Onwards and upwards (hopefully)!!!

It looks like Picnic the Showjumpingshire may have to take things a little easier, at 18 years of age she is starting to need a bit more TLC and although is full of life her joints say otherwise.  It is so upsetting when the best horses start to get old and she is one of those one in a lifetime type of horses!  She will still be out jumping but cannot be my 'main horse' there is no way she is ready to retire and would be bored senseless if she wasn't allowed to do a bit of jumping and get out in the lorry every now and then but I have had to come to the very hard decision that I want her to last as long as possible so cannot continue to rely on her to be my main competition horse.  If I could clone her I would, but as this is not an option the hunt is on for another to join the team, as they say onwards and upwards!  

We have driven miles this month to try various horses, all aged between 4 and 6 with interesting outcomes, the joys of horse shopping.  I am very thorough wielding out the overpriced, undertrained and wonky donkeys as best as possible but you cannot avoid turning up to at least one that is far from what was described in the advert!  The first two I tried made my youngster Socks seem advanced and worth a fortune, another that was "cleaned limbed with no lumps or bumps" turned out to have a gash out of its hock, sarcoids, sores and far from ready to go out competing.  Then I found a lovely 4 year old mare, the conditions were far from perfect when I turned up the try her, the heavens opened and the rain didn't stop until we were in our car ready to leave, we rode in a grass paddock and after such a dry week the rain made the ground quite greasy but although slightly slippery in the corners the mare managed incredibly well and had an amazing jump not phased by anything.  

I was impressed and decided to book a vetting, drove up with the lorry (tempted fate) and was so excited to have possibly found my next horse.  Our vet turned up and the vetting commenced, within the first few minutes something wasn't right and it turned out she had a heart murmur, not completely put off as I wanted her for show jumping not eventing we continued.  Flexions were perfect, ridden assessment, and pretty much everything else went well until she threw a front shoe, then her microchip didn't match... well that was now 3 things so we waiting for the results of the microchip and it turns out the number had just been written down wrong, phew she was the right horse!  However there was nothing we could do about the lost shoe so when trotting on a circle on the hard she was quite sore understandably.  After lots of consideration a cardiologist and a chat with my vet we decided not to go ahead and keep looking, I cant afford to take another risk and after the luck we've had with horses not being particularly good I think it was a sensible decision.  So back to the internet search!

Socks jumping at home

Socks is going very well but I am still bringing her on slowly as I don't want to rush her just because Picnic needs to slow down.  I have been having lessons with a dressage trainer, Tessa Thorne, who is really good and ensures I have enough to work on in between lessons to make sure we are on track to keep progressing.  We are booked in to try working away from home for a lesson so fingers crossed that goes well, then we are off to hire an arena with showjumps to see what she thinks of that.  At home she is up to jumping round 1m courses quite happily here is a little video of us enjoying a little jump over the bank holiday.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEPO1MO5uDU&feature=youtube_gdata_player

    

Showjumpingshire on Weston Lawns, setbacks and scarecrows

Well July has been a mixed month for the Showjumpingshire full of sunshine and drama for both her and her field mate Socks, heres a quick update on a busy month.

Fitness has been the main theme as we prepared for the Amatuer Jamboree being held at Weston Lawns which included the amateur and Scope qualifiers.  

Picnic had been jumping and schooling well and also had her own personal trainer out in the fields (Ranger dog) during circuit training!  The weight loss had been on track meaning the muzzles I felt so guilty for buying have done their job and the girls were getting trimmer finally.  

At the beginning of July Picnic went out for a weekend hack on a beautiful sunny morning and ended up in the middle of the village scarecrow festival!  We had gone round the block oblivious that the annual scarecrow competition was in full preparation and as we turned off the main road we were greeted by a drunken scarecrow sat outside the pub... at this point Picnic was the least bit impressed and we took a wide berth to safely pass, little did she know this was just the start and garden after garden was full of a wide variety of scarecrows ranging from a talking duck sat in a hedge, a scarecrow fireman rescuing a cat up a tree and a bike riding scarecrow!  

The weekend of Weston Lawns arrived and I decided to go down on the Thursday night to settle in ready for Fridays classes.  We also took Socks along for a 'jolly' to see what the competition scene is all about and possibly enter her in the small class if she behaved and coped with the atmosphere, but really it was for her just to have a stress free time away with no pressure... Picnic on the other hand had qualifiers to take on!  I was slightly nervous as its the first time I'd gone away on my own with two horses and wasn't sure on how it was going to go as my husband couldn't get down to join me until the following evening so I had 24 hours to cope all by myself.  Socks travelled well as that was the longest journey she had ever done so first hurdle complete, they both settled in well to their stables and the logistics of unloading and getting them to the stables without help went smoothly so I needn't have worried.  

Day one of jumping arrived and they were still both very happy enjoying the busy atmosphere and behaved impeccably on a morning walk and grass nibble.  When Socks was left alone as Picnic went off to jump it was a little stressful for her but she coped well and we couldn't hear her squeaks after ten minutes and hoped she was still there!

Picnic jumped a superb double clear in the national amateur class qualifying for the Weston Lawns Grand Prix on the Sunday, we weren't quite quick enough to be in the prize money but only missed out by 2 places out of a huge class.  I am getting braver at asking strangers for help to horse hold while I walk the course, people are really friendly and helpful when you are on your own, it does help that Picnic is so well behaved at shows I could almost leave her on her own.  We found some shade and waited for our next class the Katherine James Scope Qualifier, once again Picnic jumped a great double clear and I thought we were in with a chance but again just missed out on a qualifying place - need to kick on a bit more and not worry about being so pretty :)  I was still thrilled with our days performance and Picnic felt equally pleased with herself, a quick cool wash for her (and me) and then it was Socks turn to explore the showground which was very exciting!

The next day our class was one before the end of the day so had a chance to watch the HOYS qualifying class with over 150 entries!!!  The girls had a good leg stretch in the morning but then when I went to collect Picnic in the afternoon she seemed off and the stable was a mess with shavings everywhere, she was very quiet so I tacked her up and took her off for a wander, she felt very stiff and crooked, poor Picnic seemed to have got cast although not lame she didn't feel right and I gave her a little canter round the warm up but even a jump didn't perk her up so I withdrew and packed up to go home.  It wasn't worth risking jumping her and with no turnout it was unlikely she would get any better by Sunday more likely worse so our 3 day show turned into a 1 day, but on the bright side I had a little ride round on Socks and she had been out to her first stay away show and Picnic jumped double clears in all her classes.

Picnic took a few days to feel a little better and after some turnout and gentle work she will be out again soon.  Socks has been all go with lessons and hacking and her first time out in open fields for a canter, she is really progressing well.  We were booked in for some intensive training over two days at AM Dressage but that did not happen as is the normal with horses as soon as they go well a drama is just round the corner... Yes it seems Socks picked up a virus while she was away so urgent vet visit as she wasn't eating or drinking, so the last few days she has been in isolation and feeling very sorry for herself.  Test results have come back and it looks like she has a mild respiratory infection and is now on the mend eating again and will be allowed back out with Picnic once her cough has gone.  Our outing has been postponed but as soon as she's fit and healthy we will be back out and edging ever closer to our first competition!   

Showjumpingshire's first competition of 2013

We made it to our first competition of 2013, finally!   Amazingly even the sun came out as we made our way to Summerhouse to brush off the cobwebs and remember how to ride a course - and hopefully a jump off.  Everything still fitted thankfully as my show jacket and boots have not seen daylight since about October last year, Ranger the dog came along for support and we arrived with plenty of time to leisurely get ready and walk the course.  I decided to enter the Katherine James Scope qualifier and had the aim of a double clear for the day, we were quite far down the list so watched a few rounds before going to get Picnic.  The course seemed to be testing quite a few riders and I hardly saw anyone jumping clear, it was table A7 so had a separate jump off, the top 6 qualify for Scope but you have to jump clear in the first round.

I went to get Picnic who was looking very excited about the occasion and completely embarrassed me near the warm up area when she wouldn't stand at the mounting block for me to get on!!!  After a kind offer of help from a spectator to hold my wild horse while I mounted, a quick check of how many to go before us we went off to warm up.  Picnic was so pleased to be back out and rather excited so took a little while to gain her concentration but overall she felt good.  On entry to the arena I felt like I was on a green 4 year old as she wobbled around the edge of the arena spooking left and right at everything, flowers, numbers, advertising boards, people!  I kicked on and got the best canter I could and headed to number one, thankfully on landing she switched into competition mode, realised where she was and was off pulling my arms out to get to the next fence, all the combinations rode well and as we made our way round the course it felt like we had never been away, had a brief moment as she tapped the last fence when we got a bit quick on a long run to the last but thankfully it stayed up and we were clear and waiting for the jump off, good pony!  The jump off had a very tight turn back to number two - we hadn't practised any of these so I was a little worried if we'd make the turn.  I warmed her up again as the last few were jumping and she felt a little overconfident not really listening and thinking she knew best, I managed to settle her then it was our turn, I couldn't get Picnic to focus and perhaps because we were a little out of practise we knocked fence number one, arrgghhh, so with that down we just pushed on making every turn inside we could and I was pleased with Picnic even though she got a little over exhubruent over the last taking a stride out!  We ended up 7th bringing home some prize money but unfortunately missed out on qualifying by a place, but for our first time out and both a little rusty we decided to end on a good note and make our way home get the diary out and plan the next trip.

 



Apr 2012 - Showjumping Shire attends Blue Chip Championships

So Picnic and the faithful hound (Ranger) set off for Hartpury Arena to spend two days jumping in the international arena.

The arena looked fantastic with all the trade stands, drapes and well designed courses, I was very excited walking the course the first night while Picnic was tucked up in her stable ready for a 7am class start of 150 competitors!!!

Day one - We got into the jump off which was a real buzz as the arena was so spooky I wasn't sure quite what Picnic would think, we had a few moments when coffee perculators went off and scary horseboxes were parked in the arena but we got round only to have the 2nd from last fence down in the jump off. 

Day two - Picnic was very distracted and she was a little big for her boots charging round like a bull in a china shop, amazingly we got round but did take a pole or two with us.  The main achievement was getting through the tunnel entrance as she nearly took half the arena party out making a sharp reverse manouver!

We were still over the moon to have got to the Blue Chip Championships - theres always next year!

Jan 2012 - ShowjumpingShire qualifies for Blue Chip

Out of a huge class of about 80 competitors Picnic jumped a fantastic first round to get into the jump off to land 2nd place at Berkshire College!!!  

YouTube video link - Berkshire College Blue Chip Discovery Jump Off

We also had a great outing at Merrist Wood trying to qualify for another Blue Chip class but narrowly missed out with 4 faults and there were very few clears!  Picnic jumped a fantastic round as the jump off was full up max height of 1.20m

YouTube video link- Merrist Wood 1.05m Speed Class

YouTube video link - Merrist Wood Blue Chip Power qualifier

ShowjumpingShire wins her first Newcomers

Somerford Show 2010 - 1st place Newcomers

Luck was on the showjumping shires side when she was the only horse to jump a double clear in the Newcomers class.  The last fence on the course was catching everyone out and the jump off looked absolutely huge - even to a Picnic!

To our amazement when a cheer from the crowd developed we realised the last fence was still in place and were the only combination that day to do so, very happy horse and rider to have tackled a 1.20m jump off successfully!!!