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.
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.
posted by Nick on Sunday, April 24, 2005
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