Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Chase Creek
May 21-25 Jessica, Dashwood, Sallie and I made the 8hr drive to Chase Creek, BC, home of Nick Holmes-Smith for a 4 day cross-country clinic. This was Jessica and Dashwoods first time getting to play, and it is by far my favorite event clinic to attend.
Day one was brilliant for both Jessica and I, lots of playing in the water jump, banks, drop fences and ditches. The fences range from 18" to 1.20m so there is a lot of choices when it comes to something to jump. (Unfortunatly my photographer broke herself the second day and wasn't able to get photos of Sallie jumping the big stuff... perhaps next year!)
Days 3 and 4 I rode both Sallie and Dash, it's been a while since I've had to ride such a green horse XC. Sallie and I started to tackle some really fun yet challenging fences and lines- all the challenging excercises Trish builds at home makes riding the patterns Nick create much easier!
Jessica can't wait to get out and try it all over again, and has her sights set on recovering and perhaps riding pre-entry in September.
Written by Jenn Smart
Day one was brilliant for both Jessica and I, lots of playing in the water jump, banks, drop fences and ditches. The fences range from 18" to 1.20m so there is a lot of choices when it comes to something to jump. (Unfortunatly my photographer broke herself the second day and wasn't able to get photos of Sallie jumping the big stuff... perhaps next year!)
Days 3 and 4 I rode both Sallie and Dash, it's been a while since I've had to ride such a green horse XC. Sallie and I started to tackle some really fun yet challenging fences and lines- all the challenging excercises Trish builds at home makes riding the patterns Nick create much easier!
Jessica can't wait to get out and try it all over again, and has her sights set on recovering and perhaps riding pre-entry in September.
Written by Jenn Smart
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Dashwood and Sallie take a road trip!
To the Beaumont Horse Trials (oh yeah I was there too!)
Dashwood went Pre-Entry (2'6") and Sallie went Pre-Training (3')
Dressage: Sallie was first to go, we managed to meet my goal of besting 60% with a 63.5%. Remembered my dressage test (a small paranoia of mine after being eliminated once for forgetting the test half way through) Lots to work on and improve for the next show.
Dressage: Dashwood warmed up fantastic, but having to ride in a dressage ring for the first time, all alone, away from the other horses was a little daunting for him, reflecting in his dressage scores. Still happy with his performance for his very first time out!
Stadium: Clear on Sallie, second goal met! All our practice is really showing up here as it was a really nice, steady round for both of us. My goal with Dashwood was a quiet, steady round- again his first time out in a show situation, we ended up with one rail but otherwise a very reasonable round for our first event.
Cross Country: (The BEST part!) Alright- I am a course walking fanatic... I walk each course 3x, first time to find the fences, second to make a plan and figure out my options, third time to really confirm what track I'm going to ride. Perhaps a touch excessive, but it works for me! However... the Pre-Entry track was 1600m, and Pre-Training 2250m, meaning I walked 11550m- got to remember better walking shoes next time! Dashwood's round was good, the first few fences he was a little uncertain WHAT we were doing, but by fence 4 he was on a roll really enjoying himself. Double clear round (means no jumping or time faults) with a confident happy horse at the end. Sallie also had a clear round, but a touch slow equaling time penalties.
The one thing you never want to have is a jumping fault XC, a stop or run out costs you 20 penalties (faults)! I'll remember to gallop on a little more at the next event... I was very happy with the placings, Dashwood was 5th in the Open Pre-Entry and Sallie was 7th in Pre-Training.
Beaumont is the newest course in Alberta, they held the offical opening ceremony on XC day. Hopefully we can get Minds Eye Ranch and Millarville running again, as it would be nice to have more then 6 events a season. The fences are beautifully designed, with a Prarie theme. My favorite jump is the Crop Duster- 3 jumps in one! (Pre-Training jumped the left wing of the plane) Dashwood also got to have a family reunion- his older half brother was there competing in the Regular Pre-Entry, finishing 3rd overall. (chstnut horse in pictures above)
Written by Jenn Smart
Dashwood went Pre-Entry (2'6") and Sallie went Pre-Training (3')
Dressage: Sallie was first to go, we managed to meet my goal of besting 60% with a 63.5%. Remembered my dressage test (a small paranoia of mine after being eliminated once for forgetting the test half way through) Lots to work on and improve for the next show.
Dressage: Dashwood warmed up fantastic, but having to ride in a dressage ring for the first time, all alone, away from the other horses was a little daunting for him, reflecting in his dressage scores. Still happy with his performance for his very first time out!
Stadium: Clear on Sallie, second goal met! All our practice is really showing up here as it was a really nice, steady round for both of us. My goal with Dashwood was a quiet, steady round- again his first time out in a show situation, we ended up with one rail but otherwise a very reasonable round for our first event.
Cross Country: (The BEST part!) Alright- I am a course walking fanatic... I walk each course 3x, first time to find the fences, second to make a plan and figure out my options, third time to really confirm what track I'm going to ride. Perhaps a touch excessive, but it works for me! However... the Pre-Entry track was 1600m, and Pre-Training 2250m, meaning I walked 11550m- got to remember better walking shoes next time! Dashwood's round was good, the first few fences he was a little uncertain WHAT we were doing, but by fence 4 he was on a roll really enjoying himself. Double clear round (means no jumping or time faults) with a confident happy horse at the end. Sallie also had a clear round, but a touch slow equaling time penalties.
The one thing you never want to have is a jumping fault XC, a stop or run out costs you 20 penalties (faults)! I'll remember to gallop on a little more at the next event... I was very happy with the placings, Dashwood was 5th in the Open Pre-Entry and Sallie was 7th in Pre-Training.
Beaumont is the newest course in Alberta, they held the offical opening ceremony on XC day. Hopefully we can get Minds Eye Ranch and Millarville running again, as it would be nice to have more then 6 events a season. The fences are beautifully designed, with a Prarie theme. My favorite jump is the Crop Duster- 3 jumps in one! (Pre-Training jumped the left wing of the plane) Dashwood also got to have a family reunion- his older half brother was there competing in the Regular Pre-Entry, finishing 3rd overall. (chstnut horse in pictures above)
Written by Jenn Smart
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