Tattersalls!

29 June 2014

It's been a big learning curve of a month for Topper and I; Tattersalls CCI** was both AMAZING and disappointing at the same time. Such a beautiful and well-run event, that I'd recommend to anyone. 

I'm not going to beat around the bush: our dressage was embarrassing. Having warmed in nicely, Topper decided that the music and the flags were just too exciting (as if he's NEVER been to an International...ridiculous)- so his test was...well it was 'lively'. Put it this way- I've now invested in a double bridle... which is actually working brilliantly at home, so onwards and upwards with the dressage. We weren't there for the dressage though, let's be serious. 

So...the cross country. Wow. Ian Stark had built a tough, near enough 10minute long course for us, with 4 water complexes and a lot of combinations with funny stridings. I have never enjoyed a XC round so much; Topper stormed round the course, not making anything of the water combination that pro's were messing up. It was on Irish TV, which some friends streamed- but I'm gutted I can't watch the round back. He was plenty fit enough by the end & even with my 20 penalties, he was hardly over the time- a big thank you to the Simple System products I think! Those 20 penalties were annoying. It was at the fourth water combination & third from last fence, where I had two oxers on a tight curve & I just completely by-passed the second one- didn't even half make the turn! I think I jumped in a bit flat & should have had him bouncier for my landing of the first one. Plenty fell in that water & made mistakes though- and it would have still counted for a CIC*** qulification, so I can't complain too much! It'll be a round I won't forget any time soon though- really amazing. 

Now, for the SJ. He'd trotted up fine, and felt quite happy after the day before's XC round. We were going clear until the third last fence- arguably the smallest upright on the lengthy course- I should have waited for another stride...he stopped...and I bit the dust. Gutting, because in an International competition that means I'm eliminated. Third-from-last fences are clearly my curse. I spoke to some old friends (that do the big stuff!), who told me I need to change my saddle, as now I'm doing this level my folding position is too extreme & I have to change it. So in order to avoid falling off in front of Fox-Pitt and Yogi Breisner again, I'm now on the hunt for a 'glue me in' saddle, where the knee blocks are in the right place. I've also been working on the most evil sit ups in the world, so I have a much stronger core to keep me in the saddle. That's the plan anyway. 

Later on in the month, we went to Salperton OI for our next run. Topper didn't feel too great all day- he nearly landed in the warm up jump and was tapping nearly every fence in the SJ, which is unlike him. I retired XC because he didn't feel happy- he's normally so bold and fun (although got a good dressage mark for him, so maybe he needs to be 'off colour' to perform well on the flat!). We've had his back checked and he was quite 'out'. I don't think it's helped that I've been snowed under at work & not jumping him as much as I should have. I've been kidding myself that I can get away with competing at this level without riding much- until now I've been getting away with it, but it's not safe. So I've cut back on some things at work- I'm never going to get the opportunity to ride a horse like this again, I need to embrace it while I can & do it properly. 

We've jumped him since and he's back on track- I've changed my entry at Brightling for a Novice run, just to have an easy one after Salperton's set back. It's been lovely actually, having cut back on some extra-curricular at work, being able to spend the proper amount of time on schooling him in the week now. Nearly summer holidays!!
Off to do some more sit-ups now... (eurgh!)