Onwards to South of England today. A new event for us. The course photos made it look fairly straightforward but didn't really give an idea of the ups and downs of the terrain and the angles between fences. I thought it was a pretty full up 100, ramped up further from the event in September. Quite a few combinations, angled fences, turns between fences and skinnies. Thankfully the corner was right handed as it came after a tricky undulating left hand turn. Otherwise the only thing I was really worried about was the water. With home on the left and a turn away from home to an upturned boat then into the water it was reminiscent of Farley where he unceremoniously dumped me twice and got us the big E. It even had an alternative but I didn't think we should be doing alternatives with Badminton in mind. We had a couple of hours of heavy rain in the morning but they had spiked the ground so it sunk in well and the ground really was spot on which was a big relief.
Warmed up nicely enough for the dressage. Couldn't resist practising a few flying changes. They seem to improve his canter and no risk of him chucking one into a BE100 test. They are coming on nicely now! The test was a bit boring - he did everything where it should be - unlike Moreton where he was so tense he kept breaking into canter - but I didn't really ride the canter forwards enough. Finished with a nice square halt though.
Was doing my usual "I'd like to give up eventing and take up dressage" at this point in time. I hate the anticipation of the jumping phases. Wanted to just crack on but had an hour between each phase and they were sticking to number order so a bit of a wait while the nerves mounted up. Fortunately he warmed up very nicely, really taking me forwards over the jumps which is a great feeling. The course looked pretty meaty with lots of related distances and a tricky double going downhill next to the warmup. Went in and the wind was blowing so strong plus a car alarm going off so didn't hear my buzzer. Thought it had probably gone but couldn't take the risk of going before the bell so circled and asked them if they had rung it. Got a rather curt confirmation so feeling like a naughty schoolchild off we went! Saw a flyer to the first, took a stride out of the curved line to the second doing it on 6 instead of the 7 or even 8 I'd seen most do it on. Managed to sort myself out and take a check before the downhill double, got a fraction deep but he just made the back bar on the oxer out. Sharp right corner to an uphill 5 stride related distance that he got spot on. Sharp left, disunited muddle to a smaller upright, 4 strides to another oxer, another sharp left to a humongous spooky white oxer going downhill and then round to an uphill double where I saw one hell of a flyer and just galloped him at it. Not the best plan in hindsight and no idea how he picked up his legs to clear the vertical on the way out but he did so we were clear - yay! The ground was superb, really couldn't have asked for better, which made for a very happy Monty!
2nd part final double:
galloping at oxer into final double:
oxer out of first double:
first fence:
pro pic from Spidge of massive white oxer:
Slow change of clothes and then headed on to the XC. Didn't want to be late as was last in my section so turned up 10mins early to find they were running 10mins late. Have learnt from my mistake at Badminton - Monty doesn't cope with walking round the XC warmup for that length of time so I took him off away from the warmup and just walked him around in the all weather arena. Back to the warmup and he was pretty strong but seemed to be listening and jumping well. Had to have a lead out of the warmup but he was very calm by the start. Stood by the box for the 30second countdown on a long rein then posted in with 4seconds to go, gathered up my reins and he shot off like someone had put a rocket up his bum!
fence 2:
The course continued like that. They announced my dressage score at this point - 34 - rubbish for us and especially considering he got 35 at Moreton and spent most of that test breaking into canter. Anyway, back to the job in hand - he backed off a bit at the house at 3 so chipped in and clonked it, smooth through 4-6, got him back for the hanging log and he jinked over it at the sight of the sand on landing, nearly sending me out the side door, sat up grabbed both hands at my left rein, kicked a lot with my right leg and somehow got over the corner, taking the flag with it - photographer got great series of shots of me and the flag wedged under my boot! Thank god it was a right corner or we'd definitely have had a run out but he is very genuine with right skinnies! On to the step up and turn right 3 strides to turtle which he made feel easy. No hesitation at the ditch palisade. Shot through the road crossing then good stride to hanging log before messing up the related 4 strides to the 2 houses on 2 strides so got in too close to first house and had to tuck in 3 strides to the next meaty house. Eugh! Shot off after that and had to wrestle some control back before the water. Not ideal!
On the way to the water - just love his happy face!:
He did come back to me though and may have had a slight hesitant thought but legs on and a growl and over we went.
Wasted time by dropping back to trot to enter the water cue some more growling and away we went.
Part c was rather large skinny house but got a great stride and he flew it.
Through a gap in the hedge to 2 very angled palisades on a long 2 strides but fortunately saw the bold stride in and he made it on 2 then took great fun in galloping off flat out. Had another wrestle to regain control before turning into the quarry where he popped over a decent ditch without a care in the world, 2 bold strides to a skinny well up to height roll top which he launched so big he then jarred himself landing halfway up a very steep hill which we were up in 2 seconds and flew over the last couple of fences. He had really felt like he was motoring so was expecting to be inside the time as have generally found us to be there or thereabouts at 100 level. Found out that 34 in the dressage left us 5th out of 40 so not so bad afterall.
Had a chance to catch up with super sponsors West Kent Saddles who have been out to check my saddles again recently pre-Badders. Then back to the pavilion to see that sadly they eventually put my time up and we had been 16seconds over time to get 6.4 time pens and drop us from 4th to a frustrating 9th (top 8 qualify for Regional Finals). Did gain us another 4 FP's though and get us our qualification to Blenheim Eventers Challenge so that is something. I hadn't wanted to push him for the time given our lack of preparation so just let him run at his speed but given how fast that felt I am surprised we were so far off the mark. Definitely need to work on not wasting time by doing things like trotting at the water. Not having to fight with him so much would also help. Still, it was a perfect first run for him, he was awesome at all the turns and combinations. If only he would stop spooking at sand on the ground!!! Great to have him back and feeling so awesome. Next stop Hambleden then Badminton!
Went back to SOE this afternoon to watch the Intermediates and boy did that ask some questions. Don't think I'll ever be tackling one of those!
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