Astro and I jump into the water at the Chris Burton Clinic
This month really has been no different to all the others really, except rather than just competing in several events I also helped run one!
The event at Canberra was a great success with nearly 300 horses competing over the weekend. Somehow I survived it all, but I really did think at about 6pm on the Sunday that I had well and truly worn myself out. I’ve decided that event organisation is a little like childbirth, bloody hard work while it’s happening, but somehow you ‘forget’ just how bad it is, and after a month or so, you’re planning the next one! But while you’re in the midst of it you do tend to wonder why the hell you’re putting yourself through it. I’ve at least stopped having children, but have been event secretary for the last 11 years!
I also rode at the event and was quite happy with my dressage test and jokingly told the judge after my final halt that I felt it deserved an eight. She kindly obliged, so next time I get a nice square halt, I’m thinking of suggesting a nine. The first half of my show jumping round was somewhat hairy and after being carted over the first six jumps, I pulled myself together, asked for a significant half halt and continued around and was much happier with how it rode. I must really remember to get myself into the right mind set before I ride through those flags! Cross country went well and we were clear, however I did finish around about 30 seconds over time, which is what I’m inclined to do over pre novice courses and we finished in about 13th.
One of the perks of organising events and clinics is that I get to drive a tractor!
After a few days recovery I set about organising the clinic with Chris Burton. I think I could have filled the clinic twice over, people were so keen to have lessons with him, and that was even before he won the 4* in Adelaide. I was really lucky to be able to at Adelaide to see him ride on a horse he’d only ridden twice before! John had suggested the weekend before that we go over, so we set about finding airfares and accommodation at the last minute – probably not the most economical way of doing things, but exciting none the less. Sadly Mack’s grandmother passed away three days before I was due to fly out, so he went off to New Zealand and I set about trying to organise what to do with the three kids! I was seriously considering having to pull out of the trip, but really wanted to go too! I’m very blessed to have family living here in Canberra, who kindly ‘offered’ to have them to stay so I could indulge myself in what really can only be called eventing groupie like phase!
So I found myself at another 4* event within a year – thanks John – you’re amazing! The downside to booking tickets at the last minute meant that we had to leave the event half way through the 4* show jumping, so we missed the excitement of the final seven horses. We caught a taxi to the airport, and were trying desperately to get FEI TV to work on the iPad, but that wasn’t possible, so we followed it via the live scoring.
I had a great time at the clinic
Needless to say interest in the clinic increased after Chris’s amazing victory to such an extent that when riders had to pull out three days before the clinic I was able to fill them within 4 hours! The clinic was great and Astro really jumped very well giving me a good ride on both days. It highlighted the difference of schooling and exercising. I find riding by myself can be rather limiting as I’m really not sure what I’m doing half the time, so it’s great having someone on the ground, especially of his calibre, helping out.
A bit of teamwork from the children as they move rails around
While at the clinic, my three children came along to allow Mack some time to enjoy his hobby (fishing) so I was able to display my fantastic child rearing skills – stick them in some shade with a big container of chocolate chip biscuits. Over the last three weeks Abby has been very excited about her wobbly tooth, and during the last lesson, she pulled it out - much to everyone’s amusement! I just had to try very hard not to drop it in the sand arena. On the Sunday, during my cross country lesson, Chris let me ride in the saddle he’d designed with Brightons Saddlery – a pretty good perk for being an organiser – but for some reason he wasn’t that keen on me keeping it. It was a very nice saddle that’s for sure.
This weekend is the Berrima Spring one day event and after all that lovely rain we had last week, I’m sure it will be a great event. I know I’ve had a good tune up for it, so here’s hoping I get a little closer to the optimum time and not finish in the bottom half!
