Tuesday was her first competition albeit only training but a very big event with hundreds of entrants which even stunned me. I don't compete but as she's being shared by the riding club I asked if they could take her. She was entered into two rounds - the Ist was 85cm Show jumping and Cross, the 2nd 95cm Show and Cross.
The day started with her not wanting to load again! Chifney out and onto van within 10minutes and countless rears apparently. I met them at the show to find the place alive and running with horses everywhere loud music blaring out of speakers and eventually found Cocaïne stood quietly next to the trailer munching
The rider that took her round started to get nervous the nearer it got and was worried that she would nap/reverse/and just generally refuse to go forwards including not wanting to canter on the grass A new one to me which made me LOL! I told the rider that she'd being living out in acres of grass since birth and loves nothing more than holing around on it so not to let her try and trick her into thinking that she's been living in a cupboard for 6 years I also said if she just managed to get her round the warmup & felt it best to withdraw I would still be hugely proud and pleased that she's managed that
So in they went to the warm up. Cocaïne jumping sideways at her own shadow, the wind, the noise of the music blah blah blah. But the rider held tight and relaxed. Moved through to the jump warm up. No probs
Called through to the start box and she reared up vertical at a road block that blew over with a gust of wind . I really thought the rider was coming off but again she held tight Countdown and they're off - flew round the show jumps (she's used to that) through to the cross country - a bit wary but legged on and went up the piano bank, over a rolled pipe and off into the distance. 2 refusals caused an elimination but allowed to complete the round for experience which they did with a few circles round and back over various jumps. Back into the arena she flew over the show jumps to home
Rider was knackered! and very worried about the next round whishing they'd left it at just the one. I said Cocaïne would be easier IMO the next round as she'd already figured the cross country idea and would now know what the idea was.
In again to the start box, dying round the show jumps to gasps from the crowd out to the cross was over a brush fence with a drop landing out of the arena which got a refusal first time (no-one had yet managed it) circle round and big jump over it up the bank and flying round off into the distance with another refusal causing elimination again but continuing on. Cantering back up to home to jump a skinny (the one I'd said looked the most tricky to me!) she came to a halt in front of it. Rider kicked on and Cocaïne jumped it from a stand still unbalancing the rider and causing her to fall off Rider had banged her head and had some vision probs But RI told me it was a bit of an exaggeration and not to worry as the rider was up and ready to watch her friends go round
Cocaïne loaded for home without hesitation or fuss
I was so so proud of her and so thankful to her brave brave rider.
The RI was eyes wide open at the power in her jumps and said to me I don't know what level your jumpings at but how do you manage to stay on?!! Easy I replied - I'm always hitting the deck
What a great mare my feisty dragons turning into
Some pics if you got this far
The day started with her not wanting to load again! Chifney out and onto van within 10minutes and countless rears apparently. I met them at the show to find the place alive and running with horses everywhere loud music blaring out of speakers and eventually found Cocaïne stood quietly next to the trailer munching
The rider that took her round started to get nervous the nearer it got and was worried that she would nap/reverse/and just generally refuse to go forwards including not wanting to canter on the grass A new one to me which made me LOL! I told the rider that she'd being living out in acres of grass since birth and loves nothing more than holing around on it so not to let her try and trick her into thinking that she's been living in a cupboard for 6 years I also said if she just managed to get her round the warmup & felt it best to withdraw I would still be hugely proud and pleased that she's managed that
So in they went to the warm up. Cocaïne jumping sideways at her own shadow, the wind, the noise of the music blah blah blah. But the rider held tight and relaxed. Moved through to the jump warm up. No probs
Called through to the start box and she reared up vertical at a road block that blew over with a gust of wind . I really thought the rider was coming off but again she held tight Countdown and they're off - flew round the show jumps (she's used to that) through to the cross country - a bit wary but legged on and went up the piano bank, over a rolled pipe and off into the distance. 2 refusals caused an elimination but allowed to complete the round for experience which they did with a few circles round and back over various jumps. Back into the arena she flew over the show jumps to home
Rider was knackered! and very worried about the next round whishing they'd left it at just the one. I said Cocaïne would be easier IMO the next round as she'd already figured the cross country idea and would now know what the idea was.
In again to the start box, dying round the show jumps to gasps from the crowd out to the cross was over a brush fence with a drop landing out of the arena which got a refusal first time (no-one had yet managed it) circle round and big jump over it up the bank and flying round off into the distance with another refusal causing elimination again but continuing on. Cantering back up to home to jump a skinny (the one I'd said looked the most tricky to me!) she came to a halt in front of it. Rider kicked on and Cocaïne jumped it from a stand still unbalancing the rider and causing her to fall off Rider had banged her head and had some vision probs But RI told me it was a bit of an exaggeration and not to worry as the rider was up and ready to watch her friends go round
Cocaïne loaded for home without hesitation or fuss
I was so so proud of her and so thankful to her brave brave rider.
The RI was eyes wide open at the power in her jumps and said to me I don't know what level your jumpings at but how do you manage to stay on?!! Easy I replied - I'm always hitting the deck
What a great mare my feisty dragons turning into
Some pics if you got this far