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Welcome to Amateur Equestrian Antics

I set up this blog up back in 2014 to share stories of my equestrian trials and tribulations. I had just started to event for the first time ever after a 10 year break from horses and wanted to document my journey for friends and family. 

​In that time I have achieved so much but still have so much further to go. 

I have been supported and sponsored by some fantastic friends, trainers and businesses in this time and I have a new dedicated section of the site to tell you more about them all. 

Find out more

Houptoun BE – who knew the dressage would be the most dangerous! (Posted originally on the H&H forum)

22/7/2014

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Well we set off to our third BE80T – felt very positive about the DR for a change after a few lessons, our first ever DR saddle and a nice test at RC last week (mid 60’s which is super for us!).

C warmed up really nicely to start with but I made the error of not checking if they were running to time - which they were not. Our warm up ended up being way too long and by the time we started our test C was getting agitated by everything. He exploded into our first canter, lost his back end and we both almost ended up on the ground. I tried to carry on but he got such a fright he reared and leaped up the long side and out of the arena! The judge was wonderful, got out of her car, congratulated me for staying on and directed us to carry on with the next section of the test. I was so pleased as he settled back down quite well considering he got such a fright (and has only just turned 7) and we finished on a 48.5. Here is a photo of the slip.

I went and changed from our rounded studs into pointier ones for the rest of the day as I didn’t want any more slipping! So many horses seemed to losing their footing in the SJ we decided to take it nice and steady, coming back to trot in the two corners which were causing the most problems and finished with one pole down.

Setting off for the XC the weather got much worse – fog and heavy rain. I could hear about lots of horses having problems over the tannoy while we walked over which left me feeling a little uneasy. Houptoun was definitely one of the most challenging course we had ridden but I shouldn’t have worried. Wee C flew round – the first 5 fences were up hill into the rain which made it so hard to see – I almost missed jump 5 which was hidden by the novice jump and also the fog but I spotted it just in time! C had a wee sideways jump on the way into the first water which was new but no backwards steps so we were fine. We came in clear but I wasn’t sure about the time. I had to take the foot off a bit due to the weather so I knew we would have time faults but only had 8.4 when I checked.

I headed home happy we had salvaged the day with some nice jumping only to find out later it was better than that – we were 8th in our section of 32 as so many people were struggling with both the SJ and XC so we were over the moon – our first every BE frilly!

My friend also took photos and made me the lovely collage below. I have also added a screen grab of the dressage slip!

Drumclog next month……before then it’ll be lots and lots of schooling!!

Read more at http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?671921-Houptoun-BE-%96-who-knew-the-dressage-would-be-the-most-dangerous!#z16PtALvQyFUjogt.99
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Scores moving in the right direction (posted originally on H&H forum) 

9/7/2014

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After a poor score of 67.7 in our first BE we have been working hard on our dressage (as rode a 48.5) with a new instructor. It’s the first time I’ve really had flat work lessons in years as previously only ever SJ’d. I have actually been enjoying the lessons so was really looking forward to see if they had helped.

We arrived at EV after an early start from Edinburgh with plenty to time to walk course and get C use to his new surroundings. Brisk walk round the course and everything looked good – nothing I was too worried about which was great.

We set off to the dressage and to my delight he warmed up nicely and didn’t want to go round with his blaze in my face as he did last time! I got a bit nervous when riding the test and we did almost canter out of the top end of the arena in our second canter but I was super please to find out we had improved our score by 5.5%. Still a rubbish 43 but as least things are improving.

Off to the SJ which was in an arena so I wasn’t worried…..but should have been! The riders in front of me had not arrived on time so I went in early before C had relaxed which was my mistake and I won’t do it again. He flew round like a steam train and took two poles with him. I’m disappointed as it was my error going in before he was settled and the course shouldn’t have caused us any problems.

Oh well – it gave us a little more time to get ready for the fun bit! A lovely girl in the lorry next door helped me with my new air vest and gave me a good tip so as not to jump off at the end when still attached – she said just remember ‘clap, clap, snap’!

We flew round the XC clear – did clatter the first jump of the double at the top of the hill but I think I got more of a fight that C did. I remember the clap, clap, snap so no exploding vest at the end! We came in 9 secs under the time so finished 15th and on 51.

Off to Hopetoun next where the aim is to get into the 40s overall – lots of schooling planned till then!!

Read more at http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?670655-Scores-moving-in-the-right-direction-%96-Eden-Valley#0HZp8q2vUrO7jPrd.99
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