Road test

Well I said I wanted to road test my new body protector today. But I didn’t mean actually road test it! Seems Buddy took me literally when we went XC schooling today.

He also took the Tiger Trap literally too. He’s jumped it so many times in the past. But today it was terrifying. We parted company. Twice. Second time after jumping the bigger fence in an attempt to evade the fence I was asking him to jump. Horse logic huh?!

It’s been a while since we went XC schooling so I kinda get why he was a little unsure again.

It’s so frustrating. There are times when I feel like we’re going backwards. But we worked through it. And finished together smiling.

At least my new body protector is very comfortable. It definitely did a good job today. Oh and I am all good. Few more bruises to add to the collection.

I know I’ve been working really hard on our flat work and jumping. So guess I need to work on the XC a bit more before we tackle our first ODE. The road with horses is rarely linear.

Dizzy

So it appears I may have a mild concussion after my fall on Wednesday. Woke up feeling rather dizzy. Took me a while to get vertical without the world spinning. It was very reminiscent of when I had vertigo.

So I cut myself some slack and had chilled day. After doing my meetings and some work, I headed to the conservatory to join the kittens. It was gorgeous in the sunshine. Even though there had been another thick frost.

Yesterday when I got back, I put the ‘ski mask’ on the Comedy Car to help keep the frost out. Needed to pop out this afternoon and it appears that overnight the ski mask had blown off. So still had to scrape the car anyway. Best laid plans. And not great when you’re feeling off kilter.

Flying solo

Now we all know I love a montage. And this is some montage!!

I guess it serves me right for wearing a Christmas Jumper with reindeers on it. Buddy obviously felt I needed a flying lesson.

I wasn’t kidding when I said the photographer captured my fall. 🤦🏻‍♀️

Even by my standards, it’s pretty impressive.

Battle scars

Well today’s show jumping was definitely a tale of two halves. We headed to Easton for Carlton Riding Club’s show. It was more like an eventer trail today and quite a testing track. Buddy seemed up for it in the warm up so I thought we were in for a good round. I’d entered the 70 and 80 as he’s been jumping so well recently.

He was flying till we reached number 8. When suddenly I was flying solo. Landed on the wing and got myself a bit tangled in the poles.

It’s never good when you have to walk out of the arena. But still we were both OK. It’s also never good when the photographer tells you she got a great sequence of my fall. 🤦🏻‍♀️

Quick regroup in the warm up where he felt OK. Decided to drop the 80 and ask if I could go round the 70 again HC instead.

After some pointers from Lewis, we entered the ring again. And this time made it round with 8 faults (4 of which were definitely my fault). 👏🏻

He jumped everything. Including a triple, a house and lots of XC style jumps.

Overall, I’m looking at the positives. I guess I just need to think HC every time. I know I get a bit competitive sometimes.

Bruises and grazes heal. One day I know it will all come together again. Till then, we’ll just have to keep trying.

Carry on campers

And just like that, we’re back at camp. This time with T&N Equestrian at Blackwater Farm.

Decided to do an extra night so I could take Buddy to Weston Equestrian Centre for a Newmarket Salt treatment. He wasn’t sure to start off with, but think he enjoyed it.

He was obviously feeling well as we’ve had our first camp fall. 🤦🏻‍♀️ Someone took exception to the pink portaloo. The same one he’s seem several times before. Oh well, camp doesn’t officially start till tomorrow so I’m not counting it. 🤪