Well since my last update I've completely failed to change our luck, instead its possibly gone as wrong as it possibly can!
After upping H's fitness in preparation for Richmond Novice I was feeling really confident- he was feeling fantastic and looking the part- his coat has never looked better and I think I have Pure Feed to thank for that!
Unfortunately with our upped fitness came upped energy that unfortunately we didn't adapt to with his Winning Edge quantity so he was rather unbalanced in his Magnesium levels (as I've banged on about on numerous occasions magnesium doesn't always mean a calmer horse!) .... cue raging bull mode after deciding that just being in a field with other 'party goers' was the best thing since slice bread!
Our dressage judge was very, very kind to award us 36 despite a few Strictly Some Dancing moves thrown in for good measure (H has his hooves firmly crossed that he'll get paired up with Christina as he can do a great partner drag that John Sargent would be proud of!).
SJ we decided to go straight into jump off mode- not so fun in just a snaffle and no martingale- but he certainly doesn't struggle with the extra height/ width required in Novice! If only we could curb his enthusiasm!
After upping H's fitness in preparation for Richmond Novice I was feeling really confident- he was feeling fantastic and looking the part- his coat has never looked better and I think I have Pure Feed to thank for that!
Unfortunately with our upped fitness came upped energy that unfortunately we didn't adapt to with his Winning Edge quantity so he was rather unbalanced in his Magnesium levels (as I've banged on about on numerous occasions magnesium doesn't always mean a calmer horse!) .... cue raging bull mode after deciding that just being in a field with other 'party goers' was the best thing since slice bread!
Our dressage judge was very, very kind to award us 36 despite a few Strictly Some Dancing moves thrown in for good measure (H has his hooves firmly crossed that he'll get paired up with Christina as he can do a great partner drag that John Sargent would be proud of!).
SJ we decided to go straight into jump off mode- not so fun in just a snaffle and no martingale- but he certainly doesn't struggle with the extra height/ width required in Novice! If only we could curb his enthusiasm!
Onto XC and we carried on with the jump off attitude. We were ok until fence 7 where we very nearly got tipped up at a pair of hanging telegraph poles after being far too egger into them. This did however, play into our favour and made him respect a A,B, C combination that was causing plenty of problems through the day, however, it wasn't the end of our bull problems!
We managed a few more fences before approaching a skinny V triple brush that had a black flag option. Due to his head-strong attitude I'd decided to take the longer black flag option thinking it would be a safer bet (oh how funny that is in hind sight & I should know by now there's never a safe bet with horses!). We approached the black flag option (a roll top with brush ontop) and H took off far too early, before realising his mistakes and grounding. Luckily it wasn't a bad fall, H galloped off quite happily and I for once wasn't rolling around the floor like the Michelin man trying to gasp air and didn't appear to feel anything thanks to my Racesafe BP - especially in relation to my shoulders/ collar bone which according to the fence judge took a good thump- yet I didn't have a mark on me!
Luckily H was caught quite close by but we still opted to retire.
But isn't Hindsight is an amazing thing- really I should have retired after our mishap earlier. Possibly if I was a pro/ had more rides I would have, but being an amateur I sometimes wonder if I'm penny chasing when I'm competing so to speak (after all I'm not out there everyday/ week so when I am I want to get the most out of it!). Plus adrenalin is a crazy thing and can hide amazing things.... as I found out later when at home and removing my shoes!
We managed a few more fences before approaching a skinny V triple brush that had a black flag option. Due to his head-strong attitude I'd decided to take the longer black flag option thinking it would be a safer bet (oh how funny that is in hind sight & I should know by now there's never a safe bet with horses!). We approached the black flag option (a roll top with brush ontop) and H took off far too early, before realising his mistakes and grounding. Luckily it wasn't a bad fall, H galloped off quite happily and I for once wasn't rolling around the floor like the Michelin man trying to gasp air and didn't appear to feel anything thanks to my Racesafe BP - especially in relation to my shoulders/ collar bone which according to the fence judge took a good thump- yet I didn't have a mark on me!
Luckily H was caught quite close by but we still opted to retire.
But isn't Hindsight is an amazing thing- really I should have retired after our mishap earlier. Possibly if I was a pro/ had more rides I would have, but being an amateur I sometimes wonder if I'm penny chasing when I'm competing so to speak (after all I'm not out there everyday/ week so when I am I want to get the most out of it!). Plus adrenalin is a crazy thing and can hide amazing things.... as I found out later when at home and removing my shoes!
Firstly- apologies for the ugly toe picture!
But yup you guessed it two dodgy looking toes- no idea how it happened (possibly via my stirrup), but a break and small hairline fracture has resulted in 2 rather fat toes!
Luckily they are not causing too much pain (unless taped/ pushed together!), but they have resulted in a few shoe related issues as nothing fits one foot!..... Oh how I wish I had a footwear supporter!
So not much has been happening, luckily H has been ticking over via being lunged but today was going to be my first sit back on H. Only for us to find this poor sight this morning!
But yup you guessed it two dodgy looking toes- no idea how it happened (possibly via my stirrup), but a break and small hairline fracture has resulted in 2 rather fat toes!
Luckily they are not causing too much pain (unless taped/ pushed together!), but they have resulted in a few shoe related issues as nothing fits one foot!..... Oh how I wish I had a footwear supporter!
So not much has been happening, luckily H has been ticking over via being lunged but today was going to be my first sit back on H. Only for us to find this poor sight this morning!
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So we both currently have sick notes, have missed out on Championship visits and Burghley course walking, are currently shoe less and potentially looking at no more runs aka parties this year.
Looking on the bright side we're both still here- we may not be winning any beautiful feet or smooth coat competitions any time soon but I know we can turn this odd- patch around!
But if you do have any good news please feel free to share! In the mean time lets end with an XC picture from Richmond that reminds me why I want to crack on and do better next time.... after all I still have 8 toes that can function!
Looking on the bright side we're both still here- we may not be winning any beautiful feet or smooth coat competitions any time soon but I know we can turn this odd- patch around!
But if you do have any good news please feel free to share! In the mean time lets end with an XC picture from Richmond that reminds me why I want to crack on and do better next time.... after all I still have 8 toes that can function!
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