Well here we are again post Melbourne Three Day and I must say I feel good! I may not have left Melbourne with a blue rosette and a rug, but I still feel it was a successful weekend and the whole experience has left me more confident than ever in myself, my little grey pony and excited for the new season.
Over the angled brushes we go
I discovered in my dressage, there is such a thing as trying too hard. I found myself uncharacteristically nervous before my dressage. I think I was so hungry for success and the good test I knew my horse could produce. I really went for it … a little too hard and although my test was sweet and quite accurate my body was tense and I was pushing him a little out of his rhythm. The result was a test that didn’t look easy and flowing. I was disappointed with my score of 59 (I was the last rider before the lunch break so perhaps the judges were hungry too), but I have to say I have never received more helpful comments than the ones on my tests from the three judges. It was great to watch my test on video and read through my test after to really understand my score. I really feel it will help me at the next big competition.
Cross country day could not have been more perfect. I took a run around my course in the morning and I don’t know if it was the perfect weather, the fantastic going or all the endorphins that were running around my body, but I felt so confident and ready. The big challenge was holding on to that feeling for another five hours until I actually was on course. I was watching a few other riders at the start of the two star and noticed they were riding some of the lines a little differently to my plan. Standing with some other riders everyone is suddenly questioning their decisions. I decided to walk away. I had walked with Emily, made a plan and I was sticking to it. I managed to grab Amanda Ross at the end of her ride on Loxley. She was also taking all the fast routes I was planning and had enjoyed a brilliant ride.
Splashing through the Werribee water
If I thought I was hungry for a good dressage, then I was starving for a good cross country ride and that’s exactly what I got. I attacked the course and Jasper was absolutely brilliant. He responded so well to everything I was asking plus got me out of trouble a few times. ‘Serious Business is seriously making this course look easy’, was what the commentator said. We came home clear and under with the fastest round of the day. I was ecstatic!
Jasper trotted up well on Monday
Jasper pulled up really well and was jumping out of his skin ready to show jump. After cross country we had moved from 26th place to 13th so if we could jump a clear we were in with the chance of a ribbon. Japer was clearing the fences easily. As we turned to approach the last fence we had only had one unlucky rail. Suddenly I had a Shetland pony underneath me as Jasper turned and tried to run out of the gate! I tried to do a little squiggle so I didn’t cross my tracks, but I got given a stop plus we had the last fence down! This left us 16th in a field of 40.
While my horses are having a well earned rest I’m also off to Thailand to escape the big freeze. I can’t wait to start a new season and am already making a plan for the horses I hope to have at Melbourne Three Day next year. A big thank you goes to my sponsors, Horse In The Box, Equine Health Science (shark net) and Horseland Narre Warren. Also my supporters, Mum and Dad, My groom Laura Mcmahon, Kirtsen Coad and her family , Emily Anker, Will Enzinger and Chelsea Priestly. Also ‘An Eventful Life’ for their support and fantastic coverage of the event.
