Well thought I better put pen to paper and begin my much-anticipated Blog for Debbie and An Eventful Life, it has taken much poking and prodding from Deb and Alison for me to embark on my story. The fact is I’m not sure there will be an end to it. Well there will be an end good, bad, or ugly.
I decided some time ago that having attended Melbourne 3 Day Event as a spectator for many years I wouldn’t mind having a go at actually competing and riding through those beautiful gardens around Werribee Mansion. At forty-five, time to do it isn’t exactly on my side and to actually do it would be, for me, unbelievable.
Me and Joop at Ballarat Photo: Bridget Croagh Bridgeyc Photography
Having finished last season with several PreNovice starts under my belt I thought it may be time to launch my attack, however misguided this notion was. The Ballarat One Star training clinic on the Saturday and Hickstead competition on the Sunday seemed to be the most logical way to start or end our One Star campaign, whichever that may be .We managed to survive the clinic and went on to win the competition on the Sunday. My biggest claim to fame ever, to say I was walking around with a slightly larger head would be an understatement which didn’t go away for at least a week, however surviving 8 show jumps and 8 cross country fences hardly qualifies me as a fully blown seasoned One Star campaigner and reality was about to strike.
Having my regular showjump lesson a little over a week after Ballarat I decide to go for a yahoo distance and was duly ejected from the saddle when ‘Joop’ decides the long distance just isn’t for him. He chips one in, depositing me on his head only to pendulum off his noggin (cartoon character like) landing on the safest place I could - my head. Anyway to cut a long story short I end up in hospital with concussion and my instructor Edith (Kane) is called upon to take over the reins at Geelong PreNov the next week and also the CIC 1 star at Tonimbuk the following weekend having only ridden him twice. Edith does a wonderful job and completes both events giving ‘Joop’ one qualifier for Melbourne… problem is I am yet to get a qualifier on him. Time for me to step up and smash the 1 star at Woady Yallock the following week.
All is looking okay after the dressage phase, in fact I am actually beating one competitor (their horse must have been lame or done something really bad) however there are only 13 in the class and I’m feeling I might still be a chance for a ribbon. Cross country day dawns and I have one more chance to walk the course making it a total of four times. ‘Joop’ gets away to a great start and jumps the course beautifully finishing with just some time (must have been Edith’s good education the week before). I am feeling happy now, although I have a niggling feeling that the old yahoo feeling is creeping back into me after jumping the double of apexes in two instead of the clear three that I walked several times. Looking at the scoreboard I have managed to move up to sixth position, not too shabby. The showjumping being a mere formality, an incidental in my mind. Ha ha not to be, anyway not wishing to go into too much detail I am once again ejected from my mount at approximately jump 6 landing on my feet this time.
It’s all over for me, survival of the cross country a complete waste of time and now to suffer the humiliation of the walk of shame as I trudge back to the gateway. Ego completely destroyed, humiliated beyond belief qualifier or not. Horses are great levellers and there is actually nothing in the world that would embarrass me after that experience. Anyway the elusive qualifier still defies me but I remain hopeful and am keen and ready to go for Yeringberg and am staying positive about my quest to ride at Melbourne 3DE, so hopefully I have no more colourful incidents to report and it is all smooth sailing from now on. Will keep you posted and believe me if I make it the whole world will know (ha ha!) so until next time good riding and good luck with your goals whatever they may be.
Home and hosed! The young horse Jai at Wandin
