I survived!

[racaille]

Well, I've conquered a fear - more a terror really! But I won't be rushing to do to much XC as it took a huge effort of will!

Naturally I did not sleep the night before and Thursday I had to rush around like a loony having snapped off the electric take-off on my pick-up. Since I was facing three hour round trip yesterday I thought I'd better get it sorted and I did, for pennies too, thanks to much kindness. But it did nothing for my equanimity!

In the morning we trained over individual jumps and Paco wasn't bothered by any of them except the water. What a fuss he made!!!! This is the horse that regularly trots through long puddles (springs) on a local track and is quite happy to go into the river.

I was working between the two groups - the very competent teenagers and the novice adults. I was somewhere in between and mostly very happy to stay with the novices but the two coaches were determined to challenge me a bit, which actually raised my game a bit.

In the afternoon we had a full course to do but it suddenly got very cold and I was asking myself if it would be too weedy to pull out. But I manned up and set off on my individual course, half way between pathetic and really difficult! In reality it was between Club 3 and 2 (some jumps at both levels so between 60 and 80cm) so I feel quite heartened.

Eric set off well but it all went wrong at no2. Not quite sure why as he thundered towards it fine - we had been taught the difference between 'flying' jumps (spreads) and 'technical' jumps (uprights,. skinnies etc) and I thought the approach was good and determined. Not quite sure if I looked down but I felt P put in an extra stride when I was expecting him to 'fly' (remember that here we are taught that the horse has to work out its own feet, certainly at this level) and I think I went before him so although we came down together it was not fluid and I became jelly again.

At this point I could have given up. I let him fall back into a jiggly trot .... but then thought hell NO! I let him stay in trot over the bridge but then got myself together, put him back into a good canter and flew over the next. Then the water. Best not to say too much. He was silly. But by then I was DETERMINED and got him through and up the contre haut the other side.

Back into a good canter ane we flew over the chapeau de gendarme (jump on top of a large earth hump?), into the woods and out into the next field where I was MOST anxious.

But ... I WASN'T!!! Straight over the 'cow', up the significant contre haut, over the wall, down (don't like jumping downwards) over the hedge, powered through the woods again and out towards the last and we were going like a train!

OK so 10 XC jumps might not be much to you guys but for me it was major! My first proper XC course. Eric was brilliant and I didn't fall off (unlike the other adults but no injuries). ;D

Poor old Eric is tired today though!

[haffyfan]

Fantastic well done to you, so when the's next one your really on a role at the minute!

Hope paco's enjoying his rest today.

[fimacg]

well done for doing it... once you are going its brilliant but those first few jumps are simply terrifying!

[solomon]

Well done! It's their solid nature that can get to me if the have a rub! Love the freedom of cross country. Not sure when if ever I will get to do it again!

[BJTequestrian]

Well done! Chuffed for you both

[fleabitten]

well done rac!! it takes some guts to pull yourself together and man up - i can really relate to this as sometimes you just feel 'aghhhhh!!' and you just feel like packing it in halfway through doing something, but you just have to force yourself to get it together and shout at yourself lol!! true mental willpower!! and what an achievement that is. i like the way it was a nice mixture - challenging yet there were some smaller jumps to make it seem slightly less daunting!

big pat on the back (glass of wine!) funny how paco went over the solid jumps when he was a*rsing about at the last XC and then he decides the water is going to be a black hole of doom when normally hes good with water lol! perhaps it was that you were riding determined for the solid jumps with that in your head and then let your guard down subconsciously thinking 'phew, this is an easy bit'

well done!

[racaille]

Could be, Flea. I feel a bit stupid that it's taken me so long to realise that the boy needs riding differently but boy, it does work.

And Sol - you never know what's around the corner so you might well find yourself on an XC course again. And yes, it's the fact that they don't fall down that terrifies me - Paco tapped one hard early on and learned to pick his feet up. Although the coaches were falling about that he realised straight away that he could go 'through' the hedge - mind you it was a biggie!

[brigadier]

Full of admiration! Well done!

I like the solid ones better than show jumps, no idea why they just seem easier! But its at least two years since I did cross country and not sure when/if/how I will again but like you say- you never know whats round the corner!

[dannyboy]

I've never done XC but have often wanted to - always chickened out though.

Well done