Wrong prediction

I couldn't have been more wrong - it's been cancelled!

Pants.

Forecasting

After the way that real events closely matched my prediction last weekend I'm having another go...

FELLA will come off like a lamb, let me put studs in without breaking the tap, do his best dressage, let me swap saddles without running round in circles, pick his bloody front feet up for ONCE, JUST ONCE, in the show-jumping, then remember what all the fun is about and gallop across country like I know he can.

I don't care if it's in the places, but it'd be nice for RIDER to get her first finish this season.

Must try this again

Two months after the start of the season RIDER has been able to vent her frustration about not riding yet. This afternoon was the first event of the season. How civilised to be able to enjoy a weekend lie in, turn up at the yard and attend to all three horses and still have plenty of time before setting off.

As we drove down the motorway to the event we saw a large amount of ambulances and police cars heading the opposite way. Motorway carbage behind us was holding up our team of supporters (quantity: one).

My predictions from the last post about FELLAS behaviour turned out to be both pessimistic, and optimistic.

He was good in the wagon, came off nicely, let me put his studs in without breaking the tap, stayed inside the dressage arena, had a mere two down in the show-jumping. So far so well behaved. He then refused at fences one and two in the cross country before unseating RIDER at fence three and heading off to the lorry park. I ran back from my rather hopeful photo opportunity position at fence seven, guided by the commentators updates to the crowd on the progress of the loose horse. RIDER was pleased to be described to the world at large as "the jockey".

Turns out THE FELLA had been caught by INTERNATIONAL EVENT RIDER at the sunken road. I ran up and asked to take him before RIDER, now enjoying a trip in the course officials Range Rover^*, before she arrived and wanted to kill him. INTERNATIONAL EVENT RIDER said we could put FELLA on his wagon if we liked. We took this as the praise it undoubtedly was. There was no shame in falling off - unlike unaffiliated events were it's every trophy hunter for themself.

RIDER arrived, got back on - and long may it continue that jockeys may remount in eventing - and threw him over the XC practice fences. She wasn't disappointed by the day. It was a lot to ask of him first time out this season. And it's not every horse that INTERNATIONAL EVENT RIDER takes a shine to.

*The Range Rover was nice by the way.

She's in

RIDER is in.

First event of the year now looming close. New shoes for THE FELLA with stud holes in readiness. Plenty of advice from farrier too about keeping threads nice and clean. Much appreciated.

THE FELLA is nice and chilled, a lot more so than last year. Here's hoping he remembers his job and carries on where he left off. To be realistic he's probably going to stress in the wagon, come off like a tit, need lunging, arse about in the dressage warm up, have four down in the show-jumping and narrowly escape with his life as rider demands that I "take him off me before I kill him", then refuse at, oh, fence 2 in the cross country. At which point he will stand like a lamb (for the first time today) while we untack him. He may then choose to be awkward to load.

So, all things considered, anything better is a bonus.

Ballotting disappointment and new shoes

RIDER was disappointed to be balloted out of her first event. There was a choice of Brougham, or Stafford. Brougham is usually balloted so RIDER hedged her bets by entering Stafford thinking that as a new event it wouldn't be so popular.

WRONG.

Still, we have been to watch to get in the mood. We enjoyed the Advanced day at Witton Castle, even if the Irish Mist was a bit thick. We used the day to expand our portfolio of eventing photographs as we're setting up in business. There were one or two problems with underexposure in the terrible light, but we know how to sort it. And as riders we have the advantage over non-riding photographers that we can see strides and time the shot.

Today was new shoes day.

NAUGHTY PONY untied herself and walked across the yard to the nearest food.

MONSTER loves the sound her new shoes make when she kicks the wall. She does it every time.

THE FELLA just stresses. Maybe he knew that he was having stud holes put in for the first time since winter?

So our season has started later than we'd like, but once it starts it doesn't let up.