Post by racaille on Mar 5, 2015 6:51:23 GMT
My ride to the XC training day cancelled at the last minute because her TB is lame. But funnily enough I didn't think about dropping out myself! I was anxious about the hour and a half drive each way though, especially as there is a bit of motorway so I had a brainwave: I got my OH to load his bike into the pick-up and come along with me. 
It was yet again blowing a gale (we seem to have had a lot of Mistral this winter) but Paco was very good, unlike most of the other horses. A new team member came along with her eventing shettie, all clipped and in full colourful XC gear. I was in ecstasy! I just LURVE them!
So I was in the first group of three, with P (ballsy but not very 'present') on his speedy mare and L (experienced eventer) on her baby horse. We were working over small stuff, not more than 75cm.
Paco was fabulous. He was quick off my leg and jumping well. I was concentrating on my legs so found that I didn't even think about the jumps. I seemed to get more confident and it seemed to get easier to get P into a good XC canter and then rebalance him before the jumps which he was sailing over. It felt really comfortable. There was only one problem when our coach warned us about a new double log that the horses were wary of, I took her too literally and was too defensive so poor Paco almost jumped it from walk but we did it again in a good canter and it was no problem at all.
Then we turned to a double suspended log jump and for some reason I just didn't fancy it. My coach said I'd jumped bigger last week during the TREC day but no, I really didn't like it. So P had a go but his mare didn't like it either and kept refusing. Finally it looked like she was going but P half turned to look at something just before the jump, the mare thought well blow this if you're not motivated neither am I ..... and stopped and came down in between the logs. P went on over her head. He wasn't really hurt but his pride was very dented and he was super cross. So was our coach and there were some grumpy words.
Then one of the horses (horrible animal) who couldn't be left tied up broke away from her owner and set off so we spent a bit of time rounding it up again before heading for the lower field and the very deep pond. Paco was surprisingly fine about it and we cantered through, no problem, despite the waves from the wind and a big reflection.
At the end we did a little course but I did have trouble breathing - I just forget - but Paco was awesome. Then my coach asked if there was anything I fancied and I surprised myself by asking to do the painted wall. It wasn't very big but it was bling plus wide so I was told I really had to 'ride' Paco to it. And that's just what I did! He sailed over it and it felt like the best thing in the world and a fabulous note to end on!
I was sad not to stay and watch the shettie but my OH had had enough of the wind so we battled back through the gale and then had to spend some time trying to tie down the remains of the tarp over four big bales that had been shredded by the wind, luckily Rac, Sam and Dr Evil were not bothered by the flapping.
Great day out - XC is still not something I want to do in competition but I feel I am growing in confidence. And my coach was full of praise for Ol Paco, saying he seems on such good form no one believes he's an old codger! Great little horse!
It was yet again blowing a gale (we seem to have had a lot of Mistral this winter) but Paco was very good, unlike most of the other horses. A new team member came along with her eventing shettie, all clipped and in full colourful XC gear. I was in ecstasy! I just LURVE them!
So I was in the first group of three, with P (ballsy but not very 'present') on his speedy mare and L (experienced eventer) on her baby horse. We were working over small stuff, not more than 75cm.
Paco was fabulous. He was quick off my leg and jumping well. I was concentrating on my legs so found that I didn't even think about the jumps. I seemed to get more confident and it seemed to get easier to get P into a good XC canter and then rebalance him before the jumps which he was sailing over. It felt really comfortable. There was only one problem when our coach warned us about a new double log that the horses were wary of, I took her too literally and was too defensive so poor Paco almost jumped it from walk but we did it again in a good canter and it was no problem at all.
Then we turned to a double suspended log jump and for some reason I just didn't fancy it. My coach said I'd jumped bigger last week during the TREC day but no, I really didn't like it. So P had a go but his mare didn't like it either and kept refusing. Finally it looked like she was going but P half turned to look at something just before the jump, the mare thought well blow this if you're not motivated neither am I ..... and stopped and came down in between the logs. P went on over her head. He wasn't really hurt but his pride was very dented and he was super cross. So was our coach and there were some grumpy words.
Then one of the horses (horrible animal) who couldn't be left tied up broke away from her owner and set off so we spent a bit of time rounding it up again before heading for the lower field and the very deep pond. Paco was surprisingly fine about it and we cantered through, no problem, despite the waves from the wind and a big reflection.
At the end we did a little course but I did have trouble breathing - I just forget - but Paco was awesome. Then my coach asked if there was anything I fancied and I surprised myself by asking to do the painted wall. It wasn't very big but it was bling plus wide so I was told I really had to 'ride' Paco to it. And that's just what I did! He sailed over it and it felt like the best thing in the world and a fabulous note to end on!
I was sad not to stay and watch the shettie but my OH had had enough of the wind so we battled back through the gale and then had to spend some time trying to tie down the remains of the tarp over four big bales that had been shredded by the wind, luckily Rac, Sam and Dr Evil were not bothered by the flapping.
Great day out - XC is still not something I want to do in competition but I feel I am growing in confidence. And my coach was full of praise for Ol Paco, saying he seems on such good form no one believes he's an old codger! Great little horse!
for so much hard work we thank ye!!
