Packing up at Lakes & Craters, the last event in 2012, I had my plan for 2013 all worked out ...............
I started out this year feeling extremely organised. I started my horses back in earlier than I usually do so that I could have them well underway in their training and fitness when I went on a small holiday to Japan and they were kept in work for me by Jacqueline Boyle. Everything was in place. I had a fantastic plan of events and my horses were ready.
We’re now four events in and my perfectly planned season seems to have gone awry. After all my pre-season preparation and organisation, I suddenly find myself constantly running ‘Plan B’.
My plan this season was to run my two star horse, Serious Business, at Sydney Three Day instead of Melbourne. He is a little bit of a stress head so for him I liked the slightly shorter season. Both my horses had had a fantastic run at Lakes and Craters and it had left my hungry for the new year. My horses were both working just as I wanted them to before I left on my holiday and when I returned Jac had kept them ticking over beautifully. I had a clinic with Heath Ryan booked for just after I got back and I was really looking forward to Heath’s input with Jasper (Serious Business). Jasper had other ideas. He decided he also deserved a holiday and put his foot through a fence to prove it. Stitches and a week and a half off should do the trick. Hmmm my riding time before Tonimbuk seems to be slipping away. With the help of my vet Kurt Enzinger I managed to get him right so I could ride at my squad training. Thank god because my instructors (Charlotte Pederson and Jamie Coman) were fantastic and I left squad feeling ready to take on the world. Tonimbuk was fantastic Jasper felt better than ever and he finished 7th in his first two star. Bring on Wandin… or not.
Jasper flies over the last fence at Tonimbuk
My first ride after Tonimbuk Jasper felt great. The second he could barely walk. Attack of the dreaded abscess! Finally the Wednesday before Wandin all seemed well and I could ride him again. Not the ideal prep, but I had to make do. Jasper felt great at Wandin and performed well in the dressage and showjumping. There was a bit of a pilot error in cross country which unfortunately caused two run outs. Ok, so Plan B. I think we might need a little more practice before a three day so I decided to take a bit more time and take Jasper to Melbourne instead of Sydney.
I was so unhappy with how I rode the cross country at Wandin I had a schooling plan in place and was determined to do a much better job at Albury. After all the dressage and showjumping had been going so well I thought we had a real shot at doing well up there. Oh no! the abscess strikes back! Jasper again was on three legs the week after Wandin. Well after confirming that it was definitely an abscess finally I decided that instead of pushing to get to Albury and again having a less than perfect prep, I would miss Albury and add Camperdown, Ballarat and Woady Yallock on my way to Melbourne. So Plan B seems to be in full swing. I also decide that rather than make the trip to Albury with a client’s intro horse (Gorsellea Maxamillion) and my pre novice horse (ESB Golden Zone) I will go to Yeringberg which is only forty minutes from home.
ESB Golden Zone - I can jump with my eyes closed mum!
Meanwhile my younger horse (ESB Golden Zone) has required no Plan B whatsoever. He has been consistently healthy and steadily improving with a 3rd in the Pre Novice at Wandin and a 4th at Yeringberg.
Jasper is now happily preparing for his next events with a squad training camp this weekend to help us on our way. The new plan is set and all adjustments have been made for his road to the 2* at Melbourne Three Day Event. Of course I still have another have another plan brewing just in case, does that make it a plan C…?
