For a final run before Badminton Grassroots, we decided to take Pop to Hambleden Horse Trials for the BE Novice, where we thought the course would be quite challenging for him, with two water complexes, both with jumps into, or on the edge, of water, plus a coffin. As my dad's horse Alfie finished hunting the previous weekend, we decided to take him along as well, which entail a crash course in dressage the week beforehand!
Pop did a fairly nice test, if a little distracted, to gain 32. Alfie's dressage has been improving at home, and he even went nicely in the warm up, but as we trotted over to the far arena he decided to spook at all the boards and cars which resulted in a rather tense test, but was pleased to get 38 which is his best score to date at BE! In the show jumping, Pop started off really nicely, but somehow we got completely the wrong stride into two of the jumps, and took two poles down. Alfie's jumping at this level can be rather erratic, and true to form he knocked the first fence down (the easiest and smallest on the course) but then jumped everything else clear, even the double and treble, which I thought he would find hard.
We knew the first water complex in the cross country was causing trouble with many having refusals at jump in front of the water. There was an longer alternative option which many took, but I decided Pop had to man up and tackle the direct way in, as I know this is the type of challenge he will get at Badminton. He did have a stop here, but jumped it at second time of asking and then was fine round the rest of the course and flew into the second water via the direct route, so hopefully he might have learnt his lesson! Quick change onto Alfie and what a star he was! Jumped everything without hesitation going the direct routes. I was a bit worried about the steps as he has struggled with them in the past as his feet are a long way from his brain, and these were the biggest steps he has been asked to do. But he managed them, even if it was not in the most elegant fashion! I didn't push hard for time as this was his first event of the season, so we finished with eight time faults.
So no rosettes for either of the boys this time, but a very educational and productive outing for them both! Many thanks to Nigel Goddard of KS Digital for the lovely photos of the boys galloping through the bluebell woods.
Pop did a fairly nice test, if a little distracted, to gain 32. Alfie's dressage has been improving at home, and he even went nicely in the warm up, but as we trotted over to the far arena he decided to spook at all the boards and cars which resulted in a rather tense test, but was pleased to get 38 which is his best score to date at BE! In the show jumping, Pop started off really nicely, but somehow we got completely the wrong stride into two of the jumps, and took two poles down. Alfie's jumping at this level can be rather erratic, and true to form he knocked the first fence down (the easiest and smallest on the course) but then jumped everything else clear, even the double and treble, which I thought he would find hard.
We knew the first water complex in the cross country was causing trouble with many having refusals at jump in front of the water. There was an longer alternative option which many took, but I decided Pop had to man up and tackle the direct way in, as I know this is the type of challenge he will get at Badminton. He did have a stop here, but jumped it at second time of asking and then was fine round the rest of the course and flew into the second water via the direct route, so hopefully he might have learnt his lesson! Quick change onto Alfie and what a star he was! Jumped everything without hesitation going the direct routes. I was a bit worried about the steps as he has struggled with them in the past as his feet are a long way from his brain, and these were the biggest steps he has been asked to do. But he managed them, even if it was not in the most elegant fashion! I didn't push hard for time as this was his first event of the season, so we finished with eight time faults.
So no rosettes for either of the boys this time, but a very educational and productive outing for them both! Many thanks to Nigel Goddard of KS Digital for the lovely photos of the boys galloping through the bluebell woods.