Positano and I tackle pre novice for the first time
Denman was my first go at a pre novice track and it was an experience from the start. After a five hour drive from Foxground, we arrived at the grounds only to realise we’d forgotten my competition clothes, fabulous. Of course with eventers being the most generous people in equestrian sport, we managed to scavenge a beautiful jacket, tie and shirt in time for my dressage early the following morning. It turned out to be pretty average test for our standards but nonetheless a nice test. Within an hour I was warming up for the show jumping and it was this that I was most nervous about. When I’d walked the course early it seemed pretty technical, but Positano jumped it like a champion and I was so relieved to get a clear round.
Interestingly, we’ve found out recently that I have some sort of sport induced asthma which is closely related to cross-country. When I started out on the course on Sunday, I got to about the third jump and felt completely drained, something that never used to happen at the lower grades. To be honest, I have no idea how I got round the course clear. I was pretty sure I just needed work on my fitness but mum was convinced that something was wrong and booked a doctors appointment. I couldn’t understand how I could have asthma seeing as I’ve always done athletics and cross country running with little trouble, but I was wrong. I do in fact have very mild asthma, just under a normal reading for asthma. So I now have to take a preventer an hour before my cross country!
Another event scheduled for the holidays was the Junior eventing camp. This was a really good chance for me to work on some of my weak points from Denman. Probably one the classes I learned most from was riding to time with Tallara Barwick where we each rode a small course timed at pre novice speed. The first time I rode the course I was 15 seconds over which was a little disconcerting, however Tallara gave me a few hints with my line and after just two more goes I was eight seconds under optimum time. It really showed me how important your line is and how much more nifty I need to be now that I’m riding at 500mpm on the cross country. As always I really enjoyed my lessons with Sandy Lucas, who taught me for dressage and show jumping and Peter Gillis who I had cross country with.
I mentioned in my last blog how I was going to the regional eventing clinic where Sam Lyle was instructing. It was really nice that Sam remember Positano and had lots of praise for him, which was great. The clinic was held at Worrigee, our local equestrian common and three groups participated in dressage, show jumping and cross country lessons. Again, it was a great chance to put into practise what I’d learned at the winter camp and as well as that I got some good tips from Sam.
After having received instruction for the most part of my holidays, I had wisdom pouring out of my ears … or so I thought.
Thankfully for SIEC, I remembered everything the second time around. My dressage was one of those tests where you feel like Anky … but the judge thinks otherwise. I got 64%, which I was a little bit surprised about because I thought my test had been considerably better than Denman. However, there’s not much you can do other than look to the next part of the event, which was in my case was cross country! I have to admit after walking the course for the first time, I was incredibly excited to finally be able to jump it, but also quite intimidated.
Would the puffer work?
This cross country was also the time for me to see if I really did need a puffer and it turns out it couldn’t have been more useful. When I got out on the course I didn’t even think about myself or have to contemplate whether or not I was actually having an asthma attack. My round wasn’t everything I hoped for though. One combination consisted of two houses, with the second part two strides away at an angle. Mistakenly, I had walked the first jump straight thinking I would have time to turn but when I got out onto the course I realised I’d approached it completely wrong and had a run out. As frustrating as this was I was glad it happened in a way because otherwise I wouldn’t have learned to always line up to the second jump in situations like this. Thanks to my riding to time lessons at winter camp I also would have been on time, I’d consciously walked much shorter lines, which I stuck to and this helped me a lot.
Thankfully I finished up the day on a positive note, with a clear round in the show jumping. Positano, being a typical warmblood, was feeling a bit lazy as it came time for show jumping, so I get had to get after him in the warm-up. After saluting the judge I even had to gallop him around the arena before collecting him for the first jump, it’s seemed to work though and I’m glad we’re starting to get a bit more consistent in this phase.
I have harden coming up this weekend which will be one of the few competitions where I’ll have my coach Simon with me and then Camden on 31st of August. My goal, clear and fast in the cross-country!
Photo: Thanks to www.maineventphotography.com.au
