hunter trial results

[jay]

Jay and I did our first hunter trial today...it was great fun! Despite me panicing because we were running late!

We were in the beginners class so the jumps were nice and easy. In all the other classes the water splash was compulsory and there's no way I'd have got him through there....not without me getting very wet! But despite getting there late and a rather frantic warmup we came 6th out of 19!!! I'm so pleased with him...he even caught up with the horse in front so we had to slow down! ;D

Unfortunately he knocked down one of the working hunter-type fences they'd put up because we got our stride completely wrong and ended up right on top of it before taking off. But it was named the 'knock-down fence' so he was just following the instructions! ;D If we'd gone clear he would have got 3rd so he wasn't far off the pace. I'm so proud of him!

[SuzieP]

Oh, congratulations!! That's brilliant! It sounds a lot of fun - and the placing is great!! Well done......

[rosie]

Well done! Sounds like loads of fun!

[jay]

Thankyou! It was great fun, will definately do another one. He even jumped the ditch without ever having done one before....he just gave it extra clearance in case any snakes or crocodiles jumped out to bite him! lol

I did laugh at him though when we went round the 1st corner and a whistle was blown (i presume to warn people we were on our way?!?) because we went from a nice steady canter to a halt instantly! We then had to zig zag up towards the scary whistle lady, then prance past to show off. He was fine then....just a little over-reaction me thinks!

[SuzieP]

LOL. I do some jump judging from time to time and am a scary whistle lady! Usually scare more people than horses though LOL And yes - the whistle is to warn people to get out of the way - horse coming through!

[Daftmare]

Well done!! I love hunter trials no stressage involved which suits Amber to a T!! Sounds like you had a fabulous go there will be no stopping you now. To be honest although not technically correct of course I find I always do better with no time to warm up "properly" less time to worry!!!

[dalesponyrider]

Well done, it sounds like you did really well. LOL @ the reaction to the scarey whistle lady! That is something I would never have thought of desensitising a horse to but sounds like it could be useful! Congrats on a good result.

[JoM]

Oh - well done! Never in all my life would I consider taking D around a working hunter course! I would end up in the dust!! ;D

Your placing was brilliant!!!

[jay]

Thanks everyone!

Just need to sort out his little water issue now so we can have a go at the next class.....hhmmmmm I may be destined to stay in the beginners forever! lol

[JoM]

Dancer would go in the water - no probs!! Usually cant get him back out and there seems to be a distinct lack of water left when we finally leave!! ;D

[bevbob]

Well done, thats a brilliant achievement!

[vjjjebony]

well done
as far as water ..... there is the river at somerford park
its funny as all of our would go through it and jump around a puddle
Valerie

[jay]

lol I have images of Dancer splish splashing around covering you in muddy water! ;D

[jay]

Jay's very stubborn when it comes to water. I never even used to be able to get him through puddles or anything, and there's a ford not far from us on a bridleway which has meant we can't use much of it! I can get him through puddles now and at the beginning of the year there was a flooded bit in a nearby field so I walked him through that loads....stupidly I thought we had cracked it, but not a chance! I re-tried the ford but scared myself to death because we ended up leaping onto a tiny ledge of crumbling bank! I've not plucked up enough guts to try it again since

There's a water splash at a nearby farm where he's put up xc jumps etc, but I can't get him in there either. He's not interested in following another horse through and the more forceful you get with him the more he plays up...sigh. I'm thinking of walking him down there with my wellies on and trying to encourage him through with me on the ground. Do you think that would help? Its really difficult because though there may be a bit of fear/nervousness on his part, I would say that the majority of it is stubbornness and I'm worried that the longer he gets away with it the harder its going to be

[jay]

Hi Valerie - We went to somerford park when my friend had him for those few weeks at 'boot camp'. we did the winter course and he quite happily strolled through the water there after 2 other horses...its so irritating! I'm wondering whether he was happier with that because he could see the bottom....either that or he was too tired to argue after chasing around after 2 TBs! lol