Post by racaille on Apr 13, 2015 5:22:15 GMT
Hmmmm. Well, I came second. I say I rather than we because I got very little help from Paco. 
We had a great POR, he was going really well and it was an easy course, scorching weather and down by the river it was incredibly beautiful.
There was a bit of a wait for the COP and a hatchet-faced woman on a rangy brown horse annoyed me a lot: a combination of barging into everyone and making a fuss that her horse was 'hard to handle'. In fact it was an angel but boy, did she bounce in canter!
The COP piste was on a curve going very near a random pile of shiny scrap metal and a blue tent - I should have realised I was in trouble. He set off fine but near the top suddenly saw the 'problem' and span sideways to run away, I stopped him and the little sh!t reared. I didn't feel it coming, he just went up. Luckily I sat it out but it was a big fat zero. Everyone, including me, was a bit shocked. I managed to laugh it off but I was ruddy cross with the beast. Disgraceful behaviour.
In the warm-up for the PTV he started being silly so I put him into our dressage exercises and he gave in and started to show off, drawing lots of admiring comments from the spectators
But as soon as we set off he started napping at the flags and he deserved a ruddy great thwack but unfortunately the first test was a one-handed slalom so I had to try to boot him through.
He didn't blink at the wooden bridge though, so that was something and was quite respectful during the in hand descent. Then I realised I just had to get some points back so, although I usually pass, I had a go at the mounting from the ground and it went really well - thank you aquagym!
Then it was The Big Challenge - a contre bas (quite a large step down) and I had noticed that most people passed on it, although it would have been feasible in walk. But I thought: sod this! I am going to do it in canter! Paco was very reluctant, he tried to run away from the judge but I kept my legs hard on and we sailed over and down as the ground fell away on the other side. That was my triumph! I am still so pleased !
The rest was pretty standard, I think I messed up the chicane by asking for the turns too soon and although he didn't touch anything I think he stepped over the poles on the inside. Then a great long canter to a slalom (in trot, didn't trust him in canter heading for 'home') and immobility, which caught out a lot of people.
I was gutted to be pipped to the cup by Mrs Hatchet Face but pleased to be second, especially as the organiser paid tribute to the fact that I was the ONLY competitor to do it solo, all the others were in teams or pairs.
I really enjoyed the day though, despite Paco's disgrace.
We had a great POR, he was going really well and it was an easy course, scorching weather and down by the river it was incredibly beautiful.
There was a bit of a wait for the COP and a hatchet-faced woman on a rangy brown horse annoyed me a lot: a combination of barging into everyone and making a fuss that her horse was 'hard to handle'. In fact it was an angel but boy, did she bounce in canter!
The COP piste was on a curve going very near a random pile of shiny scrap metal and a blue tent - I should have realised I was in trouble. He set off fine but near the top suddenly saw the 'problem' and span sideways to run away, I stopped him and the little sh!t reared. I didn't feel it coming, he just went up. Luckily I sat it out but it was a big fat zero. Everyone, including me, was a bit shocked. I managed to laugh it off but I was ruddy cross with the beast. Disgraceful behaviour.
In the warm-up for the PTV he started being silly so I put him into our dressage exercises and he gave in and started to show off, drawing lots of admiring comments from the spectators
But as soon as we set off he started napping at the flags and he deserved a ruddy great thwack but unfortunately the first test was a one-handed slalom so I had to try to boot him through.He didn't blink at the wooden bridge though, so that was something and was quite respectful during the in hand descent. Then I realised I just had to get some points back so, although I usually pass, I had a go at the mounting from the ground and it went really well - thank you aquagym!
Then it was The Big Challenge - a contre bas (quite a large step down) and I had noticed that most people passed on it, although it would have been feasible in walk. But I thought: sod this! I am going to do it in canter! Paco was very reluctant, he tried to run away from the judge but I kept my legs hard on and we sailed over and down as the ground fell away on the other side. That was my triumph! I am still so pleased !
The rest was pretty standard, I think I messed up the chicane by asking for the turns too soon and although he didn't touch anything I think he stepped over the poles on the inside. Then a great long canter to a slalom (in trot, didn't trust him in canter heading for 'home') and immobility, which caught out a lot of people.
I was gutted to be pipped to the cup by Mrs Hatchet Face but pleased to be second, especially as the organiser paid tribute to the fact that I was the ONLY competitor to do it solo, all the others were in teams or pairs.
I really enjoyed the day though, despite Paco's disgrace.
for so much hard work we thank ye!!
