It was a rather busy run up to Badminton Grassroots for me. I took my Dad's horse, Alfie, to do the BE Novice at Chilham on the Sunday, just arriving home in time to get bathed and changed, then off to our Hunt Ball for the evening. Monday morning saw me running around getting everything ready, including washing my breeches and stock shirt which had been used at Chilham. When we set off the living in the lorry was festooned with drying washing! We had a good journey up and soon Pop was settled in his temporary stable. I gave him a little time to chill, then tacked him up and took him for a ride to stretch his legs. Of course, the minute I got on it started raining, so we were soon pretty wet, which basically set the tone for the whole competition!
In the last few days before Badminton I had the feeling that my saddles weren't 100% but was unable to get a saddler out before we left. I decided that Pop felt slightly better in the jumping saddle so I decided to ride the test in that rather than the dressage saddle. However, I still felt he wasn't going his best and was not as fluent as usual, particularly on the right rein. The test started OK, but suddenly I heard a car horn sound. I assumed it was from the other arena and carried on, but when it went three times repeatedly I realised I had missed out the second trot/walk transition - I couldn't believe it, I haven't gone wrong in a test for years! I got going again but it all went a bit downhill from there with Pop anticipating and putting in some unneccessary upwards transitions where they weren't required. So with all that, and him not working at his best, we ended up on a disappointing score of 39.8 - his lowest ever at BE. I had to put my disappointment behind me, however, and get on with the rest of the competion, so in the afternoon we set off to walk the XC course, which I felt had plenty of challenges in it!
The next morning brought both the show jumping and the cross country. Lots of poles were falling in the show jumping but I was really pleased with how Pop warmed up and felt he was really pinging. Soon it was my turn to enter the arena and I'm glad to say he jumped a lovely clear round! Back to the horsebox for a quick change into cross country gear and then set off on the long trek to the cross country start. As I got there the weather took a distinct change for the worst and we were swept by driving rain and gale force winds. I also discovered that they were behind on the cross country already, so Pop and I dived under a large tree to take cover whilst we waited our turn. Eventually I was able to warm up, but I was soon soaked to the skin. And then we were off, and Pop jumped the first few nicely, although a little cautiously in the appalling weather. However, as we approached the first of the WHW Brushes we suddenly found ourselves on the wrong stride and with Pop being 'Mr Careful' he suddenly put the anchors on, incurring 20 penalties. He jumped it willingly at the second presentation, however, and we were off again. Eventually we came to the Shogun Hollow that I had been rather worried about, but to my delight Pop jumped the first rail sweetly and popped over the ditch, but I think in my relief at getting over the first part I didn't ride the line to the final element carefully enough and we swerved out to the left. I couldn't believe it. I had to jump back over the ditch to represent at the third element and then jumped everything else nicely before we crossed the finishing line. I must admit I was very disappointed that we hadn't gone clear, but still pleased to have completed as several riders before me had retired or been eliminated. However, once Pop had been cooled down and finished off, it was time to cheer myself up with some retail therapy in the Badminton tradestands!
In the last few days before Badminton I had the feeling that my saddles weren't 100% but was unable to get a saddler out before we left. I decided that Pop felt slightly better in the jumping saddle so I decided to ride the test in that rather than the dressage saddle. However, I still felt he wasn't going his best and was not as fluent as usual, particularly on the right rein. The test started OK, but suddenly I heard a car horn sound. I assumed it was from the other arena and carried on, but when it went three times repeatedly I realised I had missed out the second trot/walk transition - I couldn't believe it, I haven't gone wrong in a test for years! I got going again but it all went a bit downhill from there with Pop anticipating and putting in some unneccessary upwards transitions where they weren't required. So with all that, and him not working at his best, we ended up on a disappointing score of 39.8 - his lowest ever at BE. I had to put my disappointment behind me, however, and get on with the rest of the competion, so in the afternoon we set off to walk the XC course, which I felt had plenty of challenges in it!
The next morning brought both the show jumping and the cross country. Lots of poles were falling in the show jumping but I was really pleased with how Pop warmed up and felt he was really pinging. Soon it was my turn to enter the arena and I'm glad to say he jumped a lovely clear round! Back to the horsebox for a quick change into cross country gear and then set off on the long trek to the cross country start. As I got there the weather took a distinct change for the worst and we were swept by driving rain and gale force winds. I also discovered that they were behind on the cross country already, so Pop and I dived under a large tree to take cover whilst we waited our turn. Eventually I was able to warm up, but I was soon soaked to the skin. And then we were off, and Pop jumped the first few nicely, although a little cautiously in the appalling weather. However, as we approached the first of the WHW Brushes we suddenly found ourselves on the wrong stride and with Pop being 'Mr Careful' he suddenly put the anchors on, incurring 20 penalties. He jumped it willingly at the second presentation, however, and we were off again. Eventually we came to the Shogun Hollow that I had been rather worried about, but to my delight Pop jumped the first rail sweetly and popped over the ditch, but I think in my relief at getting over the first part I didn't ride the line to the final element carefully enough and we swerved out to the left. I couldn't believe it. I had to jump back over the ditch to represent at the third element and then jumped everything else nicely before we crossed the finishing line. I must admit I was very disappointed that we hadn't gone clear, but still pleased to have completed as several riders before me had retired or been eliminated. However, once Pop had been cooled down and finished off, it was time to cheer myself up with some retail therapy in the Badminton tradestands!