I was very excited for Kiss' first outing...Loch Moy is always one of my favorite places to go show. Its pretty big, so its nice exposure and my hope is to get Kiss more and more comfortable out and about.
It didnt exactly start off as planned...when we started getting her ready, we discovered she had pulled her shoe off in the trailer. Yes, I kid you not. In. the. trailer.
Of course there was no farrier on site. So I had to call the one they had on call and pray he could make it. Luckily he could, and Loch moy let me push my dressage back to be the last rider in the ring in my division.
So this is happening
There was a moment he didnt answer (I called back again to be annoying...prob why it cost $75 to put the same shoe back on) and I sent the girls with her back to the trailer ready to pack it in. I was happy to see how chill Kiss was eating grass...but we interrupted her grazing to get the darn shoe on and get into warm up.
I headed into dressage warm up an hour early totally expecting to walk around, let her relax and see all the things. But once we got in there, Kiss became so tightly wound the only way to get her brain on me was to get her feet moving.
My favorite jump of the day
She put in an ok test - but she pulled it together which made me proud. She jumped around great despite some wiggles coming away from the trailers, but all the jumps she was brave and locked on to like a pro.
I am definitely sad she isn't in my barn anymore, but so thrilled with her new home. Shes going to kill it out there with her new person!
I was feeling a tad worried going into Fair Hill...I really only started digging in to prep about two and a half weeks out. I realized the week before, I had yet to ride my dressage test at all on Tillie let alone some of the movements...nor had I stadium jumped her.
Ummm unprepared much?
Attempting to prep for braiding all by myself!
But our jump prep felt great and our final dressage lesson the day before felt really good, relaxed and consistent even through the test.
I did it! Although not beautiful, I did not melt down
I got her all cleaned up and braided...which if any of you remember is a big deal for me lol. I am not a good braider and in the past would get about 3 braids in before losing it and calling someone for help. So was super proud I did it!
Tucked in and ready to go
Tillie the next morning was really offended I left her in all night...so lesson learned, we will try next time putting her in the smaller paddock with Kiss and hope she keeps her braids in. Because her angst lead to some major issues in our dressage test...like 44.5 points of issues to be exact.
Yea not great. Especially since our flatwork has greatly improved. You can see she just was persnickety and super tense....and it led to me getting flustered. The head flicking...well not ideal and I believe to know the cause and working towards fixing it:
I will say, I didnt feel horrible when I saw a few other riders in my open division with similar scores (I mean we were dead last, but at least we didnt canter out of the ring like that one time though). I had Ryan Wood, Jenny brannigan and similar quality riders in my division...OH and Icabod crane. You know Phillip Dutton's previous mount.
F- ME.
We could have used this relaxation in dressage
So new focus...dressage boot camp for a week (currently happening). I was feeling really frustrated and resolved to get this figured out because I KNOW we can do better and more than that we have to do better. I was however happier with her canter and trot lengthenings over previous tests...even if the score didnt reflect it.
But on to jumping!
Tillie warmed up amazingly well. Got all the distances, leads and was forward but would rebalance and jumping like a beast. I opted to go in early and felt ready. The course had a lot more combinations than I was expecting, which were a huge issue for us last season we competed. So I prayed our last jump lesson paid off and we would keep the rails up.
So jump one...we pull a rail. Not exactly how Id like to start...and left lead, not sure where that went?! But I will fess up to the first rail. I got too impatient and didnt keep her balanced...I dropped her before.
But all the hard stuff she nailed and was adjustable and responsive...through the second line however she felt pretty darn heavy. She did respond to be, but I had what felt like 25 lbs in both reins.
We pulled the last oxer's rail as well...as you can see in the video, she got low and I didnt hang out long enough in the turn to get her back so we basically came in low and hot.
But we survived and at this point still in the qualification for waredaca...so XC it is.
Out we went...I had the goal to get as close to time as possible knowing full well I tend to run her too slow.
She came out strong. Like way too strong. So I had to keep her in check more than i would have liked the first few fences.
You can see here her pulling my arms off down the hill...and i was thinking oh god if this is the whole course I might die. But knew after jump 4 we had a downhill to a good uphill stretch to let her have at it and get out that pent up energy.
It worked and rest of the jumps came nice and steady out of a good distance...without always adding!
So not exactly the first outing I had anticipated. BUT there was a lot to like despite the frustrating lows. At least coming out of this i know what we need work on. We at least got the qualification needed for waredaca so 3 more to go!
A few people recommended trying perfect prep or something before dressage...if anyone has suggestions on show day help for relaxation please let me know!
So the first show of the season has since come and gone, but I am playing catch up again.
Last week I took both my girls to Windurra to get another good xc school in. I felt like Tillie's first one of the season was a bit rusty, and Kiss' was less than confident with the wet footing.
I rode Kiss first to tire her out so she would be happier about standing on the trailer. She came out feeling a lot more confident even if I wasn't. My biggest issue starting out this season is riding a bit timid/not brave enough up to jumps. Once I do, both my horses shine...but when I micromanage and shut them down...well they shut down.
Dom decided to have us tackle the water right away, discussing the order of jumps and questions and why we school in that order. I found it interesting since usually we wait for water later. But for him he wanted to put some "money in the bank" for later in our school.
She did well going right in and we got right to doing the bank out. We attempted to do her first ever bank into water and her confidence wasnt quite there, but here is the succession of getting through it!
and finally much more confident:
I was really proud of her working through this. Dom also said it was a great schooling experience and reassured me her initial reaction is very normal for a first attempt.
From here we went to the dry banks and the confidence building paid off:
Usually kiss will look at the down banks and hesitate but she felt good and confident...and i am getting much less worried about them myself! From here Dom kicked me in the butt and said lets ride FORWARD...get up to the jump.
We ended at the ditches and Kiss handled this like a pro too!
Our aim is Loch Moy BN this weekend...I am hoping we are ready.
I am so very excited to be writing this post because I am almost still in utter disbelief it happened! But Tillie and I did it...we completed our first PRELIM! What's more, is it was a cold, rainy day with less than ideal footing conditions (which I won't lie had me questioning if I was going to withdrawal). I was already super nervous and the added rain really made me question if I was insane enough to give this a go...
Tillie and I in our stadium round
The dressage arenas were the worst, followed closely by stadium, but shockingly the XC course was holding up nicely so I chose to give it a go and if things felt uneasy to retire. I had to ride our test off the muddy worn in paths so it hurt our score a bit, but I was so elated with how relaxed she stayed. Not to mention the fact I remembered the entire test was truly a feat in itself.
I was tearing up after our dressage
I walked the XC course after dressage which was good so I could see how the footing was holding up. Seneca did a great job patching what needed patching and keeping us safe. Some of the other levels they removed jumps or provided options because of the footing.
Intermediate actually ended up sharing about half our jumps...which made me feel even more bad ass (lol yea....).
Movin up to those ditances
Tillie warmed up like a beast for stadium and I felt really confident going into the ring. The first three fences rode well and Tillie was on point. We came into a two stride which Tillie slipped at the second fence nearly taking the entire thing down but the top rail popped off.
I got a bit greedy and too careful at this point...Tillie learned and took off huge over the next fence but this is where I got a bit too addy with the first slippage and rail in my mind and got her in a bit too weak (it was a triple bar oxer) and she barely took to top rail and then got flat and misread the related distance to the next fence.
After that she sat down and rode the triple combination and final bending line like she was born to jump this height and higher...so I know the rail issues we will iron out.
Soaking after the show...Goose totally convinced he can join me
I felt pretty darn proud we did it and I walked out of there knowing exactly what I did and how we can fix it in the future. But my mind immediately went to XC and I got my game face on.
Dom insisted that I warm up when we talked game plans before the day. He wanted me riding her to the base a few times and then a few more open and back to riding the base to really make sure both my eye and her adjustability were on point.
I didn't want to over do it too much as Tillie already was feeling a bit more tired than usual with the cold rain wearing on her but we did enough to make me feel ok. I set my watch, even though I was told to not look at it, and I was called over to the start box.
At this point I thought I was going to be way more nervous, but I suddenly felt...prepared. I don't know if that is the right word or not.
There were a few jumps on course and combinations that made me really have to think about how to ride into them, what my plan b was if it didn't go according to plan etc. But at that moment, I just took a deep breath, gave Tillie and pat and said, " lets do this."
For the first time I came out of the start box kicking...ok not exactly kicking, but I was ready. Usually I am ok with the slower canter to start, but I remembered Dom's advice about how I better ride up to fences because this itty bitty canter wouldn't cut it at this height.
The first combination on course had me the most worried...it was a big, and I mean BIG double brush table to a roll top skinny with brush. I knew I had to come in with some speed with that height, but didn't want to come in too hot and miss the B element. I watched the intermediate ride through it and it was seeming to ride ok, but quite a few horses did exactly what Tillie did and REALLY overjumped the brush, so I am glad I was prepared for that.
Once I finished that first combination I breathed out a small sigh...Dom warned me about the first combo saying it was a confidence test and would set the tone for the rest of the course. So I felt a very small iota of relief.
We shared the next jump with intermediate and had a open oxer galloping fence just before our next combination. It was a ramp to a 5 stride bank up to a two stride, ramp jump with a massive drop. I don't like drops typically and it did cause my some trepidation walking it, but I just reminded myself to keep my eyes up since woods were just over 8 strides on landing....I didn't need to end up in a tree.
Then we had some galloping tables and space to gallop but I took it easy. The footing here wasn't the greatest since we shared this portion with intermediate and I tried to stay on the outskirts and avoid as best I could. Then it was our next combination which had me slightly worried because it was a pretty big table bending line to a chevron brush - which if Tillie has any jump she might look at, its those.
But I breathed deep and thought back to all the schooling knowing she would do it so long as I had her straight, rode her shoulders and kept a good canter. And I was so floored that despite needing to slip my reins over the table...Tillie hunted the shit out of that chevron.
I had to control my emotions here, but swapped my crop told her how great she was and started preparing for the next combination shown at the early part of the video here:
It was another rolltop with brush but this time a skinny made out of how the brush was cut. It was flush up against a tree on the right side which is why I switched my crop left just in case she glanced off left. It had a down hill landing bending line to the B element: a narrow corner.
Again I had to let me reins slip on landing and a tad more slipped than I wanted with it being so wet and raining...but damn if she didn't lock into that corner and got us there in the perfect striding.
We had one table we shared with intermediate again before coming to the water...which made me fret so hard.
It was a very LARGE tree just before a log/bank drop into water with a roll top out. I saw many horses refusing this log and have seen refusals with this combination when it was set like this in the past (yay for youtube and me stalking old courses lol)
I knew I needed to compress coming in, but not lose the power. Tillie once again took care of me and did the entire combination like a pro.
We had one more galloping fence, another table...and we had our final combination on course: a full coffin. It walked tighter that it rode, so thank goodness Tillie isn't ditchy because we had to add a stride to make it work - which benefited us in the end because the footing here was slick and had a fall earlier.
After she came out of the coffin I sat up and told her YOU GOT THIS only one more fence!! And it was a large trakhener we shared with intermediate....so I came around the corner and told myself don't grab her, let her go at it.
She of course soared over it and when all four feet his the ground I choked back a huge sob.
I think its time to upgrade to real ice boots
People likely thought I was insane because the walk back to the trailer I was crying not so silent tears of pure shock, joy, elation and a whole medly of emotions.
I just coulnt believe we did it. This horse just shocks the hell out of me!
So I am debating on letting her end the season here to keep her confidence strong and ending on a good note. So I guess Ill touch base with my professional team and seek input on whats next!
After my mini panic attack after walking my first Training XC course, which got me so in my head that my riding suffered in the first two phases, I decided I needed to have a plan going into my second Training event. I have been working hard since our fall to find my mojo again and get back in sync with Tillie jumping. Its slowly coming back, but I was a bit nervous about this second attempt and if it would help or hinder.
This was my "OMG im might die fence" at the last event which ended up riding just fine
To help keep things going in the positive direction, I asked Dom to walk my courses with me and walk me through tactics and warm up plans for the day. I am so glad I did because, unlike my last event, this one I walked it and felt confident despite some solid fences and questions.
Dont get me wrong, a few fences I did mentally note to ride the pants out of...but I knew we could do it and nothing felt too big to handle...I know I am getting my mojo back when the fences dont look as intimidating.
So I am going to share each fence and the feedback Dom gave on how to ride each one:
Fence 1 pretty straightforward with a downhill landing. Dom said to be sure to let the reins slide out and sit up on landing with it being down hill but to trust Tillie and allow the terrain to back her off since it swooped back up hill again approaching fence #2
Also another straightforward fence Dom said to take in stride and use it to check in. Do you have a half halt? Is Tillie responding to the aids?
Fence 3 a fairly wide table Dom said to make sure you get to the base. He said to prevent the holding and gappy distance we tend to get sometimes, to ride the "waves" of seeing the distance. Youll feel the first wave of seeing a spot, then the second and maybe a third. More often youll want to wait to take the second or third wave.
4 A & B were angled tables 4 or 5 strides depending on your line. Dom said to really ride middle to middle and watch out for drifting at these...they will need to jump these wider because of the angled approach needed.
Fence 5 - the product stand. I took multiple angles of this one because it was a sizable one for sure and after a downhill approach. I knew this one I needed to sit up and check in with Tillie a good ways out. Quite a few horses looked at this or refused it. Dom said it was imperative to have the horse balanced after the hill for it and keep the leg on with the dark mulch which would possibly throw the horse off.
The chevron we spent some time talking about because many green horses will be unsure about these with the cutouts in them. Dom said not to take it for granted because of that despite it seeming to be a straightforward fence.
Fence #7 and our first water complex...this fence I thought looked big! Compared to the prelim fence next to it. Dom reassured me to look at only the solid portion not the brush and that we could jump it all day long. The tricky part of this fence is that a large pond sat just two strides straight behind it so the horse could potentially read it thinking it was jumping into more water PLUS you had to turn right away not to end up going swimming.
Fence 8 was after a nice galloping portion. So the key was to rebalance and be ready to land and go right into a narrow path through the woods on a slight turn which could throw off the rhythm.
9 A &B the second water complex. We talked about this one quite a while. 9A was at a bit of an odd angle to get the right approach requiring you to hug the tree line. With it being a jump directly into water it could potentially be a tricky fence. At least it had a gap under so the horse could see through and get a better read on it. Dom said not to be alarmed if the horse jumped it and lingered or stalled but to really keep your eyes up and locked on the B element with leg on.
Fence 10 was another quite large one but one to take out of a forward stride.
11 A & B on a bending line. We walked it to be 5 strides. I took a picture of the back side because the image doesnt make it appear too large, but it was a quite sizable B element which Dom recommended jumping towards the right, wider part so it would read and feel more like a table.
This fence was an open oxer...which I should have gotten more angels of. Dom said to ride it just like an Oxer in stadium, get right to the base and go for the nice jump up and over so the horse lands softly but not flat.
Pretty straightforward rolltop but it was a slight downhill landing just before the half coffin so the strategy was to take this more to the left to set us up for the coffin.
Now that we stayed left for the other fence, it would set us up nicely to read this combination. The trick being to make sure the horse locks on the correct jump after the ditch.
Another straightforward jump but to be sure again to get to the base and not get too flat with the next combination shortly after.
16 A&B Bank to skinny. Dom seemed surprised this was on the course because the bank was quite large (3ft) and really took time to talk about riding it well. He stressed not to get too long to it and get right up to the base because otherwise the horse may hang a leg or miss their footing. He even said if needed to trot the approach to ensure getting right up to it.
He said then to make sure I dont sit on her too soon and finish my bank ride before setting up for the skinny...it was long enough away and he wanted to be sure we got up the bank in balance. Once all four feet were up, then concentrate on straightness and close the left aids with it being on a slight right bend and stay tall since most horses will run out on it right on take off.
Second to last fence just take it out of stride and pretty straight foward.
Same for the last fence.
All in all Dom felt this course was more inviting and easier for the horse to read than our last event so reassured me we would do just fine. Which Ill let you know how we did later this week!!!
Well guys, its been an interesting weekend to say the least. I am still recovering from a nasty summer illness...which affected me more than I realized and just has generally slowed me down. I have pushed through though and prepped for yesterday's training debut just a bit slower than I would have liked.
At least I didnt have any melt downs braiding the night before...and I did manage to do three whole braids all by myself before Meri stepped in and helped so we wouldnt be there all night.
All ready to go!
I did try to walk some of my course the night before because I was anxious to see what we were up against...and well, I wish I had more time after dressage to walk and walked it then because it definitely made me nervous...to the point that it completely threw me off my game for dressage and stadium.
Really eerie walking the course at dusk...
Course walking a dusk = creepy and terrifying
I did text a few of my fellow equestrians that evening after walking the first half of my course, slightly freaking out...and every single one were really awesomely supportive and encouraging. Reminding me that Tillie and I have got it!
Dressage break down:
Warm up for dressage at this event was less than ideal. They had two rings running, one in grass, one in sand which I was happy to hear we would be going in the sand. The downfall to that was the warm up was only in a very uneven grass field next to the grass dressage ring...none near the sand one.
She warmed up nicely enough...despite it being really crowded. I did have trouble warming up in our lengthenings because of this which I think led to some of our trouble.
Tillie and I always have issues in dressage with her focus when we cant warm up near the ring. Combined with my lack of focus meant a break in gait in our trot lengthen and a really bizarre sticky lead and wrong lead transition into our first canter lead...and after the first lengthening break, we just didnt recover.
Here is some of the disastrous test:
If we hadnt put in such a stellar test earlier in the week, I might have wanted to kill myself. I would have preferred the better test be in this competition, but it happens. Some days are better than others.
Stadium breakdown:
Being a bit disappointed in myself and not giving tillie the best ride in dressage that I could have, I was a bit anxious to jump. Tillie found a nice rhythm flatting her up in the warm up ring and popped over the little X without issue. There werent any inbetween fences though and when I went to the vertical Training height jump she snagged the rail and got quite offended.
NOW she doesnt want to touch the poles!
After that she was jumping out of her skin...and I had a few moments of OMG.
She went into the ring the same way and I admit, I froze and stopped breathing going into the first line...She pulled the rail (which MANY people did and only 3 people went clear all day in Training). I should have half halted her and made her wait...ah well. The 2 stride turned into a hairy 3 stride and then the one stride line Tillie simply just didnt pick up her feet...and then I soared right past jump 8 winning us a TE - whomp whomp. Tillie was certainly feeling feelings on this day and you can see her head shaking at me multiple times through the course.
Jump 1 before it went down hill
I just dont think we ever hit our stride...we had some nice moments but the whole picture just wasnt there:
Trainer P set the course and told me later the lines were tight and I needed to probably compress her more in them...and she agreed I just stopped breathing. She was very sweet though and told me to shake it off. First Training level event nerves is no joke and laughed and said well now go run XC and the pressure is off!
CROSS COUNTRY!!!!
I warmed her up for XC and we finally did hit our rhythm. She jumped each fence right in the sweet spot and got her leads I asked for and was rideable and adjustable.
Here are the fences on our course:
Tillie jumped this one VERY uphill and landed uphill!
This brush was pretty large...It rode fine though!
I wish I got side pics of these...the A element was pretty wide and tall to a bending 5 or 6 stride line to the B depending on the line you took
This fence scared the pants off me. I had a few other concerns, but this is the one that set me into freak out mode. Not only was it maxed out Training height, it had a bit of a down hill drop on the other side. Plus the gappy space under and placement of the flag sort of freaked me out.
Water to bank up - two stride combo
fence #8
#9 after a gallop through the woods
This was also a pretty tall brush. It came up to just under my bra line
BIG and WIDE table...i should have gotten better pics of it. Def maxed out training...but it rode nicely
14 A of the coffin
C element of coffin
Looking back at the coffin from the C element
Trakhener - more novice sized...not huge
#16
#17
I was really nervous about the first half of the course. I was confident once I got past the water complex, we would be all good.
Jump #6 had me tweaking big time...luckily trainer P was there when I mentioned it and said oh you do a great job sitting up and not laying on your horses neck so youll do fine with that one with the drop!!! Just let your reins slip out!
Luckily we got it on video and just watch it...look at the air time!! That fucker was huge and I almost cried tears of joy when we got through it...not only got through it, but ate it up no problem!
I am sooooo beyond thankful they still let us run XC because it was the saving grace of the day. Tillie was confident, bold and taking me to the fences. She never once got flat galloping and was looking for what was next. We found a wonderful rhythm and she compressed well for me at the combos but also took a nice forward stride when called for it too.
I just wanted to kiss her after! Even with our not so great morning in the first two phases...but we completed a true recognized Training level XC course and that to me is a win. Not only did we complete it, but it felt GOOD.
Sure am I disappointed in the first 2 phases? Absolutely because I know we can do better, in fact we did at Loch moy just the weds before. I know though, that I was way too distracted by the XC and now that it went as well as it did, I can breath a little easier having confidence knowing we CAN do this at Training level.
So rather than dwell on the not so great of the day, Im choosing to celebrate the fact we ate up XC and it was FUN!
So lots of homework for us to try to even out the phases at this level.
