Post by fimacg on Apr 27, 2014 22:31:53 GMT
I took Brave to out first 75cm XC comp today, massively busy with over 150 competitors over the day. I was last in the schooler class where they give you 3 attempts at each fence before moving on.
Well the little !!!! Got wound up in the collecting ring but was jumping really nicely. Then it was out start, well halfway out of the start box he decided he needed a poo, then halfway to the first fence he decided he was going to show off his dressage moves by doing some very nice lateral work but refusing to go forward. Eventually got him to fence one and over on the third attempt, pattern repeated for fence 2. Fence 3 we cantered toward until the jump judge moved which warranted a rapid reverse, again over on the third attempt. Then had a very nice canter up the road through the woods but again the brakes came on as soon as he saw the jump. Got to the next fence and he applied the brakes 2 strides out. Once again over on the third attempt. Up through the wood which was very narrow all twists and turns to the keyhole, which he decided to look through before jumping on the second attempt.
More twisty canter track up and down banks to a ski jump which we failed completely to get over. But he was about to climb on the 3rd attempt before the jump judge moved us on. Then to a table which with a bit if assistance from the jump judge we got over on attempt 3. By this stage I am totally knackered but only 1/3 of the way around. Cantered up the track and failed to get over the next two jumps, sharks teeth and tyres with a rail behind. ( the latter one was my fault as I seriously scared me so I wasn't that effective) then more twisty canters through the woods to a little upright, we had started to motor here so I seriously thought we were going straight over, but a last minute application of the brakes nearly chucked me over his ears, but over it on the second attempt to a palisade that took all three goes.
By now I am seriously hot, cross and really tired, Brave is sweating buckets for having made it three times as hard as it should be so we had a little trot, before we cantered to the barrels, a quick duck to the left and he took the flag out with his nose but his feet were firmly on the take off side, but again got over it on the second attempt, the more twisty cantering out of the woods to the back straight where there was a big brush fence followed by a log both of which we flew and I thought we finally found our rhythm, next was the water, a little jump down and step out he dud this without hesitation. Next was a drop which he thought about but 3 steps back and we we're moved on, failed completely to get over a brush box which had been covered in green astro turf type stuff to the second last a little roll top which I did get him over first time. To the last which looked like a set of steps, one refusal then over to a massive cheer from the crowd.
It took me 25 minutes to get around a six minute course. I think I took the record for slowest ever round! Sometimes you have to wonder why you bother!!
It wasn't exactly fun but I am not sure who is more stubborn me or Brave. My biggest fear is that I am teaching him it is ok to stop at these fences!
The stag jump over the log table not comfortable and I seriously got left behind.
Well the little !!!! Got wound up in the collecting ring but was jumping really nicely. Then it was out start, well halfway out of the start box he decided he needed a poo, then halfway to the first fence he decided he was going to show off his dressage moves by doing some very nice lateral work but refusing to go forward. Eventually got him to fence one and over on the third attempt, pattern repeated for fence 2. Fence 3 we cantered toward until the jump judge moved which warranted a rapid reverse, again over on the third attempt. Then had a very nice canter up the road through the woods but again the brakes came on as soon as he saw the jump. Got to the next fence and he applied the brakes 2 strides out. Once again over on the third attempt. Up through the wood which was very narrow all twists and turns to the keyhole, which he decided to look through before jumping on the second attempt.
More twisty canter track up and down banks to a ski jump which we failed completely to get over. But he was about to climb on the 3rd attempt before the jump judge moved us on. Then to a table which with a bit if assistance from the jump judge we got over on attempt 3. By this stage I am totally knackered but only 1/3 of the way around. Cantered up the track and failed to get over the next two jumps, sharks teeth and tyres with a rail behind. ( the latter one was my fault as I seriously scared me so I wasn't that effective) then more twisty canters through the woods to a little upright, we had started to motor here so I seriously thought we were going straight over, but a last minute application of the brakes nearly chucked me over his ears, but over it on the second attempt to a palisade that took all three goes.
By now I am seriously hot, cross and really tired, Brave is sweating buckets for having made it three times as hard as it should be so we had a little trot, before we cantered to the barrels, a quick duck to the left and he took the flag out with his nose but his feet were firmly on the take off side, but again got over it on the second attempt, the more twisty cantering out of the woods to the back straight where there was a big brush fence followed by a log both of which we flew and I thought we finally found our rhythm, next was the water, a little jump down and step out he dud this without hesitation. Next was a drop which he thought about but 3 steps back and we we're moved on, failed completely to get over a brush box which had been covered in green astro turf type stuff to the second last a little roll top which I did get him over first time. To the last which looked like a set of steps, one refusal then over to a massive cheer from the crowd.
It took me 25 minutes to get around a six minute course. I think I took the record for slowest ever round! Sometimes you have to wonder why you bother!!
It wasn't exactly fun but I am not sure who is more stubborn me or Brave. My biggest fear is that I am teaching him it is ok to stop at these fences!
The stag jump over the log table not comfortable and I seriously got left behind.
.
for so much hard work we thank ye!!