Chattahochee Hills is an amazing facilty as it is but its not finished, so when complete by next years AECs it will be an incredible venue. One which I plan on going back to and already planning out in my head next years event schedule for me and Toby. I'm thinking we might go there for there CIC** in May. One thing..it's well spaced out...so plenty of walking and if you come get a golf cat you will need it big time.
I recaped our XC ride but didn't mention Dressage. Our warm up went well, Toby was relaxed and straight into work. Mary Darcy work with us to get the best out of us and when we rode off into the impressive top Grand Prix arena i was looking forward to a good test. Just as we got to ours the middle arnea a big gust of wind flapped the 3 large flags and Toby spooked and then got tense.
I rode on and top at the each of the two judges to do the normal greetings..Toby seemed to mellow out a bit..but as we passed that end of the arena again tension came back in and he start just slightly grinding his teeth..as soon as he does that his neck and back get tense and the swing and lenght of stride shortens..But i rode the best test i could out of him and kept his slight nerves under control. i wanted to finish below 40 and we did with a 39.2, scoring 9 for our finally movement. With so many people in the divison scores were going to be close..from me in 35th place to 1st place was only 12 pionts!!
Show jumping was in the same arena and there was plenty to of activity around the arena. I had watched the advanced top riders school in the morning which was interesting to watch. You don't think of them having lessons like us lesser mortals, so it was good to see what problems and training solutions they have to go through too.
The course for them was different that our OI course but we still had last line of fences as them a triple which was oxer, upright then oxer and then 5 stride to another upright, all of course maxed out.
They had had a triple bar as the jump before this line, this same fence got reversed became our first jump!!! lowerd a hole and not quite as wide but still an impressive first fence esp. as it was facing the main covered seating area which was busy!
Only got to walk the course once as I was first in. So listen well to what Mike had to say about each fence and line..ran through it couple of times doing the "finger jumping"and then hopped on Toby who was a bit wound up..But settle down once we warmed up and jumped well and was listening. Mike tried to find out when I was going and so we chilled and just walked around. Then boom I needed to be in NOW...Mike was not happy and managed to get us some more time as he argued we where not ready...we jumped a couple a LARGE oxers and one upright and off we went...all way to hurried. Soon as I was in whistle went and we were off...
As i made our approach to the first fence"triple bar" I could feel Toby suck back a bit, I'm sure in his end he was think "what! what? we don't jump this first..its a triple bar!!!" about 4 strides out he switched on it was our fence and boom we took off and jumped the crap out of it. The first part of the course was a bit of a blur and I can wait to get my video just so i know what happened. I know i got in his face too much on 3 fences and heard rails..by the time we made the turn to the second to last line we were more in sink. and the last line was brilliant..and then we were done.
Finished and completed something I didn't get to do with Jeri at this level at the championships as she was not her normally self that day and I pulled up.
Toby however was still full of beans and I'm sure would have run around the XC course again if I asked him.
When we got back to the barn which was already half empty and it was time to pack up quickly ourselfs and hit the road.
So we didn't finish quiet were I wanted but that was more my fault than my horse's, but we did finishe and we had a great time. Plus learnt so much more from the experiance, I know now my horse is a bit of a XC machine and I need to let him do his job and I need to bloody well concernrate on mine. That dressage is always going to depend on the day, but still work hard at improving both of us. And Show Jumping will maybe always be NOT Clear...but we can sure work at getting our act together.
If you get the chance to quailify this next year, try and make it to the AECs it is so worth it for so many reasons and well done to all those Area V rideres that went and completed, and a few that came home with ribbons and prizes..hopefully we will bo one of those next year! Cheers
Monday, September 20, 2010
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Round Up
Its been a week today we were finished with XC, and it was one of the biggest and hardest XC I've done and I know it is the biggest for Toby..so what did he think of it? To be honest i think he loved every minute and know of the fences even phased him for one minute total star. His rider well she was another matter!!!
Worst show nerves I've ever had...man did I feel like crap Saturday morning. But some of my issue may have been a stomach bug as Martha who I was sharing her LQ with was ill first two days we were there poor thing!
Not going into too much detail but dry heaves not any fun! Know I get a little neverous I had brought plenty of over the counter substances to get things sort of normal.
XC time was 12.45 so lots of time in the morning to get ready and had time to watch a load of the Advance riders go...some bad it look way too easy like Becky Holder and Will Faudre and others not so lucky..
By the time I needed to get tacked up, I actrauly felt pretty decent. Toby was full of beans as we hacked the close to a mile down to the start box at the bottom of the hill. The warm up areas was large and had a really good range of XC feneces to practice over which was great. Heather was there bang on time to help me..they were running a bit ahead so once we were ready ...off to the start box 3,2,1 and off we leap. First four fences were a range of table likke jumps well spaced out to gallop and each got a little higher and wider. The first real question was a roll top at the bottom of a mound which yu ran up and at the bottom was a very narrow but wide rolltop tooth pike with brush...no problem..got to the top of the mound and Toby had already locked on it.
A croos the lane and 1 minute...next up were two GOOD size tables on an angle with 2 strides inbetween.They were numbered sperate but we where going straight. Which we did, mike had said to come in with good canter for us to make the two strides which i did. Toby landed after the first and shortened up and then on second stride launched himself just to make the jump even bigger!! we ran up the hill to the sharks teeth and took a flyer at that fence too. next was an oxer with a solid top..I got in his face a bit too much and we got a awkward stride but he made it work and we flew up the hill to the brush box..whee..prefect stop!
Other side was a STEP hill down and then a quick up to a roll top log thing..which I took a good hoe after as next question a pretty drop fence to 5 stride to a bloody big narrow brush fence.Which when i stode on the down side of it, it was taller than me (I'm 5'5")..Toby easily jumped down and not phase at all by the brush fence got a great spot and cleared no worries!!Net was a roll top we shared with Advanced which seemed small compared to what we just jumped... Then carted me off at full gallop into the out field!! The next fence was another big table thing and was suppose to be ou set up fence before we did the massive brush box we shared with Advanced and either 7 or 6 strides to a very narrow corner with a good angle to it.
The turn to the brush box helped set up and before I could think we were clearing the corner right it the middle and making the turn back to yet another big arse table and then the coffin. The coffin was a palsade with brush at the top one stride to a ditch and then three bending line to a mushroom feeder thing..To be honest it was way easier to do than it walked.
By this time I was well hot and the air burned your throat as you filled your lounges, Toby had been doing a good amount of pulling and I think I did a brilliant job of getting him fit...to the piont he was way too fit.
I decided to make thing a little harder and angles the log hut jump and the roll top befor the climb up the hill to the brush before the water which I also angled...coming down the hill Toby was trying to gun it.
I wanted to have enough power for the water jump but didnt want to blast it.. I thought i had got him back enough and that normally water backs hem off a bit.. not Toby. Even with the BLUE dyed water and all the people and vechicles a round the water jump he locked on and we were off...in my chase literary. He jumped huge over the brush and logs into the water.
Looking now I should have been way way back in the take . But even so i managed to stay on and get back in poisition quick cicle and boom over first and second jumps in the water and we only Had one more combination and and couple more simple fences and we would be home.bounced up the bank and roll jump and flew down the other side straight of our next corner and then off for finally jumps..came through finish line with plenty of running. i was so wanting to get off him as soon as possible that forgot to unclip my air vest and puff I was all inflatted.A bunch of friends were at the finishe to help coool toby down...Yeye we finished..
Worst show nerves I've ever had...man did I feel like crap Saturday morning. But some of my issue may have been a stomach bug as Martha who I was sharing her LQ with was ill first two days we were there poor thing!
Not going into too much detail but dry heaves not any fun! Know I get a little neverous I had brought plenty of over the counter substances to get things sort of normal.
XC time was 12.45 so lots of time in the morning to get ready and had time to watch a load of the Advance riders go...some bad it look way too easy like Becky Holder and Will Faudre and others not so lucky..
By the time I needed to get tacked up, I actrauly felt pretty decent. Toby was full of beans as we hacked the close to a mile down to the start box at the bottom of the hill. The warm up areas was large and had a really good range of XC feneces to practice over which was great. Heather was there bang on time to help me..they were running a bit ahead so once we were ready ...off to the start box 3,2,1 and off we leap. First four fences were a range of table likke jumps well spaced out to gallop and each got a little higher and wider. The first real question was a roll top at the bottom of a mound which yu ran up and at the bottom was a very narrow but wide rolltop tooth pike with brush...no problem..got to the top of the mound and Toby had already locked on it.
A croos the lane and 1 minute...next up were two GOOD size tables on an angle with 2 strides inbetween.They were numbered sperate but we where going straight. Which we did, mike had said to come in with good canter for us to make the two strides which i did. Toby landed after the first and shortened up and then on second stride launched himself just to make the jump even bigger!! we ran up the hill to the sharks teeth and took a flyer at that fence too. next was an oxer with a solid top..I got in his face a bit too much and we got a awkward stride but he made it work and we flew up the hill to the brush box..whee..prefect stop!
Other side was a STEP hill down and then a quick up to a roll top log thing..which I took a good hoe after as next question a pretty drop fence to 5 stride to a bloody big narrow brush fence.Which when i stode on the down side of it, it was taller than me (I'm 5'5")..Toby easily jumped down and not phase at all by the brush fence got a great spot and cleared no worries!!Net was a roll top we shared with Advanced which seemed small compared to what we just jumped... Then carted me off at full gallop into the out field!! The next fence was another big table thing and was suppose to be ou set up fence before we did the massive brush box we shared with Advanced and either 7 or 6 strides to a very narrow corner with a good angle to it.
The turn to the brush box helped set up and before I could think we were clearing the corner right it the middle and making the turn back to yet another big arse table and then the coffin. The coffin was a palsade with brush at the top one stride to a ditch and then three bending line to a mushroom feeder thing..To be honest it was way easier to do than it walked.
By this time I was well hot and the air burned your throat as you filled your lounges, Toby had been doing a good amount of pulling and I think I did a brilliant job of getting him fit...to the piont he was way too fit.
I decided to make thing a little harder and angles the log hut jump and the roll top befor the climb up the hill to the brush before the water which I also angled...coming down the hill Toby was trying to gun it.
I wanted to have enough power for the water jump but didnt want to blast it.. I thought i had got him back enough and that normally water backs hem off a bit.. not Toby. Even with the BLUE dyed water and all the people and vechicles a round the water jump he locked on and we were off...in my chase literary. He jumped huge over the brush and logs into the water.
Looking now I should have been way way back in the take . But even so i managed to stay on and get back in poisition quick cicle and boom over first and second jumps in the water and we only Had one more combination and and couple more simple fences and we would be home.bounced up the bank and roll jump and flew down the other side straight of our next corner and then off for finally jumps..came through finish line with plenty of running. i was so wanting to get off him as soon as possible that forgot to unclip my air vest and puff I was all inflatted.A bunch of friends were at the finishe to help coool toby down...Yeye we finished..
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Friday, September 10, 2010
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Saturday- this time next week XC
So woke up early, with out alarm. You know when y our head just switches on and that's it no more sleep!
This week has been super busy at work and horses too.
Tuesday I rode super early as Toby was getting reavulated and then some re-ajustment by Dr. Willard again. Since he was done last week he has been going fabulous. His lateral work is so much easier and way more swingy and bigger steps. His medium work esp. his canter work is so more up hill, bouncey and forward...love it. I even got to swim my mile on way home from work and some food shopping..so it was after 9pm when I finally got home...long day!
Wednesday had a lesson on the flat with Mary!!! In the rain/storm front! Brill..don't get me wrong SO HAPPY it RAINED but typical of Texas it has to be a massive down pour! It wasn't too bad to start off with but when I could no longer hear Mary or see where we were going because of the rain/wind time to through the towel in..everything was soaked even my socks as water was running down in side of my boots!!! Toby was a star even in that crappy weather, got to love his work ethic. Even with the rain we managed to get a lot done.. and a reminder that I need to be super organised and focus on riding each part of the test. Sounds pretty obvious but its not...and Wednesday my brain was not firing on all cylinders it was more like mush from work!
Thursday am got rained on again riding but so nice to have cooler weather ... then Toby got new shoes. My farrier Mike Lewis is the best, Toby does not have best of feet and Mike always makes them look and feel (for Toby) so good.
Each morning this week I've been up at 4-4.30am..so I can get work done before doing horses and riding , then quick showere and off to office..working later there coming home and then after checking the horses crashing or doing more work.. I lucky that my Hubby Anthony can do the eveing shift of bringing in and feeding.
So this week has been long one..thursday up until midnight working and Friday back up at 4am to start it all over again! I know I'm one of many Amateurs that does the tricky job of balancing work and horse/competitions...it sucks sometimes...but the pay back when you are at a event with the wind in your face heading for a XC fence on your best equine mate is well worth all the hassel and crap to get there!
Friday ..more flat work early before heading to office...so glad have health certificate out the way..
So now its Saturday morning..off out to do horses before head out to Goldchip for jumping lesson!!
Cheers
So the fact that
This week has been super busy at work and horses too.
Tuesday I rode super early as Toby was getting reavulated and then some re-ajustment by Dr. Willard again. Since he was done last week he has been going fabulous. His lateral work is so much easier and way more swingy and bigger steps. His medium work esp. his canter work is so more up hill, bouncey and forward...love it. I even got to swim my mile on way home from work and some food shopping..so it was after 9pm when I finally got home...long day!
Wednesday had a lesson on the flat with Mary!!! In the rain/storm front! Brill..don't get me wrong SO HAPPY it RAINED but typical of Texas it has to be a massive down pour! It wasn't too bad to start off with but when I could no longer hear Mary or see where we were going because of the rain/wind time to through the towel in..everything was soaked even my socks as water was running down in side of my boots!!! Toby was a star even in that crappy weather, got to love his work ethic. Even with the rain we managed to get a lot done.. and a reminder that I need to be super organised and focus on riding each part of the test. Sounds pretty obvious but its not...and Wednesday my brain was not firing on all cylinders it was more like mush from work!
Thursday am got rained on again riding but so nice to have cooler weather ... then Toby got new shoes. My farrier Mike Lewis is the best, Toby does not have best of feet and Mike always makes them look and feel (for Toby) so good.
Each morning this week I've been up at 4-4.30am..so I can get work done before doing horses and riding , then quick showere and off to office..working later there coming home and then after checking the horses crashing or doing more work.. I lucky that my Hubby Anthony can do the eveing shift of bringing in and feeding.
So this week has been long one..thursday up until midnight working and Friday back up at 4am to start it all over again! I know I'm one of many Amateurs that does the tricky job of balancing work and horse/competitions...it sucks sometimes...but the pay back when you are at a event with the wind in your face heading for a XC fence on your best equine mate is well worth all the hassel and crap to get there!
Friday ..more flat work early before heading to office...so glad have health certificate out the way..
So now its Saturday morning..off out to do horses before head out to Goldchip for jumping lesson!!
Cheers
So the fact that
Friday, September 3, 2010
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)