Te Rapa Horse Trial 1/2 October 2011

First outing with Willie for a very long time....last being at Rotorua towards the end of last year when he pulled up very lame at the start of pre novice XC.

Having barely jumped him for ages, I had a SJ lesson with Wendy on Friday.

Dressage
Not too bad, although I felt he was a little harshly marked perhaps...he was very obedient and just 'did his thing'... 54.7% for 45.3 penalty mark

Show jumping
What on earth was going to happen?
I almost didnt run him as it was so long since I had done a SJ round on him...then thought, ah blow it, whatever happens, who cares, just go in and give it a go.

Which I did. He took a rail somewhere although not sure at what, and apart from a bit of a cheeky stop at the first part of the double (typical) - (and then proceeding to rear and leap around as he was aware he had been naughty)...he then flew round the rest very happily, so I was quite pleased.
Thanks to Gina for SJ shots: at least on this angle you cant see the 'interesting' facials...just the big butt :-)
Cross Country
I had forgotten how to ride him...when he leans and runs you do NOT take your leg off....indeed he tends to get strung out and long and need MORE leg....it is also an excuse for him to stop given "mum's not home".

He stopped at the coffin which surprised me somewhat, but I think it was a bit of a cheeky one. Next jump a drop he also stopped at and even when I jumped it, I got the feeling he was genuinely worried about it for some reason.

Absolutely flew round the next bit of the course, and up to the main arena. Unfortunately there were only two jumps that Dave could see from the donut trailer...and we stopped at both of them. The big double brush first, and I again just took my leg off and didnt sit up, so he was a bit cheeky, the next being a drop into the line of a big tree. I took the option, then waited for another rider to pass through and get several jumps ahead before continuing (so I got LOTs of time faults)...he then flew around the rest of the course also.

Quite surprised at his fitness as he was barely puffing....I had been concerned that he may not be fit enough, but he was.

Although the score board was pretty shocking, both Willie and I enjoyed ourselves.

Woodhill sands HT 24.9.11

Willie stepped into the slot as schoolmaster for Saarin at Woodhill Sands horse trial in the pre training, she having barely ridden him for a very long time, let alone jumping him.

He was very well behaved for her and did a lovely dressage test for over 60%.

Next onto the show jumping.

Poor Saarin was really dreading the show jumping....wasnt AT ALL worried about cross country-ing him though.

First couple he happily popped over the jumps, before grinding to a slow motion halt in front of the third...he apparently was a bit concerned that his rider wasnt really sure she wanted to be doing this. However, he somehow gave her the vibe that he would indeed look after her, and after a canter circle to get themselves together they proceeded to complete the course.

I had not credited Willie with the strength of character he showed...he did not even tank off in the show jumping as he likes to do....he simply cantered sedately, with the odd trot stride and popped around the rest of the course.

Great to see Saarin finish with a smile on her face.
Not easy to step onto a strange horse, and a big one at that, and do your first competition in a long time.

Unfortunately the rain meant that the going XC was horrendous, and that, added to another two hour wait after I had ridden, lead to the decision to pack up and go home.

However, all in all a successful weekend.

Kaurilands 03.07.011

Once again Willie was on his best behaviour, and seemed very happy to be out and about.

I was absolutely thrilled with his first test; he was a real pleasure to ride and felt happy and loose.

Test 1.6 66% for 4th place
"Nice rhythm esp in trot, but needs to go more fwd and show more energy esp in canter where he starts to nod.

He went very well in his second test also but didnt score quite as well, although got another 7 for paces.

Test 1.5
59.565%

Kaurilands 05.06.011

Poor Willie having to play second fiddle to Sampson.

However, he was thrilled to be out and about and really did try. He was a pleasure to ride and basically didn't put a foot wrong.

Test 1.4
67.2% for 3rd Place

Test 1.3
61.92%

6.11.010 - Rotorua Horse Trial

Despite ongoing problems with soundness, and Willie not really being right for a very long time, I decided that I didnt really want to do training at Rotorua on him so threw him back up into Pre Novice.

Sure enough, as he has been for some time now, he was not quite right warming up from dressage, but he seemed to work through it somewhat and actually did a nice test. I was very pleased with him.

He definitely didnt feel right warming up for SJ, but for a long time now it hasnt seemed to worry him too much jumping, so I carried on. Although I did notice that the slight increase in height did mean he was not jumping cleanly....at the lower heights he is ok, but obviously whatever is wrong with him does affect him when the jumps get a little bigger.

However, I got him around the show jumping, but was a little concerned at the number of jumps he was rattling on the way round, even though they didnt all fall.....not like him.

Cross country morning he was definitely feeling the effects of the show jumping, and felt quite unhappy. To the extent that he crashed over the practice jump (NOT like him whatsoever - even when he is being naughty and stopping, he basically never feels unsafe when he jumps). But I started him anyway. :(

He went to take off at number one and as his front feet left the ground it must have hurt of something as he crashed into it with his feet up. He then jumped it, but not happily. Jumped number two quite yukky. I thought I would push him on down the slope to see if he would open up and work out of it, but he felt unco.

I approached number three and he just felt so "off", that I pulled him off it and retired. Friends who saw him said that he was very sore behind....he was by that stage pretty lame.

And has remained too lame to ride to date (18.11.010) Have had him treated to no avail, and am now tossing up whether to get his feet x-rayed, as although the weekend felt muscular, as he has done on many occasions previously, he has also been lame from time to time with what feels like a foot problem???

So, looks like No starts for Willie for a while, unless I can resolve whatever is going on with him....very frustrating, as I really feel I am making progress in getting my head in the right place.

Taupo HT 16.10.201

Well Taupo was a non event for poor Wilson!

He felt a little 'off' on the Friday afternoon when I rode him, so I confined myself to the grass, preferring to keep him off the sand which does seem to aggravate any uneven-ness.

I then proceeded to warm him up on the grass before his test, and he did feel a little off on the right rein initially.

However, he did an ok test even though it was on the sand, scoring a few 8's, as well as some 5's for his walk work which dragged his mark down, finishing on 63%.

Rode him over to the show jumping to learn the course before taking him back to get his gear on, only for him to go dog lame...definitely too lame to ignore and carry on.

So that was his weekend over :(

I have, since that weekend kept him off the sand, and have also been painting the soles of his feet with metalex to try and harden them. Blacksmith was unable to find anything except extremely soft soles, which would lead to him being ouchy from standing on just about anything!

Crossing fingers for a start at Rotorua - even if I do stuff up on the day, it would be nice to get the chance to!

Te Rapa HT 2-3.10.2010

Lovely weather for the Te Rapa Spring trial.

Willie warmed up well for his dressage, and did an ok test, although I seem to have been slammed for some reason. I find it hard to understand how a horse can score 4's and 5's throughout the test (undeserved in my opinion), and then be given 7's for his paces, impulsion and submission.

However, on to the show jumping.
Nice that I was actually not concerned, having over the past few years gotten myself totally stewed about the show jumping, others watching, the what ifs etc etc . This time I was just going to go in, and ride the round and whatever happened, happened.

Started well, and I felt very good in that throughout the round I sat up and more behind him, I didnt tilt or anything. All felt good; no anxious moments whatsoever. He did back off the double and I'm afraid I sat like a muppet and of course he obliged with a stop. But I didnt go to pieces, I simply turned around and rode the rest of the round properly.

Quite confounded with my score though, as although he took two rails and had a stop, I was given 24 jump faults and 19 time ???

Next day XC day....another lovely day.
Again, I was quite unconcerned, although when he went lame just before my start I was a wee bit bothered; but am afraid I ignored it.

Off we set, and I am afraid I just sat and steered, and Willie just did his thing. Nice that he didnt do his usual spooking and playing at the jumps .... I think keeping him in off the grass has also benefited him.

I did muck up the bounce though. He got distracted when we rode past the show jumping towards the bounce, and again I sat like a muppet. All he would have needed was a wee reminder to get his mind on the job. However, that was our only little glitch and he flew around the rest.

Nice that I also felt a bit fitter having ridden two daily for a while.

Really looking forward to the next outing. Have entered him for training rather then PN, so that I just have the two in the one class.








Photos courtesy Jan at www.take the moment, with the exception of the montage from Debbie Stevens; many thanks

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1.03.01