Billy always makes me smile ... well most of the time anyway!
It's been a busy time ...
First of all I had Kangaroo Ground dressage day where I rode two horses, Billy Sparklepants and my friend Kellie’s horse, Metro Star. I arrived and managed to plait both horses and warmed Billy up first as we were riding grade 4. He worked really well in the warm up considering he thought he was going to die only an hour earlier. To explain - I’d just finished plaiting Metro when Billy started pacing in the yard and barging at the chain gate. I could see him looking out in to the paddock that backed on to the club grounds. All the other horses were nonplussed so I assumed it was perhaps a fox or some kangaroos but when he started snorting and half rearing, despite it not being hot, I wondered if there was a snake. I had a good look for 20 minutes but couldn’t see anything. I really had no idea what was upsetting him but a few minutes later, a cute little Echidna waddled on by in the paddock opposite him with Billy in a trembling mess. Billy has a huge phobia of Echidnas and bless him he was absolutely terrified. Despite understanding he was truly frightened I have to admit I laughed. He’s such a dill.
We went into the ring for our test and I was happy that he had settled somewhat even though he was was anxious. The judge actually came out of the car to greet us and told us she’d seen us on the front cover of Chaff Chat and what a wonderful photo it was. She also commented on how beautifully presented we were. We completed the test and I was mostly happy with it and then I went and rode my grade 3 test which we used as another training guide. The german judge was most unfriendly which I found unusual and although it was not our best test I felt we had some nice work at times.
Riding Metro at the dressage day
After I’d made Billy comfortable, I tacked up Metro and headed back to the ring to ride the grade 4 test. Again the judge came out and spoke to us and told me how beautifully Metro was presented. Unfortunately, Metro exploded in the canter and we had to stop and gather ourselves before continuing. We rode our grade 3 test in front of a different judge and had some really nice movements but again, in the canter, Metro objected and we again had to stop before continuing. I had a feeling he was sore as Kellie had said he was a little bit off the week before the comp.
It wasn’t a successful day for us placings wise, but I was actually really happy with both the horses and they both did their best on the day. It was uncanny how my scores on the two different horses with two different judges had exactly the same mark! How consistent!
Jumping at the Paul Tapner Camp Photo: Kellie Troy
Last weekend, Billy and I had a three day eventing camp hosted by the Melbourne Eventing Team with international (Aussie) rider Paul Tapner. I collected Billy early on Friday morning and headed over to Highfield where we all gathered near the dressage arena and had some breakfast while catching up with old and new friends. I tacked Billy up then warmed up in the back paddock before finally coming down to ride our dressage test. The aim of today was to ride a three minute section of a test in front of Paul and Kathy who is an EA, HRCAV and PCAV judge. I chose the test I will be riding for Yarrambat Horse Trials and rode the second half, which includes a right canter transition. When I presented to the judges, I explained that I have been having some trouble with right canter and that to me it feels choppy or disunited. Kathy said she liked the fact that I was riding something I was finding difficult. I figured that with such expertise in front of me I was bound to get some help with whatever I was doing to cause that feeling.
We rode our test and on my right canter circle, I felt that Billy was on the wrong lead, so I trotted and then corrected it. After we’d halted and saluted, we then went and untacked and had our feedback session. Each rider was marked on their movements as per a normal dressage comp. It was really educational to hear what everyone needed to work on and the most common theme was confidence and self-belief as well as rider position. My comments were that Billy and I were crooked and that during my canter circle I was actually on the correct lead and Paul wanted to know why I had trotted. I realised that perhaps it wasn’t Billy who was having trouble but perhaps it was me! (Of course it’s me, usually it’s the rider that influences the horse).
After our awesome feedback session, we then broke into groups of 3 to 4 riders and had a lesson with Paul working on what we needed to based on our test. Once we had our lesson we rode our test again to see how much we’d improved and there was a prize for the most improved rider of the day too.
In my lesson with Paul he focussed on helping me get Billy round and forward. Billy was great and tried really hard. Once we were happy with that, Paul then worked on my position and he’s pretty black and white with how he expresses things and basically told me that my entire right side of my body was …. let’s say … munted. So he helped me work on putting my right shoulder back and getting the canter to feel better. I couldn’t believe how crooked I was! Seriously I felt a little bit sick after working so hard in the lesson and also from thinking about poor Billy having to deal with my horribleness on his back! That poor horse!
We rode our test again and I felt it was much better. I had Billy round and concentrated really hard on my position when asking for the canter. Kathy asked me how I felt it went and although I wasn’t sure I said it felt better. She then told me it was a lot better than the first test. As there was no rider ready after me I asked her advice on getting Billy to stretch in the long rein free walk. I always get a good stretch and not enough activity or activity and not enough stretch. Kathy helped me learn the feel of this and I was really excited when Billy and I finally got it.
Once the lessons and tests were over, most of us headed out for dinner to the local pub and talked about the day and I finally crawled into bed about 11pm. The next morning I was up early and we headed to Oaklands for our cross country lessons. I was on at 1pm and was hoping to be brave and do some bigger fences. I knew this was my perfect opportunity to try in a safe environment and gain confidence. We headed out on to the course and worked on our warm up and we then rode a warm up fence that my group told me was grade 3! It didn’t feel big at all. From there we worked on riding the bank fences and went from grade 3 to grade 3. I was really pleased that I wasn’t nearly as nervous as I had been at the same venue last year! From the bank we went to a grade 3 fence that curved to a bigger fence and Paul spoke to us about lines and striding. At this fence we worked on increasing and decreasing striding and placement at the fence and how, where you are at the fence, influences the number of strides. For example if you’re a metre to the left of centre, your striding may be shorter or if you’re to the right your horse may take more strides. After this fence we then went to a combination fence which the group told me was a preliminary fence due to its technicality. We rode a wavy log to a sunken road and out of that to another fat log. The first time I rode it I was quite nervous and didn’t have enough impulsion or straightness. At the second attempt, I had better impulsion but still not enough straightness. Finally on the third attempt I rode Billy like I’d stolen him and we nailed it.
Billy and I led the way to the fences for most of the lesson and Paul even called me a Superstar! I can’t tell you how that made me feel (but I’ll try!) It was like I was the bravest person on earth and I could do anything!
Later that afternoon we had a session with Nicole Stewart (who you all know I work with) from Performance Coaching and worked on a gaol setting plan.
Dinner that night was pizza at one of the rider’s houses and we looked at Paul’s new iPhone app Horse Hub and then watched some of his headcam footage from his most recent events. We discussed the course and riding and then headed home.
Sunday morning we were all gathered together to discuss goal setting and warming up for cross country which was really useful. I got a lot out of this session and then it was time for our lesson.
This time we worked on our warm up with Paul supervising. I did my warm up and stopped and then re-commenced. The second time I stopped for a bit and then started again. When we gathered together, Paul said to me, “The first time you stopped, I thought, yeah not enough. The second time you stopped I thought, perfect for your horse. Then you looked around and saw that everyone else was still going so you started again. Trust yourself more.”
I got some great advice from Paul
From the ditches we went to the water and learned to walk, trot and canter through it. Billy was great going in and out but really slowed down from the drag of the water in the middle so this is something I need to work on in the future.
After the water, we headed off and went to a trakehner fence that was definitely grade 3. It looked easy to me so off we went and jumped it in both directions. Dave and Bec and some other riders were in the car watching and Billy and I got a big round of applause! I was really happy to be jumping these bigger fences.
Paul hopped in the car and then told us to go and jump a fence on the way to the wine barrel we were to do next. The white fence was (to me!) huge! It was like a palisade with three rails with gaps. I approached it and thought another rider was coming up behind me so I turned off. The second approach I was feeling even less confident and Billy ducked out (a rarity and totally my fault!) and the third time I kept him straight and got him over it but it didn’t feel nice.
When we arrived at the wine barrel Paul pretty much told me off for my effort at the previous fence and then made me jump the barrel, which I nailed the first time. He faced me and said, “Why couldn’t you jump that fence like you just did this one? This one’s much harder and you did this perfectly!” It was because he wasn’t there guiding me. I didn’t feel as confident on my own with what felt to me as such a big fence.
I was extremely happy with Billy and the camp. I learned so much and perfected a lot of things and gained so much more confidence. Everyone told me how far we’ve come since they saw us last year! At the end of the camp I was awarded with the award of Most Improved Rider! Wahooo! I came away with a lovely bottle of wine! Thank you Met, Paul and Kathy!
The following week I was called and told I had a spot at Yarrambat Horse Trials. I was eighth on the waiting list so was thrilled to be able to ride. I decided that after the success of the camp I was going to try what I had learned in the dressage lessons at the comp and see how it reflected in my score.
I was up at 4:30am and headed to pick Billy up at 5:30. My dressage test was at 8:21 and the cheeky little monkey ran away from me for the first time ever when I went to catch him. After half an hour I managed to catch the sweaty, snorting beast after he’d been racing around me, pigrooting and double barrelling. I decided to plait him at home and then take him to the comp. Finally at 6:30am we were on the road and at the event just before 7am. I settled him in and then got myself organised and we warmed up. I was really pleased with Billy in our warm up, he was attentive and working well. We were the second combination to go in. I worked on roundness and forwardness in the test, trying what Paul had taught me but for some reason, Billy Sparklepants was Billy Sh***typants, and flared up twice! So I had to stop and collect him again and then proceed. The second time he flared up, I was so focused on keeping both of us calm that I forgot what movement I was riding and had an error of course. We finished the test and headed out. I wasn’t too upset, Paul had taught us at camp that when something goes wrong to just let it go. It never happened and to focus on the next thing you’re working on. Don’t get hung up on it. Of course, I was a bit disappointed but I was more pleased that I’d stepped out of my comfort zone and tried something new. The more I work on this and practice, the easier it will be. I also have to remember Billy is 19 and it’s not so easy for him to do these things as it is for a younger horse. He did his best.
Our show jumping was clear and nice and forward and we had a lot of compliments as we came out of the ring, which was lovely. I then packed everything up and headed home and was in bed by 8pm sleeping through to 6am … I was so tired!
Sunday morning I was up and caught Billy after 5 minutes - a marked improvement on Saturday! Fortunately the rain had stopped too so we loaded up and off we went. Billy seemed a lot happier today and I gave him a good brush and some carrots and then re walked a line to a fence I was unsure of with Lizzie, who is a very experienced rider. We discussed the options and worked out what we thought was best and headed back to double check the times for the course which had been extended to 6:20 (optimum) due to the hard ground. It was a good confidence boost to have an experienced rider to discuss the fences with and then it was time to tack up.
I wasn’t able to warm up over the cross country fences for too long as they were only allowing a few riders at a time to the area which was great. So outside the warm up area I worked on transitions with Billy and especially collected and extended canter so that I knew if we galloped I would be able to ask him to come back to me. He was very responsive so I just walked him around and let him soak everything up.
Finally it was time to go in for the warm up and Lizzie was already in there with her young horse, Jeremy. This was his second ever Horse Trials and he was doing so well. We gave him a lead over the fence and then Lizzie was off. I walked Billy around until we were due to start and headed to the box. We stood in there and 10 seconds before our out time, I started my watch and off we went.
The brush fence in the shadows
The first fence was the agapanthus and I was a little concerned about this as I’ve had a stop at a similar fence before. Then Paul Tapner was in my head, “Just do it!” and we sailed over it. The second fence was in the shadows. It was an arch through the trees with a brush. Billy balked and I closed my legs on him and gave him a tap with my stick. He cat leapt it and he was over it. I don’t know how I stayed on and I had to stop him and get both my feet back in my stirrups and with a deep breath and a pat on his neck, we were off to fence three. This fence was a drop with a turn to the left to the second element. I was actually excited about this fence because we’d trained over a bigger version with Paul last weekend. Fence four clear as was fence five. Down the hill to the brush at fence six and we went right to fence seven. A long gallop to fence eight, which was an A, B, C combo. On the way, Billy noted a patch of mowed grass and must have thought it was a ditch. He suddenly lurched left and I was at this point thinking for a moment I was going to die. I straightened him up and saw Lizzie up ahead. Once confirming she was alright, we continued on and over fences eight, nine and ten. Another strong gallop to fence eleven the Beehive and over to twelve. From there it was the water and as we turned right to head to the entrance Billy baulked again but we continued on and cantered through the water. I was thinking how proud Paul would have been! On to the final fence and along the way I hear a big cheer of “Go Jenna!” I lifted my arm in a wave with a big smile and then we were over the final fence and over the finish line. I was absolutely thrilled. We’d had some spooky moments but Billy Sparklepants had cleared everything and done everything I’d asked. What a champion!!
Rachel who also rides with Megan was at the finish with her mum waiting for us. She kindly brought over a bucket of water with a sponge and sweat scraper and once we’d been vetted and trotted up, helped me with Billy. That was so kind a huge thank you to both of them.
Billy was so good Photo thanks to Horse Events
Once Billy was a little cooler and more comfortable I headed back to the float and with a big cuddle and lots of carrots I began to pack up to take him home. I was really pleased with the weekend overall and was over the moon to have come from last place to finish eighth.
Next weekend I have my adult riders camp at Gold Fields near Bendigo and the weekend after, I’m taking Lisa and Billy to their first EA competition at Boneo Park.
Until next time,
Never give up and happy riding!
Jenna and Billy Sparklepants xxx
