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Figured out what the dressage judge saw. Whilst I got a feeling of being really nice and forward and listening she saw him as not being forward enough, tense and not submissive.  And I thought it was one of the best tests Occy had done L.

Things started well in the cross-country, well at least up to Jump 4C at the first water. Lost a lot forward getting in next to a big black pipe thing, lost more getting out of the water, then more getting up an over and down to a meter wide narrow jump at which stage Compadre (Occy) said he could just turn right and avoid it. He was sort of right, but then again I convinced him there was no avoiding it. No problems on the rest of the course apart from the ground conditions, which despite the sunny weather was still very soft underfoot. The studs did their job though. Jump 7 was about the biggest ski ramp I have ever jumped. 8 was a 2 meter wide jump with some brush on edges, 2 strides to the second element at a bit of an angle with another 2 slightly longer strides to the third element, but only about a meter wide. Jump 13 was a ditch and brush, which due the ground conditions was more like a water filled moat with the big brush behind it.

15 was a narrow triple brush (see previous post for picture) which Occy had never seen before. I don’t think I pulled the flag over with my left foot, but it would have been close. A lot of the jumps did not have a straight approach to them. All in all one of the hardest courses I have had Occy across. Showjumping went well and clear and overall 9^th.  Attached is a video of Mellissa Wheeler on Black Jack, who was the winner of her Level 3 Section.

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Left home about 9.30 and got there through the twisty turny roads between Yarra Glen and Yarrambat by 11. No short cuts here. Had plenty of time to get Occy ready for his dressage just after 12 and managed to do what felt like a lovely soft forward and accurate test. Even got a comment from one of the spectators to that regard. But the judge obviously saw something which wasn’t quite right and placed me 7^th after dressage.

Cross country and showjumping tomorrow. The ground is still quite slippery after the rain from the previous days, so studs are the go. The Cross country course has some big jumps in it as well as some quite narrow ones only a meter wide. So accuracy and forward are a must. Between that and the twisty nature of the course time will be hard to make.

The pictures show 2 of the jumps on the course. A triple with 2 strides between the elements and ending with a narrow meter wide fence. The other is a triple brush with quite narrow curvy sides. Will be interesting to see how it rides

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Last week was showjumping, and this week was………. showing – gasp. Went to Neerim on Sunday and to my first show in about 15 years. Good opportunity to clean my gear. Did ok to, we got a 1^st in Smartest on Parade Level 1/2 a 2^nd Place for Ridden and a 3^rd place for Rider. Then quickly rushed back home to help out at the Gembrook Market. And then quickly back home to ride Jarrah, the 23 year old.  Both ponies got new paddocks for their troubles which they are very pleased with.

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The weather hasn’t been the best this week but the days seem to be getting longer. Had another jumping lesson on Thursday night and by the time I got back home and fed the horses it was 10.30 pm. Work really does interfere with the important things like riding. Show jump comp at Monbulk today and we got a 3rd out of 16 so happy. Video is of Tayla Wilson on St George Inveral Taylor known as Danny to his friends.
The picture shows that I had a gear failure on the day. The zip went on my gaiters. Wont mention a brand at this stage but I did a temporary repair with electrical insulation tape, but will have to look for a replacement.

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The video is of a fellow Club member Di doing her second horse trials on Stormy at Level 5, showing you don’t have to jump big to have fun. She did well to finish in 9^th place and would have been 4^th except for some time penalties in the Cross Country.

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Early start and a long drive today to get to Lara. Weather wasn’t looking too promising, but it turned out ok apart from one brief shower. Got there about 9.45 for a 11.10 dressage test. The test was obedient but felt like Occy could have been a bit more forward. And the judge agreed. And there was that one and a half Tempi Changes where he should have just stayed on the right lead canter that we got an unbalanced comment for. Went we got back to the float Occy hardly waited for me to get off  the saddle before doing a huge wee. Another full bladder test, but overall still in the  top 10. And that is where we stayed Cross country was clear and only 2 seconds overtime. Occy did feel a bit sluggish though. Showjumping was clear. And we ended up in 8th place.

A couple of short videos here, one of Di Politz in Level 5 showjumping and another one of another Level 5 rider doing Cross country. You don’t always have to jump big to have a ball.

 Di Politz and Stormy Level 5

 

Level 5 Cross Country

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We ended up pulling up 14 places to 8th place after xc
Video is of Taylah Wilson riding in her first one star.

Picture is of Cassidy and friend getting ready for the Shetland grand national

Regards Walter