Post by racaille on Mar 19, 2012 17:32:59 GMT
Grab a cuppa, it's a long 'un ......
Well, I had such a great day out yesterday. It did not start well as the teenager's alarm went off at 3am
and then Paco would not load and I began to worry that I wouldn't get there .... Lost my rag with him and got the OH out of bed to give him a whack on the bum (the horse rather than the OH although he deserves one too but that's another story ...) Anyway, P ran into the trailer then and we were off!
I was a bit rushed but got into the map room on time having had to park more or less next to my old club, the 'frienemies'. But in fact, it was fine. I made the effort to say hello and then the YO commented on how great Paco looked and I ended up having nice conversations with most of them, except the trainer who was glacial. Who cares?
Right. I set off on the POR with P so wound up and excited by all the other horses that I admit I was feeling pretty tense. It was all fine until we had to go through a flock of sheep. The guy in front had a horrible time and got off (but more of him later). P also went into meltdown so I too got off to drag him through and that was how I missed the first marker, that was stuck in the window of a camper van! I just had my hands and mind full so ho him.
Anyhoo, the guy on the Merens in front of me who had had the problem with the sheep steamed away from the next control point in the wrong direction and it was he who wound Paco up still further by making up for his mistake by galloping up behind.
I knew we were coming up to a 'map trap' and although P wanted to steam off after this guy I knew we shouldn't. In fact I saw loads of people going off the obvious way and of course P wanted to gallop off with them so I had to get off and lead him in what seemed the wrong way. But I was right, there was a sneaky marker hidden there and I think I might be the only person in my class (of 13) to have got it.
But then P was thoroughly wound up and jogging and getting a bit light in front. I managed to keep him relatively OK (and found the next map trap YAY!) but then we came to a long stony track through the forest. The headbangers set off very fast and it might not be good horsemanship but I did not feel it was in my best interests to fight P any more, so I let him go. It was a nice pipe opener but not really recommended ....
He as fine after that as long as he could see some horses in front but if they disappeared he was really hard to handle.
When we came down to the village we were warned that a travelling circus had set up in a field we were supposed to cross. When we got there, a carnie told us that one of the guard dogs was loose and to beware of the lions .... well, I was with a group and we decided that we just weren't going there!
I had met up with a nice lad I know from before and his girlfriend so on the next bit he asked if I wanted a canter (unusual courtesy!) and we opened up, flying along three abreast. P was so excited he set off with a couple of big bucks but then decided he needed to concentrate on speed so settled down to a nostril-clearing hurtle.
We finally arrived back and despite a false start when P made a big fuss about a plastic chair at the beginning of the COP he settled down and did both nice walk and canter.
Then we faced the PTV. There were too many headbangers in the warm-up arena so after a very quick squirt round I decided it would be better for P's state of mind to just walk him around. I was anxious about two of the tests: the wooden bridge was causing problems and a lot of horses were refusing to jump the hedge.
Bizarrely, P tried to be silly about the very first test, which was a bank, something we'd canter up out hacking but that's P! So I took it in walk, fighting to stop him running out, but then the ruddy animal didn't even look at the bridge!!! He constantly surprises me!
I had decided the only way to get over the hedge was to really ride at it so we went flying round the curve ... only to find Mr Merens sideways on, refusing it for the nth time. So I had to abort and was not best pleased as I feared I'd now given P the idea..... anyway, the bloke was cleared out of the way and I had very little room to turn back at the jump so I rode pretty defensively but strongly and ruddy P surprised me again by sailing over it!
After that it was pure pleasure and after the final test I just let him gallop to the finish line, very pleased with him. And this time he didn't do any of his silliness about judges sitting on the grass so I feel he has finally learned something!
The only slightly sour note was a girl I used to be quite matey with who was very patronising about the 'baby' class I was in and tried hard to brag about how her pony was brilliant but hard to handle but I just thought yeah, well, kiddo, I know the truth and that is that you are terrified of your pony.
Paco was an @rse about loading for the way back but we managed to get home just as the heavens opened, phew. But I was silly and when I returned later to pick up the teenager who had come back from her complet near Avignon, I thought it would be a great idea to pop in to find out the results. And even though I sort of clocked that the field were we had parked during the day was now a field of mud, I still went in. Sideways. The organiser, who had apparently just finished pulling out the remaining cars with his tractor, was kinder to me than I deserved and helped me get out again. He also said he thought he remembered that I'd done quite well ... so we'll see when the results go on the FFE site.
So yes, I was in a baby class but I had a great time and was thrilled that P did a really nice PTV. I can't say yet that I'm serene about competing (I did fret quite a bit) but by keeping it low level I can handle it and the more I enjoy it the more I want to do more. And that's the
goal, surely? Just to have fun!
Well I'm sorry I've rambled on but I'm still feeling so happy! ;D
Well, I had such a great day out yesterday. It did not start well as the teenager's alarm went off at 3am
and then Paco would not load and I began to worry that I wouldn't get there .... Lost my rag with him and got the OH out of bed to give him a whack on the bum (the horse rather than the OH although he deserves one too but that's another story ...) Anyway, P ran into the trailer then and we were off!I was a bit rushed but got into the map room on time having had to park more or less next to my old club, the 'frienemies'. But in fact, it was fine. I made the effort to say hello and then the YO commented on how great Paco looked and I ended up having nice conversations with most of them, except the trainer who was glacial. Who cares?
Right. I set off on the POR with P so wound up and excited by all the other horses that I admit I was feeling pretty tense. It was all fine until we had to go through a flock of sheep. The guy in front had a horrible time and got off (but more of him later). P also went into meltdown so I too got off to drag him through and that was how I missed the first marker, that was stuck in the window of a camper van! I just had my hands and mind full so ho him.
Anyhoo, the guy on the Merens in front of me who had had the problem with the sheep steamed away from the next control point in the wrong direction and it was he who wound Paco up still further by making up for his mistake by galloping up behind.
I knew we were coming up to a 'map trap' and although P wanted to steam off after this guy I knew we shouldn't. In fact I saw loads of people going off the obvious way and of course P wanted to gallop off with them so I had to get off and lead him in what seemed the wrong way. But I was right, there was a sneaky marker hidden there and I think I might be the only person in my class (of 13) to have got it.
But then P was thoroughly wound up and jogging and getting a bit light in front. I managed to keep him relatively OK (and found the next map trap YAY!) but then we came to a long stony track through the forest. The headbangers set off very fast and it might not be good horsemanship but I did not feel it was in my best interests to fight P any more, so I let him go. It was a nice pipe opener but not really recommended ....
He as fine after that as long as he could see some horses in front but if they disappeared he was really hard to handle.
When we came down to the village we were warned that a travelling circus had set up in a field we were supposed to cross. When we got there, a carnie told us that one of the guard dogs was loose and to beware of the lions .... well, I was with a group and we decided that we just weren't going there!
I had met up with a nice lad I know from before and his girlfriend so on the next bit he asked if I wanted a canter (unusual courtesy!) and we opened up, flying along three abreast. P was so excited he set off with a couple of big bucks but then decided he needed to concentrate on speed so settled down to a nostril-clearing hurtle.
We finally arrived back and despite a false start when P made a big fuss about a plastic chair at the beginning of the COP he settled down and did both nice walk and canter.
Then we faced the PTV. There were too many headbangers in the warm-up arena so after a very quick squirt round I decided it would be better for P's state of mind to just walk him around. I was anxious about two of the tests: the wooden bridge was causing problems and a lot of horses were refusing to jump the hedge.
Bizarrely, P tried to be silly about the very first test, which was a bank, something we'd canter up out hacking but that's P! So I took it in walk, fighting to stop him running out, but then the ruddy animal didn't even look at the bridge!!! He constantly surprises me!
I had decided the only way to get over the hedge was to really ride at it so we went flying round the curve ... only to find Mr Merens sideways on, refusing it for the nth time. So I had to abort and was not best pleased as I feared I'd now given P the idea..... anyway, the bloke was cleared out of the way and I had very little room to turn back at the jump so I rode pretty defensively but strongly and ruddy P surprised me again by sailing over it!
After that it was pure pleasure and after the final test I just let him gallop to the finish line, very pleased with him. And this time he didn't do any of his silliness about judges sitting on the grass so I feel he has finally learned something!
The only slightly sour note was a girl I used to be quite matey with who was very patronising about the 'baby' class I was in and tried hard to brag about how her pony was brilliant but hard to handle but I just thought yeah, well, kiddo, I know the truth and that is that you are terrified of your pony.
Paco was an @rse about loading for the way back but we managed to get home just as the heavens opened, phew. But I was silly and when I returned later to pick up the teenager who had come back from her complet near Avignon, I thought it would be a great idea to pop in to find out the results. And even though I sort of clocked that the field were we had parked during the day was now a field of mud, I still went in. Sideways. The organiser, who had apparently just finished pulling out the remaining cars with his tractor, was kinder to me than I deserved and helped me get out again. He also said he thought he remembered that I'd done quite well ... so we'll see when the results go on the FFE site.
So yes, I was in a baby class but I had a great time and was thrilled that P did a really nice PTV. I can't say yet that I'm serene about competing (I did fret quite a bit) but by keeping it low level I can handle it and the more I enjoy it the more I want to do more. And that's the
goal, surely? Just to have fun!
Well I'm sorry I've rambled on but I'm still feeling so happy! ;D
for so much hard work we thank ye!!
