This past weekend Annie and I made the move from BN to N. Having never done an event in Area 5 I have nothing to compare it to but overall I really liked Feather Creek as a venue. Minus the previously mentioned burrs. Those things… Like any horse show I had to get rations… Wine on wine on wine. Unfortunately I was not as prepared as I usually am for the cold weather for myself or the horse! Somehow I moved my blankets out of the tack room of my trailer. Bobby to the rescue though! ย Riding on Friday didn’t go the best. Annie was tense and really uninterested in playing. I did my best to ignore her antics and say a little prayer that she would be more game for our actual test.Going into Saturday I was more nervous that usual. Annie was surprisingly good in dressage warm up and I unfortunately got so excited about the right lead canter circle that I just kept on going – the tornado sirens being tested did not inspire soothing feelings either. We finished our test with an error but it was all on me. ย
I have to say that the move really didn’t concern me until we were actually about to go into the ring for Stadium and then I freaked out. Incase you were wondering not breathing, dropping your horse at the base of the jump, and throwing yourself onto said horses neck makes for a hideous round. We still moved up after stadium by some miracle but I was not proud of the ride.
If only I rode stadium like I rode cross country… On Friday night Bobby and I did our first course walk… Having never had a trakehner on course I stupidly walked up to it. Cue panic. Bobby found me in a nervous sweat staring at the death pit. Lesson learned. Give the trakehner a wide berth on all course walks.ย I need not have worried though because Annie is a perfect rock star and attacked all of the cross country jumps like a pro! She is an absolute machine. We finished at the bottom of the pack but it was a learning experience that ended with a number and not a letter.
To summarize I need to ride better and Annie is a super star even if she can be a little belligerent about dressage. We have allll winter to focus on improving our flatwork.
I hope there’s more media from xc at some point ๐ Annie looks fabulous in that stadium pic, even if it didn’t go as planned
congratulations on finishing strong ๐
Kudos on the move up! Moving up is wicked hard and you guys did it!
A number and not a letter is still pretty awesome. That trakehner is terrifying so congrats on besting it.
You did it! Now to just polish up a bit ๐
And I am VERY interested in Indian Tacos.
Congrats on a successful move up! I’m totally in awe of all of you eventers with your big girl breeches. No way would I head out for cross country without being heavily medicated!
Congrats on the move up girl, you guys killed it.
I have to say I always found trakheners more inviting than an open ditch as they give the horse something to lock on to…but obvs agree – never look down #mantra
Glad you had a successful move-up to Novice! ๐
Way to go! Successful weekend sounds like even if there were a couple bobbles. She’s rad!