Horse Trials results and roundup

.... alternate title: "True Life: My horse suffers from the Slow-Mos."

So Sunday was our first horse trial since November of 2012. We have done very VERY little jumping this year. So I entered the Starter division (2'3") so things would be easy. So I thought.

Dressage was Intro Test B. I felt a little stupid doing a walk/trot test, but then remembered that there are former Rolex winners, professionals and other really good riders showing in the division so then I didn't feel so bad. The atmosphere was a busy one. But Hampton was basically asleep the entire time. He was so calm! It was about 93 degrees so I am sure that had something to do with it. You will see in our photos how much he was sweating. And I only warmed him up for 5 minutes.

 

 

I remembered how to do a 20m circle.

The test was mistake-free and fluid. I would say that we could have been more forward (again, Hampton was BORED and HOT) but I was happy. There was 18 people in our class and we ended up 3rd after dressage with a 31. (A 69%). I was happy with that!

Love his classic "falling down neck" here. Good horse!

I kept him low and swingy and steady.

After both getting good drinks, I changed saddles and bridles and we headed up to do our stadium round. The course was uncomplicated and I felt we could handle it. I did not warm up very long, due to the heat. And maybe that was a mistake, I don't know. But we started stadium and Hampton was all like "WHAAAAAAAT?! Hamper no jump obstacles!" It was like he was 4 years old again and green as grass. He had to peek at EVERY. DAMN. FENCE. I was growling at him, smacking with the whip. Pony club kicking. Gritting my teeth. He never did get rolling. He knocked one rail (amazingly). I was just happy we got around. He jumped so beautifully last fall and it's like he forgot what the game was. He never locked on to one fence.

Notice the drunk sailor approach.

EVERY FENCE had trolls under it.

The fences were not that spooky. He has seen things like this before. I mean maybe he is just rusty? He didn't act sore or anything, just bewildered as Dressage Ponehs Do Not Jump Thingies! I'm not even going to talk about my equitation because at this point whatever gets the job done. It was not pretty, however. George Morris would have smacked me right off my horse.

After that my confidence was a bit shaken for XC but I knew that the open terrain would maybe help me out a bit and keep him more forward. Plus he has always been pretty happy to gallop around natural obstacles.

We waited in the start box. 5 ... 4... 3... 2. 1.... and we were off and a blistering dressage canter.

No problems here. Whew.

He got a little looky at the scary BN fence to the left of this one. But once he figured out it was this one we were jumping, he locked on and went. I felt some relief at this point and thought I had my horse back.

This jump was after a small down hill. Sailed over.

Some brush was added to this fence. A small peek here, but no biggie. Then I felt the gas tank drain.

He wanted to study this fence and maybe have brunch on it? I dunno but I had to put my Mean Girl Pants on and cowboy him over. He did jump it, but from almost a stop. I knew I was in trouble now that ALL forwardness had vanished.

This jump was at the top of a big hill so we really had no hope despite smacking him with the whip. He stopped and I didn't want him to leap over this one so I reapproached and he jumped it fine. Argh.

This one we approached again like a drunk ass sailor. But I sat down and kept my leg on and we did jump it!

He locked onto this one. No problems.

Another drunken approach.

And another drunken approach.

Fence 11 was a slanted gait which we barely made it over. So ugly and embarassing.

Coming home.

Not too bad of a fence but he never did lock on to this one either.

So ... we will be doing another mini trial this year that is for sure. We are not eventers but I feel like this is something he should be confident in doing. And normally he really enjoys it! He is quite capable of this level, and BN too. I think we were just out of practice and perhaps I didn't warm up enough. I was just scared of over heating (both me and him).

Even though I didn't have the horse I'd hoped I'd have, it was really a blast. I don't think it was a negative experience for him, I just had to ride the crap out of him. I don't have any idea where we placed. We left before I went to see scores (it was so. hot.). But after a rail in stadium and a stop XC I knew we were out of the ribbons anyway.

I do think I need a different bit for XC. I have a modified gag at the moment and I need something I can rate him just a bit better with. He gets really strung out and I need to be able to bring his neck UP way quicker. Any suggestions? Other than that ... We just need to jump more. :) Like maybe more than once a year. haha.

And YES that is a helmet cam on my head! :) Hopefully it worked and I'll have that video up soon!