Post by racaille on Mar 7, 2016 2:07:23 GMT
I can't sleep for fretting about how awful it could have been.... As it is we have escaped with bruises and I thank the powers that be that Paco did not break a leg or otherwise injure himself dreadfully.
We were at a TREC in the next village, well organised by the King of TREC. On the PTV there were two pretty substantial jumps, a hedge, followed by a double log. The approach was tricky. We had to come out of the chicane in walk go and straight at the hedge with a very short run-up. Paco did it well although I was destabilised - I will never again jump with long stirrups using my rando saddle. Not sensible.
Anyway, I got myself together and turned the corner to the logs, again with a short run-up. I just didn't get the canter I needed - and I know this was my fault - and on take-off I felt the old boy hesitate. My legs were on (despite the T maintaining I was doing nothing) and rather than refuse, Paco made an effort. He got his front legs over OK but his back end just didn't have the lift and came down between the logs. I went over his head.
But he was stuck. His front legs were standing the other side of the jump, with his belly on the top most log and his back legs caught between the top log and the lower front log. Any other horse would have panicked and torn themselves to pieces. Poor Paco was shocked and just stood still without trying to extricate himself while the jump was hastily demolished around him (great response and organisation). The top log was lowered enough for him to clamber out and - miracle - he didn't have a scratch on him. We walked him round, trotted him up and he was perfectly fine.
A fall is not eliminatory in TREC so I got back on and finished the PTV ... very slowly. Then I packed up and went home in shame. It was not a good day. I made a stupid mistake on the POR and lost 50 points for arriving at a control on the wrong path - I just took my eye off the ball for 30 seconds. It cost me dear.
But now I feel very wobbly and tearful (and anxious that P really is OK). I was crap on the POR and rode the PTV like a ruddy novice. I am competing at a level that now feels way beyond me and I don't feel I am improving and this has done nothing to reduce my fear of fixed XC jumps. There is another TREC next w/e and I feel like abandoning the whole idea but if I don't get straight back into the swing the risk is that I never will. I have until tomorrow (Monday) night to sign up. Or not.
Oh hell.
We were at a TREC in the next village, well organised by the King of TREC. On the PTV there were two pretty substantial jumps, a hedge, followed by a double log. The approach was tricky. We had to come out of the chicane in walk go and straight at the hedge with a very short run-up. Paco did it well although I was destabilised - I will never again jump with long stirrups using my rando saddle. Not sensible.
Anyway, I got myself together and turned the corner to the logs, again with a short run-up. I just didn't get the canter I needed - and I know this was my fault - and on take-off I felt the old boy hesitate. My legs were on (despite the T maintaining I was doing nothing) and rather than refuse, Paco made an effort. He got his front legs over OK but his back end just didn't have the lift and came down between the logs. I went over his head.
But he was stuck. His front legs were standing the other side of the jump, with his belly on the top most log and his back legs caught between the top log and the lower front log. Any other horse would have panicked and torn themselves to pieces. Poor Paco was shocked and just stood still without trying to extricate himself while the jump was hastily demolished around him (great response and organisation). The top log was lowered enough for him to clamber out and - miracle - he didn't have a scratch on him. We walked him round, trotted him up and he was perfectly fine.
A fall is not eliminatory in TREC so I got back on and finished the PTV ... very slowly. Then I packed up and went home in shame. It was not a good day. I made a stupid mistake on the POR and lost 50 points for arriving at a control on the wrong path - I just took my eye off the ball for 30 seconds. It cost me dear.
But now I feel very wobbly and tearful (and anxious that P really is OK). I was crap on the POR and rode the PTV like a ruddy novice. I am competing at a level that now feels way beyond me and I don't feel I am improving and this has done nothing to reduce my fear of fixed XC jumps. There is another TREC next w/e and I feel like abandoning the whole idea but if I don't get straight back into the swing the risk is that I never will. I have until tomorrow (Monday) night to sign up. Or not.
Oh hell.