With super groom Bella back we headed off to Englandshire on Saturday for the Cumwinton BE.
We were given a warm welcome at the gate and told to look for the man in fancy dress with big foam hands on the quad bike who would help get us parked. It was quite strange but turned out to be a very efficient way to get us all in and parked.
As Bella took Corky out to stretch his legs after the journey I headed up to have a look at the show jumping. I think it was the biggest BE90 track we have jumped - I was happy with the height though after the extra SJ lessons we have been having with David. Not sure I would have felt the same earlier in the season which is got to mean we are improving right?!? Well in we went, using the light seat and new bouncy canter. Corky was so keen from the minute we picked up canter - we flew round and only took fence 2 as I wasn't quick enough to collect the canter back and he go a bit flat. He was super keen all the way round through which was great - happy pony and happy rider. He felt like he was jumping his wee socks off over the last few fences once we established our rhythm. With 3 days jumping at Blair fast approaching I think the extra show jump lessons and schooling nights are starting to pay off. Still the one pesky pole though which is a little disappointing.
We had a quick change and off out to the XC where the stewards and started all commented on my lovely fur bobble on my hat! Corky was still as keen as mustered so I decided to really push for the time after picking up the 1 TF at Hendersyde. There was an open ditch I thought I may need to trot into (didn't in the end as he backed off a little so had to encourage him over) and a drop then straight into the water which I was also going to allow myself to trot into. It was the first time we have had to jump up a bank out of the water at a comp so wanted to take it easy. As you can see from the video Corky wasn't too sure but a little vocal encouragement and a kick and up he popped. The rest of the course rode great and we kept our spend up nicely throughout. When we were flying up the last hill I decided to pop the brake back on as for the first time I started to worry were we too fast! Lucky I did as a few riders did pick up TFs for being too fast. I was the fastest within the allowed time. 4.53 where the optimum was 5.27! Not bad for a 15.1hh!
We ended up with an overall score of 43.5 which is our best of the season, 15th out of a field of 37. With only one event left this season I think a top ten place is out of our reach but after a winter of dressage and show jumping I'm hoping we will be in a great place to start off next season.
We were given a warm welcome at the gate and told to look for the man in fancy dress with big foam hands on the quad bike who would help get us parked. It was quite strange but turned out to be a very efficient way to get us all in and parked.
As Bella took Corky out to stretch his legs after the journey I headed up to have a look at the show jumping. I think it was the biggest BE90 track we have jumped - I was happy with the height though after the extra SJ lessons we have been having with David. Not sure I would have felt the same earlier in the season which is got to mean we are improving right?!? Well in we went, using the light seat and new bouncy canter. Corky was so keen from the minute we picked up canter - we flew round and only took fence 2 as I wasn't quick enough to collect the canter back and he go a bit flat. He was super keen all the way round through which was great - happy pony and happy rider. He felt like he was jumping his wee socks off over the last few fences once we established our rhythm. With 3 days jumping at Blair fast approaching I think the extra show jump lessons and schooling nights are starting to pay off. Still the one pesky pole though which is a little disappointing.
We had a quick change and off out to the XC where the stewards and started all commented on my lovely fur bobble on my hat! Corky was still as keen as mustered so I decided to really push for the time after picking up the 1 TF at Hendersyde. There was an open ditch I thought I may need to trot into (didn't in the end as he backed off a little so had to encourage him over) and a drop then straight into the water which I was also going to allow myself to trot into. It was the first time we have had to jump up a bank out of the water at a comp so wanted to take it easy. As you can see from the video Corky wasn't too sure but a little vocal encouragement and a kick and up he popped. The rest of the course rode great and we kept our spend up nicely throughout. When we were flying up the last hill I decided to pop the brake back on as for the first time I started to worry were we too fast! Lucky I did as a few riders did pick up TFs for being too fast. I was the fastest within the allowed time. 4.53 where the optimum was 5.27! Not bad for a 15.1hh!
We ended up with an overall score of 43.5 which is our best of the season, 15th out of a field of 37. With only one event left this season I think a top ten place is out of our reach but after a winter of dressage and show jumping I'm hoping we will be in a great place to start off next season.
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