When you back the car perfectly first try, you know the lesson is going to go well -
just one of the things I've been doing this month!
What an interesting month May has been! It has really been a matter of getting to know Ace more, pushing the boundaries in terms of training with the horses and myself, with the occasional procrastination of examination study. The main events during this time for the Boys (my two horses, Ace and Drum) and I would have to be Boneo Show-jumping Day then the Sam Lyle clinic the following week.
BONEO
As I’d only jumped Ace a handful of times before the event, I made the very practical decision of entering him in the lower grades. Unfortunately, due to little ponies zipping everywhere and big horses rearing or cutting me off (a lot), he got quite worried and somewhat neurotic in the warm up. During the first few jumps he was dealing with it rather well. Then as his cat leaping over the jumps proceeded to get worse, we then had a wardrobe malfunction with his saddle slipping backwards. Thinking this probably occurred due to his behaviour over the majority of our fences I hoped off and fixed it ready to go again, yet it kept on slipping. We now make sure there is always a breastplate on hand just in-case!
Deciding that the combination of his rattled brain and the wardrobe malfunction were making the situation a lot worse and definitely not worth the negative experience; disappointed and frustrated I took him back to the float; quickly tacked up Drum, popped over a two or three fences and then took Ace’s place in that round – it seems the old faithful saved the day!
Apart from a few adrenalized and excited moments for the old fella (including having a buck at the judge as I went to say my name, and then again over a few of our jumps), he jumped brilliantly! As I’m a big fan of videotaping my riding, I quickly popped a clip from one of our rounds on YouTube - take a look at it below.
After three clear rounds and one happy pony, I was left wishing that I had entered him for the 1.05m and 1.10m – next time!
SAM LYLE CLINIC
Never having had a lesson from Sam, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect; but he is the quickest trainer I’ve had to figure out a horse and instantly improve my riding and the horse’s going – so we’re definitely going back. The first lesson was a somewhat disaster on Ace’s part as he decided Poles were going to eat him today and that small verticals had to be jumped at least triple the height; mind you, he soon settled. The improvement from our first lesson to finishing off our last round on day 2 was incredible.
Here’s a quick view of Ace and I jumping at the clinic!
The following day I then took both the boys to go cross country training with Will and a few others; this was my first training session on course with Ace, wow!
I did happen to fall off (whoops) as he took off far too early out of the water and stumbled, which sent me flying onto my behind. But once you fall, you always get back on! Luckily I did just that and finished it off on a more positive note.
Apart from this little mishap we were jumping most of the pre novice jumps which had me oozing with confidence and excitement for the following season. Understandably, this doesn’t seem like much to a few people, though as I was scared to ride any other horse apart from Drum and associated a flick of the head or reluctance to travel forward with freezing in the saddle and thinking ‘Oh Sh*t he’s going to rear on me’, it was a big day. That mind set was an unfortunate hangover from my accident during 2012.
MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL THREE DAY EVENT
How exciting was Melbourne this year! Once again it all came down to the show jumping.
I'm so lucky to not only own Darcy (CP Qualified) but also be able to watch Shane have the ride. The big grey beauty, that is Darcy, certainly looks like the horses from fairytales. It’s really exciting to see the pair travel through the grades, plus it’s rather handy to ask Australia’s best cross country rider a few tips and tricks when I need them.
The big beautiful grey I so fondly call the grey devil, Darcy (CP Qualified)
Even though Melbourne wasn’t the most successful of events for Darcy and Shane I was really impressed in the way Darcy’s going since I last saw him at Adelaide last year. He’s a lot more confident, stronger and is looking like some serious business. Shane also allowed me to tag along during one of his cross country walks of the 3* course and being given the inside scoop of how to ride the bigger courses and how to ride lines and where to save time etc will come in good use for me the future.
Shane and Darcy jumped boldly into the water
Two locals, Charlie King and Matilda Alexander, competed in their first Melbourne International Three Day Event in the junior section. Coming home with a win from start to finish by Charlie and a fifth from Tilds was awesome. They are both beautiful riders and so still in the saddle – both equally promising riders for the sport's future.
Did I mention it's been a bit muddy with us ...
The joys of Winter in Red Hill, wouldn't mind some tailbag with that mud...
OTHER NEWS
On another completely different note, Chance our rising 4yo filly (and first Wyuna bred horse), has come into work. Being 16.3hh, in a 6’9 rug and still growing she is one big unit! She’s coming into ‘Lils beauty parlour’ the day after my final exam, a new bridle with lots of bling was purchased at MI3DE and the saddle has been fitted – now it’s time to finish off this year with a few dressage competitions and start eventing her next year by taking her to the Wandin Young Horse in March.
Winston will finally come back into work in a few weeks’ time. As he has the cleanest and most uncomplicated jump I’ve sat on we’ll quickly pick things back up to finish the year in preliminary at Lakes & Craters, then aim for Lakes & Craters or Camden 1* next year, as Melbourne might be a bit too soon. Winston is currently for sale, and unless he turns around to be an absolute ripper (I have a strong feeling he may be), will stay on the market.
That’s it from me during this busy month!
Safe riding, Lil xx
