and had 3 down so I was pretty cross that Friday night.

Saturday loomed and I pulled myself together to win the morning warm up with the only clear round! The first championship class went okay with a fast time but an unfortunate pole in the jump off which Left us in 7th place.

Sunday morning we managed a fast clear in the warm up for another win! In the championship class she was just brilliant. I honestly have never ridden a jump off with turns so tight and it was good enough for third. Next time we just need to speed up more in between the fences! A 7th and s 3rd put us in Bronze position overall. I was overjoyed, I've never done so well at the winter leagues.

We were meant to go to Munstead last week but a poorly dog led to a withdrawal. So we went to Tweseldown 'this week for our last 90 before moving back to 100.

She was a fire breathing dragon warming up for dressage. Zoomy, bucky and more zoomy. Then went in for her test and relaxed! Our downwards transitions have become rubbish, she jogged in the free walk as usual and overall she could of been 'more' but the relaxation is the first step to all of those and I was pleased with a mark of 32.3 which left us in s good position.

The SJ was a small ring and twisty but she jumped well and left all the fences up so we were in an exciting place going xc.

The xc was filled with hanging logs to the point where I did hypnosis on saturday to calm my nerves.

Fence one was a hanging log which she skipped over, fence two a pheasant feeder. She spooked s little and got deep and after that I started riding. Fence 3 was a gappy log oxer which she jumped great. 4 another gappy table which she popped nicely. 5 was a hanging log to ditch which was fine. By then we were in our element, over another gappy table (which I refused point blank to go near xc schooling) then over a couple of angled brushes.

Good pull up a hill and she didn't want to steady for the (gappy) table on top so we gave that a clunk and I collected her for the hanging log to drop to triple brush which she did like an old hand.  Then another couple of easy fences before the water. We literislly havnt bothered with water for months. There wasn't one at Goring, we didn't get to it at the hunter trial. But she easily popped the hanging log in, cantered all the way through the water and over the house coming out. Then a log pile, before the final fence.

A dragon brush owl hole. We were cruising on point for time. Then she saw what we were aiming for.  She darted left. Then right. Then left. Then right. Dropping her shoulder aaaaand off I stepped. Bang went the air jacket (I forgot how horrible they are!) o got back on and it took two more attempts but she did jump it.

I just don't think she realised she was supposed to jump it. She didn't want to go near it let alone over it. We would of been third instead of last beyond those who didn't complete BUT she's usually so bold and genuine I don't really mind.

Our next outing is Chepstow 100 in a couple of weeks and I CANNOT WAIT!!! Although some owl hole schooling is in our near future I think! And some Pilates for me as my lack of core strength is, frankly, pathetic.

I will try and add some photos to this post in due course,
My phone is not co operating.