tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80485944973219241872024-03-14T02:38:24.076-07:00Team HopalongTeam Hopalonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14180960486280148285noreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8048594497321924187.post-72373474480062021602011-10-23T21:00:00.000-07:002011-11-04T10:43:02.377-07:00Almond RC Dressage 23-10-11<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So to follow up on a very successful initial post-injury dressage outing, Hopalong and I were entered for two prelim tests at our riding club show- one of which was a long arena test (20m x 60m instead of 20m x 40m) which we've never done before!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was at our "home from home" again, aka SNEC and P13 (short arena) was first. We stuck with the warm up tactics that had seemed to work last time out and did what felt like a really nice test. :D Still plenty to work on with some of the upwards transitions, but it felt just as nice as our previous outing, so I was hopeful of a good score. However, I was not expecting to find out our score was 72.82% with plenty of 8s through the sheet and a 9 (for our halt)!!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This left us 1st out of about 15 competitors, what a clever Hopalong! :D</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We had just over an hour until our next test, so she was untacked and left to munch her haynet while I had a blether with friends, then it was time to tack up again and tackle the long arena test. I'm pretty sure she thought we were back to eventing as when I got back on board again she took off at speed towards the arena, maybe expecting to see SJs and then XC after?! ;) Sadly for us both, just more stressage! ;)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Didn't warm up as long as I would have liked/intended to as the stewards were very keen to get us in due to running early. But did a nice test, not as nice as the first time, just a little more tense as we hadn't muddled about in the warm up long enough I think. And boy is 60m a long way to try trotting in a straight line! ;)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But still pleased and definitely better than we would have done last year. Took Hopalong home to roll in the field and get muddy again (since it's only 15mins in the trailer to her yard) and then went back along to check scores. I was very pleased to see a score of 65.22% and even more pleased/surprised to see another red rosette attached to the sheet- another 1st place! :D Lots of carrots and pears for Hopalong again. :D</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I think these results leave us in a pretty good position to join in the Riding Club Team Dressage competition in a few weeks time... ;) Fingers crossed we can do as well then with added team pressure! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Prelim 13 photos;</span><br />
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</div>Team Hopalonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14180960486280148285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8048594497321924187.post-66057124177225709792011-10-09T17:00:00.000-07:002011-10-10T07:23:47.548-07:00First competitive outing post-injury!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So having got the thumbs up from both the vet and our RC dressage trainer, I entered Hopalong and I for a dressage test at SNEC's unaffiliated dressage competition. Since it was our first time out, I took the lazy option of only learning/doing one test...! ;)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I spent the morning bathing and plaiting (even stitched her plaits in properly instead of "cheating" with rubber bands, although was cursing this after the first couple since the needle was very slippy and I couldn't grip it easily, so it seemed to take forever!) and got to SNEC with plenty time to pick up my number then tack up.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I had decided to try a new approach towards warming up- previously I've done a little warm up, then stopped to watch a test or two before doing a few minutes final warm up before going in for our test. However, I wondered if this was partly to blame for Hopalong often switching off? So I allowed enough time to walk around for 5mins on a loose rein to stretch off and loosen up, then 20mins warm up to be treated like a normal schooling session with the same exercises I do at home, breaks to be free walk on a long rein here and there, but no properly stopping to switch off.</span></div>
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And it seemed to work! :) She warmed up really nicely, we went straight over to the arena when it was our turn and bar a couple of "gawky" moments at the judge's box and coffee bar nearby initially, I had enough time to keep her moving, circling and get her nice, soft and relaxed again before the bell went to start.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The test felt really good compared to previous tests from last year where she was resistant and more interested in what was happening outside of the arena! She stayed mostly soft and listening throughout (we had a few "pokey" moments in our transitions which is our weak area and to be worked on over the winter!) and she just got a little tense when I picked up my reins again after the free walk on a long rein. The judge had a quick word at the end of the test and said the movement could have scored an 8 without the tension at the end and gave me a tip on how to pick the reins up better to prevent this, so will try that next time! :)</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Big hug for clever H!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I came out of the test absolutely thrilled with her (and had a wee happy cry as I couldn't believe that only a few months ago she was on field rest and I had no idea if I'd be able to ride her again, never mind compete again) and she was rewarded with lots of polos. :D</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">Bob making sure she is fed an adequate number of polos!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A wee walk around to cool down, then back to the trailer and her haynet which appeared to be all she was interested in. ;) Nice quick journey home and back out to the field to undo the morning's work getting her clean and enjoy a good roll in the mud!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I went back to check out our score and was over the moon (and very shocked) to see it was 70.53%! A personal best and we ended up being 4th out of 23 in the class, really unexpected, but so pleased. :) Fingers crossed it wasn't a fluke result and</span> we can repeat it next time out. ;) Next competition lined up is our RC dressage show on 23rd Oct, with a training session before that on Friday 14th. We're even going to attempt a long arena dressage test (20m x 60m instead of the usual 20m x 40m), which will be interesting- 60m is a long way to trot in a straight line! ;)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><em>Photos courtesy of Bob (multi-tasking photographer and polo-feeder!)</em></span></div>
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Team Hopalonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14180960486280148285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8048594497321924187.post-66561899138860546452011-09-25T21:00:00.000-07:002011-10-10T06:44:14.563-07:00RC Training Day<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This was our first proper outing post-injury was to our riding club's training day at SNEC, perfect opportunity to go out and have fun with no pressure or stress. :)</span> </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Warming up- very keen!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">First up was a Le Trec taster session, which was good fun. We did the control of paces first (canter a distance as slow as possible without breaking to trot and walk the same distance back again as fast as possible, again without breaking to trot) and scored pretty well on the slow canter (even with a spook halfway round at someone sitting in the seating area! Luckily we stayed in the cones and didn't break pace), we didn't score quite as well on the fast walk but at least stayed in walk and didn't break into jig-jog or trot. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Controlled" canter!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We then did a replicated "bridge" of rubber mat between two plastic blocks and tarpaulin between two poles (about 8ft long) both of which earned suspicious looks from Hopalong but she went over first time. Standing with dropped reins was a success also although we didn't have to do it unmounted- I'm not sure she'd stay put for that?! She was really good at the rein back in a corridor of poles, just scuffing a pole with one foot when I over corrected a squinty step.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Showing off her "games pony" moves<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We also tried the bending poles exercise- 6 cones within a 4m corridor, not sure how far apart they were, but I'm sure they got closer and closer as you went along the corridor?! My intention was to trot this but she broke to canter and instructor said if you break pace you lose less marks staying in the pace you've broken to, so finished in canter! We tried a second time intending to stay in trot but she broke to canter before even starting, so just did it in canter the whole way- got to love small, numble ponies! :)</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking longingly at the SJ lesson?!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Another fun exercise was a corridor of poles 50cm apart and about 20ft long. You have to ride through it without touching the poles or stepping out of them and get more marks the faster you go. 50cm looks really narrow! We did once at walk, then trot and then attempted canter and she did it perfectly- maybe it helped that she doesn't like to touch poles when SJing?! The instructor's top tip was to keep looking up and straight ahead and it definitely worked. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">She then had another chill out in the trailer with haynet for an hour and a bit before her dressage lesson. She's been feeling good at home but definitely takes about 15min to properly warm up and soften properly. Same again today but once we'd gotten over spooking at the coffee bar/judges box/table and jig-jogging everytime I tried to shorten my reins, she was really good. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Got some lovely, relaxed trot work in a nice soft outline (lots of serpentines, transitions and some leg yielding are my basics when warming up and working her) and even got some nice, almost round canter work. Trainer was pleasantly surprised at how well she was going and said she thought she looked better than last year pre-injury, really pleased to hear that. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So maybe there is an inner dressage diva wanting to break through over winter?!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><em>Photos from the Le Trec session posted with permission and courtesy of Chris Rushton at SFE Technical Solutions, many thanks. :)</em></span></div>
Team Hopalonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14180960486280148285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8048594497321924187.post-25151714808949848902011-09-05T14:14:00.000-07:002011-10-06T06:40:52.603-07:00Final post-injury vet check up<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So with it now being almost a year since Hopalong injured her stifle, we were back to Andrew McDiarmid for a final check up and to see how he thought she'd coped with coming back into work.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Did the usual trot up and lunging;</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Andrew was happy with her, just noticing a slight "rolling" of her right hind (opposite side to injury), but nothing he was concerned with, so very good news. :)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He took some x-rays of the stifle again just to make sure there had been no changes since the first lot taken and again, the good news is that there wasn't. :)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So he gave us clearance to carry on riding as normal, start schooling again and then all going well, we can look to reintroduce jumping again next year, around about Feb/Mar time. He thinks 90cm (intro) height would be perfectly fine to aim for as long as she feels happy and doesn't go lame again, so fingers crossed we can get back out to doing some intro BE events next summer. :)</span></div>
Team Hopalonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14180960486280148285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8048594497321924187.post-47034754786967095812011-08-28T18:05:00.000-07:002011-10-06T06:13:02.118-07:00A trip to the beach! :D<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Since we were doing well with our hacking rehab, I wanted to find something fun to do with Hopalong before going back to the vets (again!!) for a final check up at the start of September. I had thought of trying a wee local showing show which had veteran classes but the weather spoiled that plan and it was rained off. Maybe it was just that the show organiser heard I wanted to bring my wonky donkey?! ;)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So instead, we opted for a fun trip to the beach with my friend Victoria and her lovely horse Millie. Bob was dragged along to take photos and we had a blast. :D Hopalong was very brave and waded into the scary waves up to her knees (I'm pretty sure Bob was disappointed that she didn't send me swimming with a spook!) and had great fun racing Millie along the beach. :D</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t276/mceeaw/Almond%20RC%20Camp%2023rd-25th%20July%202010/Beach%2028-08-11/Ponysatthebeach1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="212" kca="true" src="http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t276/mceeaw/Almond%20RC%20Camp%2023rd-25th%20July%202010/Beach%2028-08-11/Ponysatthebeach1.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Millie and Hopalong head down to the beach.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A wee trot to warm up.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t276/mceeaw/Almond%20RC%20Camp%2023rd-25th%20July%202010/Beach%2028-08-11/Ponysatthebeach3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" kca="true" src="http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t276/mceeaw/Almond%20RC%20Camp%2023rd-25th%20July%202010/Beach%2028-08-11/Ponysatthebeach3.jpg" width="212" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Leaving poor Millie behind!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t276/mceeaw/Almond%20RC%20Camp%2023rd-25th%20July%202010/Beach%2028-08-11/Ponysatthebeach7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" kca="true" src="http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t276/mceeaw/Almond%20RC%20Camp%2023rd-25th%20July%202010/Beach%2028-08-11/Ponysatthebeach7.jpg" width="213" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">All four feet off the ground, "flying"! :D</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t276/mceeaw/Almond%20RC%20Camp%2023rd-25th%20July%202010/Beach%2028-08-11/Ponysatthebeach14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="212" kca="true" src="http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t276/mceeaw/Almond%20RC%20Camp%2023rd-25th%20July%202010/Beach%2028-08-11/Ponysatthebeach14.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Giving the waves the evil eye!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t276/mceeaw/Almond%20RC%20Camp%2023rd-25th%20July%202010/Beach%2028-08-11/Ponysatthebeach16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="213" kca="true" src="http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t276/mceeaw/Almond%20RC%20Camp%2023rd-25th%20July%202010/Beach%2028-08-11/Ponysatthebeach16.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Trying to avoid them...</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t276/mceeaw/Almond%20RC%20Camp%2023rd-25th%20July%202010/Beach%2028-08-11/Ponysatthebeach22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" kca="true" src="http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t276/mceeaw/Almond%20RC%20Camp%2023rd-25th%20July%202010/Beach%2028-08-11/Ponysatthebeach22.jpg" width="213" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Being persuaded they won't eat her and having a trot/canter through them. :)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t276/mceeaw/Almond%20RC%20Camp%2023rd-25th%20July%202010/Beach%2028-08-11/Ponysatthebeach36.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" kca="true" src="http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t276/mceeaw/Almond%20RC%20Camp%2023rd-25th%20July%202010/Beach%2028-08-11/Ponysatthebeach36.jpg" width="213" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">She's a racehorse don't ya know! ;)</span></td></tr>
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Team Hopalonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14180960486280148285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8048594497321924187.post-6900156904891425722011-08-01T13:40:00.000-07:002011-10-06T06:03:58.273-07:00Early end to 2010. :(<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So having had a really fun season being far braver than I imagined I would be and finishing our BE events on a real high at Turnberry, Hopalong picked up an injury at the end of September 2010. :(</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Not really sure how she did it, she was ridden and went out to the field fine one evening and came in hopping lame the next morning. :(</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We tried a period of rest to see if that would help and although she got better, she was still very sore. :( It was her left hind (again... she has previously injured her annular ligament and had a hairline fracture in her pelvis, all on the left hind!) although did not seem to be her old annular ligament injury- it seemed higher up.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Vet came out to have a look and agreed but couldn't really pin point anything. So we arranged an appointment with Andrew McDiarmid at Clyde Vet Group who came highly recommended to me by just about everyone who has needed a lame horse looked at. He ruled out the old annular ligament injury causing problems with a nerve block and found swelling around her left stifle.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">X-rays and ultrasound scans backed this up but didn't show any significant/major damage either, so a bit of a puzzle. He wanted to try a course of Cartrophen injections (1 a week x 4) to see if this would help her heal. This was combined with box rest/in hand walking and although she was much better than originally, she still wasn't right.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So back to Andrew again and this time he tried a hyaluronic acid/cortisone injection to the stifle plus some ridden walk work (still on box rest :( ) to see if this would work. Again... still not right, but only marginal lameness, about 2/10.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The only options left were to either leave it and see or have Andrew perform arthroscopy (keyhole surgery) into the stifle with a fibreoptic camera to see if he could pinpoint the injury/tidy up damaged cartilage etc. This was done early Feb 2011 and was very nerve wracking, although Andrew assured me that Hopalong was fit and healthy enough to undergo the general anaesthetic required. :s</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Happily, she came round just fine from the surgery and Andrew at last had an answer- grade II (out of III) damage to her cruciate ligament. :( There was nothing he could do to aid recovery while in investigating, it was deemed to be a "time is the greatest healer" situation.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So yet more box rest with some inhand walking (poor Hopalong!) and then (thankfully!) out to the field for a further 3 months field rest with a check up to follow.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hopalong was very happy to be back out in the field again and had 5 mad minutes showing me just how happy she was before settling down to the important business of eating! Very nervewracking to watch and pray that she wasn't going to reinjure herself, but thankfully all seemed fine.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> We went back for our check up at the start of July and Andrew was very happy with her recovery. :) He said to gradually try bringing her back into work with some quiet hacking, gradually increasing time spent riding/amount of trot work/introduce canter again once fitter. Great news! :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here is some onboard footage from our first hack out- a whole 10mins up the road and back! ;) But finally a chance again to look through "batears" and the best view in the world. :) </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am very happy to be back on board, Hopalong doesn't look so sure! ;)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So we spent 2 months being happy hackers, gradually upping the distance/trot work and Hopalong feeling very keen and enthusiastic about being back out and about again. :) It was perfect timing with it being July/August and so able to make the most of our Scottish "summer"... well, at least it was light in the evenings after work, if not sunny all the time?! ;)</span></div>
Team Hopalonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14180960486280148285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8048594497321924187.post-77719340600575753632010-09-05T20:00:00.000-07:002011-10-06T05:40:19.356-07:00Turnberry BE90 Regional Final - Sun 5th Sept<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So… last BE report from Hopalong and me for this year. :( We were off to Turnberry on Sunday to take part in the BE90RF in an attempt to qualify for Badminton. I had been dreaming of an elusive top 4 finish for about 2 weeks previous but was very resigned to the fact that it wasn’t likely to happen. However, I had done my best with dressage practice through the week, spent all of Saturday cleaning and polishing tack/pony (if only marks were being awarded for shininess of both!) and went with the intention of giving it my best shot.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The parking steward took one look at us “paupers” with the diddy trailer and directed us to parking spot pretty much at the entrance to the event which happened to be the wrong end of a flipping runway from the action. It took a good 10mins each way to hike to/from comp areas and trailer! Just as well my friend Nic was coming along later to help with turnaround between SJ and XC as we only had 35mins between them and that would be taken up getting from SJ to trailer and back to XC again, never mind allowing for tack/clothing change and colour coordination. ;)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For stressage, I tried some lavender/bergamot/chamomile on Hopalong’s muzzle all through the morning to try chill her out. I also added in an extra 15min warm up time to do plenty mooching about in between stints of proper warm up work to see if this would work. I figured as it was a step down in level her fitness should cope with a little extra dressage warm up.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">She warmed up quite nicely and Turnberry has a lovely big, flat warm up area for the dressage so we had plenty space which was great. We were last in our section to go and had to follow a friend, Irene and her lovely boy Sam, who are quite the dressage divas! It was blowing a gale and Hopalong was not loving having to go into the wind, but we pulled off what felt like a nice enough test, at least some of it in an outline and not too many fights about it. Ended up on 38 with the leader on 30.5 and 16th/21. So pretty much assured of no Badminton ticket. But still pleased with an improvement on previous outings and maybe in a normal section that would have seen us nearer the top half.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sadly, we had a major timing clash with a XC section that Bob had to take photos of and so there is no photographic evidence of us doing one of our best tests of the year- blimmin’ typical! He’s now trying to say maybe he’s a dressage jinx and should stay away, but I think that’s just an excuse to avoid having to watch me do dressage?! So I’m afraid you’ll just have to believe me that she felt nicer than normal and the photos would have been nicer than normal! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As we were so many miles away, I headed up to SJ for alloted time to find them running late. Grrr. Had a fair bit of hanging around and nearly gave Bob a heart attack when he noticed me sneaking into ring early and he was too busy blethering… then snuck out again as we were just giving a nappy horse a lead in (I tried asking for 5 mark deduction on dressage score for this gesture of goodwill, but they just laughed?! ).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Warmed up nicely and then found a totally different horse when we went into the ring (properly this time!) to jump! She just switched on and got so buzzy I couldn’t get her back to trot to change canter lead before first fence! It made for a bit of a sticky round as I felt I was having to fight to keep any sort of rythymn and not end up getting too flast and fast to the scary fally downy poles. Was all going fine until no.7 where it felt like an ok stride, but she just caught it behind. Very annoying as we can jump unaff DC SJ all day long and yet our BE SJ has gone horribly wrong this season. Managed to chip an extra stride in to the first part of the 1-stride double at the penultimate fence, so then had 2 strides in the middle (yet kept them both up and in the vid she almost makes it look like it should be 2 strides she’s so neat!) and over the last to finish on the 4 faults.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Fence 1- concentrating much?!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Fence 3</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Fence 5</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My friend Philly was kind enough to video for me, so for your entertainment, here’s the round from fence 3 onwards. You can’t really see clearly what went wrong at no.7 (green/yellow upright) but looks like we got a nice stride (not miles away or under the bottom). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So mega quick turnaround (thanks to Nic for mostly sorting Hopalong’s colour co-ordination while I got changed!) and up to XC. We were to chase around after Irene and Sam! Hopalong warmed up very keen- jumping the warm up fence and then zooming off looking for another one, very cute and funny! Set off and over the log, rolltop and barrel with flowers at 1-3 lovely then good gallop into the next field and over the table at 4, zoomed off to 5ab;</span> <br />
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<a href="http://johngracing.thirdlight.com/viewpicture.tlx?albumid=280386&pictureid=13413831"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Grossick Pro Pics</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> then click along the next 4. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Then to the water and house 6ab. She had a wee look at the water, but a wee kick and a “don’t be so silly” and we splashed through;</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And out over the house;</span> <br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We then went up over the rail with flowers under at 7, turned down the hill over rail with straw bales at 8 and zoomed over the steeplchase at 9. Up the hill then step at 10, along a line of fences across the top of the field rail with flowers, log and barrels 11-13, then zoomed down the hill to palisade spread fence at 14.</span> <br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Popped through the rail to ditch at 15ab fine and then double of hedges at 16/17. When walking course, I’d walked it as 2 strides but joked with Bob “so that will be 3 Hopalong strides” as she likes adding in rather than taking out. True enough, she popped in very neatly over the first one and so got the three strides in.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">No. 16 (more concentrating!);</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">No. 17;</span> <br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Gave Philly (videographer!) a giggle as I shouted to Bob “see, told you it was 3 <span style="color: black;"><span class="highlight">Hopalong</span> </span>strides…” as we went past. To which he challenged us to a race… we won! ;)</span><br />
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<a href="http://johngracing.thirdlight.com/viewpicture.tlx?albumid=280386&pictureid=13413945"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Some Grossick hedge shots</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> (plus next 4)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Over the sloping gate at 18 and then onto the skinny/corner at 19.</span><br />
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<a href="http://johngracing.thirdlight.com/viewpicture.tlx?albumid=280386&pictureid=13413984"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Grossick corner photos</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> (plus next 3)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We then zoomed off towards the last two fences- a wee shot from Bob as we headed back to start/finish field;</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Over the log pile at 20 and a proper yee-ha fabulous jump over the roll top with brush at the last to finish clear and 16s inside the time. :D</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So we finished up 13th out of the 21. Would have only been 11th (same score as 10th place but 1s faster XC!) without the pole down. Was good fun and she felt great XC, so much fun. So no Hopalong at Badminton sadly, but a good fun last BE for the year.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Again, fab video from Philly. I love how happy she looks in this- ears up and looking for the next fence. I had been asking Nic early how to tell if they enjoy it, but from watching the vid I think she does? :)</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
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Team Hopalonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14180960486280148285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8048594497321924187.post-73764464218143941772010-08-21T09:37:00.000-07:002011-10-05T09:38:19.422-07:00Drumclog BE100 - Sat 21st Aug<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This was the first running of this event and a pleasant surpise of a wee pack of Likit treats and a car sticker in addition to the standard programme in exchange for the £10 start fee, a good way to impress on your 1st running of a BE event I reckon. ;)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">However, the layout maybe wasn't ideal for stressy horse types as to get to dressage you had to follow corridor past the back of the tradestands (and generators), past the SJ and XC start/finish! I got Hopalong to the dressage warm up without her diverting via the XC though! ;) We started warming up and she was going nicely enough. Not a huge warm up area compared to other events and when I spotted a nice, flat looking area no one else was using thought I'd be smart and use it... turns out no one was using it as it was a bog- Hopalong not impressed! A few minutes later one of the judges made a similar mistake except her 4WD wasn't as powerful as mine and she ended up needing a tow out by a Defender!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Went over to arena for our test and... well, the less said the better! Gone was the nice, relaxed Hopalong of last week (was the only upside to the warm weather and sluggish H last weekend! ) and we had a 4min fight around the arena, stiff, resistant and not great. Bob didn't even pretend to disagree and I was fully expecting a "5" on the front of the score. Our score ended up being 40 - so somehow it beat the previous week's score by 0.5 yet was worse by miles?! So although not a horrific score, it left us in the usual 4/5 from bottom place.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Some photos as evidence of the horribleness! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> We were happily mooching along the corridor back to the trailer when suddenly Hopalong leapt and bolted forward (with another couple of competitors and two PC score collectors on ponies in tow!) which was rather scary with pedestrians also in the corridor! Think it was maybe something to do with electricity mast thing at the side of it and heard stories of this happening at other times through the day. Also the exact same spot that this happened to my friend a couple of weeks ago where she fell off and broke ribs. Very odd.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">AGES until jumping meant I could course walk to my hearts content while Hopalong happily munched in the trailer and said hello to a few friends who came past while I was away. Managed to befriend a few fence judges on the way round! Course looked fine, nothing huge or scary with a few skinnies to test concentration/accuracy and biggest headscratch being some fairly hard areas of track and a very slippy/twisty approach to drop fence hidden off a corner.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Eventually SJ time rolled around. Dragged Hopalong away from her haynet and wandered down (back past scary electricity mast with no drama this time) to warm up. I had my keen Hopalong back again, yay! She warmed up nicely with some encouragement (and help!) from a friend. It seemed SJ was causing a few stops/plenty poles down and related distance from 4 to 5 seemed to be riding long with folk chipping in 6 strides. I hadn't had a chance to walk the course so decided I'd need to kick on there since short strides can be our speciality!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">First fence seemed to appear on a very funny angle off the corner but over this and no.2 fine. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> No.3 looked big but I think it was just on short poles so an optical illusion! It had a horribly cut up take off spot so had to ride quite strong to this as Princess H doesn't like mud. ;) Round to 4, got a nice stride and kicked on for 5 like it was XC... turns out this was a little OTT and we got to no.5 very easily and far too fast/flat so booted it out properly on the way up. Grrrr to jockey. (you can just make out the front rail on it's way down in the below picture even though it looks like we've given it plenty of air, just caught it on the way up)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Got it all back together for no.6 then totally over rode no.7 which seemed to fall every other round that I'd watched, so got a little deep, but clever pingy pony sorted that out fine. Downhill to no.8;</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Then round the corner to double at no.9;</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So finished on the 4 faults which were totally my fault and pleased she felt miles better than last weekend. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Some more help from my pal Victoria to swap over to XC gear then off. She set off over the first brush fence fine and got a nice jump over decent sized roll top at no.2. No.3 was a small Helsinki step up the hill which we angled a little then fine over no.4;</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Over the chair at no.5;</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And palisade at no.6;</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Then on to the half coffin, over the big roll top in ok but she backed off the ditch a little and so got three strides instead of two, but popped over fine. Galloped up the hill, got far too close to the steeplechase fence so was forced to brush through (I heard the noise and everything!) so there is a first time for Hopalong brushing through brush! ) then downhill over log and skinny tyres nicely.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Steadied up for very hard track and slippy corner down towards the drop fence, then kicked on for direct route off drop down the hill (looked much bigger than it was as it was landing on a downhill slope) and had a steady canter along another stretch of quite hard ground along track with Hopalong trying to eye up the intro fence along the way. Popped over the skinny roll top and cantered through the water splash no bother.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Round a very sharp uphill corner and back onto proper grass, got a lovely jump over a decent sized table, then down to gate to roll top combo, angled the first part and should have kicked on for long 4 strides, instead I let her back off and chip in a 5th one- really need to learn to ride for a more forward stride as I've been a little defensive in this respect recently. Over the sheep feeder shortly after and down the hill to the corner.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Can't exactly recall what we did wrong here- not sure whether I over rode or under rode it. Either way, we got a horrible, far-too-close stride to it but luckily it was pretty small and pony is very honest when I kick so we scrambled over clear, but not pretty. I can do corners perfectly in training, yet seem to panic about them in competition. Yet normal skinnies don't bother me?! :(</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Apologised to Hopalong and splashed through the 2nd water splash then round the corner and off the wee step into the main water, splashed through fine, both agreed on a long angled stride up the wee step out (Les Smith would have shot me for that one- "never look for a long stride on a step up"!) then a few strides to the bright saltire palisade which she jumped nicely.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Couldn't see the next fence due to a hill being in the way, but turned right, kicked on and found it!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Then onto a brush fence between trees- again, really needed to kick on for nicer longer stride here but let her get in close (Supertog says she brushed through this, maybe she'd learnt from earlier?!) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Then kicked on over last fence- house- and home clear. Ended up with 9.6 time pens but with only 4 in my section inside the time (out of 31 who completed XC) and the fair amount of hard section that I steadied for I'm not too bothered by this. Just really pleased that she was much more forward, less sticky and less spooky compared to last outing at Scone.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We ended up 22nd, so well away from the frillies but not surprising given the big section, our rubbish dressage and a fair number of horses in it who've been running at novice!</span><br />
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Team Hopalonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14180960486280148285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8048594497321924187.post-36601710516998983192010-08-15T13:49:00.000-07:002010-08-22T10:11:58.115-07:00Spooky Scone BE100! Sat 14th AugWe went back to Scone for their 2nd event of the year. This time we were having our first PN run here and it is known for being a beefy XC at all levels. The course designer didn't disappoint and there were plenty of up to height fences on the course! But lovely to see them be imaginative and mix it up a bit with a different route from the April event and use of different fences in different places.<br /><br />We had a nice leisurely dressage time of 1.42pm, however, the weather was mega hot with no wind whatsoever and it was really stuffy and warm. This is not good when riding a cob-X who is very dark and a very naturally warm horse!<br /><br />Since Scone is only 1hr away and the dressage wasn't until afternoon, I had plenty of time to walk the course on the day... as long as I didn't stop to blether too long en route! Managed to turn picking up number from secretary into a 30min mission as managed to bump into lots of pals on the way! Luckily my Dad and my friend Emma were escorting me on XC coursewalk and I managed to complete this within the 1hr allocated with minimal blethering on the way round.<br /><br />It was really hot and stuffy yesterday (although even worse for those competing today) and Hopalong was very quiet. Even taking a drink when offered which is not like her! Headed over to dressage and did a nice quiet wee warm up. Was going ok, not as well as she warmed up at Strathallan, but hoped that it might mean she was saving it for the test?!<br /><br />Turns out we didn't do too horrific a test, ended up with 40.5 and off the bottom by 5 or 6 places, still plenty to improve on although didn't feel like we had quite as many fights about outline as normal and she stayed in quite a nice rythym. She also felt a little more relaxed and less distracted than normal. A few photos;<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb2f2D-_vpHhhDzcLzTxlVCKcuUqklIEScBpzWzbAnrQxsdV7gUiUkd_vxINte-tABXljZWH8Thdj3_5M1HcCwrty_YY9SVp3yRMo5MzP8bUrJd_qKD0PPIAaaZ9WuEKfX5yQkBJmvAps/s1600/SconePal++004.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 211px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb2f2D-_vpHhhDzcLzTxlVCKcuUqklIEScBpzWzbAnrQxsdV7gUiUkd_vxINte-tABXljZWH8Thdj3_5M1HcCwrty_YY9SVp3yRMo5MzP8bUrJd_qKD0PPIAaaZ9WuEKfX5yQkBJmvAps/s320/SconePal++004.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508278939893175474" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv0wX9rxJmoBJhfSwXEqkOE263jRht4nJSzvZuL-0vnTv8R7ARWSI1a1Fk4BTk8rBmSgitfq8x02QXWu5-J4NUvUAHOfEsINGAjB2JnjUdm35IIm3q5APMtAADikUkmg3asX51YJ5_UoM/s1600/SconePal++005.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 198px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv0wX9rxJmoBJhfSwXEqkOE263jRht4nJSzvZuL-0vnTv8R7ARWSI1a1Fk4BTk8rBmSgitfq8x02QXWu5-J4NUvUAHOfEsINGAjB2JnjUdm35IIm3q5APMtAADikUkmg3asX51YJ5_UoM/s320/SconePal++005.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508278946737027618" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtXVtUq4h2cBOKsX-7LXvwH7BMOGkQE5uFO9uqBXw4EOlysiytt6wStGy2R1qdrZU0FdsgRYJILh6eJPsfKIOu6Z2aqoqWO6mbWyJ3hZvRIVm5NHev2MO0ISluZTPis95zFAtwH0LJBRM/s1600/SconePal++010.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 211px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtXVtUq4h2cBOKsX-7LXvwH7BMOGkQE5uFO9uqBXw4EOlysiytt6wStGy2R1qdrZU0FdsgRYJILh6eJPsfKIOu6Z2aqoqWO6mbWyJ3hZvRIVm5NHev2MO0ISluZTPis95zFAtwH0LJBRM/s320/SconePal++010.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508278950658180866" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglfyXMW05RzXRV2i3dpwcSnioyNhTxvVHFJsFdFFQZl0yu5am7HYL3pNs57Z97XYW-a4_YnQtRETjTzxhsU1q-kFWXlD-o6npocqOJaZ41SX-gxcmCnSgqJwO3ZzXfAXnhEGO92Ve5vlg/s1600/SconePal++011.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 217px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglfyXMW05RzXRV2i3dpwcSnioyNhTxvVHFJsFdFFQZl0yu5am7HYL3pNs57Z97XYW-a4_YnQtRETjTzxhsU1q-kFWXlD-o6npocqOJaZ41SX-gxcmCnSgqJwO3ZzXfAXnhEGO92Ve5vlg/s320/SconePal++011.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508278959070679234" border="0" /></a>One for your entertainment- Ms Giraffe McPokeyness extraordinaire!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwZkp9fEs6eWMXKzWnyoM2nocjSSY5t9_q6SRkgGaRr0YmNfgBMJAcmKiKexGpRwxf6zBLK0750EqTnn2K5juk7Un01jQiAPl-UwpZ4G02WQh6GJgls1_seS4EuwSCM3Rxs_6VJRz9KeQ/s1600/SconePal++009.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 229px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwZkp9fEs6eWMXKzWnyoM2nocjSSY5t9_q6SRkgGaRr0YmNfgBMJAcmKiKexGpRwxf6zBLK0750EqTnn2K5juk7Un01jQiAPl-UwpZ4G02WQh6GJgls1_seS4EuwSCM3Rxs_6VJRz9KeQ/s320/SconePal++009.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508278968727765474" border="0" /></a>Headed off to SJ and had a horrible warm up. :( She was being really sluggish and sticky, getting in close to the upright and having a couple of stops and the spread (down to a X-pole in front as always) and I was really having to ride her. Hoped that it was just me being a nervous numpty in warm up and we'd improve in the ring.<br /><br />Hmmm... not really! We had what felt like a really horrid, sticky and spooky round getting in close to everything and taking horrible big leaps. Also managed a slip around the corner on the last turn, although my friend who was watchingis convinced this made me kick on properly and make a good stride to the penultimate fence! So although this was probably one of our messiest and uncomfortable rounds... we somehow went clear and shrugged off the recent 4-fault-itis?! Not complaining, but wasn't patting myself on the back about it either.<br /><br />No.1 (thanks to George Michie for this photo);<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQvYbGjofOw2bWHr88Zr4IXJzGGZua3atg8gsYIXkSsGmDH3rKpO3j2YcqfO-enPQtC9Um3qC2yYaqnF7RpRnPjvgvJMe2xzOFwvocCvwptAfEfOZmpi-zmAdsi57p6DFYaTKec4eWiMk/s1600/CSHT+591.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQvYbGjofOw2bWHr88Zr4IXJzGGZua3atg8gsYIXkSsGmDH3rKpO3j2YcqfO-enPQtC9Um3qC2yYaqnF7RpRnPjvgvJMe2xzOFwvocCvwptAfEfOZmpi-zmAdsi57p6DFYaTKec4eWiMk/s320/CSHT+591.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508280702252794818" border="0" /></a>No 2;<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkPwP4o2sUZVEGs5MO5HIBBn9hqvJFB5QhZvxMRmJgw3dhsrOICG88AdFZrSx1zSwSosE2VQdUZ0ve0sxLPugu_H-A2pjyPB8E8FbomKXk66RLhthd7a1eFnWFVNQ0a3anJ6Ki-vbS7S0/s1600/SconePal++015.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 227px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkPwP4o2sUZVEGs5MO5HIBBn9hqvJFB5QhZvxMRmJgw3dhsrOICG88AdFZrSx1zSwSosE2VQdUZ0ve0sxLPugu_H-A2pjyPB8E8FbomKXk66RLhthd7a1eFnWFVNQ0a3anJ6Ki-vbS7S0/s320/SconePal++015.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508280007995809570" border="0" /></a>No.3;<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEZRe18fYltqFkWY0KrMhznLG_gevu8xQuvBpUIJeHB5CAR3GSGEajz-SptyYo8fqjLav74IPEX-EXU8hX5oHbiSbph6bQlXPy_FvN26eKDSsfVwmIDErwlyAxDPUywfYYqpgsFjnMzMw/s1600/SconePal++017.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 205px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEZRe18fYltqFkWY0KrMhznLG_gevu8xQuvBpUIJeHB5CAR3GSGEajz-SptyYo8fqjLav74IPEX-EXU8hX5oHbiSbph6bQlXPy_FvN26eKDSsfVwmIDErwlyAxDPUywfYYqpgsFjnMzMw/s320/SconePal++017.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508280011195454306" border="0" /></a>No.4;<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDLFCacIlHonkButzFffNjqGuvQ2uNWmjAzuF5yHikbJ5hd3svxw_CVZSE8maK9frDn6KC9t8oevgxS89-I3YbEKYlOlMN_aVfX1w61z3W8yrqDDT7jYQCSnBojLAY7bqWLRGWIokYnLw/s1600/SconePal++020.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 224px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDLFCacIlHonkButzFffNjqGuvQ2uNWmjAzuF5yHikbJ5hd3svxw_CVZSE8maK9frDn6KC9t8oevgxS89-I3YbEKYlOlMN_aVfX1w61z3W8yrqDDT7jYQCSnBojLAY7bqWLRGWIokYnLw/s320/SconePal++020.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508280014664860418" border="0" /></a>No.5- another cat-like display of agility from Hopalong! How does she jump from these crazy take off spots?! She was really boggling at the filler and backing off a mile away, she got lots of leg and a growl and did go... but very lucky to leave it up here!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtCIZhk_35OrYH_L6B6W4tcXTrdC_GsmvSvZmRmups-s03KxmMR7sjpI98X_tVTkFhp1NCWjZeZv8_qLPK5O7kZTVnRhpdup9ZEB32ZJ7dTx01g-91wY7yKqJKw9gEbZ3QQL-ZqUpum_k/s1600/SconePal++021.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 222px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtCIZhk_35OrYH_L6B6W4tcXTrdC_GsmvSvZmRmups-s03KxmMR7sjpI98X_tVTkFhp1NCWjZeZv8_qLPK5O7kZTVnRhpdup9ZEB32ZJ7dTx01g-91wY7yKqJKw9gEbZ3QQL-ZqUpum_k/s320/SconePal++021.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508280014092921074" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8j0DADjh96UjqB18Ak5ckCJ_Yc38ODvQJEWVJDD1Nx7mxTA4K8DZJdhCQRb2tcBFs6srO_hj_70CdfdhCo4u8Ta5jHsDtSYVwv4XtLs5b7lv1o8at16AkykLdFP9XcYKg2NlYLY2P_tw/s1600/SconePal++023.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 221px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8j0DADjh96UjqB18Ak5ckCJ_Yc38ODvQJEWVJDD1Nx7mxTA4K8DZJdhCQRb2tcBFs6srO_hj_70CdfdhCo4u8Ta5jHsDtSYVwv4XtLs5b7lv1o8at16AkykLdFP9XcYKg2NlYLY2P_tw/s320/SconePal++023.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508280018571844930" border="0" /></a><br />No.6- giving it enough air?! (again, thanks to George for this)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4yRl98E7wZRurGfhKvsr7b8b73dxM_A9_LwMRcOifZqy4mkiwZKrdwRm6iZDjHiM0BG4HuSg3zg9-JkcopTgDCWjimSMJGy7SPl9NT8uG2C09IQ8pON-HVy_jrXyF3OX510NRGZdgY0o/s1600/CSHT+593.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4yRl98E7wZRurGfhKvsr7b8b73dxM_A9_LwMRcOifZqy4mkiwZKrdwRm6iZDjHiM0BG4HuSg3zg9-JkcopTgDCWjimSMJGy7SPl9NT8uG2C09IQ8pON-HVy_jrXyF3OX510NRGZdgY0o/s320/CSHT+593.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508280698724076418" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdm0aa3W1UeH-wel70LJXqqTrB2b2c3uLYBUlb5xEOYaUUkqzUX-aAWVmjznR7cWX3BzGRqX61-kVILgficQKeJ4LdznswKqlcjlOuTjN2UnN5yJsV7DSZ4VCTu1RjjdcMYlIMfQKg9bo/s1600/CSHT+594.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdm0aa3W1UeH-wel70LJXqqTrB2b2c3uLYBUlb5xEOYaUUkqzUX-aAWVmjznR7cWX3BzGRqX61-kVILgficQKeJ4LdznswKqlcjlOuTjN2UnN5yJsV7DSZ4VCTu1RjjdcMYlIMfQKg9bo/s320/CSHT+594.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508280693414957122" border="0" /></a>No.8;<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4OscaL2IIa4VmcXXqmbJr3cmJ2pJrf5KSU7Igldu5za34HN9FMgGw3z8DRX5Fn6f8LZH8XME6-QYXTjWcw_PzhQT_YOiBm_JXtt6s6WF4tn_9MSkqOXc_2k2EQPmjOssJVJHCbzmcMC8/s1600/SconePal++029.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4OscaL2IIa4VmcXXqmbJr3cmJ2pJrf5KSU7Igldu5za34HN9FMgGw3z8DRX5Fn6f8LZH8XME6-QYXTjWcw_PzhQT_YOiBm_JXtt6s6WF4tn_9MSkqOXc_2k2EQPmjOssJVJHCbzmcMC8/s320/SconePal++029.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508281374724277266" border="0" /></a>Can't quite figure out what went wrong. She looks happy jumping in all the photos- ears up etc, she just felt like a totally different SJing horse than normal, not taking me to the fences like usual.<br /><br />So although thrilled to have the clear SJ again at last, was also thoroughly miserable about how she felt and was worried something may be up. Was swithering about whether to go XC or not. Gave her a slosh down to see if that would help as it was SO warm. She was happy munching some grass and I decided to go XC and if she felt unhappy, pull up.<br /><br />Warmed up nicely enough and was happy to open up the canter in the warm up area, so set off out the start box to see what would happen. First two fences were rolltops and jumped ok, but a little looky still. No.3 was a house, jumped similar to roll tops, so kicked on to viaduct at no.4, she spent the approach boggling and spooking at spectators on one side and fence judges on the other, got horribly close to it but picked up and launched;<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXzPUFBWOa6nZ7QNTn2V6tp6CYWMJ7QE93hdCMp2qXJDMuZJJrSANOHKi-v-pZocPGkF6y-KPsrr_xxR0z50kD-kzMU0mWEaR_A0bk9SZdbpjfVBmbC2z-fdPTpXQSX5cG5jYkzaAcdaU/s1600/SconePal++033.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 230px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXzPUFBWOa6nZ7QNTn2V6tp6CYWMJ7QE93hdCMp2qXJDMuZJJrSANOHKi-v-pZocPGkF6y-KPsrr_xxR0z50kD-kzMU0mWEaR_A0bk9SZdbpjfVBmbC2z-fdPTpXQSX5cG5jYkzaAcdaU/s320/SconePal++033.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508281955516135282" border="0" /></a>Then kicked on with a "grrrr, let's go"!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjThkb5uDK7jZQhH6xA-xtUXa5t_Hu-H0kc5e_Md-LD7jRxmb7PGJOn1LOyuR69FiNZNN3ton3Ynz-xW_qOK7InnrOw0Addznp5dCm9Nuh1DzI7lQEGW0Toica0lynBIEb59XzApPZ201I/s1600/SconePal++035.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 217px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjThkb5uDK7jZQhH6xA-xtUXa5t_Hu-H0kc5e_Md-LD7jRxmb7PGJOn1LOyuR69FiNZNN3ton3Ynz-xW_qOK7InnrOw0Addznp5dCm9Nuh1DzI7lQEGW0Toica0lynBIEb59XzApPZ201I/s320/SconePal++035.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508281962245774962" border="0" /></a>Up the hill, round the corned to a double of barrels on a downhill slope. Walked as 2 short strides, Hopalong managed to spook so much at first barrel that we managed 3 in here! Bob managed to catch us from a distance over the 1st one, but trees hid us from view for part b! Defensive position much?!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2p1Rvrnrc6qHdgPPlzQUJiQXhuEryps3jgo3_F2SgtBnb7aY0cPX4StBk1G0h1kEgAdvvPF8e9yvCkdLUMmGbn_Def-_alhIPe1ADUDt17Vr2pRFKjbdiqR88H5yxFHHQdsW0-KfwZa0/s1600/SconePal++037.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2p1Rvrnrc6qHdgPPlzQUJiQXhuEryps3jgo3_F2SgtBnb7aY0cPX4StBk1G0h1kEgAdvvPF8e9yvCkdLUMmGbn_Def-_alhIPe1ADUDt17Vr2pRFKjbdiqR88H5yxFHHQdsW0-KfwZa0/s320/SconePal++037.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508281969143887202" border="0" /></a>We then at last got into our stride, got a fab jump over a roll top off a turn at no.6, popped the flower fence at no.7 and ponced through the water splash at 8. Kicked on up the hill to the top loop and got a lovely jump over a spread box with brush laid on top at no.9. No.10ab was two logs on a long curving line with funny camber ground. She was mega spooky to the first one, then we had a disagreement about which side to pass the Christmas tree in the middle! Managed to avoid it just but lost my stirrup over part b so wiggled up the hill trying to get it back before no.11 & 12, two palisades on a turn.<br /><br />Then over a table at 13 which we got a little close to, but happily cantered down the steep hill to the main field again. I thought she might boggle the trakhener at no.14 so she got a wee smack on the bum and we launched over one-handed! Bob managed to catch a horrifically unflattering photo of us over this! But I'm one to share good and bad, so here it is for your entertainment! Poor Hopalong, sack the jockey!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeXXnkC2eoQr_uckir5nQQb1dhWX9YqQtSDpwBwBhTI2y7lOHk29vgCUjxg5nj_Y-4fAakdaTVszgrTUhCsFdv4z8p0Itrnk_TkpfzE1KPlrZRp8zVZXzInfiCt3t-w5ZqWq-OT0d-xmY/s1600/SconePal++040.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 227px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeXXnkC2eoQr_uckir5nQQb1dhWX9YqQtSDpwBwBhTI2y7lOHk29vgCUjxg5nj_Y-4fAakdaTVszgrTUhCsFdv4z8p0Itrnk_TkpfzE1KPlrZRp8zVZXzInfiCt3t-w5ZqWq-OT0d-xmY/s320/SconePal++040.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508281977489703698" border="0" /></a>But to prove we can jump nicely, here's a photo of us over the bench at 15 which she jumped beautifully.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicRKYVGxhGiWdNM7-hSfRSnmhqf5do63sm1b4QN81KUzKmKj_CQBpO9tu60V4KE80Bdw-B85H2cp3UYx9Jo4gDaPT-sSkg_I9GRohq5FuATQWnpMExh1T-kZboAUgju1l13YBNgWc_HQA/s1600/SconePal++043.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 226px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicRKYVGxhGiWdNM7-hSfRSnmhqf5do63sm1b4QN81KUzKmKj_CQBpO9tu60V4KE80Bdw-B85H2cp3UYx9Jo4gDaPT-sSkg_I9GRohq5FuATQWnpMExh1T-kZboAUgju1l13YBNgWc_HQA/s320/SconePal++043.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508281980823633826" border="0" /></a>She then zoomed through the water at 16abc (rolltop, ramp in then skinny brush out) fab and got a nice jump over the parallel rails at 17 where George Michie and his camera were;<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrKeEI0Kkq2-tpVFNV-w1ZMU7QFSHDqFdfzSAIdXDplLp4XIAhHN6yi-U6YDl4IRkO1zhEjOPw13z0AN1TGO6340BiJUp7grzlFER9sOKjAwxN7W82KUWmWkJU5ogK608uDvEz9TJHfoA/s1600/GM2_3645.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrKeEI0Kkq2-tpVFNV-w1ZMU7QFSHDqFdfzSAIdXDplLp4XIAhHN6yi-U6YDl4IRkO1zhEjOPw13z0AN1TGO6340BiJUp7grzlFER9sOKjAwxN7W82KUWmWkJU5ogK608uDvEz9TJHfoA/s320/GM2_3645.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508282924126243394" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-AQcNP8yvfhcvcuRQvrfxJ6DKIqV7Px1B4W49x_t7pITCeILA1jqToaGk39-0Vi8rr9BARAqrMLTDGn3rk8xEuo3qZtRQ6uCikAnrSs1RhOjD6r9rT38kXY2DdrDlIoUMGaUWZUBSO4g/s1600/GM2_3650.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-AQcNP8yvfhcvcuRQvrfxJ6DKIqV7Px1B4W49x_t7pITCeILA1jqToaGk39-0Vi8rr9BARAqrMLTDGn3rk8xEuo3qZtRQ6uCikAnrSs1RhOjD6r9rT38kXY2DdrDlIoUMGaUWZUBSO4g/s320/GM2_3650.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508282929881881858" border="0" /></a>18ab was a decent sized square box fence filled with potatoes to a corner. We got a nice jump over the box fence, but numpty rider saw a long one at the corner, Hopalong didn't and we didn't look very stylish over the b part! A little close, but fine over straw bales at 19 then nice jump over the saw bench at 20 to finish clear.<br /><br />The looking/spooking/general oddness meant we had 8 time pens, but this didn't affect any potential placing. So first DC for us at PN, yet I'm still a little down about it?! I think I may be over analysing a little, looking back on the XC, we had more good jumps than bad overall. She was happy to gallop on and cantered happily down a very steep hill with hardcore track, so this hopefully means it wasn't soreness bothering her.<br /><br />I'm hoping it was a combination of me being a bit plebby/defensive in the SJ, her being a bit sluggish due to the heat and having a bit of an off day too.Team Hopalonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14180960486280148285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8048594497321924187.post-84227632570960405642010-08-15T13:16:00.000-07:002010-08-15T13:45:59.195-07:00Strathallan BE100- Sun 1st AugTeam Hopalong returned the the scene of our first BE event. Last year we did the BE90 at Strathallan as our first ever BE competition and this year we went back to take on the BE100. Spent Saturday morning fence judging with my pal Lisa and then walked the course. Enough to think about including a pretty meaty looking open corner and a huge steeplechase fence.<br /><br />We were very lucky with the weather, a little drizzle while tacking up/warming up for dressage, but were able to shelter from the monsoon that passed through inbetween dressage and SJ!<br /><br />Hopalong warmed up quite nicely for the dressage, but wasn't consistent enough in her outline (the usual story!) and got 43.0 score, exactly the same as last time out at Eglinton! At least not bottom as well. ;)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4N-0qEq1_yjwYfUo9vSBsI2UettVwVnSeNitRiRE6GJNYE4DXSyirerw7kHh_vtqrMXxbNumL7AQ22GZTJ0UA7671LuzE7RHmSEPDIBx8mTVnJOkwfGTvqkL6xgQVraaroeqpvqdDqsA/s1600/Strathallen++02.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4N-0qEq1_yjwYfUo9vSBsI2UettVwVnSeNitRiRE6GJNYE4DXSyirerw7kHh_vtqrMXxbNumL7AQ22GZTJ0UA7671LuzE7RHmSEPDIBx8mTVnJOkwfGTvqkL6xgQVraaroeqpvqdDqsA/s320/Strathallen++02.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505734695587998418" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcJmTqIvcbkNkIP2x9ALzv1JroLN9JbsDySSurzROAehQcelXyrtdIX_cSw-pV-NFnwsE1ZuWpZ-SxvMPwCiPDzT0eZUXswdK_lIgtI01tBRzUXkRzZBXkNXnjzsoQ4Qir8jj1dwDPW30/s1600/Strathallen++04.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcJmTqIvcbkNkIP2x9ALzv1JroLN9JbsDySSurzROAehQcelXyrtdIX_cSw-pV-NFnwsE1ZuWpZ-SxvMPwCiPDzT0eZUXswdK_lIgtI01tBRzUXkRzZBXkNXnjzsoQ4Qir8jj1dwDPW30/s320/Strathallen++04.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505734700746226818" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUPJEO1SKoVH-bqVJX72wNMGU3T_DghcQdLByTnecTe1DXkYSge9LluD2Lkto5b_1pKzOehHEKxBA2BOOFugZ76fEITd7cbAuwHSUMdYI8_PazHGBPYntKlyCxKiA-A8VFo-wZ7Q5OXPE/s1600/Strathallen++05.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUPJEO1SKoVH-bqVJX72wNMGU3T_DghcQdLByTnecTe1DXkYSge9LluD2Lkto5b_1pKzOehHEKxBA2BOOFugZ76fEITd7cbAuwHSUMdYI8_PazHGBPYntKlyCxKiA-A8VFo-wZ7Q5OXPE/s320/Strathallen++05.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505734705020155954" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM74WNMh5fJ5YbIofC0hgXIKUKV_YMVESKDzAoQV6of2mcYa5MrrapmPFIidQKcGVz3h3onVSLTmOXnPPyTaFMJQV-k11v8e-_yD9pecF_cwVFOa_WRWhxY857TKH7oa7FQb_By1LaOBs/s1600/Strathallen++11.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 211px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM74WNMh5fJ5YbIofC0hgXIKUKV_YMVESKDzAoQV6of2mcYa5MrrapmPFIidQKcGVz3h3onVSLTmOXnPPyTaFMJQV-k11v8e-_yD9pecF_cwVFOa_WRWhxY857TKH7oa7FQb_By1LaOBs/s320/Strathallen++11.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505734719396457474" border="0" /></a><br />SJ course was very twisty but nothing looked too huge or scary. She warmed up nicely and we went in feeling quite happy. Got a little close to no.1 but she went "ping" nicely!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1B8xXOForXzej32uytJGlnyBh6XJfX8wVmaYWYQ36vWu50hW_jOBVv6Gt9LLI7gsP_2eim0FIfTdcRdbOvvM7-B9AGs6GeU25pzN7zyarsP1BxWIAbCtiV21PT1gbOA0xRhrSzprgXzk/s1600/Strathallen++13.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 216px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1B8xXOForXzej32uytJGlnyBh6XJfX8wVmaYWYQ36vWu50hW_jOBVv6Gt9LLI7gsP_2eim0FIfTdcRdbOvvM7-B9AGs6GeU25pzN7zyarsP1BxWIAbCtiV21PT1gbOA0xRhrSzprgXzk/s320/Strathallen++13.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505736191379142834" border="0" /></a><br />Then felt great round the rest, hitting really nice strides and staying in a lovely regular rythym. :)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNFqYIQqZrX44-rP0w9loMr6huuUxo7FqpsvpALV5TNmaBGG5nB9fW-HmI4v0sUhTUmVkdLaYXmv0pf3Q2OdqMGlFgpGK13hYpphcyNZSXoUzIJrF1SS8fwv0CZDeqgi3s5jWMQtrDf9M/s1600/Strathallen++15.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 210px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNFqYIQqZrX44-rP0w9loMr6huuUxo7FqpsvpALV5TNmaBGG5nB9fW-HmI4v0sUhTUmVkdLaYXmv0pf3Q2OdqMGlFgpGK13hYpphcyNZSXoUzIJrF1SS8fwv0CZDeqgi3s5jWMQtrDf9M/s320/Strathallen++15.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505736195278260722" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPESzKLKJurZDacWzHP9awQ8bBtlR1UwrxE8iSRLO83Mwy5GIzJ5_5LW6bYBDEjraO-JnJbM8hiq6CYIjffnIYUfBn5J5JcAPfL5ZGITT5PeNfT9MXr1_Z5LPnP0YlwqJH6SeKk950VlE/s1600/Strathallen++17.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 204px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPESzKLKJurZDacWzHP9awQ8bBtlR1UwrxE8iSRLO83Mwy5GIzJ5_5LW6bYBDEjraO-JnJbM8hiq6CYIjffnIYUfBn5J5JcAPfL5ZGITT5PeNfT9MXr1_Z5LPnP0YlwqJH6SeKk950VlE/s320/Strathallen++17.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505736215074525202" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV8gnY_rYiO0-yxdqCSxrYtmPh-UFOaMFtpHErsS9t3Sy4f6OvIkbTKi4C-aQ38GjjGqBekN0K9gbosSIWIH7tBtUddVUF0fL5G-LzpQVcP2Yf_RUKLFP-Do95oCQentdSy3Y9oRNgVu4/s1600/Strathallen++20.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 199px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV8gnY_rYiO0-yxdqCSxrYtmPh-UFOaMFtpHErsS9t3Sy4f6OvIkbTKi4C-aQ38GjjGqBekN0K9gbosSIWIH7tBtUddVUF0fL5G-LzpQVcP2Yf_RUKLFP-Do95oCQentdSy3Y9oRNgVu4/s320/Strathallen++20.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505736217459613234" border="0" /></a>There was quite a dog-leg from the double to the final fence, took off over the last (felt like another, lovely take off spot had been found) and went "whoop whoop" out loud, celebrating the end of our 4-fault-itis.... only to hear clatter as she took it out behind.... grrrrrr! (and very embarassing as everyone had heard me whooping to celebrate a "clear" round a few milliseconds too early! ;) The offending fence;<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj7uaST8IRS350JAGjAxW1SMobcZKsuA-UDxLoO8izrJde6uwO5pJhYBqbG7pAUuysxV7neNptvhw-mg_iRGy-Y_TotNyBuBYVwse3ZqrsSTZIuPq4wv-wSCRBkV422ycpcp9E7m1OGjM/s1600/Strathallen++22.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 218px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj7uaST8IRS350JAGjAxW1SMobcZKsuA-UDxLoO8izrJde6uwO5pJhYBqbG7pAUuysxV7neNptvhw-mg_iRGy-Y_TotNyBuBYVwse3ZqrsSTZIuPq4wv-wSCRBkV422ycpcp9E7m1OGjM/s320/Strathallen++22.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505736220634112642" border="0" /></a>So 4 faults SJ, again! Really must try harder!<br /><br />Quick change and onto XC. Had a really lovely round, she was a bit spooky and looky in places (step up to palisade and barrels in particular) but jumped really nicely. Bob caught us at the corner fence where we got a little bit closer than ideal (I don't think we could actually have got any closer?!) Check out the incredible angle of her hindlegs, I think she was definitely a cat in a previous life?!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXCWposYalN0AWcUBlCzaEvjwqojfK4YtGn5xjoZLI5CzjakqyOsiyvSviRHQfFikpIXqTr04EPZ0OkuDcghUQlMiYMjw73_ElxnR9MHF8kAPpLhb_IrXbS4UKfZ34G1iBW0W31my5lVc/s1600/Strathallen++24.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 193px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXCWposYalN0AWcUBlCzaEvjwqojfK4YtGn5xjoZLI5CzjakqyOsiyvSviRHQfFikpIXqTr04EPZ0OkuDcghUQlMiYMjw73_ElxnR9MHF8kAPpLhb_IrXbS4UKfZ34G1iBW0W31my5lVc/s320/Strathallen++24.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505738936197547714" border="0" /></a><br />However, we got over in one piece;<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGAJrS3GjAPy4Ke70OCVQzWPSvpNs6gFi642k8VPRt8XnTJ95O-VZ6wOrJvzIeKVRv8I4R3k1-zhOWmBIqykN-tKDOBGYJSLCNIcWoVSLuTPdi0aPl37b4eGcg1PC3ub_WL7mK-FgQboQ/s1600/Strathallen++27.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGAJrS3GjAPy4Ke70OCVQzWPSvpNs6gFi642k8VPRt8XnTJ95O-VZ6wOrJvzIeKVRv8I4R3k1-zhOWmBIqykN-tKDOBGYJSLCNIcWoVSLuTPdi0aPl37b4eGcg1PC3ub_WL7mK-FgQboQ/s320/Strathallen++27.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505738943195670466" border="0" /></a>And zoomed over the steeplechase happily (sadly no action pic, but one of me when course walking to show the size of it! I think in this shot I was trying to shrink it with the power of my mind, since I know that Hopalong doesn't believe in brushing through brush...!)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHB1yhPRC8WupVFs97iunFNCtoVpO61JwndyiUCoAmHjuXm3WVc2brbqhOamBs8Jh7wmZ22wKXCjOe1AZcYCe4W-x00MYomMcnUD3wAw_X9wallhdg70w2oAx3BivE89ApvpMivhU_vRw/s1600/strathallan+steeplechase.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHB1yhPRC8WupVFs97iunFNCtoVpO61JwndyiUCoAmHjuXm3WVc2brbqhOamBs8Jh7wmZ22wKXCjOe1AZcYCe4W-x00MYomMcnUD3wAw_X9wallhdg70w2oAx3BivE89ApvpMivhU_vRw/s320/strathallan+steeplechase.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505738973585897858" border="0" /></a>Bob then managed to sprint up the hill and catch us over the last fence and galloping to the finish.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQUBiQRNklHZm3wSATwhPdbMflLQxT0BXFWmztWRn9bd0GHW6AKTTzYWcanEYgSksIm9tyB4cPJZ65Cf1EGI8Hh6MbdMvtEbUrdYw5l-V3wjJ5Ys1pqcalYAsGpCMjL4fZ6VEpOS7gfkw/s1600/Strathallen++30.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 186px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQUBiQRNklHZm3wSATwhPdbMflLQxT0BXFWmztWRn9bd0GHW6AKTTzYWcanEYgSksIm9tyB4cPJZ65Cf1EGI8Hh6MbdMvtEbUrdYw5l-V3wjJ5Ys1pqcalYAsGpCMjL4fZ6VEpOS7gfkw/s320/Strathallen++30.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505739995106049970" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi0zRtzWvIatlTDtfNeI5MSy2ZMQXb5Lt3mzeVKIs96ASWtzwnLwGIj8CrBNWJNmgRUDgYSzNUboDnDgUViVszQtx-wjp_531b93ObAg1dptDzeUTKV0ZPWWt_N0M9Q6-0JGQwvVtJy5o/s1600/Strathallen++31.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 218px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi0zRtzWvIatlTDtfNeI5MSy2ZMQXb5Lt3mzeVKIs96ASWtzwnLwGIj8CrBNWJNmgRUDgYSzNUboDnDgUViVszQtx-wjp_531b93ObAg1dptDzeUTKV0ZPWWt_N0M9Q6-0JGQwvVtJy5o/s320/Strathallen++31.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505738957501964002" border="0" /></a>And I was thrilled to see on the scoreboard a little later that we made it round clear inside the time! :D First time we've acheived the PN speed. :) However, the pole down SJ meant we just missed out on 10th place (and a rosette) and finished in 11th! Grrrr. But still very pleased as she was so good XC.<br /><br />Went back to Strathallan on Monday for a David Gatherer XC lesson. Jumped pretty much all of the Novice BE course and she was pinging, so very pleased with that too. :) We also re-did the PN corner with a lot more style than on competition day and she jumped the novice version of it beautifully too. :)<br /><br />Scone next! :)Team Hopalonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14180960486280148285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8048594497321924187.post-2828192915853235652010-08-02T14:57:00.000-07:002010-08-02T16:09:45.542-07:00Camp!Another slow update, but last weekend Hopalong and I went to my Riding Club's first ever senior camp. :D It was held at Kinnaird XC, which is a farm just outside Cupar that has a wee XC course, some SJs and they were able to set up a dressage arena on grass for us too. Horses were able to be stable or out grazing, whichever you preferred (Heidi was out munching grass and enjoying the company of some sheet and a pretty boy horse over the fenceline for the weekend!) and there was a large undercover area for sitting and blethering in.<br /><br />We were very lucky with the weather and only had a wee bit of rain on Saturday afternoon. Went for a "quiet hack" on Friday evening (which ended up being a couple of laps of the field in canter/gallop as the horses were all rather excited!) and then got some pizzas for dinner and had a good evening with everyone.<br /><br />We had a SJ lesson on Saturday morning. Warm up consisted of walk-gallop as it was in amongst the XC jumps in a massive field and Heidi was very excited! ;) Did some grid work and a wee course to finish on and once she calmed down, got some lovely jumping.<br /><br />Watched the other lessons while Heidi had some chill out time in the field, then it was back on board for a XC lesson. This time Heidi was thrilled to be allowed to increase the speed and play over the fun stuff. :) Jumped a good selection of different fences and strung some tricky combos together including three arrowheads on a S-shaped curve on a tricky incline/camber and a steep downhill approach to skinny log and ditch- good coffin practice!<br /><br />Hopalong was on good form and jumped everything no bother. Finished up the session jumping two offset palisades and then a big log which Bob and the instructor reckoned was about 1.10m!<br /><br />BBQ and more blethering on Saturday evening, then a dressage lesson on Sunday morning. She went really well (maybe new dressage saddle will help us?!) and there was some glimmers of decent work and consistent outline. :D Tried to put it into practice in the afternoon with our first attempt at a Novice BD test (N28) and didn't do too badly, got 62.5%, although not quite as good as in lesson with Linda shouting at us! ;)<br /><br />Finished up the weekend with a wee round of SJs to complete the combined training mini comp and then it was time to go home. :( Everyone had a really good time and hopefully we'll get to do it another time. :)<br /><br />Very keen warming up through the grid!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9RZyxIuRtCbvPTRXjEjbpQtCBmiakjckb0ellYX0wcieFZP2Bq6tpEXd__teYmr9_a_cG5-T-e_0arNtn2n_zZSKzmixxvTv2BCHkQ595RQ_ZyPhEeA_h-sM7lFLQHmHtEDfMJTPI-Jk/s1600/AlmondCamp++01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9RZyxIuRtCbvPTRXjEjbpQtCBmiakjckb0ellYX0wcieFZP2Bq6tpEXd__teYmr9_a_cG5-T-e_0arNtn2n_zZSKzmixxvTv2BCHkQ595RQ_ZyPhEeA_h-sM7lFLQHmHtEDfMJTPI-Jk/s320/AlmondCamp++01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500951519132661122" border="0" /></a><br />Being very spooky over the water tray, daft pony!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwyR42e8qdLAkey5RI1MeyKBCA1k5iTM-ovS-zu6XvQRRm4azwlYdfK0-bvsobWJ0Ifa1Q9QKdYeBfg3krEt-dgEE3CJ1-a5zz82gmfRRiiLXc4HxgFEpbVn7ozL4biatr7_sbGY02gF4/s1600/AlmondCamp++12.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwyR42e8qdLAkey5RI1MeyKBCA1k5iTM-ovS-zu6XvQRRm4azwlYdfK0-bvsobWJ0Ifa1Q9QKdYeBfg3krEt-dgEE3CJ1-a5zz82gmfRRiiLXc4HxgFEpbVn7ozL4biatr7_sbGY02gF4/s320/AlmondCamp++12.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500952340670891202" border="0" /></a><br />Some other SJ pics;<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiOfA7DdHLuBEf4u2vrt8PxkB3ctzL5KoWMgOEWBAI_ktaSBHNpB9eZtRluh546UAgrX_EM8bgd5XB3yO-lq1Wxo-OHL8aBBgt_9pvojPJ6RFb25-OgYsbt_W6aGpGulPissEUsB0A9vE/s1600/AlmondCamp++16.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiOfA7DdHLuBEf4u2vrt8PxkB3ctzL5KoWMgOEWBAI_ktaSBHNpB9eZtRluh546UAgrX_EM8bgd5XB3yO-lq1Wxo-OHL8aBBgt_9pvojPJ6RFb25-OgYsbt_W6aGpGulPissEUsB0A9vE/s320/AlmondCamp++16.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500952034263088306" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRMpD3J2HFubwLMM0rS26JwMmObflptPQslL3ZVY0dfDmtkb7Xo5X5rBAoeCB_N_txLN1qHLHH16siSrYWt24ydWWJcXX-2yMiiNOXtVeEWahVHKcXLiTaObaYR7at8TOgAuEFZZalg_Q/s1600/AlmondCamp++20.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRMpD3J2HFubwLMM0rS26JwMmObflptPQslL3ZVY0dfDmtkb7Xo5X5rBAoeCB_N_txLN1qHLHH16siSrYWt24ydWWJcXX-2yMiiNOXtVeEWahVHKcXLiTaObaYR7at8TOgAuEFZZalg_Q/s320/AlmondCamp++20.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500951522834766818" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw6WHI4tMDhTA-uLIKKkfREuzSnRNVqhqidpk4nI6_7bCxBLe5vNK1laebra618AjLcmYO4oM2a5nu3W33BNG2ENPA49vpuBSoKRt9CnrHpjSU51o3bGxHrAYJs3GitwYPoxTgR-r1PiQ/s1600/AlmondCamp++28.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw6WHI4tMDhTA-uLIKKkfREuzSnRNVqhqidpk4nI6_7bCxBLe5vNK1laebra618AjLcmYO4oM2a5nu3W33BNG2ENPA49vpuBSoKRt9CnrHpjSU51o3bGxHrAYJs3GitwYPoxTgR-r1PiQ/s320/AlmondCamp++28.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500951526843293906" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4klPouzgNo6UaXgSlLH4j8MyYzj08MPcNrmtK-1HBbeXKgND_cipw44vIhBdUXdvztYv9FXWesZuxMRTHPAr3CcEIvHLeooT7uyU7NYzuL1_XlgQLszn0wvm0-f0_VclFiirHzCJUAzI/s1600/AlmondCamp++24.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4klPouzgNo6UaXgSlLH4j8MyYzj08MPcNrmtK-1HBbeXKgND_cipw44vIhBdUXdvztYv9FXWesZuxMRTHPAr3CcEIvHLeooT7uyU7NYzuL1_XlgQLszn0wvm0-f0_VclFiirHzCJUAzI/s320/AlmondCamp++24.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500952344233869970" border="0" /></a>XC pics;<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG5gYepJvTus0kEkUjNcORuo67UYjgV3OsNZcdwW9RtXWD7e4qJMgrDpIErgMygpH5dLgGHxYNDDdf8sGC-YugjiAICJLvKH6WsfvXmRYWL4Qgc8omJ7HhL1jfr4PTZyLpXjt6W_advOg/s1600/AlmondCamp++39.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG5gYepJvTus0kEkUjNcORuo67UYjgV3OsNZcdwW9RtXWD7e4qJMgrDpIErgMygpH5dLgGHxYNDDdf8sGC-YugjiAICJLvKH6WsfvXmRYWL4Qgc8omJ7HhL1jfr4PTZyLpXjt6W_advOg/s320/AlmondCamp++39.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500952935244671346" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJRIMMOQhnDhDrk9wT0BeVzVZCYdfTNaIq_EV5ABQOl8eP_36B2D1k2OT1dl-nQyxyMoN0SutrNgaiXHkYiBoeRQwBmLNC2Kg33dPGZlgvqCZKP033a3ZCnCyz4qt2XwACFSeprUPtMQM/s1600/AlmondCamp++51.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJRIMMOQhnDhDrk9wT0BeVzVZCYdfTNaIq_EV5ABQOl8eP_36B2D1k2OT1dl-nQyxyMoN0SutrNgaiXHkYiBoeRQwBmLNC2Kg33dPGZlgvqCZKP033a3ZCnCyz4qt2XwACFSeprUPtMQM/s320/AlmondCamp++51.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500952939722179538" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtiFfw7KGyI5sU_bvZDba8x99-aHNzOVmDn4GPm6t4QVgTNutUAb-yDyPUaKMc0gN8Eu7dtHYqIC9bX5xVqWo-N2UiEvUwMthKq05gdnIF7ZJ2gW5ejJnfXKkUBKgrWZa4i0i5YFouIuA/s1600/AlmondCamp++52.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtiFfw7KGyI5sU_bvZDba8x99-aHNzOVmDn4GPm6t4QVgTNutUAb-yDyPUaKMc0gN8Eu7dtHYqIC9bX5xVqWo-N2UiEvUwMthKq05gdnIF7ZJ2gW5ejJnfXKkUBKgrWZa4i0i5YFouIuA/s320/AlmondCamp++52.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500952943284886610" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVQAxySkcthtogPopGZs0hlm58EDZFoTksFqE-VxlNVRnNZ-SfXVxTww1pVal6rA3Ln56RS5oCEdvrkLae_AyyS8FQR7i0naget_H7D-4AnEuMin0o5YI5SBvT84At6qVfxe9WaVgUhBg/s1600/AlmondCamp++55.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVQAxySkcthtogPopGZs0hlm58EDZFoTksFqE-VxlNVRnNZ-SfXVxTww1pVal6rA3Ln56RS5oCEdvrkLae_AyyS8FQR7i0naget_H7D-4AnEuMin0o5YI5SBvT84At6qVfxe9WaVgUhBg/s320/AlmondCamp++55.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500952948271468706" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizF2IK1DvrcgH3zmYXMSSx4Msu2pL4h4lTHU__xsYzgxMEJLGsY-budHb4v-9_1-G_qmUCGbdfTdPKSKPmyfzL78Lz-AfIzPlmRPV1AWjLq2V_Dne41ooV74NxBUF6D1tQNhJkklzdgeU/s1600/AlmondCamp++59.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizF2IK1DvrcgH3zmYXMSSx4Msu2pL4h4lTHU__xsYzgxMEJLGsY-budHb4v-9_1-G_qmUCGbdfTdPKSKPmyfzL78Lz-AfIzPlmRPV1AWjLq2V_Dne41ooV74NxBUF6D1tQNhJkklzdgeU/s320/AlmondCamp++59.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500953442360114850" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm4Etb1xCzrUPp3j5fVB1_any-DzWaOMfCAXgeBTmbGWI_1mu_F6JgrwrN_rR01EfsNJWJZBWDPh0TfHfSHUqewq1BUIumIew59GJd3thXcPVIrWL5uEZgmTUNl2Gzq0ELclyHutRYeV4/s1600/AlmondCamp++62.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm4Etb1xCzrUPp3j5fVB1_any-DzWaOMfCAXgeBTmbGWI_1mu_F6JgrwrN_rR01EfsNJWJZBWDPh0TfHfSHUqewq1BUIumIew59GJd3thXcPVIrWL5uEZgmTUNl2Gzq0ELclyHutRYeV4/s320/AlmondCamp++62.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500953446746837042" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM-vUXN1HzJ02KhZ0umAr56LMFfxZfLMBw5tedAU0Pulj5DMT9XphJwo6FCb-U2wsPvMIjOLKURGIMFGi-zD1hrBnGKvcH6IEltsvVO8HVdTIVaiEn8k7tY2m3UA3nl6v3Q7yweoZK8CU/s1600/AlmondCamp++63.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM-vUXN1HzJ02KhZ0umAr56LMFfxZfLMBw5tedAU0Pulj5DMT9XphJwo6FCb-U2wsPvMIjOLKURGIMFGi-zD1hrBnGKvcH6IEltsvVO8HVdTIVaiEn8k7tY2m3UA3nl6v3Q7yweoZK8CU/s320/AlmondCamp++63.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500953447683219138" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhseUOHEfP_0ubj9KyhOlkx1_jGwDHKBeDDkalf79yb-FXkT6vNEXo17auv9MvpunyfCG37pCnoUMT4cZ_Qt1hxkwKo8lxn6bDlmXZNK3IGoTQTVLaSuQYD5LPihNEmrbgZa4Tpj6PZStY/s1600/AlmondCamp++66.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhseUOHEfP_0ubj9KyhOlkx1_jGwDHKBeDDkalf79yb-FXkT6vNEXo17auv9MvpunyfCG37pCnoUMT4cZ_Qt1hxkwKo8lxn6bDlmXZNK3IGoTQTVLaSuQYD5LPihNEmrbgZa4Tpj6PZStY/s320/AlmondCamp++66.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500953452974479602" border="0" /></a>Team Hopalonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14180960486280148285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8048594497321924187.post-79216882387054645072010-07-11T04:16:00.000-07:002010-07-11T07:32:12.200-07:00Eglinton BE100 (10th July)A bit quicker to update this time! ;)<br /><br />Yesterday, we were at Eglinton Horse Trials for our third crack at BE100. Hoping to definitely better the dressage from last time out, avoid cheeky run outs in the SJ and keep up the clear XC.<br /><br />Went down on Friday and stabled overnight to split up the travelling and walk the course to save having to do it on the day. Glad I walked the XC the day before as one word summed it up- BIG! At least overnight I could shrink them in my head and just kick on when on course the next day! ;) Course pics here- <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/Eliza.Mather/EglintonBE100Course2010#"></a><br /><br />A little plea with the weather to stay dry didn't really work. On off drizzle/rain most of the morning, but luckily the worst only arrived as we were leaving. As it had been so dry recently, the ground soaked up lots of the rain, but it was rather squidgy in the SJ.<br /><br />Dressage went ok. She warmed up lovely (as always!) and then enjoyed a good nosey and some pokey-nose moments in the test itself. Felt like we had more moments of nice outline than last time though and at least the judge and I were working off the same test sheet! ;) Ended up with 43. At least not bottom this time!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm9-Lb-s1wni4uN3KHwkeyT2fwVgTQpW0wMJnJLMDLs22RgXG_B4Ns3Dt18fFksMRce6OMpM-O30CCEuJ1r_bNrYmbtGkeVmLfDk-lS1hPiFMPhnrhVSyxGErloUUxYN4ksQKLRNs7D9E/s1600/Eglinton1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 223px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm9-Lb-s1wni4uN3KHwkeyT2fwVgTQpW0wMJnJLMDLs22RgXG_B4Ns3Dt18fFksMRce6OMpM-O30CCEuJ1r_bNrYmbtGkeVmLfDk-lS1hPiFMPhnrhVSyxGErloUUxYN4ksQKLRNs7D9E/s320/Eglinton1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492609264906822514" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkIYPyucUCu-quHYWZBTZW-plkn1t_Ov1lwK6i40fcxFKB_AbB6HFKzlXr9VgezOqoR4rMGOc_EWuG4lpgeZO4HIvyfWrmQikUkS9DCRZmRgvyTGGKf92agUdzh7FbhT_SLL9W3zFe7zI/s1600/Eglinton2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 225px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkIYPyucUCu-quHYWZBTZW-plkn1t_Ov1lwK6i40fcxFKB_AbB6HFKzlXr9VgezOqoR4rMGOc_EWuG4lpgeZO4HIvyfWrmQikUkS9DCRZmRgvyTGGKf92agUdzh7FbhT_SLL9W3zFe7zI/s320/Eglinton2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492609273796785506" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_R_aysPIGDpltpDUU5u9byIbglxlRitFHJhb1Sk8zMX-UdEa-0Jf3VQojERI3SsNKV6boJXPDfUSzjIY-u8JD4BKy29Nah3Y8QFMtXPr-56vYOi_4yE56Ks7ZKlvoAtKFFh_VUAWbc38/s1600/Eglinton3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 235px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_R_aysPIGDpltpDUU5u9byIbglxlRitFHJhb1Sk8zMX-UdEa-0Jf3VQojERI3SsNKV6boJXPDfUSzjIY-u8JD4BKy29Nah3Y8QFMtXPr-56vYOi_4yE56Ks7ZKlvoAtKFFh_VUAWbc38/s320/Eglinton3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492609282836603794" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7JKkeNb0mHIvHJRIdv8Gr3iypjHTXz2uvy0oq66OUDI317V43v9qMQPsAmLAlAeR_OoToCdp9KR9-nM_D9x1etzn1f2FeulyUPEp4B0rkYTPTQM6WqaFtXKHqgXoA5c0c9icUVMpFo8k/s1600/Eglinton6.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7JKkeNb0mHIvHJRIdv8Gr3iypjHTXz2uvy0oq66OUDI317V43v9qMQPsAmLAlAeR_OoToCdp9KR9-nM_D9x1etzn1f2FeulyUPEp4B0rkYTPTQM6WqaFtXKHqgXoA5c0c9icUVMpFo8k/s320/Eglinton6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492609285591090002" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9lewCA9cpoC8-k4FlQV-G704XsCq-77cEL-sjVzCdswFY36S09PaeJpDBBc3lVV_ro2DJM3IfN91QWw1NdmLM-pVHmJgdtzoehX4_iHFan6qxOpciCEZXjr5ikw3X-wxij_cO9HVYEwc/s1600/Eglinton10.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 222px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9lewCA9cpoC8-k4FlQV-G704XsCq-77cEL-sjVzCdswFY36S09PaeJpDBBc3lVV_ro2DJM3IfN91QWw1NdmLM-pVHmJgdtzoehX4_iHFan6qxOpciCEZXjr5ikw3X-wxij_cO9HVYEwc/s320/Eglinton10.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492609296937695090" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBYDv6Z7kXA1hyi1GsoqNzZb9ZIGy_fpki6N1Dc7rj5I6LSUzlipCqc5syFr8gHF-lHHxhDQEQk-49Sk7KUj-m8BmKYZ0wtHQ_11-BwCYUyAfKd9jtE3mFWxKjnR8fCu2EbsYNpDczlq0/s1600/Eglinton11.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 226px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBYDv6Z7kXA1hyi1GsoqNzZb9ZIGy_fpki6N1Dc7rj5I6LSUzlipCqc5syFr8gHF-lHHxhDQEQk-49Sk7KUj-m8BmKYZ0wtHQ_11-BwCYUyAfKd9jtE3mFWxKjnR8fCu2EbsYNpDczlq0/s320/Eglinton11.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492609620810603378" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTVAou_YtIkWwW2TvmBS6WPWzbhcndUYqKN1lq0jzHcLXCOW71om09aWQLxt0oAmvslIVOGEoDj1QmFoAfcFeDHJ40fBcdj16dP1xOcX5IQdtGBPq1QGSK6oC3oGNNhVsuT0dCZaoZHuI/s1600/Eglinton13.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 230px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTVAou_YtIkWwW2TvmBS6WPWzbhcndUYqKN1lq0jzHcLXCOW71om09aWQLxt0oAmvslIVOGEoDj1QmFoAfcFeDHJ40fBcdj16dP1xOcX5IQdtGBPq1QGSK6oC3oGNNhVsuT0dCZaoZHuI/s320/Eglinton13.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492609630910743490" border="0" /></a><br />Can you believe that when I picked up my test sheet later we only got a 5 for the halt, saying "not square"?! Hmph! Should have sent Bob along with photo evidence!<br /><br />Onto the SJ and with some help from a SJ-er friend (who couldn't understand the worry over knock-down fences and the excitement over solid ones!) warmed up nicely, not being too daft about the muddy take offs which was good! It was a very twisty course and I hadn't been able to walk it, so was worried I might get lost!<br /><br />Over no.1;<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEierXqNLs0_t86jJshFFsEzozLbXc-Ee15ZEN1Mm-2gzzANu-ZFvUSE5Gt83W1fp19ze1v6Yb3DYT9AFhQal4x1zozObEjKXb6_ls7SsriKpvt2Lt3Liul8n-7-diomGB3w0oG70xK-xQk/s1600/Eglinton16.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 234px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEierXqNLs0_t86jJshFFsEzozLbXc-Ee15ZEN1Mm-2gzzANu-ZFvUSE5Gt83W1fp19ze1v6Yb3DYT9AFhQal4x1zozObEjKXb6_ls7SsriKpvt2Lt3Liul8n-7-diomGB3w0oG70xK-xQk/s320/Eglinton16.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492610715302371810" border="0" /></a>Remembered to turn right after it, but couldn't quite see no.2 as quick as I would have liked! Ended up with a little squiggle to it, Heidi had a wee think about spooking but legs on and she went! Down to no.3;<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXRZQG46USW-Hf0_-XgdptJRnYH4Eo5e0Aeyaqk_yMqtqLsiiSDhDRszYQy2ghgiEIs7rVESRn-ycMIFxdgafr0DvN4V2Dc3vUoLCaoeirJsjp760Ir8nf6yDjvZT7K5AKeHwrPnciiJU/s1600/Eglinton17.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 210px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXRZQG46USW-Hf0_-XgdptJRnYH4Eo5e0Aeyaqk_yMqtqLsiiSDhDRszYQy2ghgiEIs7rVESRn-ycMIFxdgafr0DvN4V2Dc3vUoLCaoeirJsjp760Ir8nf6yDjvZT7K5AKeHwrPnciiJU/s320/Eglinton17.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492610726379105666" border="0" /></a>Then up to no.4;<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9bBxpMnaOLLPpur8xvY-LOGjefhXDW6Kny9Sf7J_IwS-6Gkn6eu1zKQn5qhgLQwL779XPyG7x5Hxin65J6xDtBOuXOxMDL-rsfThVp6UZ3_-fPU2YIeybvrsvEM_dsgqM-RHHrHfa_M8/s1600/Eglinton18.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 226px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9bBxpMnaOLLPpur8xvY-LOGjefhXDW6Kny9Sf7J_IwS-6Gkn6eu1zKQn5qhgLQwL779XPyG7x5Hxin65J6xDtBOuXOxMDL-rsfThVp6UZ3_-fPU2YIeybvrsvEM_dsgqM-RHHrHfa_M8/s320/Eglinton18.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492610729082501330" border="0" /></a><br />And down to the double at 5 where we managed to squeeze two strides in where there should have been one. Clever pony kept the upright at part b up though.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNNGhNcVpvSgJys6B5-2N3iIiY4YA-v7nVLUEA1S9pFOMRBXY9a_cKG5EylXo8jLTkO6qxFdolEuRJE7TZaaPfCENB20jpC-ATFKSV5KBBt3l88T1ZstAK4m-bK-r2Znh32WcM413Scr0/s1600/Eglinton21.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNNGhNcVpvSgJys6B5-2N3iIiY4YA-v7nVLUEA1S9pFOMRBXY9a_cKG5EylXo8jLTkO6qxFdolEuRJE7TZaaPfCENB20jpC-ATFKSV5KBBt3l88T1ZstAK4m-bK-r2Znh32WcM413Scr0/s320/Eglinton21.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492610732500933522" border="0" /></a>Up over no.6 and no.7;<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIr9teUtzfEZeQpx8qcukJw4PsYSkRxeIt7_ul6DIpbaXfTbPS2_VW-evX1PTaFgm1Kzq2aamxiXLLmYcYzYZMzgkw4fJCwpSgkAt8K6zl1HtOVwk-jxgv49csTUd_qMj49ursurgqp0M/s1600/Eglinton23.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 218px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIr9teUtzfEZeQpx8qcukJw4PsYSkRxeIt7_ul6DIpbaXfTbPS2_VW-evX1PTaFgm1Kzq2aamxiXLLmYcYzYZMzgkw4fJCwpSgkAt8K6zl1HtOVwk-jxgv49csTUd_qMj49ursurgqp0M/s320/Eglinton23.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492610739827350386" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOggaRPp7mkvwbIXO6r_wBvm5CZv75UmnSm7hJmwckDFD9FRLHNnSAKa5LLTGrBwjpexjsl5_neShhb7ILt8BrEeNsj-aTetF4y_lIDwgXCN6Ka9RZ6YiAeZvyOZZ9B0xW0m08s1PcNy0/s1600/Eglinton26.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 221px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOggaRPp7mkvwbIXO6r_wBvm5CZv75UmnSm7hJmwckDFD9FRLHNnSAKa5LLTGrBwjpexjsl5_neShhb7ILt8BrEeNsj-aTetF4y_lIDwgXCN6Ka9RZ6YiAeZvyOZZ9B0xW0m08s1PcNy0/s320/Eglinton26.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492611867196028130" border="0" /></a>Then back down over no.8 (told you it was twisty!) and round to the last line of two fences. Got a big jump over no.9;<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCk9-eyt2MrKtBoLFMip9Qko6VFFv2BYu6hbXNs1YxkmJikRpTlc9Hzq1IAj6tgkzYyprAAvUWtlZbeYYpZDjK2QcpkKMEwwSohIWBSSXEOm8vss2Co6dUJffWw_2OmweuzFRGjbJpjk8/s1600/Eglinton28.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 210px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCk9-eyt2MrKtBoLFMip9Qko6VFFv2BYu6hbXNs1YxkmJikRpTlc9Hzq1IAj6tgkzYyprAAvUWtlZbeYYpZDjK2QcpkKMEwwSohIWBSSXEOm8vss2Co6dUJffWw_2OmweuzFRGjbJpjk8/s320/Eglinton28.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492611873923318594" border="0" /></a>Which got us a little close to the last fence at no.10, thought we may have got lucky, but as 2nd picture shows, not quite! Just tipped it behind for 4 faults at the last fence, grrr!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqy6VEe2s3-5hC75jts8K-7xq78m37_lhLhDk4cXgIx6cZceipLBvlZ9QAHh50IUp9d9GHPnK6nNbWg71ZhgcpYd3uGmzIAiwEtaJYyui_Pf6MNdSJA7EnSGM4fak28PGGv2E7ueUx_Hs/s1600/Eglinton30.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 207px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqy6VEe2s3-5hC75jts8K-7xq78m37_lhLhDk4cXgIx6cZceipLBvlZ9QAHh50IUp9d9GHPnK6nNbWg71ZhgcpYd3uGmzIAiwEtaJYyui_Pf6MNdSJA7EnSGM4fak28PGGv2E7ueUx_Hs/s320/Eglinton30.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492611877494836978" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiruYq5_v1E3bBBMkyLd-M8q9aHcsJT7mTzcO0PSPK9GKOC7gZ6S_O0_-jzPalfygGeekxh-LY0PGOn37ap0scvsHxEh0mj9jQHlzLfl36VoiBpRfLn0qDoGNkj4qaQjulaXpAmRatxUls/s1600/Eglinton31.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiruYq5_v1E3bBBMkyLd-M8q9aHcsJT7mTzcO0PSPK9GKOC7gZ6S_O0_-jzPalfygGeekxh-LY0PGOn37ap0scvsHxEh0mj9jQHlzLfl36VoiBpRfLn0qDoGNkj4qaQjulaXpAmRatxUls/s320/Eglinton31.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492611878677056066" border="0" /></a><br />Very quick change of clothing for both of us and off to the XC. Quick whizz round the warm up (literally, she was very keen!) and then we were off. Jumped the big hedge at no.1 well and then jumped the wee log pile/step up at no.2 as if it wasn't there. Zig zag through the gateway and on to the helsinki steps at no.3, did her little trick of jinking on the last stride to jump a bigger part than planned! Onto 4ab (a step up with BIG ditch in front to a skinny house) that I was quite nervous about, but she popped up really nicely, big pat and good girl for her.<br /><br />Then over a wee palsade fence with raised ground on landing which was a definite let up fence compared to the others;<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLKRBOiO0JqinWN86LfVB-g63AKlUou55GIK_iTkSz7toXYAGfETJLs-IlwaspBeclNVwsiDD0EMNyisrRZBtGgMzfIadKf6gvInniuztg2voaEY_TA_wCYPqIc7ZhFoOhapt5K90CxWY/s1600/Eglinton32.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 206px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLKRBOiO0JqinWN86LfVB-g63AKlUou55GIK_iTkSz7toXYAGfETJLs-IlwaspBeclNVwsiDD0EMNyisrRZBtGgMzfIadKf6gvInniuztg2voaEY_TA_wCYPqIc7ZhFoOhapt5K90CxWY/s320/Eglinton32.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492614462166638994" border="0" /></a>And onto no.6- a rather large hedge with drop on landing which was the next fence I was worried about. However, she flew over and it felt fab! The next picture is my favourite- may even be the first to be printed up and put on the wall!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVXTM5xao1GADgLrjCbmoR-Wt1qXRYJJ3gPkE7w54xy9GJ4e1XurhdU9cqDVA4KcZHF7IiyV18a8iPUPmd6HfNK-5K_AGBricb7d7Rk12IXhNvZoom80jbDED1Yktj6-4PJ9aCqjMbgGs/s1600/Eglinton35.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVXTM5xao1GADgLrjCbmoR-Wt1qXRYJJ3gPkE7w54xy9GJ4e1XurhdU9cqDVA4KcZHF7IiyV18a8iPUPmd6HfNK-5K_AGBricb7d7Rk12IXhNvZoom80jbDED1Yktj6-4PJ9aCqjMbgGs/s320/Eglinton35.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492614470921253202" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4-mIjSB-aL9d_cEDkV2B3mA-6PKX4prH25EGUSrxWlkpQyAGFskrGFYHgI8udMLQ3VxQR4JISuo3X5jDI6G6_tsZigqfA-IkXg9dlgw5tkvDNNgY9FJAHYdBSwuU9YoUzzdIPKI7Q3WY/s1600/Eglinton36.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4-mIjSB-aL9d_cEDkV2B3mA-6PKX4prH25EGUSrxWlkpQyAGFskrGFYHgI8udMLQ3VxQR4JISuo3X5jDI6G6_tsZigqfA-IkXg9dlgw5tkvDNNgY9FJAHYdBSwuU9YoUzzdIPKI7Q3WY/s320/Eglinton36.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492614480899596130" border="0" /></a><br />We then crossed the road, over some rails filled with lots of flowers and another big hedge at 8. 180 degree turn back on ourselves to little palisade fence then over trakhener at 10. Another BIG ditch at 11 which she went over lovely (maybe I can stop worrying about them?!) and out over little log pile with raised landing at 12;<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjusbum_REeFBC3DsFVh6skoe-p41DJ3SbCIW_mCnbL-lk-DezXCJlTqN5nctX04amCIORRz1Mh7UEway3RDgaopz6KoNoX-zsZj-0nhRICns017cieFcTz45WJgLfiNgqqHSh74cqP7H4/s1600/Eglinton37.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 233px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjusbum_REeFBC3DsFVh6skoe-p41DJ3SbCIW_mCnbL-lk-DezXCJlTqN5nctX04amCIORRz1Mh7UEway3RDgaopz6KoNoX-zsZj-0nhRICns017cieFcTz45WJgLfiNgqqHSh74cqP7H4/s320/Eglinton37.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492614483598542242" border="0" /></a><br />Then onto a palisade with brush at 13, down the hill to a step up and ski jump off a bank at 14 and through the water at 15 (rail before the water then splash through), got a little close to the rail at the top of the hill after the water, but careful jump and gallop on to no.17;<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgip4YUQkMuW5Vi4uEH6oyJUstoDbOYT11caVZOUmDR20_ndlVdZEfmMNoQIdVYZUI3DRzW5A7wAx54ade1FUC9TIgA5nPINWHsggcYm8meFsogtgpAWxH2mAujHS_7mlc8LJuzWQDzRCE/s1600/Eglinton38.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 234px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgip4YUQkMuW5Vi4uEH6oyJUstoDbOYT11caVZOUmDR20_ndlVdZEfmMNoQIdVYZUI3DRzW5A7wAx54ade1FUC9TIgA5nPINWHsggcYm8meFsogtgpAWxH2mAujHS_7mlc8LJuzWQDzRCE/s320/Eglinton38.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492614489265790610" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnAZxhUmgZxZj___ojEZR_1fSkYiRa30Upm4wxkHBXYfwTuA-Szn0pF7uYCEFjAEdryDZGfiZbkA-8ZIK4Z_lSvSgyeMKiw3nx1U-QsuvNZk85T4wAJscrjjh29V1eCSe_Irsb9WuJ9jI/s1600/Eglinton40.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 223px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnAZxhUmgZxZj___ojEZR_1fSkYiRa30Upm4wxkHBXYfwTuA-Szn0pF7uYCEFjAEdryDZGfiZbkA-8ZIK4Z_lSvSgyeMKiw3nx1U-QsuvNZk85T4wAJscrjjh29V1eCSe_Irsb9WuJ9jI/s320/Eglinton40.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492616068901095266" border="0" /></a><br />Then a zig zag across the field to no.18;<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEItANEWomJpXVjIrGtMN_OhWRLphXdpwirVrUHnRNM4n6dYAaj25otJDPBVFoNdmSCdYWhqdRd9ASg-OU1ub6x6_5oTGLnBDXBgmXMZf3CFh3kZPGqdEClSRbFVe80F9i9l2IR3iApFw/s1600/Eglinton41.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 217px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEItANEWomJpXVjIrGtMN_OhWRLphXdpwirVrUHnRNM4n6dYAaj25otJDPBVFoNdmSCdYWhqdRd9ASg-OU1ub6x6_5oTGLnBDXBgmXMZf3CFh3kZPGqdEClSRbFVe80F9i9l2IR3iApFw/s320/Eglinton41.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492616070470125250" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj00VSQnFdjP1O_dWe1TkmTRvAsa4yg78C2QasPDHPvuWhETqdeUd62RdLlg8tsnMDedAu8kvbanWXSUoqipDgPgUsXTrxmuGF5GW-uHjGDz3dwt7-aXhhA8mSjC_k1KObnUKXOUW5s2Uc/s1600/Eglinton42.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 233px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj00VSQnFdjP1O_dWe1TkmTRvAsa4yg78C2QasPDHPvuWhETqdeUd62RdLlg8tsnMDedAu8kvbanWXSUoqipDgPgUsXTrxmuGF5GW-uHjGDz3dwt7-aXhhA8mSjC_k1KObnUKXOUW5s2Uc/s320/Eglinton42.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492616078407754594" border="0" /></a><br />And onto a chair/drop fence at 19 and 20. There wasn't much time to recover from slipping the reins for the drop and 20 and getting them gathere up for a log before a steep ramp/splash through burn at 21ab. She really backed off the log (having spotted the ramp/water) but clambered over it when kicked. This meant I slipped the reins to let her balance after having a sticky jump and ske took advantage by diving left on landing away from the water. Managed to pull her up, get reins/stirrup sorted and wiggle back round to the burn without crossing our tracks, but wasted lots of time here, grrr! Video evidence of this below!<br /><br />Got back into a nice canter and jumped the veggie box fence at 22 lovely, then back into last field and over log and gallop over the finish line clear! :D 12.8 time pens (expected thanks to wiggle at 21, plus the ones we'd have probably clocked up anyway!) but very happy to have got round a very up to height course.<br /><br />Ended up 13th out of 27 starters, nice and consistent with our middle of the pack finishing position! Next event is Strathallan on 1st August, would really love to improve the dressage a little more and get that elusive DC at PN level nailed. Will let you know! :)<br /><br />A couple videos thanks to a friend of the XC. 1st one- fences 3 and 4ab, then off up the hill towards 5;<br /><br /><embed width="600" height="361" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allownetworking="all" wmode="transparent" src="http://static.photobucket.com/player.swf" flashvars="file=http%3A%2F%2Fvid162.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Ft276%2Fmceeaw%2FEglinton%2520BE100%252010-07-10%2FHeidi1.mp4"></embed><br /><br />And fences 17-22, including our "oopsie" at 21. Typical that we do that right in front of the video camera! ;) Although could have come in handy for disputing any penalties...!<br /><br /><embed width="600" height="361" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allownetworking="all" wmode="transparent" src="http://static.photobucket.com/player.swf" flashvars="file=http%3A%2F%2Fvid162.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Ft276%2Fmceeaw%2FEglinton%2520BE100%252010-07-10%2FHeidi2.mp4"></embed>Team Hopalonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14180960486280148285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8048594497321924187.post-16282335047039693392010-07-11T03:28:00.000-07:002010-07-11T04:16:08.240-07:00Hopetoun BE100 (3rd July)A very late update! Was a hugely busy weekend last weekend including a trip to the safari park to feed meerkats on Friday, competing and volunteering on Saturday and then cheerleading other's at an event on Sunday. So, excuses for not updating quicker out of the way...<br /><br />... Hopetoun House ODE is our most local event, literally across the road from Hopalong's yard. I made the mistake of mentioning this on my entry form and so was listed as no.1! Which meant being the first to SJ and XC on the day, eeek!<br /><br />Very early start, even with so little travelling to do. Got there in plenty of time to get organised and have plenty time to warm up for dressage. Was very lucky to have a borrowed dressage saddle from a friend and was hoping to scrape a few extra marks due to it. Sadly not! It didn't start well... a very distracted Hopalong didn't do a great centreline, then got beeped by the judge for error of course after turning right off it!<br /><br />Went over and discovered the judge had the wrong test. Great! She dug out the right one and we restarted. Slightly better centreline second time around although Heidi was most distracted and it wasn't great. :( Felt like a mid-40s test, but ended up with 51 from the judge and bottom of our section. :( Maybe a little grudge being held for me being right and her being wrong?!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7JsFPPHph7uegxOMz1kLjt04Hv2KGIoy8epxuP7ssLqbNkZ51t9fTV1Ul0fZ1SSpAk-FEQTIl9SHvek7647FQXZyyUHw_FNeIU9nsTlf5KCxbYsEI37ZjXE0L8BN1LDjzN-IzppXXLMY/s1600/Hopetoun++009.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7JsFPPHph7uegxOMz1kLjt04Hv2KGIoy8epxuP7ssLqbNkZ51t9fTV1Ul0fZ1SSpAk-FEQTIl9SHvek7647FQXZyyUHw_FNeIU9nsTlf5KCxbYsEI37ZjXE0L8BN1LDjzN-IzppXXLMY/s320/Hopetoun++009.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492597648181383410" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJtLjx1T0dGfywRJKPopyWYvfYXX2tNh7iZz9-ZZS3Wa37X0bHR8lSGOarjyU6r0bmdSwE8mr6_GzDYJrkaUUSpwjV6RvB5pSetWKSOBJmdSpm_yTw96DVZ5BTd1P02yI61DDIsc99mHA/s1600/Hopetoun++010.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJtLjx1T0dGfywRJKPopyWYvfYXX2tNh7iZz9-ZZS3Wa37X0bHR8lSGOarjyU6r0bmdSwE8mr6_GzDYJrkaUUSpwjV6RvB5pSetWKSOBJmdSpm_yTw96DVZ5BTd1P02yI61DDIsc99mHA/s320/Hopetoun++010.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492597661155777026" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZDS-1vhq7ni7DqZ6VrfoLesPQJz6mAUKN_LVycFG42FHeHaJz8i04jWJ0iZUFIQpqJb_QItWOTbKXMxudp1VU1UKZY6DQcug4DazGlF4g0VrUMC8IGIvqRMp72MkpQSnreArX8Jck3Vo/s1600/Hopetoun++014.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZDS-1vhq7ni7DqZ6VrfoLesPQJz6mAUKN_LVycFG42FHeHaJz8i04jWJ0iZUFIQpqJb_QItWOTbKXMxudp1VU1UKZY6DQcug4DazGlF4g0VrUMC8IGIvqRMp72MkpQSnreArX8Jck3Vo/s320/Hopetoun++014.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492597654444385202" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFy6yUbbFMpmkwyAB5EXZr5GlBL7ZUR9WsYavKveFBsJomX-8lzJFd2qmx4FJJRN03D-JvZDD8lMXx7wDZtHXNJkmK7LLXvUnblALyOsyscmiBAqL8tbp7ZeydTTdHuKMaeF0ZIzeTh9M/s1600/Hopetoun++024.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFy6yUbbFMpmkwyAB5EXZr5GlBL7ZUR9WsYavKveFBsJomX-8lzJFd2qmx4FJJRN03D-JvZDD8lMXx7wDZtHXNJkmK7LLXvUnblALyOsyscmiBAqL8tbp7ZeydTTdHuKMaeF0ZIzeTh9M/s320/Hopetoun++024.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492597662179734866" border="0" /></a><br />So onto SJ. Several of the spread fences looked a decent width and with no prior knowledge of how tight the time was (being first to go!) just had to get on and ride positively round it. Heidi warmed up lovely, really pinging and was feeling quite positive about it.<br /><br />Had a little look at no.1, but big jump over and we were off;<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAVz1c9o1-5YCesB_40uX3r0kc1XXcah31-eCQ2v75xC7BxI4yC3LE-DosLWbuLM0AJllC5ErGQYl2ho9Hgr-UXbnOC2G_HvnJBwOPjpqwHDlGilPKmzd_MII2W2hB5XARUTBfPM2SV1g/s1600/Hopetoun++026.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 226px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAVz1c9o1-5YCesB_40uX3r0kc1XXcah31-eCQ2v75xC7BxI4yC3LE-DosLWbuLM0AJllC5ErGQYl2ho9Hgr-UXbnOC2G_HvnJBwOPjpqwHDlGilPKmzd_MII2W2hB5XARUTBfPM2SV1g/s320/Hopetoun++026.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492598726940118482" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7ouCXpvoDH85_5w0Jg1qKJXO5djFvKkBO-AWm_HmoiXaYcd89wWGIh_uBJfRSkcxLn5-t8o61NNFj2IOFjUZ9NtQDFRARmsVpyXgsTJ2skkK0jaawf_fZ-78ZPOFZEfzvGtFmdfpyeDg/s1600/Hopetoun++028.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 228px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7ouCXpvoDH85_5w0Jg1qKJXO5djFvKkBO-AWm_HmoiXaYcd89wWGIh_uBJfRSkcxLn5-t8o61NNFj2IOFjUZ9NtQDFRARmsVpyXgsTJ2skkK0jaawf_fZ-78ZPOFZEfzvGtFmdfpyeDg/s320/Hopetoun++028.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492598727428636690" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkzgBi9RKznRdSI3lvOYvkFeSj78MrNHLSchVoidN_hh5xHPKfakF_Y1Y71vt3gAHWFzQRBo3avDhhxXL_4kPLnTcAE__TJe8G0hyHp3mj42Ge5H847oqtgK_PUdagDSODSWQk-Tful0U/s1600/Hopetoun++031.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 230px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkzgBi9RKznRdSI3lvOYvkFeSj78MrNHLSchVoidN_hh5xHPKfakF_Y1Y71vt3gAHWFzQRBo3avDhhxXL_4kPLnTcAE__TJe8G0hyHp3mj42Ge5H847oqtgK_PUdagDSODSWQk-Tful0U/s320/Hopetoun++031.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492598739614535346" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzz6yqcxIw7jqLdS1oVzegtxcPCTLZJghVgbU-HwHy1IrxwDBMCNQmjgQbkDkcVov2DvMMA0DFvKGULpXEqMAP2l7errJB781IeD9cBaLayefh8UpyF2AwPnACwX3_hIQChaPqOCYubDU/s1600/Hopetoun++033.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 223px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzz6yqcxIw7jqLdS1oVzegtxcPCTLZJghVgbU-HwHy1IrxwDBMCNQmjgQbkDkcVov2DvMMA0DFvKGULpXEqMAP2l7errJB781IeD9cBaLayefh8UpyF2AwPnACwX3_hIQChaPqOCYubDU/s320/Hopetoun++033.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492598743183917362" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL_mMicciGH6NebmwJXuWUPFcI8qrHbM1-spWP8QyFuFgJ5vDVnupJMIZz7rPGfbRNJj9N8NJkc8rIEjbfntyv7cH8fny8F2eCQd_rxFKX7wYLxuFJZJu-UwjV1fdKwMK1CEMtGf-_UY8/s1600/Hopetoun++036.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 242px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL_mMicciGH6NebmwJXuWUPFcI8qrHbM1-spWP8QyFuFgJ5vDVnupJMIZz7rPGfbRNJj9N8NJkc8rIEjbfntyv7cH8fny8F2eCQd_rxFKX7wYLxuFJZJu-UwjV1fdKwMK1CEMtGf-_UY8/s320/Hopetoun++036.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492598744817425138" border="0" /></a><br />After this fence was a line of two uprights on a related distance. Jumped the first fine and was on what felt like an ok stride to the second when she nipped out to the left! Very surprised as run outs with Hopalong and few and far between. Popped over fine second time around and then very determined riding through the double to make sure we finished on just the 4 faults;<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguiAaRvsyUNv3oawsY0adTj0uD05Lk3NDpuNU-5sxBxBYG88ObifXIxd_nX0k7Mc2jX8nUPSptPclJKP0fMuH127WH-ws_DbGWPbs1PIdt6g30512Zdq8o0z85WBKj26MigIKLb1rexQ4/s1600/Hopetoun++038.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguiAaRvsyUNv3oawsY0adTj0uD05Lk3NDpuNU-5sxBxBYG88ObifXIxd_nX0k7Mc2jX8nUPSptPclJKP0fMuH127WH-ws_DbGWPbs1PIdt6g30512Zdq8o0z85WBKj26MigIKLb1rexQ4/s320/Hopetoun++038.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492599347408887938" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAaN5Luk7HHmCIADckvyi3rQjZOqt_LVSnrIgLbR1g2kTtNslDoSPjZNuQf-_YW2ShgoR1XDyRC1DPv2_S2SuEjsscLs6KptkWZ_oXI3Mvp-VnueIrP7vM_btQ6pZfdwIZMkacZTeERp8/s1600/Hopetoun++041.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 219px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAaN5Luk7HHmCIADckvyi3rQjZOqt_LVSnrIgLbR1g2kTtNslDoSPjZNuQf-_YW2ShgoR1XDyRC1DPv2_S2SuEjsscLs6KptkWZ_oXI3Mvp-VnueIrP7vM_btQ6pZfdwIZMkacZTeERp8/s320/Hopetoun++041.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492599352308771186" border="0" /></a><br />My friend was kind enough to video the round, so after many repeat viewings I can only put it down to cheekiness! Normally if she finds something spooky she will back off a few strides away to give me time to be more assertive and kick on, but there was no warning this time. Just keeping me on my toes I reckon. ;)<br /><br /><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allownetworking="all" wmode="transparent" src="http://static.photobucket.com/player.swf" flashvars="file=http%3A%2F%2Fvid162.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Ft276%2Fmceeaw%2FHopetoun%2520BE100%252003-07-10%2FP1050307.mp4" width="600" height="361"></embed><br /><br />Quick turnaround for XC and a little nervous about being first to go! Course was plenty technical enough so lots to think about and quite a few skinny/accuracy fences, so was determined to be very positive at these to prevent any more cheekiness! (course pics can be found here- <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/Eliza.Mather/HopetounBE100Course2010#">http://picasaweb.google.com/Eliza.Mather/HopetounBE100Course2010#</a> )<br /><br />Set out over no.1 and 2 a little spooky, but jumping fab;<br /><br /><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allownetworking="all" wmode="transparent" src="http://static.photobucket.com/player.swf" flashvars="file=http%3A%2F%2Fvid162.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Ft276%2Fmceeaw%2FHopetoun%2520BE100%252003-07-10%2FP1050310.mp4" width="600" height="361"></embed><br /><br />Then over rails at 3, down hill to two angled hedges. We took a bit of a squiggle here to make the angle slightly less and play it safe since it was so early on in the course. She got a little close to the second hedge, but no problems;<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxKESRkdeYlqheevhXIOHX7JcTMgNgn2QY4DeedkB3_Zb2M63GofqePXs_V5ezSMmP_FQdBNL6BOmqSQ_mxmVS15wUfuejPP0q1wXk7_P4voPxH2uEslcsYwqgGeNUN_kygNIsCc6tPh0/s1600/Hopetoun++043.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxKESRkdeYlqheevhXIOHX7JcTMgNgn2QY4DeedkB3_Zb2M63GofqePXs_V5ezSMmP_FQdBNL6BOmqSQ_mxmVS15wUfuejPP0q1wXk7_P4voPxH2uEslcsYwqgGeNUN_kygNIsCc6tPh0/s320/Hopetoun++043.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492601817995198018" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMjIVXCccUCavdZRQlxkcBOKymdWv6lBVW4WkaMLygIECXQQ5rG2VT7O6b_5IoooRje6v_JMtiq_jk6K9N9b2yEq9mcSIIKMJofdsDhLJ_VJNg9K2e2NbVRB6MhD2jY9R7g02dW8ykt5o/s1600/Hopetoun++044.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 247px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMjIVXCccUCavdZRQlxkcBOKymdWv6lBVW4WkaMLygIECXQQ5rG2VT7O6b_5IoooRje6v_JMtiq_jk6K9N9b2yEq9mcSIIKMJofdsDhLJ_VJNg9K2e2NbVRB6MhD2jY9R7g02dW8ykt5o/s320/Hopetoun++044.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492601822131851426" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL-KYYlNnmiTKE5U3wgcBK_WXYJ8P2hdrUbQX7d81GBa6Zmam_mHF6mo8xqx_5DVetJSgpQgzM4bQGveVjVoxV4OzBFwAxb6bOW3vPPMV4BfcHRw1q8WlQ_BSsNick4yvLRaDZ8zXvzK0/s1600/Hopetoun++047.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 246px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL-KYYlNnmiTKE5U3wgcBK_WXYJ8P2hdrUbQX7d81GBa6Zmam_mHF6mo8xqx_5DVetJSgpQgzM4bQGveVjVoxV4OzBFwAxb6bOW3vPPMV4BfcHRw1q8WlQ_BSsNick4yvLRaDZ8zXvzK0/s320/Hopetoun++047.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492601825207826562" border="0" /></a><br />And some more video!<br /><br /><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allownetworking="all" wmode="transparent" src="http://static.photobucket.com/player.swf" flashvars="file=http%3A%2F%2Fvid162.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Ft276%2Fmceeaw%2FHopetoun%2520BE100%252003-07-10%2FP1050311.mp4" width="600" height="361"></embed><br /><br />Then over the corner fine, through the double of skinnies and a big gallop to the rolltop. Had to steady up to jump parallel rails which had a big tree in the way of the approach, making the fence effectively a skinny. Down the hill to a trakhener, thought she might be a little spooky at the ditch here so a little smack on the bum and she launched over! Managed to aim for the skinny rolltop at part B on long reins!<br /><br />Up the step and over the brush box then big long gallop with another rolltop and some barrels to jump en route to a very spooky log pile over running water at the bottom of a steep hill. Again, a little tap on the bum to make sure she knew she had to go- she got in close but jumped over and then shot off up the hill, in a bit of a huff at me using the whip maybe?! ;) Over a log at 17;<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRkhoxKYMROGuAuzeLmwj2c5uTWGVhjBLx3VVc0YoK6SgWzw5k_nhGWxHDc2RXLMTBfJjRNwlk-13ikEHHTa-nFX9dWcZZTPphncWiBMQiOE4sjkEFuwBXvNjb2j6BY1pJTcEpc7UXqP0/s1600/Hopetoun++049.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 246px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRkhoxKYMROGuAuzeLmwj2c5uTWGVhjBLx3VVc0YoK6SgWzw5k_nhGWxHDc2RXLMTBfJjRNwlk-13ikEHHTa-nFX9dWcZZTPphncWiBMQiOE4sjkEFuwBXvNjb2j6BY1pJTcEpc7UXqP0/s320/Hopetoun++049.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492603608015997026" border="0" /></a><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allownetworking="all" wmode="transparent" src="http://static.photobucket.com/player.swf" flashvars="file=http%3A%2F%2Fvid162.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Ft276%2Fmceeaw%2FHopetoun%2520BE100%252003-07-10%2FP1050314.mp4" width="600" height="361"></embed><br /><br />Then over a rolltop, through the water (a little look, but splashed through in canter once in!) and out over veggie table;<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3hNITyFYTTIOG5lEnSMBWJUOnQyN5Kv50xVxRl7gsuHqsMl_s1i9NN6AnsX6-yNbKr8GnrNd3_EP1ckZigGuS60OvuwXHrWheW9jYuoh1ZD9vvHdwodDXuVkvFDZCOCMfY2Wfh3UncvM/s1600/Hopetoun++053.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 224px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3hNITyFYTTIOG5lEnSMBWJUOnQyN5Kv50xVxRl7gsuHqsMl_s1i9NN6AnsX6-yNbKr8GnrNd3_EP1ckZigGuS60OvuwXHrWheW9jYuoh1ZD9vvHdwodDXuVkvFDZCOCMfY2Wfh3UncvM/s320/Hopetoun++053.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492603630023763522" border="0" /></a>And gallop off towards last few fences;<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYVzUNlPMiy_0AguwqeGJ-CK4G8UpS9951YwCI92x48Iv3iNB70GlNcY686wkBbEPVjNRO2HV6FiXq3F-naqE856gf8w2q36ccgwYckeI8coiCXlwCVHyana_ZgOjvodYJds_fbp4cTjE/s1600/Hopetoun++054.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 241px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYVzUNlPMiy_0AguwqeGJ-CK4G8UpS9951YwCI92x48Iv3iNB70GlNcY686wkBbEPVjNRO2HV6FiXq3F-naqE856gf8w2q36ccgwYckeI8coiCXlwCVHyana_ZgOjvodYJds_fbp4cTjE/s320/Hopetoun++054.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492603619789862578" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMfVhE4E5uVUxS-0J19NnZzazgEML6hkt_wl39QcEv012Sjo1-6yCxNyhWe1RNw3r85ZK278B_n_9If0hmCZnRmKgZD-Lqe-wpSHkb1QvQH9HJqqDV5OMdkkB-hb1v4EhaAZ5Yx2LVsiw/s1600/Hopetoun++055.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 219px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMfVhE4E5uVUxS-0J19NnZzazgEML6hkt_wl39QcEv012Sjo1-6yCxNyhWe1RNw3r85ZK278B_n_9If0hmCZnRmKgZD-Lqe-wpSHkb1QvQH9HJqqDV5OMdkkB-hb1v4EhaAZ5Yx2LVsiw/s320/Hopetoun++055.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492603632737288818" border="0" /></a>Over the double of skinny log piles and a HUGE jump over the brush fence at the last and home clear! :D 4.8 time pens, but not too worried about that, just happy to get a clear over a decent technical course.<br /><br />Ended up 17th out of 33 starters, so not bad climb from bottom after dressage! ;) Spent the afternoon helping at the XC start while Heidi chilled out in the field. :)Team Hopalonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14180960486280148285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8048594497321924187.post-26130338051697411622010-06-13T14:51:00.001-07:002010-06-13T15:37:21.709-07:00Oatridge XC Training with David GathererTeam Hopalong have been pretty quiet since Scotsburn, we had a quiet week after Scotsburn just doing lots of hacking to keep the fitness up and the school at the yard is still out of use which is a good excuse to avoid dressage practice! ;) Although new surface has been promised soon, which is just as well as we do need the practice...!<br /><br />This weekend I was helping dressage write in the morning for Oatridge BE event (so I now know what <span style="font-weight: bold;">not</span> to do!) and then enjoyed watching some XC in the afternoon.<br /><br />Today I was back to Oatridge with Hopalong in tow for the training day over the BE courses with David Gatherer. We did this last year and had a really good day, so was really looking forward to this. We were not very lucky with the weather- it rained the whole time, but luckily my lovely cameraman stuck it out to take some piccies for me! :)<br /><br />We mostly stuck to the Novice fences today (Oatridge is a small Novice course, but some of them were still plenty big enough!) with the exception of a very wide table fence and the jump into the water. Heidi was absolutely on fire and having a ball, she was so keen to get on with it and we had lots of prancing, jogging and sideways dancing when she was upset that the other horses were getting a turn! Acting her shoe size not her age?! ;) Nice to know she's enjoying it though.<br /><br />We started off over the first two fences, nice and straightforward and no problems. She was so keen to get out of the start box that we got a horse version of a "wheel spin", even with studs in! Got a lovely jump over the first fence and she was more than happy to zoom off to the second!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgZ4BYa5uKaVGQnwG1PyWwLSJ7K2gkEVyG4YNZlAQftiPPUPeqSCoILueZvhO1GOtSTIrY5VdBqOGlkwxjrAc_BCggvsSMcejBlsXHNqx6xs_t9JNi1Ty_Tm6ZdI3F3Vu4aDs_JshyphenhyphenlxU/s1600/Oatridge1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 219px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgZ4BYa5uKaVGQnwG1PyWwLSJ7K2gkEVyG4YNZlAQftiPPUPeqSCoILueZvhO1GOtSTIrY5VdBqOGlkwxjrAc_BCggvsSMcejBlsXHNqx6xs_t9JNi1Ty_Tm6ZdI3F3Vu4aDs_JshyphenhyphenlxU/s320/Oatridge1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482382118035366642" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg426lLWLQQOzMAndY-Z8EUyZzK2JXJ0S4JKXhzX7wap6SBjCyjWNhtMVI1h3M48SuN3FnDBQ1CZZegKrO8zk1bhqZY_Sq9o3W3cpi3V92M6Q5h3_fj-3R35QsQ_IKha2BiAeZ6j6KEET8/s1600/Oatridge3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg426lLWLQQOzMAndY-Z8EUyZzK2JXJ0S4JKXhzX7wap6SBjCyjWNhtMVI1h3M48SuN3FnDBQ1CZZegKrO8zk1bhqZY_Sq9o3W3cpi3V92M6Q5h3_fj-3R35QsQ_IKha2BiAeZ6j6KEET8/s320/Oatridge3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482382126237943026" border="0" /></a>We then jumped no.3 on an angle fine, got a little close but there is never any worry about her picking her toes up!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKy-gkvuImWriemC2kxOw89SiRrjX8WybMIOsDYTMciI1M1rtt7XwUVhQF5sNTj6YZHwh4PJ1pYG4wOnxXsXCziackfsjp_gU0YBwLx0dXEL2JRXJxwTxbA6GiUdPd-KwClFfmQT-RFOQ/s1600/Oatridge4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 225px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKy-gkvuImWriemC2kxOw89SiRrjX8WybMIOsDYTMciI1M1rtt7XwUVhQF5sNTj6YZHwh4PJ1pYG4wOnxXsXCziackfsjp_gU0YBwLx0dXEL2JRXJxwTxbA6GiUdPd-KwClFfmQT-RFOQ/s320/Oatridge4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482382852048569010" border="0" /></a>4ab was a drop with a ditch on the far side then two strides to a rolltop with brush. She did her usual "eeek, things might lurk in the ditch" massive leap over the ditch which led to me having to slip the reins and not look very pretty over part B, but it's not style jumping, so all good! ;) Still no sign of her brushing through brush though!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3SwbxgVfPfxJwp62X1pjDl-ah8_tf3ChEgUm3EWpQ0jNQJM5cj-qNi-ue7hEOa5LhKpT9STYhXZ54R00xIgwB2G6qL2cJu-M5JOAvGt-RjYhJyGzj44OAGEE2d5_WwCRqFzJJGnvkpSQ/s1600/Oatridge7.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 248px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3SwbxgVfPfxJwp62X1pjDl-ah8_tf3ChEgUm3EWpQ0jNQJM5cj-qNi-ue7hEOa5LhKpT9STYhXZ54R00xIgwB2G6qL2cJu-M5JOAvGt-RjYhJyGzj44OAGEE2d5_WwCRqFzJJGnvkpSQ/s320/Oatridge7.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482382862959500706" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ7NvYbH7flb5Ph_jU0yF_o8s84D8gsuEXLsJR1uxzw5tpIu8ZRmjNfwOrKZhANpZTmgprFVhKP9v75_CbYKLSEEFk9b23ELN6sbSc_tTpwCVHhQDJneomNUwVbnhtVEXW9Adff35WI7c/s1600/Oatridge11.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 234px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ7NvYbH7flb5Ph_jU0yF_o8s84D8gsuEXLsJR1uxzw5tpIu8ZRmjNfwOrKZhANpZTmgprFVhKP9v75_CbYKLSEEFk9b23ELN6sbSc_tTpwCVHhQDJneomNUwVbnhtVEXW9Adff35WI7c/s320/Oatridge11.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482382867962636322" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwHmYCHrVZli2H9yPEC9fyBf4Sa56z7X2O6Otf9UiUgRFSlR2NkotSFJ2PdVZBW4wpgN7uDFC6jHm_CMG9h7Qu8YKHgv9TD0q5_XROMmNRr2fOMhYqlnwl3Bp9o28HUmRKc8vSGULOyw0/s1600/Oatridge12.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 235px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwHmYCHrVZli2H9yPEC9fyBf4Sa56z7X2O6Otf9UiUgRFSlR2NkotSFJ2PdVZBW4wpgN7uDFC6jHm_CMG9h7Qu8YKHgv9TD0q5_XROMmNRr2fOMhYqlnwl3Bp9o28HUmRKc8vSGULOyw0/s320/Oatridge12.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482384937106457282" border="0" /></a>We then had a wee play jumping the ditch/step in the other direction which was good practice. Down the hill and over a nice straightforward rolltop;<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLZ9vc57GbWLpdCXjgYRY6n6kKiJNcJg3HXsfVI6iq5i3VBgvdflHxOlffaeeT96ZxL4s6D7Wi8vdGNV9p8bYgKV5KpeZUJ4iwRAQYt4nUENh3zG1kDkhzIdh-5K_uqArn5Ttf_dLVa0U/s1600/Oatridge15.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 230px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLZ9vc57GbWLpdCXjgYRY6n6kKiJNcJg3HXsfVI6iq5i3VBgvdflHxOlffaeeT96ZxL4s6D7Wi8vdGNV9p8bYgKV5KpeZUJ4iwRAQYt4nUENh3zG1kDkhzIdh-5K_uqArn5Ttf_dLVa0U/s320/Oatridge15.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482384927909672770" border="0" /></a>No.6 was off a 90deg right hand turn and a pretty decent sized box fence. Was a little nervous about it and our first attempt looked rather funny;<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc8qL0duWBDOpgOpyAEW7I1T5STRbIf_5-ksgGKBETPo8JsGE-Oezl3bUL-5nsvgBe0F906SjF6giwXmusEVZvhqA3BLvWW4gvo8Ibhxq1ebbLMMJGqms_aWXdgk6RdjCLp0UzVQhpa4Y/s1600/Oatridge18.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 230px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc8qL0duWBDOpgOpyAEW7I1T5STRbIf_5-ksgGKBETPo8JsGE-Oezl3bUL-5nsvgBe0F906SjF6giwXmusEVZvhqA3BLvWW4gvo8Ibhxq1ebbLMMJGqms_aWXdgk6RdjCLp0UzVQhpa4Y/s320/Oatridge18.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482384944975113234" border="0" /></a>Although we jumped it another couple of times and on the third attempt managed a slightly more normal jump over it, although she still gave it plenty of air.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl6ldK8NUrQrapCwHe3CNi2JkRv-Ki7AyfOeKTLasjz03eTxmw6ACmAS5K9e-xCzZ1xK7wkYjC5D6vB4dB0WuGIZ1VOx_ZNaKpWQewIDrrgmbcu0leOdwt_oj-l89qSiUHcMouHIMrjMg/s1600/Oatridge27.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 226px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl6ldK8NUrQrapCwHe3CNi2JkRv-Ki7AyfOeKTLasjz03eTxmw6ACmAS5K9e-xCzZ1xK7wkYjC5D6vB4dB0WuGIZ1VOx_ZNaKpWQewIDrrgmbcu0leOdwt_oj-l89qSiUHcMouHIMrjMg/s320/Oatridge27.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482384948848165778" border="0" /></a>Then onto a combination of gate to rolltop on four curving strides (some Christmas trees getting in the way of a nice, straight line through the middle, how rude of the course designer!) which she flew through no bother.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgARKhN8gSicrM3AEOsO8GLqOqLlP_yop5OPwoz290bykMHXK4ci45beijI6INY4cjDY6659qvV3m03YBZ6qaRkX5sYejKjrcGMJ2ajGfx9F-3iRM2sMaxWGwRjQUdxuBbwy8uyxTBFIfM/s1600/Oatridge30.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 229px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgARKhN8gSicrM3AEOsO8GLqOqLlP_yop5OPwoz290bykMHXK4ci45beijI6INY4cjDY6659qvV3m03YBZ6qaRkX5sYejKjrcGMJ2ajGfx9F-3iRM2sMaxWGwRjQUdxuBbwy8uyxTBFIfM/s320/Oatridge30.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482386571987415954" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMvj4h5UqgVLqjxZL48MqLCs3r6gD2s_OzVbeXa9scPAhbQNYSAWeFLW0JAf8xQfB7mOAs83_tNfenihiWQ6H2PkkABCsPW0mlfHwSUw0EodqL9iCj49yvfIr6sjpqQ8jPwzRAl1t5gTY/s1600/Oatridge32.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 244px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMvj4h5UqgVLqjxZL48MqLCs3r6gD2s_OzVbeXa9scPAhbQNYSAWeFLW0JAf8xQfB7mOAs83_tNfenihiWQ6H2PkkABCsPW0mlfHwSUw0EodqL9iCj49yvfIr6sjpqQ8jPwzRAl1t5gTY/s320/Oatridge32.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482386576339923938" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDq0II-m21JTvjnJPRjDFigG7LXcE0OCQYPMxnbYVVZ2K3vzM8yBgBtANL6bSgZ4ugN13gTBMMrGWHuftWIkyMc7VQ5ah4imOr8OZzYOrcyLW2yxqLN_E1_laN8ZXEpKR_81D1GxYTgfc/s1600/Oatridge33.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 242px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDq0II-m21JTvjnJPRjDFigG7LXcE0OCQYPMxnbYVVZ2K3vzM8yBgBtANL6bSgZ4ugN13gTBMMrGWHuftWIkyMc7VQ5ah4imOr8OZzYOrcyLW2yxqLN_E1_laN8ZXEpKR_81D1GxYTgfc/s320/Oatridge33.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482386585742061330" border="0" /></a>We then jumped the skinny log in the woods and out over a double of hedges, lots of concentration here. ;) Honest I was having fun...!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3iPzAImLzJsEU_rk7fMsQoBKWNVZx6bUB9Zpb2q3BgD0Jm4qP0U_gFtl3Wt1ittYExFkbsU0hBknpiWIhNCZL3-YFNE776ghF0zW9PpTTlaxfqKDrDbKKiBRfsQpCujJ-A5-wH-qgEGA/s1600/Oatridge35.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 215px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3iPzAImLzJsEU_rk7fMsQoBKWNVZx6bUB9Zpb2q3BgD0Jm4qP0U_gFtl3Wt1ittYExFkbsU0hBknpiWIhNCZL3-YFNE776ghF0zW9PpTTlaxfqKDrDbKKiBRfsQpCujJ-A5-wH-qgEGA/s320/Oatridge35.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482387634843791458" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX9qiyeo7_rfpqo8KXfZ8grfOwP25rD6TmNAFvl79TTlapi5MUo_uwm6MVYJEkK5OSUViDgGeY-S9cHnhywxc5W3Hv-aTW3cH2Td2e2AYmpLtGH9TbSRKhwMaNqA5QD5xQkIyUN5YIlTo/s1600/Oatridge39.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 198px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX9qiyeo7_rfpqo8KXfZ8grfOwP25rD6TmNAFvl79TTlapi5MUo_uwm6MVYJEkK5OSUViDgGeY-S9cHnhywxc5W3Hv-aTW3cH2Td2e2AYmpLtGH9TbSRKhwMaNqA5QD5xQkIyUN5YIlTo/s320/Oatridge39.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482387639175759810" border="0" /></a>I then spent ages dithering about whether to jump the big Novice table or not. My worry was that it was very wide (I know the height is not an issue with her!) and that since she prefers to get in close and then jump "up", she may not make the width if we didn't get a perfect stride to it. I would never forgive myself if I messed it up and ruined her/my confidence and we are not looking to go Novice BE and so will not need to jump anything that big/wide, so figured although it would be a real achievement to jump it, I'd rather keep both of us happy and confident. So we did the PN flower box instead;<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVBQfmvpVdxkx72P9EVAoK_uF5Bev02XTa1Tfpfqpp4DoUocB_-oAPWg5dO-7QhqClJO6GOknjviu1m7rn61Ax3nkpa3UZengGxie4aV9DDvH9YNbM1kfMhbziPjI4elzf8yczUg8tVTE/s1600/Oatridge41.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 233px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVBQfmvpVdxkx72P9EVAoK_uF5Bev02XTa1Tfpfqpp4DoUocB_-oAPWg5dO-7QhqClJO6GOknjviu1m7rn61Ax3nkpa3UZengGxie4aV9DDvH9YNbM1kfMhbziPjI4elzf8yczUg8tVTE/s320/Oatridge41.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482387647086410114" border="0" /></a>We then splashed through the PN water (ramp in, house fence jump out) and up the hill jumping some more gate type fences en route to the corner, which she jumped first time really nicely<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLbsA7d1FUARQW2E1AyLr5iZzlvxkakG7Ih0E5sakgKgCQ_h-wc7rDym6IvmT__WCM-T5L40f0GItQTGyE1WNUbUZpcSkwySCZdpQWZ0IA7a1CTz7JvTKAWO3eEzAKNt4bzbHXd67_uH0/s1600/Oatridge43.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 215px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLbsA7d1FUARQW2E1AyLr5iZzlvxkakG7Ih0E5sakgKgCQ_h-wc7rDym6IvmT__WCM-T5L40f0GItQTGyE1WNUbUZpcSkwySCZdpQWZ0IA7a1CTz7JvTKAWO3eEzAKNt4bzbHXd67_uH0/s320/Oatridge43.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482387652873814402" border="0" /></a>Up the step and then linked up the intro, PN and Novice fences to make an angled line of rolltop to skinny to skinny. First two we got nice strides to but got a funny stride to the last one, hence (another!) funny face in the second picture from me!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDYe_hGhEtTzW8DM3oHspwNhMDLMmPpT7JJWKjkoZNPDN3s5Z9LB6SJYavXhKtpGn8Z5NnkLOB7qBTyJ5zJo8BuqFAYLB-prUbZnaMwb48hX9k7vjDN2j2PV8KPw58cl1gIwpDjWAs7Tg/s1600/Oatridge47.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 242px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDYe_hGhEtTzW8DM3oHspwNhMDLMmPpT7JJWKjkoZNPDN3s5Z9LB6SJYavXhKtpGn8Z5NnkLOB7qBTyJ5zJo8BuqFAYLB-prUbZnaMwb48hX9k7vjDN2j2PV8KPw58cl1gIwpDjWAs7Tg/s320/Oatridge47.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482390333440146562" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM1aALkRRxKIIQ4NCnI7VAdFZM40uhXNq6lNr1YywG9-qMEDpdc3tf9CLDABk81G1AsOZgWj4SpFgKZj-wKUtbmlus4s20Q4GMz97Skjwtcq80MdJ4MiuWBAbZnkrQ16vDMoevGdV9I7k/s1600/Oatridge49.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 247px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM1aALkRRxKIIQ4NCnI7VAdFZM40uhXNq6lNr1YywG9-qMEDpdc3tf9CLDABk81G1AsOZgWj4SpFgKZj-wKUtbmlus4s20Q4GMz97Skjwtcq80MdJ4MiuWBAbZnkrQ16vDMoevGdV9I7k/s320/Oatridge49.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482390344714262434" border="0" /></a>We then finished up jumping the wall and zooming up the hill to the chair fence at the last, no problems at these fences and so lots of pats, polos and pear for Heidi. :)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizsyGixmPL9OvNzF1BQTPPjpICbIDre52MeqGY__MtkOkAiUoOn1zlSvtra8IQMRwJBFQDnTwX4dGZFDht7Oyu0vousRnUq3nGTcPLzzxrZzg188cxdhHwVtaVtbBqwmBM7BKJO4bkAiY/s1600/Oatridge55.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 249px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizsyGixmPL9OvNzF1BQTPPjpICbIDre52MeqGY__MtkOkAiUoOn1zlSvtra8IQMRwJBFQDnTwX4dGZFDht7Oyu0vousRnUq3nGTcPLzzxrZzg188cxdhHwVtaVtbBqwmBM7BKJO4bkAiY/s320/Oatridge55.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482389547674178066" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqQ_um0K_nZbWjvLOutcw1hUAlz5aG6TFy1NYC0TVRUY-qqAkxpL4U8Zo1BEEte_1j9cbP2vastqtaAmyatr53VpvL-KSzJvOzSAS7f4Vao8LoWTB9GlMUxz84nkU652OnsnTNhxYQJ4E/s1600/Oatridge58.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqQ_um0K_nZbWjvLOutcw1hUAlz5aG6TFy1NYC0TVRUY-qqAkxpL4U8Zo1BEEte_1j9cbP2vastqtaAmyatr53VpvL-KSzJvOzSAS7f4Vao8LoWTB9GlMUxz84nkU652OnsnTNhxYQJ4E/s320/Oatridge58.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482389552988978434" border="0" /></a>Next up is our riding club's SJ evening on Wednesday... if I can escape the office on time of course!Team Hopalonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14180960486280148285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8048594497321924187.post-67606159447294285632010-05-30T06:43:00.000-07:002010-05-30T07:27:01.815-07:00Scotsburn PN 29-05-10Both Heidi and I are having a quiet day recovering from completing our first PN (BE100) yesterday at Scotsburn, north of Inverness. My friend kindly offered us a lift up in her nice big lorry so Team Hopalong travelled in much more style than normal!<br /><br />We went up on Friday afternoon and got settled into the on site stabling and went to walk the course. It all looked quite nice, plenty of them up to height and the only ones really making me feel a little worried were two big steps up a hill and a very wide ditch at the half coffin.<br /><br />Plaited up in the evening and enjoyed a BBQ then off to bed with an early alarm set- dressage test was at 8.24am!<br /><br />Lots of rain overnight but luckily dry in the morning when I got up. Had a bit of a stress warming up as had left Bob to go get my number from the secretary's tent for me and he still hadn't appeared when they were shouting for the rider two to go in front of me! This meant we didn't have an ideal warm up and were both far too tense. :( Felt a really horrible test, with the exception of the free walk on a long rein and the judge agreed- score of 44 with 6s/5s and a solitary 8 for the free walk. Not the worst, but not as good a score as we could have hoped for.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT_MoX29P_P-KjVO_MBMsM_4DUGp3Qrt3br3-ZmPNReKoKqFMeH-h1rpMznMz4Ug80ltH1nEsz-czWtW_pYfmKd7u2BuCff_XfWmp4YnXe9hsSTlGj0zW5BcBCk_05bIj2zT5A7xc1gPk/s1600/ScotsburnPN1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 231px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT_MoX29P_P-KjVO_MBMsM_4DUGp3Qrt3br3-ZmPNReKoKqFMeH-h1rpMznMz4Ug80ltH1nEsz-czWtW_pYfmKd7u2BuCff_XfWmp4YnXe9hsSTlGj0zW5BcBCk_05bIj2zT5A7xc1gPk/s320/ScotsburnPN1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477060900247472242" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjRP2fbCoS3TcyW-fRMXPdMkFW9wk00cqENXWBft0gwI9jAFDBD-in-HHh59csXf3z9z_ueb9de0aK7lV7HpxfDxrX5nzBj0J_Lw83zAcmRV6U03m7D9A9jmnpGSG2738vQyE2EFrPqdw/s1600/ScotsburnPN3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjRP2fbCoS3TcyW-fRMXPdMkFW9wk00cqENXWBft0gwI9jAFDBD-in-HHh59csXf3z9z_ueb9de0aK7lV7HpxfDxrX5nzBj0J_Lw83zAcmRV6U03m7D9A9jmnpGSG2738vQyE2EFrPqdw/s320/ScotsburnPN3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477060902353852706" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsxu7FX7G7R0cVcRTy6RmOAz6p84CFjTmxoohfzjPL_0M0r3Kdbm4p-BDhh1xR5Ar15P3GkCQlYK8w8GsSQWvVRA5c0UD9Xnc0ItlbiDo3TuowI1mtpmhcTGcPX_NYd0vcVBpbVTDb0Wk/s1600/ScotsburnPN4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 227px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsxu7FX7G7R0cVcRTy6RmOAz6p84CFjTmxoohfzjPL_0M0r3Kdbm4p-BDhh1xR5Ar15P3GkCQlYK8w8GsSQWvVRA5c0UD9Xnc0ItlbiDo3TuowI1mtpmhcTGcPX_NYd0vcVBpbVTDb0Wk/s320/ScotsburnPN4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477060909695458402" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMJqH28MjaC0YNTSfGrJrBPffYHL_syDkHG4DJ07CRnd5Fq3jPBd8znboK9qXqTfnSRiaToxugJSgO3-rUtbi53USb24LfWgAnqL-9xgSYN1wFQ1LiUBVDU084AU2ujTsrB46NqcYO-NM/s1600/ScotsburnPN6.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 234px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMJqH28MjaC0YNTSfGrJrBPffYHL_syDkHG4DJ07CRnd5Fq3jPBd8znboK9qXqTfnSRiaToxugJSgO3-rUtbi53USb24LfWgAnqL-9xgSYN1wFQ1LiUBVDU084AU2ujTsrB46NqcYO-NM/s320/ScotsburnPN6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477060910130488162" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqOmw76lBClOpLjZdF5YrPaxTBSSgANP5H3KqkmORQN7Qc4kw44xLgMLMxwzSyYcyhavvpVzUYrg0V6T2Po2efiYWuujlxrFDr74OVGf88-weCd6_CM_zKMqU2Ei-HtOEQ-I9PWLdPQFg/s1600/ScotsburnPN10.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqOmw76lBClOpLjZdF5YrPaxTBSSgANP5H3KqkmORQN7Qc4kw44xLgMLMxwzSyYcyhavvpVzUYrg0V6T2Po2efiYWuujlxrFDr74OVGf88-weCd6_CM_zKMqU2Ei-HtOEQ-I9PWLdPQFg/s320/ScotsburnPN10.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477060916730547074" border="0" /></a>So on to the SJ. Didn't warm up very well (I never do, tend to get a little nervous!) but went in and had a decent clear round. :) Saw a few long ones and chipped in a little close to some, but she was as careful as ever and made sure to keep them all up. :)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPAZDc4fWjd5Km8TXPVCgik3XunFuGGefX1We41RtXgP1hj2mpmwITCWJOVqM_LhAbsWCfsxnWf0kY9U502BlVK7-2PQUroFCORyEuXIqXrhnTiueTCEWUT-7-bn-WI5XJDcyEr7r8yvY/s1600/ScotsburnPN13.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 211px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPAZDc4fWjd5Km8TXPVCgik3XunFuGGefX1We41RtXgP1hj2mpmwITCWJOVqM_LhAbsWCfsxnWf0kY9U502BlVK7-2PQUroFCORyEuXIqXrhnTiueTCEWUT-7-bn-WI5XJDcyEr7r8yvY/s320/ScotsburnPN13.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477061902535128658" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRj3dgKPpCvUgqIUKti_DdA8Ld_jEPLJARAQLJwbqd1f91ulFWEwHZKNDGrsj4IEHBIR27gCXnx-95u1mL5Sw6Xl16ArSb0b3HBxz5VMxRtSJSo5kzuxCzqMnJwV7wz3UPc3UihngkSjI/s1600/ScotsburnPN16.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 201px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRj3dgKPpCvUgqIUKti_DdA8Ld_jEPLJARAQLJwbqd1f91ulFWEwHZKNDGrsj4IEHBIR27gCXnx-95u1mL5Sw6Xl16ArSb0b3HBxz5VMxRtSJSo5kzuxCzqMnJwV7wz3UPc3UihngkSjI/s320/ScotsburnPN16.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477061913071522722" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3KsFxKO8nkIFwAUvzWXOyfwDvwv1duh0KkryCL0suy5kezdBXU_dJ6krlRhLvElV-G4x8MUTDs3tepcKtfFwj07zK2OOpb7EIAn0sDZ5P4I7k_7TbO9RMMr3wfQNU0yT6T3rvT72qFmo/s1600/ScotsburnPN18.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 217px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3KsFxKO8nkIFwAUvzWXOyfwDvwv1duh0KkryCL0suy5kezdBXU_dJ6krlRhLvElV-G4x8MUTDs3tepcKtfFwj07zK2OOpb7EIAn0sDZ5P4I7k_7TbO9RMMr3wfQNU0yT6T3rvT72qFmo/s320/ScotsburnPN18.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477061917940082194" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix9Do-Baqh6PnwQ3p29UnKfZozg1LSs8APFBcybKwHVQPmkhJI0s2BHEeeB_pyuasRvfpppwhMUl42USdLtPRKYddGvdUgSsd5pIGPtE0Ug2JhzMzO6kNViyOM0M_AIaZ88FkXqi5tjkk/s1600/ScotsburnPN19.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 230px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix9Do-Baqh6PnwQ3p29UnKfZozg1LSs8APFBcybKwHVQPmkhJI0s2BHEeeB_pyuasRvfpppwhMUl42USdLtPRKYddGvdUgSsd5pIGPtE0Ug2JhzMzO6kNViyOM0M_AIaZ88FkXqi5tjkk/s320/ScotsburnPN19.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477061923724725298" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW6hV8imfknSqtgjbNrFkzEr3ycdrUr4zNz3zO3GgjUWSx5Jz7EJnNtjc4xNofSgcn4i86HvNd84yomJr7ph83WZkASAg4wAfL0PP_n29UyqgwfISGE4lVakfJsyi1BXXZHvHjHEauaoU/s1600/ScotsburnPN21.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 229px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW6hV8imfknSqtgjbNrFkzEr3ycdrUr4zNz3zO3GgjUWSx5Jz7EJnNtjc4xNofSgcn4i86HvNd84yomJr7ph83WZkASAg4wAfL0PP_n29UyqgwfISGE4lVakfJsyi1BXXZHvHjHEauaoU/s320/ScotsburnPN21.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477061931932864210" border="0" /></a><br />Then on to the real fun bit- XC! She was very keen and bounced over to the start box. :) Headed out over rails at no.1 and wall at no.2 fine;<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguIZoivq0oHvxcMUSFfpTZe1GGrCKZ-B0BJqy9TTO1tHfbBAbfQb4OFGtw94YsX0kdhcXwtAy34QE04cnWC59gOcBECIDnRzTMeqgusUpKbXQrRPvcIBqABkMkSVNxvdyPT8ZEgnpgDJE/s1600/ScotsburnPN24.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 238px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguIZoivq0oHvxcMUSFfpTZe1GGrCKZ-B0BJqy9TTO1tHfbBAbfQb4OFGtw94YsX0kdhcXwtAy34QE04cnWC59gOcBECIDnRzTMeqgusUpKbXQrRPvcIBqABkMkSVNxvdyPT8ZEgnpgDJE/s320/ScotsburnPN24.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477062719681961666" border="0" /></a>And then onto a roll top with brush at no.3, the plan being to aim for the right hand "half moon" of brush. However, Heidi jinked left on the last stride and ended up taking on the middle (highest!) part!!! Bob very happy to capture my expression over this fence! Just goes to show height is not a problem for Hopalong! ;)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUNdArv8vZryjaW4dniSrCm5Zs180m1YpybafUGpJvnrjiIrAFwN9A3InYauZA1zytnR-wnOfg9bU1M_IM6KDWYzQpnJ31v26p0ofvVtMDqDrtdPofxEzUiC5zurgzTW17POqNNx54M98/s1600/ScotsburnPN26.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 215px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUNdArv8vZryjaW4dniSrCm5Zs180m1YpybafUGpJvnrjiIrAFwN9A3InYauZA1zytnR-wnOfg9bU1M_IM6KDWYzQpnJ31v26p0ofvVtMDqDrtdPofxEzUiC5zurgzTW17POqNNx54M98/s320/ScotsburnPN26.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477062724637545906" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcZyyPTaWQaQSx3aBE8K7PSkxPnt7jVZyjxefqLLYtLomjg-HKttTN0hOT7iKFzH4mZcn9BSq2XUbN7fmtakBRiHF2hx2X0HzvNdcan999qrAjFaeGsYsrqisi3Q3MBWd7GD3F6XmUdO8/s1600/ScotsburnPN27.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 218px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcZyyPTaWQaQSx3aBE8K7PSkxPnt7jVZyjxefqLLYtLomjg-HKttTN0hOT7iKFzH4mZcn9BSq2XUbN7fmtakBRiHF2hx2X0HzvNdcan999qrAjFaeGsYsrqisi3Q3MBWd7GD3F6XmUdO8/s320/ScotsburnPN27.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477062728081100002" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-PsbH0WwjYZHnMKJYtozWv2ryhfVn73LL7zg24D40r3zjKmsEb7PDCVINVVTqm4W3hCbhmG7nm1LlZwckwP4e0y-pFzUlMEof1nZx5787ekwSh4b3jjUTaQNcxCxI0kKT6uCt6PAD0RQ/s1600/ScotsburnPN29.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 231px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-PsbH0WwjYZHnMKJYtozWv2ryhfVn73LL7zg24D40r3zjKmsEb7PDCVINVVTqm4W3hCbhmG7nm1LlZwckwP4e0y-pFzUlMEof1nZx5787ekwSh4b3jjUTaQNcxCxI0kKT6uCt6PAD0RQ/s320/ScotsburnPN29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477062733962587986" border="0" /></a>Kicked on to no.4 after laughing with Bob "what did you say about not jumping the highest part?!", over the palisade to drop and then super over the skinny brush at no.5. Then on up the hill to the scary steps at no.6, although she did these really nicely. Fab jump over straightforward roll top at no.7 and over the wall at no.8. A corner (that wasn't really a corner, more like an angled box fence!) at no.9 then down the hill to the ski jump at no.10, she was a little spooky but went;<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-doykKbQvvWzAvrgNFqDK1WKp5OOZzbalIQkaV4j45JIGwbmwh3rh72tOXkt9yp6nqdgWkdZGcatGsrV7H7CtgCMhjikVHe9iftCFc_BTOYTtgpYcLVE6utpXFxAfSJGs7cpxsNZ4No8/s1600/ScotsburnPN32.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 228px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-doykKbQvvWzAvrgNFqDK1WKp5OOZzbalIQkaV4j45JIGwbmwh3rh72tOXkt9yp6nqdgWkdZGcatGsrV7H7CtgCMhjikVHe9iftCFc_BTOYTtgpYcLVE6utpXFxAfSJGs7cpxsNZ4No8/s320/ScotsburnPN32.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477065358629964946" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3SMRfljhJNtMEqfwMGhNRcnfBbgXqcE8ov6fgEtqFeqhtnkVnHXCfRVcKWGpGKidkcOaeF1UVl0Gi2_7wK4VKCYa6h1qc2DVBKrF8F5pi9HBi8Ay5LTigFrwElaK0epOVQyw3ZWk_XAA/s1600/ScotsburnPN34.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 197px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3SMRfljhJNtMEqfwMGhNRcnfBbgXqcE8ov6fgEtqFeqhtnkVnHXCfRVcKWGpGKidkcOaeF1UVl0Gi2_7wK4VKCYa6h1qc2DVBKrF8F5pi9HBi8Ay5LTigFrwElaK0epOVQyw3ZWk_XAA/s320/ScotsburnPN34.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477065361003607378" border="0" /></a><br />Then down a very steep hill trying to get my reins back to no.11, another drop fence!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFKuWpl-dGRGJ0HuSwwPhC6bAJ5nSsOwvnrtios3eU9v6QoObmZsrPCjzHRp0jSrDQPxtq8tcCwYLlp6McDTSt5lo-PZXkGK8yyQSZ8vNWOlW_1qaTvDmBiqSS6EVFJ07a6DpgCoX1eL4/s1600/ScotsburnPN35.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 230px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFKuWpl-dGRGJ0HuSwwPhC6bAJ5nSsOwvnrtios3eU9v6QoObmZsrPCjzHRp0jSrDQPxtq8tcCwYLlp6McDTSt5lo-PZXkGK8yyQSZ8vNWOlW_1qaTvDmBiqSS6EVFJ07a6DpgCoX1eL4/s320/ScotsburnPN35.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477065365400684738" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwFEVpZfX0Kb5jz4l30ign-90MY6TWmDemQgPu5sMdNzZ8vGyTbWsf9lAHz8FUOtWafZ2rvBwpDJJkXh2hM8lGtBDjZeKj2bISWeBVQqAM33staCrwZAIjXxOnr99sq21Y1FGEuTxT49g/s1600/ScotsburnPN37.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwFEVpZfX0Kb5jz4l30ign-90MY6TWmDemQgPu5sMdNzZ8vGyTbWsf9lAHz8FUOtWafZ2rvBwpDJJkXh2hM8lGtBDjZeKj2bISWeBVQqAM33staCrwZAIjXxOnr99sq21Y1FGEuTxT49g/s320/ScotsburnPN37.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477065373564780050" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfHEJayTZFBBbz-pGWyt_GDQWWKb0_RX49w7ZKiZUCPqspepJQZhp1uejeTwjd2JQVy_Nai_YxsK0OfxyBAbPzT7FnxDflC4M6V_xzNeA1fLQ81y_FClrOy_RJp9ldk-_99m3C-J0aYwQ/s1600/ScotsburnPN39.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 233px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfHEJayTZFBBbz-pGWyt_GDQWWKb0_RX49w7ZKiZUCPqspepJQZhp1uejeTwjd2JQVy_Nai_YxsK0OfxyBAbPzT7FnxDflC4M6V_xzNeA1fLQ81y_FClrOy_RJp9ldk-_99m3C-J0aYwQ/s320/ScotsburnPN39.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477065379009749522" border="0" /></a><br />No 12 was a half coffin with a hanging log (could see daylight under it!) as part a and a ditch at part b. I was worried that the ditch was very wide, but turns out I should have worried about the spooky log- she backed off it and I wasn't quick enough/firm enough to do anything about it, so we picked up our first XC pens. :( Quite annoyed with myself as I should have reacted quicker. We weren't alone though, that fence was causing a lot of problems! Over it 2nd time around and popped the ditch no bother.<br /><br />Up the hill to 13ab (small step up to a house fence) then along to 14ab (big, square log pile to a roll top on an angle) all fab, then around over another house fence at 15 and down the hill to a step down at 16, another step down at 17a and a step into the water at 17b- lots of steps! She was very bold at the first step, backed off at the water, but went in ok and then had a nice canter along the water (with a spook at the novice fence on the way through!) to jump out over the "lock" at no.18;<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh61fnD1WRnQeQORwvwcyOD8DpNlKo4MgZjk9VFAbEhZCI5TtNpftMTkzprIHjI-tTRXXxxOwJTYeLRixQeeFXgVN4INz_mLO4JBEeQhO_O3yGSbi4FB3VdHNedbg8et-xCjVgBXPdhXsY/s1600/ScotsburnPN40.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 221px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh61fnD1WRnQeQORwvwcyOD8DpNlKo4MgZjk9VFAbEhZCI5TtNpftMTkzprIHjI-tTRXXxxOwJTYeLRixQeeFXgVN4INz_mLO4JBEeQhO_O3yGSbi4FB3VdHNedbg8et-xCjVgBXPdhXsY/s320/ScotsburnPN40.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477067311665337106" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwdqcLiTzLaTfZ8vwyP_fHJxwk8idZLc3eL-AocmFZXZlnd6QNRV2R_Jhnunv6WgtK_FAm9Ce3YeiBYRveoJtIB_erMolPWTrISCqYeN_x9_OIPRjAL_81Ax6iWJahp7ATDWXwZqsTgIE/s1600/ScotsburnPN41.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 238px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwdqcLiTzLaTfZ8vwyP_fHJxwk8idZLc3eL-AocmFZXZlnd6QNRV2R_Jhnunv6WgtK_FAm9Ce3YeiBYRveoJtIB_erMolPWTrISCqYeN_x9_OIPRjAL_81Ax6iWJahp7ATDWXwZqsTgIE/s320/ScotsburnPN41.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477067314041101490" border="0" /></a>Out of the water, around the last corner and over the last fence;<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTXr0Qm1yzsGyUZq5tsFZ_lMgw7D_tszvGjGqdwRjnBJFqny6vgzz2XR_C9CetZpXszrfzN-OpPCaZlENX4rs9ig7c6ruFSwYyFHJJPIxbaMi7qQPlSM36dXTRepu0nsSx3o4uG5vht4M/s1600/ScotsburnPN43.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTXr0Qm1yzsGyUZq5tsFZ_lMgw7D_tszvGjGqdwRjnBJFqny6vgzz2XR_C9CetZpXszrfzN-OpPCaZlENX4rs9ig7c6ruFSwYyFHJJPIxbaMi7qQPlSM36dXTRepu0nsSx3o4uG5vht4M/s320/ScotsburnPN43.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477067324602998994" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQWfvHKxR2JXYHXv1UsfMmasvCQm9koGQlMYHmQz6yr4DLr6Foc-fUQ5iYl-s8FmVNL28-2k24ZhdfKy4HcVOUbpNSqeK30hcI2m-LeeX0IS1dpOnRxRhVG-XWxk0UrEG-tbAtDWVktPw/s1600/ScotsburnPN44.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQWfvHKxR2JXYHXv1UsfMmasvCQm9koGQlMYHmQz6yr4DLr6Foc-fUQ5iYl-s8FmVNL28-2k24ZhdfKy4HcVOUbpNSqeK30hcI2m-LeeX0IS1dpOnRxRhVG-XWxk0UrEG-tbAtDWVktPw/s320/ScotsburnPN44.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477067328547661378" border="0" /></a><br />And then home over the finish line to complete our first PN! :D<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXYbCzZaOMF6JxubSQpiFSOUY5-dHv73_yeCIxjV57Peyas9Ne_mz0U4ulGQiFy6pIJarKcjWVs_wRGvkbbGbNj-4aEDnjHBlXMY0yGkb6SY7ev5JPzpn5LtLea1ZXIyaIPqyCMM1Fpoc/s1600/ScotsburnPN45.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXYbCzZaOMF6JxubSQpiFSOUY5-dHv73_yeCIxjV57Peyas9Ne_mz0U4ulGQiFy6pIJarKcjWVs_wRGvkbbGbNj-4aEDnjHBlXMY0yGkb6SY7ev5JPzpn5LtLea1ZXIyaIPqyCMM1Fpoc/s320/ScotsburnPN45.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477068702503406802" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdjD9GBGbtPk9CBQp9zjnGRChEArfmmB6lHPmG25CoV4WDXZhZlPErWEZ1iYpnXsIH2C34BeV0Eem9wuYsxGK3T-TERXF83yQuKkKDDIUKmTof6efVA2WT8yL_WEa5CGIhvWbR98KDl-4/s1600/ScotsburnPN46.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdjD9GBGbtPk9CBQp9zjnGRChEArfmmB6lHPmG25CoV4WDXZhZlPErWEZ1iYpnXsIH2C34BeV0Eem9wuYsxGK3T-TERXF83yQuKkKDDIUKmTof6efVA2WT8yL_WEa5CGIhvWbR98KDl-4/s320/ScotsburnPN46.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477068708590254050" border="0" /></a><br />So although I'm annoyed that our dressage could have been better and I should have been more "grrrr" at the 1st attempt of 12a, there were a lot of good points- the other XC fences she jumped fab and a clear SJ to be happy about.<br /><br />Heidi cooled off and travelled home fine and was happy to be out mooching with her field pals again yesterday evening. :) Next up is a XC training day with David Gatherer at Oatridge on 13th June and then Hopetoun BE on 3rd July. I think I'll be brave and enter the PN for Hopetoun! :)Team Hopalonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14180960486280148285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8048594497321924187.post-64192338542853999752010-05-20T14:36:00.000-07:002010-05-20T15:09:37.777-07:00XC Schooling at Hendersyde Park with Les Smith<span style="font-size:85%;">A little bit slow to update, but it's been a busy week!<br /><br />On Sunday, we trundled down to Hendersyde Park, Kelso, for a XC lesson with Les Smith. Sadly I had a cold appear all of a sudden over the weekend, so wasn't feeling 100% and poor Heidi had to put up with me not quite being on the ball (even more than normal?!) but she was a super star. :)<br /><br />Started off doing a little 20mins over SJs, jumped the spooky filler fine;<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYNViLS2yIrw8c_Dnk3-QqB7wf8K4frvaEI8eNgzC-SYM7M57pTgnSHF-I9prWyn3EE3L05MQAoU47zA83kbiYoF9t3sjJSykpDZuQePpBulJc0Qlwj7gEYz2ShhWhdYO0WHzVmvucj8g/s1600/Hendersyde47.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 242px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYNViLS2yIrw8c_Dnk3-QqB7wf8K4frvaEI8eNgzC-SYM7M57pTgnSHF-I9prWyn3EE3L05MQAoU47zA83kbiYoF9t3sjJSykpDZuQePpBulJc0Qlwj7gEYz2ShhWhdYO0WHzVmvucj8g/s320/Hendersyde47.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473470667929229570" border="0" /></a>And spread fence;<br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidJstz5wq4T9482vk08ur-rNTfx59rF4XHaGV50vwG0SvH5rUNbjBD0wXicSMhvZG4KCdWvRIS34aeTNqET3bmUxhYdmvb07-xio9euqxi6YA_cWgM28LnuNLG5YdGM5LTZc4AkRGB258/s1600/Hendersyde45.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 221px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidJstz5wq4T9482vk08ur-rNTfx59rF4XHaGV50vwG0SvH5rUNbjBD0wXicSMhvZG4KCdWvRIS34aeTNqET3bmUxhYdmvb07-xio9euqxi6YA_cWgM28LnuNLG5YdGM5LTZc4AkRGB258/s320/Hendersyde45.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473470670729062258" border="0" /></a>And we finished with a loop over a very skinny rustic fence and some XC rails;<br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV_bG9J9jVxyViDRPggG4jgAC84e3Kc_EftbMQrBmYZZ-S-SgOVAast6yU4XiZGIhAa0UBHnGqs_tKk5EvV0uacHt63iz5ZSXBHM5SgomrLypFS4qRcq_3Jo4frbfG65NH9khRcDttO1w/s1600/Hendersyde43.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV_bG9J9jVxyViDRPggG4jgAC84e3Kc_EftbMQrBmYZZ-S-SgOVAast6yU4XiZGIhAa0UBHnGqs_tKk5EvV0uacHt63iz5ZSXBHM5SgomrLypFS4qRcq_3Jo4frbfG65NH9khRcDttO1w/s320/Hendersyde43.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473470678871156594" border="0" /></a>Rode these two fences like a numpty first time around, much better second time though once I'd woken up!<br /><br />So then out onto the XC course properly and started over a tiny log (</span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:85%;" >very</span><span style="font-size:85%;"> scary apparently!) then a bigger log and straight around to jump it's bigger neighbour;<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjriBIjLY4s_c-RR-f1ypLwa6uckE3A6KGUGnVoNuFnLQrotNjKBtD-2PzUWV8TCNysNX1fbYmOL8BayZlNIBSFEXQrC67vwWNr_hVcuSXtSwEVTbv8bl7YmUdZYmQTNLmkieZQUHr4upo/s1600/Hendersyde40.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjriBIjLY4s_c-RR-f1ypLwa6uckE3A6KGUGnVoNuFnLQrotNjKBtD-2PzUWV8TCNysNX1fbYmOL8BayZlNIBSFEXQrC67vwWNr_hVcuSXtSwEVTbv8bl7YmUdZYmQTNLmkieZQUHr4upo/s320/Hendersyde40.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473471869703114514" border="0" /></a><br />Then the same thing over some box fences- started with a small one and worked out way up to a pretty decent sized one. (photographer too far away for pics of these!)<br /><br />And then over to the bank, where Les had us string a wee course together which was good. :) Love the first shot of this sequence!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFJNmVl-Qu1TEx_0IoANJ23oC3tnJLMpkFVEO7rnAS70f7vMuM-NC21NL3D6CfNi63G9upmaF5Q_b0aIBuOy8Y1t-4YaGL-6qZ90MGmiQRZHd41nyy1YsyWer_tEDIzHJ2-av9xs7Tl7Y/s1600/Hendersyde37.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 257px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFJNmVl-Qu1TEx_0IoANJ23oC3tnJLMpkFVEO7rnAS70f7vMuM-NC21NL3D6CfNi63G9upmaF5Q_b0aIBuOy8Y1t-4YaGL-6qZ90MGmiQRZHd41nyy1YsyWer_tEDIzHJ2-av9xs7Tl7Y/s320/Hendersyde37.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473471874183173410" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDzc_hmOs5I-6AYVtVMY9HVc38ey630xOnt6_mUfBLgp5C-3Q0z89wArJuBHbEMLmLCNi4c-9x2D6iHBhIxdU6LFQvKS-s9Nchy9TBiNlBk2ty5G-6JmNbceIyuFF_Z7xdoUamrcKfuPA/s1600/Hendersyde35.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 211px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDzc_hmOs5I-6AYVtVMY9HVc38ey630xOnt6_mUfBLgp5C-3Q0z89wArJuBHbEMLmLCNi4c-9x2D6iHBhIxdU6LFQvKS-s9Nchy9TBiNlBk2ty5G-6JmNbceIyuFF_Z7xdoUamrcKfuPA/s320/Hendersyde35.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473471884294136418" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2oEJ5HwoSlFKbhYXb3itfLXNPDiHFqz2tjJHHrB4Tw8z8EyGOGDUvPufkirSkElOqLU936GttGwKKUcIqIiHFpXBBLWc9yJ9S7508GzsATbYjFIZCwC3lwY5c2kG1VJFRmIwHga21LzY/s1600/Hendersyde34.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 210px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2oEJ5HwoSlFKbhYXb3itfLXNPDiHFqz2tjJHHrB4Tw8z8EyGOGDUvPufkirSkElOqLU936GttGwKKUcIqIiHFpXBBLWc9yJ9S7508GzsATbYjFIZCwC3lwY5c2kG1VJFRmIwHga21LzY/s320/Hendersyde34.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473471881963256594" border="0" /></a>And lastly on to the water complex. Decided to not give her the option of getting to paddle in via the ramp and go straight for a step/drop in, as that's what we'll need to do at Scotsburn at the end of the month! She was a little bit "precious" about it, but went in, which is what matters! ;)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgumCI4wxO0sIBG_1nI6lGy-UZq_5gnLdL8gkQ3gfthhMQkvQgI2BYFsSp4cnEOxuYi5EhiLfg17e5V8TNRp3ZT8e3t3S8g5ynR4DjASfPF17A36WRFEVaRxMBRFXbEnCPWsbStPqKsYZU/s1600/Hendersyde32.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 230px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgumCI4wxO0sIBG_1nI6lGy-UZq_5gnLdL8gkQ3gfthhMQkvQgI2BYFsSp4cnEOxuYi5EhiLfg17e5V8TNRp3ZT8e3t3S8g5ynR4DjASfPF17A36WRFEVaRxMBRFXbEnCPWsbStPqKsYZU/s320/Hendersyde32.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473473482213226082" border="0" /></a>Spent a bit of time going in off the drops and out up the steps;<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_n6TgSRtWsrIGdIcJY2Unkl77C5-gVfdg_BwPq7EOFUXj7ct20vhCrrVUHIhcWLLKzlplorNzwvTenUcEURA5V2yifalwmH6sWQUO6uAMpxUslPUaBLQ3WyouepyUAGxQ67Hm8AoFeoQ/s1600/Hendersyde31.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_n6TgSRtWsrIGdIcJY2Unkl77C5-gVfdg_BwPq7EOFUXj7ct20vhCrrVUHIhcWLLKzlplorNzwvTenUcEURA5V2yifalwmH6sWQUO6uAMpxUslPUaBLQ3WyouepyUAGxQ67Hm8AoFeoQ/s320/Hendersyde31.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473473485351352274" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9nT2Db1BT0Rmg7M7gzUzf8jdcFYzHQ-BL2XF9A53XBXj2IqmUubUQOF5kkvgt5wOB92ogV4uZ8re5ueqK24T8rP8yuc9T0Q_1SF2IrMCfwXXBdIVIEwYVxQBEjaydK5fiE9ogC8JItIg/s1600/Hendersyde30.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9nT2Db1BT0Rmg7M7gzUzf8jdcFYzHQ-BL2XF9A53XBXj2IqmUubUQOF5kkvgt5wOB92ogV4uZ8re5ueqK24T8rP8yuc9T0Q_1SF2IrMCfwXXBdIVIEwYVxQBEjaydK5fiE9ogC8JItIg/s320/Hendersyde30.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473473488046328802" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgbBgLomz2Y0siJ7waa7Ck5j-XGSE7yPhaGwIa0XvZW25KBq0tk7zyiSsEPxBz1aPAK5BmSBrLzweTe1aDn-jOVPWHRDvbqP4MnJzqKRc4eXtbn7kwLaD6KtEVvHwTrtZ5lFfe6-MQCLg/s1600/Hendersyde27.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgbBgLomz2Y0siJ7waa7Ck5j-XGSE7yPhaGwIa0XvZW25KBq0tk7zyiSsEPxBz1aPAK5BmSBrLzweTe1aDn-jOVPWHRDvbqP4MnJzqKRc4eXtbn7kwLaD6KtEVvHwTrtZ5lFfe6-MQCLg/s320/Hendersyde27.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473473494353344034" border="0" /></a>And then Les decided we should try the jump into the water! Eeeek! This was what Heidi thought of it first time around (cheeky monkey doesn't appear to be even considering it- she's not even bothering to look!);<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje_7n0a6MVxalqRwrgaJ1xcfYNtWih4lgQqobjpiIyWVe0YuvQ2OR7fA0rc2SAvyMvCnipVW8THsw9yYAJoQ6pNNOMeLt7vRRbTNOlf8qqe-lkYevSUo2lcV4kDwLN05cu7nGxUnHGeN4/s1600/Hendersyde25.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje_7n0a6MVxalqRwrgaJ1xcfYNtWih4lgQqobjpiIyWVe0YuvQ2OR7fA0rc2SAvyMvCnipVW8THsw9yYAJoQ6pNNOMeLt7vRRbTNOlf8qqe-lkYevSUo2lcV4kDwLN05cu7nGxUnHGeN4/s320/Hendersyde25.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473474949600768866" border="0" /></a>So a couple of attempts later (rider also got a little wussy at the thought of a dunking in the cold, murky water!) once I'd given both of us a growl to get on with it and we managed this (spot the change from "concentration" to "relief" in my expression! ;)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwL1-6gmfi-nVs87eK0S-9WuRH2B-ha67ZCcMnrkr2JmeD5r8aDt4CnfTELoyfqFG6t6UGC_Z33HMT7Qy-bwiJJoD4Z3HAdxANujUHf49d6iz8-G6a7yUJvgg5S37Dde3T8HNAh1r7Q_k/s1600/Hendersyde16.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwL1-6gmfi-nVs87eK0S-9WuRH2B-ha67ZCcMnrkr2JmeD5r8aDt4CnfTELoyfqFG6t6UGC_Z33HMT7Qy-bwiJJoD4Z3HAdxANujUHf49d6iz8-G6a7yUJvgg5S37Dde3T8HNAh1r7Q_k/s320/Hendersyde16.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473474956693311122" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRs8PQ698fnL-DD-Y0zdWxJZeFB3ymL9nyRKUIFBd_2OF6q00uYBBZYp4RQFpBtIVCQB_4gSQY_ESUQGvAzESGsZLPdGxGg3xHKDsD7cN5oe5XZAspLxYx2H1QCjG5Yr4-tFYy7e2oUwE/s1600/Hendersyde14.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRs8PQ698fnL-DD-Y0zdWxJZeFB3ymL9nyRKUIFBd_2OF6q00uYBBZYp4RQFpBtIVCQB_4gSQY_ESUQGvAzESGsZLPdGxGg3xHKDsD7cN5oe5XZAspLxYx2H1QCjG5Yr4-tFYy7e2oUwE/s320/Hendersyde14.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473474962547503218" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwZqslA-QWyr0XpkiAEFX2zHx5yMxIzVcYCnSi-neWvD0tAI5kM9ngnfra6d-CpZOIBVB2qyKETz7lmBybt4hBCsN8-eJei87tv_aMVdvXnRC_ali_Momx5Dsl_uKMhLepNh-MM2MMxEA/s1600/Hendersyde2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwZqslA-QWyr0XpkiAEFX2zHx5yMxIzVcYCnSi-neWvD0tAI5kM9ngnfra6d-CpZOIBVB2qyKETz7lmBybt4hBCsN8-eJei87tv_aMVdvXnRC_ali_Momx5Dsl_uKMhLepNh-MM2MMxEA/s320/Hendersyde2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473475806411374226" border="0" /></a>So very happy to have achieved that as would never have imagined we'd do anything like a jump into water! :D<br /><br />Been doing lots of hacking this week to get fitness levels sorted for Scotsburn on 29th May (apparently a hilly one!) and popped down to SNEC on on Wednesday evening for their low-key unaff SJ evening. Did the 85cm and 95cm classes and although both Heidi and I were a little snoozy (neither of us are great doing late nights and it being quite warm and clammy didn't help!), we managed two double clears to come 2nd in both classes. :) Still panicking when I can't see a stride, so need to work on that! Can't get a happy medium- outdoors she's too forwards and indoors she needs more revving up!<br /></span>Team Hopalonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14180960486280148285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8048594497321924187.post-24474514285388452732010-05-11T13:39:00.000-07:002010-05-11T14:18:18.067-07:003rd time lucky at Auchinleck!Our third BE of the year was on Sunday at Auchinleck, another BE90 (intro). We went down and camped to split up the travelling and make a weekend of it. Stabling was down the road at the location of Eglinton Horse Trials and Hopalong was very happy in her stable on arrival enjoying a good nosey at everything going on;<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghb49vZqvobFWFEwQrOdmB3aOGNcjaPep4M0CKGRbqHDf5LKEDdjJxo_6XllBAL0KmAnDRV1XiNezNls7lawCd4y2IRLUDtrKw7VTigGXS2nyFtfO6TXrcka5xtyT_egxkEsWnhNtyVLM/s1600/Photo099.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghb49vZqvobFWFEwQrOdmB3aOGNcjaPep4M0CKGRbqHDf5LKEDdjJxo_6XllBAL0KmAnDRV1XiNezNls7lawCd4y2IRLUDtrKw7VTigGXS2nyFtfO6TXrcka5xtyT_egxkEsWnhNtyVLM/s320/Photo099.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470115455164238818" border="0" /></a>According to the little card on the door, the previous `occupant was one of Ruth Edge's horses- I was hoping she may have left some dressage diva vibes behind for Heidi to soak up! ;)<br /><br />Went along to Auchinleck and enjoyed watching some of the Novice XC while walking my course. The BE90 XC was very straightforward and not hugely up to height (certainly not compared to Scone!) so I knew any issues would truly be numpty rider error.<br /><br />We had a nice DR time of 11.30am, so plenty time to pack up the tent and get on site and warmed up. The arenas were near the SJ, but quite quiet and she warmed up quite nicely. For a change, it didn't all go to pot once we went in the arena and we did a fairly nice test with some form of an outline for some of the time, felt a lot better than our Scone attempt!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjU7JuvTc0ktlra8WloqSnr3smCw9NjDjiMEsJ1OubacqL7cw_3epmscfgQFA2J2tFP5wtti2Gq_Rqd4B2kauwbcl44K2bn7oUZyq2a_uHdB6G8_0YkUgABpjbf-Jog6KBTfqRet52bD0/s1600/Auchinleck1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 224px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjU7JuvTc0ktlra8WloqSnr3smCw9NjDjiMEsJ1OubacqL7cw_3epmscfgQFA2J2tFP5wtti2Gq_Rqd4B2kauwbcl44K2bn7oUZyq2a_uHdB6G8_0YkUgABpjbf-Jog6KBTfqRet52bD0/s320/Auchinleck1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470117312745043010" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlHDZLtulRfslTTeuv4Uc_Hcsv7-rU4ynjbYJo7jw5VUPGg2NGy5_eBfn9ePbF73HA8Nn7YWLnSE0nzE9eAReyQrM389vX5KoLXEYhYfL_iw8GGgEdY5z4O5M1gToRUlH7wHCfgLLPmFE/s1600/Auchinleck8.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlHDZLtulRfslTTeuv4Uc_Hcsv7-rU4ynjbYJo7jw5VUPGg2NGy5_eBfn9ePbF73HA8Nn7YWLnSE0nzE9eAReyQrM389vX5KoLXEYhYfL_iw8GGgEdY5z4O5M1gToRUlH7wHCfgLLPmFE/s320/Auchinleck8.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470117314971784722" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQxJ3R6H6JqcB9FGUscCcgWQD2SMHKyW_i6aJc_wq6CTHaRftGIEE0JiJ9K5t7i2cU8Q0HEQ8-qO3A0QzrDy91c3SBFADI6lRXldcFu-41JELtaXml3NWHaWG27dxdQXvCjSORM7t4P_k/s1600/Auchinleck10.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 246px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQxJ3R6H6JqcB9FGUscCcgWQD2SMHKyW_i6aJc_wq6CTHaRftGIEE0JiJ9K5t7i2cU8Q0HEQ8-qO3A0QzrDy91c3SBFADI6lRXldcFu-41JELtaXml3NWHaWG27dxdQXvCjSORM7t4P_k/s320/Auchinleck10.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470117318140335714" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW0xVJlyvLkOYR8MfLIMqrupB6ydlbrjpPi_UeiMWgmtLH8r9nB3h3vaigbv-IbBa6ycc3XdlzcL9b7ZgGm64ipqmL-KAjXroVvv0m78RD3peYLW4EkPRoNuVC9fPlzcItTCeUjdx4zPk/s1600/Auchinleck18.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 230px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW0xVJlyvLkOYR8MfLIMqrupB6ydlbrjpPi_UeiMWgmtLH8r9nB3h3vaigbv-IbBa6ycc3XdlzcL9b7ZgGm64ipqmL-KAjXroVvv0m78RD3peYLW4EkPRoNuVC9fPlzcItTCeUjdx4zPk/s320/Auchinleck18.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470117325502646418" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie8fARE_SA-PY4dCV1vcT8AcCit1l0M5YSkzlm98FNyUIkNIYu-PZjfJS05BVWHqJamJ-P6ui_PDEw9hzFDY60KdLqaTItqiVt8kGVVqYWVYcKWsO8cNvun8qWzbrVU6DqQ_LZJlN1Uhk/s1600/Auchinleck19.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 229px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie8fARE_SA-PY4dCV1vcT8AcCit1l0M5YSkzlm98FNyUIkNIYu-PZjfJS05BVWHqJamJ-P6ui_PDEw9hzFDY60KdLqaTItqiVt8kGVVqYWVYcKWsO8cNvun8qWzbrVU6DqQ_LZJlN1Uhk/s320/Auchinleck19.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470117330489271682" border="0" /></a>Turned out we managed to score 36pen (64%) which is our best BE score to date! :D Thrilled with that, hopefully not a one off...!<br /><br />We had a long wait of about 3hrs until SJ, although when we turned up they were already running a little late and then a poor girl fell off a few horses before me and broke her leg, so long wait for ambulance to rescue her and get the arena cleared. We were third in after the unscheduled break and managed a clear round. Had a panic coming into the double thinking we were getting too fast and flat and hooked her into the bottom of the first part, but she was clever through it and left it up. Saw a long one at no.8 (see piccie below!) and again at no.9, but managed to finish on a clear round! :)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQR4K6iOiNTWFoCYwnl916EKZwGi3Q4OHSRvf0hT3nNsukUhlI9YlZsIpk_g1An_ZTSZ4-we8pykkr5Bp0JEIJwqDlaB99QKv_6eQoMUTULdckhoGGXDSQ79tphV4YPWVmG-oDqvRfMv8/s1600/Auchinleck22.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 207px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQR4K6iOiNTWFoCYwnl916EKZwGi3Q4OHSRvf0hT3nNsukUhlI9YlZsIpk_g1An_ZTSZ4-we8pykkr5Bp0JEIJwqDlaB99QKv_6eQoMUTULdckhoGGXDSQ79tphV4YPWVmG-oDqvRfMv8/s320/Auchinleck22.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470119261371870642" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio9yh9Ft8ShbIpEKXDlnnOa-tlkO_QrqGbO4hUe-h58XPNS0IJi6cS6Bh4-cb10u7RksrKi_gYEQuvsaakwY200NhWF7q7w-sUVQTLWPzRzd5dlo0y-GBjDTXPnVRaAU93IlHhltXA1zA/s1600/Auchinleck24.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 227px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio9yh9Ft8ShbIpEKXDlnnOa-tlkO_QrqGbO4hUe-h58XPNS0IJi6cS6Bh4-cb10u7RksrKi_gYEQuvsaakwY200NhWF7q7w-sUVQTLWPzRzd5dlo0y-GBjDTXPnVRaAU93IlHhltXA1zA/s320/Auchinleck24.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470119376777059474" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj598l7kQfAXRh8b36MqsXVgh8GmLI-ktiFSLFI4OHpBwVHGSfQjI39bM5xIPhn1ZtlgFcoqw_mzZoj1x0BlvWAwg1Q_lw18t-WYC45AOmYyYOL5Ifm9ukUbAIYjTnxiWh7MQOg2MJIzRs/s1600/Auchinleck25.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 287px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj598l7kQfAXRh8b36MqsXVgh8GmLI-ktiFSLFI4OHpBwVHGSfQjI39bM5xIPhn1ZtlgFcoqw_mzZoj1x0BlvWAwg1Q_lw18t-WYC45AOmYyYOL5Ifm9ukUbAIYjTnxiWh7MQOg2MJIzRs/s320/Auchinleck25.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470119471230872658" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmSuk68FYyhWkUFobUJfvS3qu5XI7KfjHdF0e-U3yNbXAnYsbiUpUb9im1MSEZVPCzVC90LoVkOQGwqdU14BQjvuf3ilj1ahMvgHPnpEFBZQ62CcO804OdLbn3oxfbuIdJJY7a2KBPL2c/s1600/Auchinleck28.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 228px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmSuk68FYyhWkUFobUJfvS3qu5XI7KfjHdF0e-U3yNbXAnYsbiUpUb9im1MSEZVPCzVC90LoVkOQGwqdU14BQjvuf3ilj1ahMvgHPnpEFBZQ62CcO804OdLbn3oxfbuIdJJY7a2KBPL2c/s320/Auchinleck28.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470119475635876114" border="0" /></a>Looking at the scoreboard at the end of the day, there were a lot of cricket scores in the SJ and very few clears, so very pleased with Heidi, she is such a careful SJer, I'm very lucky!<br /><br />So super-quick change around of tack for horse and rider (thanks to my pal Nic, her Mum and Bob for helping!) and off to XC. Set off and she did not respect the tiny log at no.1 and had a wee spook at the fence judges beside the brush fence at no.2, but flew over the roll tops at 3 and 4 fab, then down to the water at ramp in (no.5) and step out (no.6);<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicNE5Bz9f9AY_Q3t3formEbukNlgS24SDa-y-PJc_BckaQRn8xX06JD1ileTV-9uU-WjcNp7VRdK3SmujTF_GjDxZCeusBDfHuQed4IpMNZH7N-PvYHtM45xsDTnaZ7jGqTeq7PPr6KIA/s1600/Auchinleck31.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 234px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicNE5Bz9f9AY_Q3t3formEbukNlgS24SDa-y-PJc_BckaQRn8xX06JD1ileTV-9uU-WjcNp7VRdK3SmujTF_GjDxZCeusBDfHuQed4IpMNZH7N-PvYHtM45xsDTnaZ7jGqTeq7PPr6KIA/s320/Auchinleck31.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470120568610648130" border="0" /></a>The step out was on a bit of an angle due to where you came in and where you were headed after and she just caught her right toe on the edge, but managed to pull it out in time! Sharp turn left and over a sheep feeder fence at no.7;<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO_DIujBXy8vml8PcEAwxgdiaGoctMb80lRfrAKzx1v_l2TFBl7b3RGhDdz2bKBuTJYL9i1MTqIvRC6aafeHyqyveO5rK_VHh0fBP5cWkqpP6_IpMFT9EfR-JLpRD_65O7Pg8Ecu7WnjE/s1600/Auchinleck32.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 231px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO_DIujBXy8vml8PcEAwxgdiaGoctMb80lRfrAKzx1v_l2TFBl7b3RGhDdz2bKBuTJYL9i1MTqIvRC6aafeHyqyveO5rK_VHh0fBP5cWkqpP6_IpMFT9EfR-JLpRD_65O7Pg8Ecu7WnjE/s320/Auchinleck32.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470120578768620034" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOCXbzrSswGi57koU9mbIyAUZTAcwepLut4hrvFFUJ-uY_D8kktJN04spktQjwi1DHXe5aNr5iO4ENy0vZiyocYrslXn9wVK7m_F5EQrxgI2FYZ5Ukuy91lW8ThKEvgvtksfhM3ZCkZfg/s1600/Auchinleck33.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 263px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOCXbzrSswGi57koU9mbIyAUZTAcwepLut4hrvFFUJ-uY_D8kktJN04spktQjwi1DHXe5aNr5iO4ENy0vZiyocYrslXn9wVK7m_F5EQrxgI2FYZ5Ukuy91lW8ThKEvgvtksfhM3ZCkZfg/s320/Auchinleck33.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470120584214645490" border="0" /></a> And then a sharp right turn to tyres at no.8 where she thought she'd make it more fun by taking a big leap over these!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNG3vm4myRJjE8n4B0717s6tKIo0tckpra_4hgcTClvCTiD_AHVDM7aA0e_MSOlq_tA7ZIU-oXw63KHVQDYGsDmgxryxHI7vjhAPQq1hLGANh7ww-Sc_54c4BgmFit8YaPlbJMk9MA93U/s1600/Auchinleck34.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 231px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNG3vm4myRJjE8n4B0717s6tKIo0tckpra_4hgcTClvCTiD_AHVDM7aA0e_MSOlq_tA7ZIU-oXw63KHVQDYGsDmgxryxHI7vjhAPQq1hLGANh7ww-Sc_54c4BgmFit8YaPlbJMk9MA93U/s320/Auchinleck34.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470120593653228114" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiybQani1iwPVcawAivdTak2vrBVOYPVnwAnpTxXiXu0RsQAjfV53AQR1mTYRGTACJojEf_BVxduvon0MuX4CZEUrdrQ34ZNXKfaGTadhF2Gywz3XqhqpzCJ2GtiBC4X3FY96fe-jawBEo/s1600/Auchinleck35.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 235px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiybQani1iwPVcawAivdTak2vrBVOYPVnwAnpTxXiXu0RsQAjfV53AQR1mTYRGTACJojEf_BVxduvon0MuX4CZEUrdrQ34ZNXKfaGTadhF2Gywz3XqhqpzCJ2GtiBC4X3FY96fe-jawBEo/s320/Auchinleck35.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470120598036137378" border="0" /></a>Then up the hill and over the house at no.9;<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqvzKDDszfYry6ZY8LE_L-5R0DBs_rU6rOkZgD_M3QOB7L7WDt5A3eJPHdKabjVR2ipMqTVV71ho3Nd95x-vwjsNn0l50hSuf30p5Z-fdQZYHfbgFjv_tWBZp0HM4nmJ_UDholCizuWvo/s1600/Auchinleck37.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 211px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqvzKDDszfYry6ZY8LE_L-5R0DBs_rU6rOkZgD_M3QOB7L7WDt5A3eJPHdKabjVR2ipMqTVV71ho3Nd95x-vwjsNn0l50hSuf30p5Z-fdQZYHfbgFjv_tWBZp0HM4nmJ_UDholCizuWvo/s320/Auchinleck37.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470121945517875330" border="0" /></a>And out of sight of our paparrazzi over a roll top at no.10, palisade down hill at no.11, pipe fence at no.12 and then onto the woods section. When course walking, I'd spotted a "short cut" through the wooded section by taking an angle over the rails in (no.13), cutting straight through instead of around the corner and then jumping out over the palisade (no.14) on an angle- thought it would make a good test for us as well as saving precious seconds! She flew through this on a bit more of an angle than I'd planned and made it feel very easy. :D<br /><br />Then back into the woods and over a little ditch at no.15, she had a wee look but popped over nicely and then back out into the field over a roll top at no.16;<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwkbMritmlNhSWNQJAFQrCJSAUZyBxlBRnf28pINCSRG26vswwJReIeVxRiqCjPkE2DCMcntWvGVJmbC5-Db20pGa-ttmFybEnFzGBM3fOySeOa7JoZu_IUvQxfkV_kSbs1y7klqta8Sk/s1600/Auchinleck38.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 233px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwkbMritmlNhSWNQJAFQrCJSAUZyBxlBRnf28pINCSRG26vswwJReIeVxRiqCjPkE2DCMcntWvGVJmbC5-Db20pGa-ttmFybEnFzGBM3fOySeOa7JoZu_IUvQxfkV_kSbs1y7klqta8Sk/s320/Auchinleck38.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470121948458015394" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJwHY-D0Zm9Q7VVErEHL9iRaSOvwmig5zHoliEiXWs19CMOkKqH6ZRgtVlXXqWpb9ihrh21mLhptI0QbEWFsmmP34IMdxFHf7yFbANbUi36X3EhDyrNwBcYNXrFMq6eNxq02v82iRn4HU/s1600/Auchinleck39.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 238px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJwHY-D0Zm9Q7VVErEHL9iRaSOvwmig5zHoliEiXWs19CMOkKqH6ZRgtVlXXqWpb9ihrh21mLhptI0QbEWFsmmP34IMdxFHf7yFbANbUi36X3EhDyrNwBcYNXrFMq6eNxq02v82iRn4HU/s320/Auchinleck39.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470121952890367570" border="0" /></a>And down the hill to the chair fence at no.17;<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2AapN4GzxbPtRgrF3eXLLAZq1Wixl26ayjs_QACjPSzQF9EsY4bkfoZ7bfWzPATpy6IdzPB_8qjlZ-T7zNpJ_cEK-CBBC1h4-N-gKz-wFTT2orCKfCnDDOStQnC7ZUk2QdZqugnTFV68/s1600/Auchinleck40.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 230px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2AapN4GzxbPtRgrF3eXLLAZq1Wixl26ayjs_QACjPSzQF9EsY4bkfoZ7bfWzPATpy6IdzPB_8qjlZ-T7zNpJ_cEK-CBBC1h4-N-gKz-wFTT2orCKfCnDDOStQnC7ZUk2QdZqugnTFV68/s320/Auchinleck40.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470122877136806242" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyzU_MplaS0qP2UdfmA7jqIHvvGnvqImjnd9yvkG30rN8AgSYRc18q9nKzVGLm-FOiN11kPxAji6bC_W9pN1GAqcJZzovEjgMMpvAk81UIVX0yEJ3jhDI55Ya4i7aKnfYONTeYiwlwWf4/s1600/Auchinleck41.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 227px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyzU_MplaS0qP2UdfmA7jqIHvvGnvqImjnd9yvkG30rN8AgSYRc18q9nKzVGLm-FOiN11kPxAji6bC_W9pN1GAqcJZzovEjgMMpvAk81UIVX0yEJ3jhDI55Ya4i7aKnfYONTeYiwlwWf4/s320/Auchinleck41.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470122882341310978" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii-dg7F5lpMIIflxuimWoV6lhxw2GR6G8LdwmUu-GlgLXcKcs6A6etSo01djp6H5-BS69Wucw_ZRzsETM1P0QVqODcfFtJCX2VbsZOS1IPUCnY3JiCSMa3Q68FCS9hF4HDVcpLXcDqgKE/s1600/Auchinleck42.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 215px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii-dg7F5lpMIIflxuimWoV6lhxw2GR6G8LdwmUu-GlgLXcKcs6A6etSo01djp6H5-BS69Wucw_ZRzsETM1P0QVqODcfFtJCX2VbsZOS1IPUCnY3JiCSMa3Q68FCS9hF4HDVcpLXcDqgKE/s320/Auchinleck42.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470122885196864018" border="0" /></a>Then gallop off down the hill and through the second water (ramp in and out) at no.18, over the wall at no.19 then up the hill and over the roll top at no.20 to finish clear inside the time by 10s. :)<br /><br />So 3rd time lucky by getting all three phases right in the one day! ;) I was over the moon to find out this was good enough for 4th place and even more excited to realise today that this has qualified us for a regional final (top 10% of normal BE90 sections qualify) where if we can finish in the top 25% of the regional final (held at Turnberry in September) we qualify for the BE90 Grassroots Championships which are held at <span style="font-weight: bold;">Badminton</span>! Now there's an incentive to work on our dressage before September...! ;)<br /><br />Next in the calendar is a XC lesson at Hendersyde Park this weekend to add to this weekend's confidence building run before our first BE100 (Pre Novice) attempt at Scotsburn on 29th May. :)Team Hopalonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14180960486280148285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8048594497321924187.post-41735364512003281082010-05-07T15:06:00.000-07:002010-05-07T15:18:18.052-07:00Party in the Park photos!Poor Bob has had a busy week, since Monday he's been shooting two big gigs (Scouting for Girls and Florence and the Machine) plus whizzing round Knockhill with Rex, but I've finally managed to nab some photos from last weekend off him! :)<br /><br />Enjoying leading the first hack;<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCTnAv2a_Cl-PqtJgrW_ngQoi45VoUDlLu8zDXLOIc1Y1lBCaSzYnVLXGl2j0kS7pOfepbjAzlpQOJwb0ff4ug-CkuPSeEU7knjTek31duPn4Vk-V8A2V7hx0DJBdhQ9nKUzJdeguv9HQ/s1600/PitP++015.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 198px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCTnAv2a_Cl-PqtJgrW_ngQoi45VoUDlLu8zDXLOIc1Y1lBCaSzYnVLXGl2j0kS7pOfepbjAzlpQOJwb0ff4ug-CkuPSeEU7knjTek31duPn4Vk-V8A2V7hx0DJBdhQ9nKUzJdeguv9HQ/s320/PitP++015.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468654759280194818" border="0" /></a><br /><br />With a wee "yee ha" at the end of it;<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnFkMSvZ-wmpgkFir590CK4j6KnKyaV1mCh5RKJQ61jB3cdSIEu9-O3pbmVPg_bUkQyzi30FFiW6kT3TKQaX_gveu-_ngipOBfyVABn75n6Ha5IoUZCu2kSP5u76H_yHMBqERJhca98o4/s1600/PitP++018.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 309px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnFkMSvZ-wmpgkFir590CK4j6KnKyaV1mCh5RKJQ61jB3cdSIEu9-O3pbmVPg_bUkQyzi30FFiW6kT3TKQaX_gveu-_ngipOBfyVABn75n6Ha5IoUZCu2kSP5u76H_yHMBqERJhca98o4/s320/PitP++018.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468654781147284738" border="0" /></a><br /><br />And enjoying some XC and galloping on the 2nd hack, I love the photos of her flying the chair fence (look how far away from it she lands!) and then zooming off! :)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlihowd9coTSEIfud0kmWG00kRWgZnSyZaOXEf08pYS58HeEK13X3SkOIXWqvZzjSYzYsezkdyok37dZSGv2Kwq4zh7vLnZtQ-2KuxekN7MuVMOJN4mf75MTTpoboKTuAENYcAr4rK0jc/s1600/PitP++019.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 287px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlihowd9coTSEIfud0kmWG00kRWgZnSyZaOXEf08pYS58HeEK13X3SkOIXWqvZzjSYzYsezkdyok37dZSGv2Kwq4zh7vLnZtQ-2KuxekN7MuVMOJN4mf75MTTpoboKTuAENYcAr4rK0jc/s320/PitP++019.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468655505656315410" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu-OKh3hsReAfd__pEcwFzDQiLFt3DAyznZXelWOXNCGlrhAts7fBAcUaafRrDwQXui7LTjFSlDafvApOBGGfLxJiAhEeELAEkdkqVmsP3OVAYqt3tppNKYYKT9EI68E7BRaIU81PNhI4/s1600/PitP++011.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu-OKh3hsReAfd__pEcwFzDQiLFt3DAyznZXelWOXNCGlrhAts7fBAcUaafRrDwQXui7LTjFSlDafvApOBGGfLxJiAhEeELAEkdkqVmsP3OVAYqt3tppNKYYKT9EI68E7BRaIU81PNhI4/s320/PitP++011.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468655518754915458" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6TVyvb0zIGB72nMXvMBf4iv-ZGsqPecX6kdHmcuZAsBDUe_xokaZmtgnsIsPyn80ZulgAqchJmf4hyTjLjSQblWCWO33f5R1sdDlts9ZXXKmk1XRusmaLWTRBkLlTiSCHn1gegeJflvI/s1600/PitP++007.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 211px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6TVyvb0zIGB72nMXvMBf4iv-ZGsqPecX6kdHmcuZAsBDUe_xokaZmtgnsIsPyn80ZulgAqchJmf4hyTjLjSQblWCWO33f5R1sdDlts9ZXXKmk1XRusmaLWTRBkLlTiSCHn1gegeJflvI/s320/PitP++007.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468654789479240242" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw3qZ8iTzWeSeHlPEFup0qpellnNcLNfGuZZoov_U1dbzy-i5vU8d7u6cWZQtDhdhaZqBuzhzm3Qo58af-HaKxTecjCigDsr_Np_KrnZ3ueFLoDlxdH0Z8CCReUhXn6Q4qzh11bSEID5M/s1600/PitP++013.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 221px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw3qZ8iTzWeSeHlPEFup0qpellnNcLNfGuZZoov_U1dbzy-i5vU8d7u6cWZQtDhdhaZqBuzhzm3Qo58af-HaKxTecjCigDsr_Np_KrnZ3ueFLoDlxdH0Z8CCReUhXn6Q4qzh11bSEID5M/s320/PitP++013.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468655516367501586" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkX29k_NESrSoyAJOhnbzjXWE1lVOMn7KVQjJvdB5slaw5U5olH664Jlhh1Ab3bhO6kU82SV8-gFGEFNIjW2AJn1e2ZjwyyEpF8HwAynW8v-vg__MzBvtnr743EPH4FrCNMKREyVMpKqU/s1600/PitP++003.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkX29k_NESrSoyAJOhnbzjXWE1lVOMn7KVQjJvdB5slaw5U5olH664Jlhh1Ab3bhO6kU82SV8-gFGEFNIjW2AJn1e2ZjwyyEpF8HwAynW8v-vg__MzBvtnr743EPH4FrCNMKREyVMpKqU/s320/PitP++003.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468654769317914930" border="0" /></a>Team Hopalonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14180960486280148285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8048594497321924187.post-16274180639114757842010-05-03T15:19:00.000-07:002010-05-03T15:28:01.081-07:00Busy couple of days Sunday/Monday!Hopalong and I have had a busy couple of days!<br /><br />On Sunday we were at Edinburgh Equestrian Centre (Dalkeith) for our riding club's Party in the Park. It was a really fun day with dressage, SJ and XC lessons for members as well as some group hacks and a BBQ. Heidi was leading two hacks out- the second one involving a wee play over the XC fences at the end. :D<br /><br />Everything went really well, everyone seemed to have a good time and the sun even shone! :)<br /><br />Tonight we went down to SNEC for a David Gatherer SJ lesson. I really like David as a trainer, he always knows when to push us, when to hold us back and how to really build our confidence.<br /><br />Tonight's exercises were working on related distances, both on straight lines and curving dog legs. Started off with poles on the ground, then straight up to 1m! Having entered our first PN at the end of the month (XC can be up to 1m and SJ up to 1.05m) I was determined to be positive about riding at 1m!<br /><br />Heidi was jumping really nicely and apart from a wee moment where we both kind of fell asleep and didn't have quite enough energy in the canter so dithered through in a rather unelegant way (they all stayed up though! ;) ), we did it much better the next time around!<br /><br />We finished up doing a wee course with all the fences up at 1m, jumped them all with no panics or problems and was giving Heidi big pats when we finished to be told by David that one of the uprights was sitting at 1.10m and the spread fence at 1.10m with back rail at 1.15m!!! His point being the height was absolutely not an issue, get the line, engine and rythymn right and Heidi can sort the jumping out no bother!<br /><br />So very pleased with her this evening. :) Need to remember to ride positively and forwards to get a nice, flowing jump and no panicking as I know we can do it.<br /><br />Next stop Auchinleck intro on Sunday! :)Team Hopalonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14180960486280148285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8048594497321924187.post-25870532355868858102010-05-01T04:17:00.000-07:002010-05-01T04:23:19.151-07:00A couple of late "candid" photos from last weekend!Bob has just unearthed some rather cute Heidi photos from last weekend that I thought I'd share!<br /><br />The unmistakable "bat ears" (or "devil ears" as my Mum calls them, maybe more appropriate some days?!)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNReMhwy8rl58uUVwbhncWPCvvIx6wsFhJP3rOdoHZQ0kq84JiO8wzmGhWE6gVx5fg6KbzJLoaJp7sI8gemEuomB549DPiI8bF-NRInZN81AI80PkSBq0VYodLmW8cZKkf-WevGwUT3XA/s1600/Heidi+getting+ready6.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNReMhwy8rl58uUVwbhncWPCvvIx6wsFhJP3rOdoHZQ0kq84JiO8wzmGhWE6gVx5fg6KbzJLoaJp7sI8gemEuomB549DPiI8bF-NRInZN81AI80PkSBq0VYodLmW8cZKkf-WevGwUT3XA/s320/Heidi+getting+ready6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466260264091907042" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I can do "donkey ears" too...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj16xihDOx0r4npeRussnbBIAmPpGl5RiaQSJNWSaqHmAyZRVedhG6KfYEvL6cMR9r1-t-smX5nuKHK-W4ciQU4u0rFpCKLiIW0mfkfgGoHVnSDbFkOpKuNmzAFraiw06SDr1Bjsi-uo3s/s1600/Heidi+getting+ready7.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj16xihDOx0r4npeRussnbBIAmPpGl5RiaQSJNWSaqHmAyZRVedhG6KfYEvL6cMR9r1-t-smX5nuKHK-W4ciQU4u0rFpCKLiIW0mfkfgGoHVnSDbFkOpKuNmzAFraiw06SDr1Bjsi-uo3s/s320/Heidi+getting+ready7.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466260506775300914" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Phew... it's hard work standing munching on a haynet...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJETjzUGXYIPAQCgFXaaU7g3zjqEiKvAnbsbraebwO05jepfrrRx8Mc9Af_0AYYOGZbGYMdVbtyg4eRN7XobNtsAyNO5QMCPmwNpUmJJyxa0p-sQyfj0WLhWK1fXGyUhs9JO6kLMoDvQQ/s1600/Heidi+getting+ready4.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJETjzUGXYIPAQCgFXaaU7g3zjqEiKvAnbsbraebwO05jepfrrRx8Mc9Af_0AYYOGZbGYMdVbtyg4eRN7XobNtsAyNO5QMCPmwNpUmJJyxa0p-sQyfj0WLhWK1fXGyUhs9JO6kLMoDvQQ/s320/Heidi+getting+ready4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466260510334583090" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Still able to grump at me faffing around with her girth though!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMLzti-Is47ik78a1QF0ohUkxKOCoGKdcELNROw4JrSWdMDGK9QVTkW6K4ED90liLHAVzga6YUyRcX7DwdgwzZWwHtchUE8cabkkRq8r7LMd2avlnK5Nc3eCsk5sJMwIQ4p2J-oNy8Xc4/s1600/Heidi+getting+ready3.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMLzti-Is47ik78a1QF0ohUkxKOCoGKdcELNROw4JrSWdMDGK9QVTkW6K4ED90liLHAVzga6YUyRcX7DwdgwzZWwHtchUE8cabkkRq8r7LMd2avlnK5Nc3eCsk5sJMwIQ4p2J-oNy8Xc4/s320/Heidi+getting+ready3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466260520816471042" border="0" /></a>Team Hopalonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14180960486280148285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8048594497321924187.post-73088345164462654292010-04-27T13:03:00.000-07:002010-04-27T13:31:39.315-07:00Slighty Soggy Scone BE!Saturday 24th April was our 2nd BE event of the year at Scone Palace, Perthshire. We were doing the BE90 class and had been drawn 5th to go in our section... which meant a dressage time of 8.24am! So alarm was set for 4am, with as much done the night before (including popping up to walk the XC!), so that we could leave the yard at the back of 6am to get there in time.<br /><br />It had been raining most of the night and was still quite damp when we got there. A fairly decent shower of rain while we were warming up and doing our test wasn't appreciated by the photographer! ;) I had thought it may play in our favour and make "pokey nose" tuck her nose in for a change, but she was still just as interested in looking around (particularly at the lorries/trailers coming in the road right alongside the arena) and trying to figure out where the peacock noise was coming from!<br /><br />So not one of our best tests and we scored 44pen, leaving us 23rd out of a section of 26.<br /><br />Some photos, not all bad, as per usual the best is of a nice, square halt! ;)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ6sPrC-TzwO8rdUFgjCVTJHOtv2C4I0edglrIWoZ7v8r5QjwwrgCpk39qrHnQTKfz4sbjxov_usL5q1sDtbdojjcLXB3UAzuelxLqsRaoE14Cp1oAWio5uaV31vp13ac7Tl_oG-qBCGg/s1600/Scone240410++030.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 292px; height: 222px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ6sPrC-TzwO8rdUFgjCVTJHOtv2C4I0edglrIWoZ7v8r5QjwwrgCpk39qrHnQTKfz4sbjxov_usL5q1sDtbdojjcLXB3UAzuelxLqsRaoE14Cp1oAWio5uaV31vp13ac7Tl_oG-qBCGg/s320/Scone240410++030.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464912393185812114" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMlW3aqMf-spEW7B976r9mYH52n5Rl78jp32rt4QEPJmEesl2nACZghEUrKCGDPPSy9gZDgV97aCwIM8UD8D9GIQ4jiAhtHlNr9AZ3NxiSQBRM1qSkSxh0Mj5uz6KRzGeqSYEP9ca5Pi4/s1600/Scone240410++028.jpg"> <img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 223px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMlW3aqMf-spEW7B976r9mYH52n5Rl78jp32rt4QEPJmEesl2nACZghEUrKCGDPPSy9gZDgV97aCwIM8UD8D9GIQ4jiAhtHlNr9AZ3NxiSQBRM1qSkSxh0Mj5uz6KRzGeqSYEP9ca5Pi4/s320/Scone240410++028.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464912399143060498" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlFUhVatDwWrAwKaDmymfsEfAdVVWE8cGZfY80NefmOMkDJm_35kf8lDxpfTN2GTpGdwW18RcXjQGUBiglTrtQ6OZosaY2WhOb11kW4R_RcGPVUdRodML1LOH4Zr4BB10sRDKC2A3-6ig/s1600/Scone240410++027.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 242px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlFUhVatDwWrAwKaDmymfsEfAdVVWE8cGZfY80NefmOMkDJm_35kf8lDxpfTN2GTpGdwW18RcXjQGUBiglTrtQ6OZosaY2WhOb11kW4R_RcGPVUdRodML1LOH4Zr4BB10sRDKC2A3-6ig/s320/Scone240410++027.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464912412732268690" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL4JTgrmN5J39yaUClk5xqWUBhOb4waKHjfn_oZPcazRyIUCPvkuuk_0vOwdoBrqdmA21HM45SWOjgxbaWqY1ENLjkcHoqJLOVPhAI3zqYDgCskJCH617nub_K-saM1jHs_oqdaSYk4X0/s1600/Scone240410++022.jpg"> <img style="cursor: pointer; width: 367px; height: 310px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL4JTgrmN5J39yaUClk5xqWUBhOb4waKHjfn_oZPcazRyIUCPvkuuk_0vOwdoBrqdmA21HM45SWOjgxbaWqY1ENLjkcHoqJLOVPhAI3zqYDgCskJCH617nub_K-saM1jHs_oqdaSYk4X0/s320/Scone240410++022.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464912419943286530" border="0" /></a><br /><br />At least with the dressage out of the way we could get on to the fun bits! ;) Didn't do too many practice SJs as it was already pretty muddy in the warm up and she doesn't like the mud, it just leads to horrible jumps as she tries to avoid it by jumping the take off spot as well as the fence! ;) Luckily the ground in the arena was holding up better as still fairly early, so she was jumping nicely, although on quite a mission! Had to really hold her back, but got to most of the fences on a nice enough stride, apart from the second last where we both saw a long one and then the last where we just got a little close, but she was very clever and careful and left it up for a clear round. :D<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB29ZiP5bAdzEfUAyFXdKtVhMTb1ZluZDNYKkImmQlTSOCRSmEKeokzkW46mh_jfJKrKCQYYxAtSIfA6oN0gFRtbFeVH6X45O21gxdUYfOfmg46JGnUUkyZ-r7JdiEFu8iiMVmeXAfZkU/s1600/Scone240410++020.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 234px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB29ZiP5bAdzEfUAyFXdKtVhMTb1ZluZDNYKkImmQlTSOCRSmEKeokzkW46mh_jfJKrKCQYYxAtSIfA6oN0gFRtbFeVH6X45O21gxdUYfOfmg46JGnUUkyZ-r7JdiEFu8iiMVmeXAfZkU/s320/Scone240410++020.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464914122879964946" border="0" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6kuIXovgjRrx5H54JgqMm95kk57ShoulFoZmu5FpDGmAva64nOikPpK5WmkmsoPytXKkCMDWLzTYDw6k09nSCxByAH1nfp7m3wNz2C2_hyphenhyphensjShfpNCWpu6-fV8-I_1XmQNycMAosdUyQ/s1600/Scone240410++018.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 439px; height: 287px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6kuIXovgjRrx5H54JgqMm95kk57ShoulFoZmu5FpDGmAva64nOikPpK5WmkmsoPytXKkCMDWLzTYDw6k09nSCxByAH1nfp7m3wNz2C2_hyphenhyphensjShfpNCWpu6-fV8-I_1XmQNycMAosdUyQ/s320/Scone240410++018.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464914129476825666" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijwvpqj72_-vIJxEdg940fnG74MJle3EFVryrRiPOP3UqmTq1KAZiBZrdz5Mjdkfsz8SPq8B6U4MpDwL8vcXFYi_ISS1wAkIFWCLeflzr64vYbb-a33h3umPHxv2W8IzwIHw4n6yce6Ro/s1600/Scone240410++016.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 413px; height: 321px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijwvpqj72_-vIJxEdg940fnG74MJle3EFVryrRiPOP3UqmTq1KAZiBZrdz5Mjdkfsz8SPq8B6U4MpDwL8vcXFYi_ISS1wAkIFWCLeflzr64vYbb-a33h3umPHxv2W8IzwIHw4n6yce6Ro/s320/Scone240410++016.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464914136993915026" border="0" /> </a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtVzX5Pj5XzsvQaPi-q_aY-Rvtiw38_DJYVnBq36evvD-m5TcQBwGhiZT2IBA5mA1pDiHBTXStmsAyauIFBOxU4IcSsS5PX8Sc8yS0t7rOpH0DkGp9Eg9Cji1PrftGwDBt51Nvgvgs6wA/s1600/Scone240410++013.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 238px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtVzX5Pj5XzsvQaPi-q_aY-Rvtiw38_DJYVnBq36evvD-m5TcQBwGhiZT2IBA5mA1pDiHBTXStmsAyauIFBOxU4IcSsS5PX8Sc8yS0t7rOpH0DkGp9Eg9Cji1PrftGwDBt51Nvgvgs6wA/s320/Scone240410++013.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464914149612376178" border="0" /></a><br /><br />My friend, Lisa was good enough to video our round as well!<br /><br /><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allownetworking="all" wmode="transparent" src="http://static.photobucket.com/player.swf?file=http://vid162.photobucket.com/albums/t276/mceeaw/Scone%20BE90%2024-04-10/IMAG0196.flv" width="600" height="361"></embed><br /><br />So on to the best bit of all- XC! The course had been changed a fair bit since we rode round last year and course designer was taking no prisoners, the first and third fence definitely looked like they were up to max. height! Nothing too horrid on course though apart from a skinny brush fence out of the water as they are allowed to build this 20cm higher than the max height for the class (so 1.10m!) which they had done and I know Heidi "doesn't do brushing through brush"!<br /><br />Jumped the first fine, a little wiggly leaving the warm up behind to no.2 and then a horrible jump over no.3, but then great round the rest, with a real flyer over the barrel fence at 5! :D A little wussy through the first water (steep ramp in, splash through and out) but fab through the main water and flew the skinny brush leaving me grinning! Came home 7s inside the optimum time for a double clear jumping score! :D This was at least enough to pull us up to eventual 14th place in the class.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1h_JiLotqMNqbcs0VzQZlFTppk5i2vM8GuXPfIi_jJsuVZQAGPq_VfCR-dXTQeHMNjEfq-D8AOTUYvNn2al9ooXudThHTK8jGdmKEzCKWK6vR_5doS1ww_zpWOEL0zNARwYLuXUyVHNE/s1600/Scone240410++010.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 332px; height: 221px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1h_JiLotqMNqbcs0VzQZlFTppk5i2vM8GuXPfIi_jJsuVZQAGPq_VfCR-dXTQeHMNjEfq-D8AOTUYvNn2al9ooXudThHTK8jGdmKEzCKWK6vR_5doS1ww_zpWOEL0zNARwYLuXUyVHNE/s320/Scone240410++010.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464916371772295858" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg64z_Uqg4VGnYT69zCjw15oAgGWM60ayT7VvY-STQsPpk0SmvA4ApaDMl87NxAnjEoiAWL-gFi8-Nf-eHBQi24leUr-zFY2NKy43ZCrfTSecyLtKQA-peBFV9Xj7slV-o-D3FdCgVpURE/s1600/Scone240410++008.jpg"> <img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 223px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg64z_Uqg4VGnYT69zCjw15oAgGWM60ayT7VvY-STQsPpk0SmvA4ApaDMl87NxAnjEoiAWL-gFi8-Nf-eHBQi24leUr-zFY2NKy43ZCrfTSecyLtKQA-peBFV9Xj7slV-o-D3FdCgVpURE/s320/Scone240410++008.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464916375010699698" border="0" /> </a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO4Pf0LbtJzp2bS_x76wgkxo7ottN-UtecrvzOuEOEcHLYpRwrC9klAXt54VdUqA-75_VrTniQAmTO_hlb3G-n4UcF2FCjXBhzv0YjGiE7DFZzhUvsH51Ht2_cDMqqeahamxznCsyI5zg/s1600/Scone240410++004.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 394px; height: 293px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO4Pf0LbtJzp2bS_x76wgkxo7ottN-UtecrvzOuEOEcHLYpRwrC9klAXt54VdUqA-75_VrTniQAmTO_hlb3G-n4UcF2FCjXBhzv0YjGiE7DFZzhUvsH51Ht2_cDMqqeahamxznCsyI5zg/s320/Scone240410++004.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464916379550032626" border="0" /> </a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiefr_Z9hHa3urnT2XBin9rgEoP_UBZXtPUjFbdAd0QQFQJLM4pBTpQG2EZlYMmdrwnv1kkut7Jxxnq_Z3H-1nsgcrraT_y6fG4t3OO8fAudu-VgGihmHzC3gtLotuh_C5JYhS37SW_n8Y/s1600/Scone240410++003.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 258px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiefr_Z9hHa3urnT2XBin9rgEoP_UBZXtPUjFbdAd0QQFQJLM4pBTpQG2EZlYMmdrwnv1kkut7Jxxnq_Z3H-1nsgcrraT_y6fG4t3OO8fAudu-VgGihmHzC3gtLotuh_C5JYhS37SW_n8Y/s320/Scone240410++003.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464916391409634242" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Again, Lisa was armed with video camera (she deliberately left it running during the times we were out of sight, hence the "grass & leaves shots" so she could figure out a rought estimate of our time! ;) ) so thank you again to her and here's us in action. :)<br /><br /><embed width="600" height="361" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allownetworking="all" wmode="transparent" src="http://static.photobucket.com/player.swf?file=http://vid162.photobucket.com/albums/t276/mceeaw/Scone%20BE90%2024-04-10/IMAG0198.flv"></embed><br /><br />So very, very pleased with her jumping. :D Dressage, as always, could be better, but much easier to work on than the jumping. ;) Next is Auchinleck BE90 on Sunday 9th May and then we've been very brave and entered our first BE100 at Scotsburn on Saturday 29th May- eeek!Team Hopalonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14180960486280148285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8048594497321924187.post-67717310614766681452010-04-14T13:59:00.001-07:002010-04-14T14:33:01.333-07:001st BE of the year- Kirriemuir BE90Finally our 2010 BE season has started! :D We made our furthest trek to date up to Kirriemuir to do the BE90 event on Sunday 11th April. As we were on fairly early (just before 10am dressage time), with a fair way to drive, no time to walk XC between phases, we decided to go up the day before and "camp" overnight. Heidi had a temporary stable booked and I managed to get a bed in my friend's lorry. :) Arrived Sat dinner time and Heidi settled into her stable quite the thing, very happy to go in and carry on munching her haynet.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgALpLhnqO0iebxKxJ4WFBS2YyItSLFV8dv4L8ocvXHeLXMc_scFlfMfgBsyC7JFHHQmdWzpRhhJLJlSI5hUb0MJqvBguSVDmjBbzc7PcUjUIheu-ZPisZpFRNjLpmCgCrJ4DgkFSX0Fwg/s1600/Photo094.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgALpLhnqO0iebxKxJ4WFBS2YyItSLFV8dv4L8ocvXHeLXMc_scFlfMfgBsyC7JFHHQmdWzpRhhJLJlSI5hUb0MJqvBguSVDmjBbzc7PcUjUIheu-ZPisZpFRNjLpmCgCrJ4DgkFSX0Fwg/s320/Photo094.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460101527765656514" border="0" /></a><br />I was able to walk the XC, get back and plait Heidi's mane and then do another lap od the XC before it got dark. Then dinner for Heidi (and me!) and off to bed.<br /><br />Was really nice getting up and no having to worry about travelling! Was nice just having plaits to roll up, tail to plait and then a quick groom and we were ready! Heidi was very excited in the warm up (you could see the XC from it!) but we managed to survive the test with a little more accuracy than previous attempts, even though we still struggled with the "pokey nose"! Free walk was really good though with no jogging, so that was an improvement. Got a mix of 6s and 7s with a few 5s to end up with 38.5pen (61.5%) which is our best BE dressage score to date, hooray! Some photos below, as usual, the nicest is of the halt/relief of the dressage being over! ;)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXJ1QCCZitqSzOkQoDCu9CIMi2ZW3rqV6FmsZGWLdFMdnvOMKXq43eWldFQYzaR2BYKnjXqHqy_s_CMX1yBlW0LEIcUCKrEGlX22WOdifI1PlHW7iFfJs2u3ao1V6MJtLVdz85mjczNLg/s1600/KirrieMuir2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXJ1QCCZitqSzOkQoDCu9CIMi2ZW3rqV6FmsZGWLdFMdnvOMKXq43eWldFQYzaR2BYKnjXqHqy_s_CMX1yBlW0LEIcUCKrEGlX22WOdifI1PlHW7iFfJs2u3ao1V6MJtLVdz85mjczNLg/s320/KirrieMuir2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460103042367518434" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy2cuJvWkkWkoyaPkyRT-MGtoeVlxpAvOMCpca_l4Dkw3dt45obApow4OY8pdSbHqDEFI__9KXGqVcBPcVfMcrE7j9ZHm7OglsF8y8oVZtYPwf4KETexBsdZX8G2UD8H-fuBjjWjVFi64/s1600/KirrieMuir5.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy2cuJvWkkWkoyaPkyRT-MGtoeVlxpAvOMCpca_l4Dkw3dt45obApow4OY8pdSbHqDEFI__9KXGqVcBPcVfMcrE7j9ZHm7OglsF8y8oVZtYPwf4KETexBsdZX8G2UD8H-fuBjjWjVFi64/s320/KirrieMuir5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460103047180068466" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZl9yrFLunQWvkRR_Bh8EoiW_cDGp1vl_P3tFb6EW1rWTdYGvxFs9btkEelSw-F-BIU3RSr95QydAuE3XRHb-3aeb19p1xTBTGiHMGt2ItDkuPm7a-fjK_Ylw751hvUCFm-N-PucDtwBg/s1600/KirrieMuir8.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZl9yrFLunQWvkRR_Bh8EoiW_cDGp1vl_P3tFb6EW1rWTdYGvxFs9btkEelSw-F-BIU3RSr95QydAuE3XRHb-3aeb19p1xTBTGiHMGt2ItDkuPm7a-fjK_Ylw751hvUCFm-N-PucDtwBg/s320/KirrieMuir8.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460103051417884594" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL2psx_gFnjHa4d2NRdE35c7hIeWS38JLlUBtpzIeliyskN1dQN9JQ5fE5NjkFFhGQi1N-qeqg5k2_7PYq6hPkHWitUD7hSgJJzG2rPGCd-hRLmlARs7ihrkhguksJJi-VjbPYBNTUpiU/s1600/KirrieMuir15.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL2psx_gFnjHa4d2NRdE35c7hIeWS38JLlUBtpzIeliyskN1dQN9JQ5fE5NjkFFhGQi1N-qeqg5k2_7PYq6hPkHWitUD7hSgJJzG2rPGCd-hRLmlARs7ihrkhguksJJi-VjbPYBNTUpiU/s320/KirrieMuir15.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460103053413295266" border="0" /></a><br />Quick addition of boots and breastplate and onto the SJ. Arena was right in front of tents/tradestands, so was hoping she wouldn't be too spooky. Fairly hyper warming up, didn't do too much as she was still plenty warm enough from dressage and she knows what SJ is all about. Had a really nice round, getting nice strides to all the fences with no horrible short or long strides but sadly just tipped the upright before the double with her back legs, we were on a nice stride/pace, so think it was just complacency/laziness there, as you can see in the 3rd photo, she was certainly giving other fences on course plenty of air! ;)<br /><br />No.1;<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi23PHSP4W6cI5LanM8WPaS3BfbYB1qP-Xgi6xi2QBaUiexh_7VjeoFtkNiP-ayx9I9IYNtf1eM-xCkVKgWgOEi2Xmsxkd7pSwJUVzj-TppyJ5bfd60sJi1EUgdjhV5PQbd525Kh0X2Trs/s1600/KirrieMuir16.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi23PHSP4W6cI5LanM8WPaS3BfbYB1qP-Xgi6xi2QBaUiexh_7VjeoFtkNiP-ayx9I9IYNtf1eM-xCkVKgWgOEi2Xmsxkd7pSwJUVzj-TppyJ5bfd60sJi1EUgdjhV5PQbd525Kh0X2Trs/s320/KirrieMuir16.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460104749819380738" border="0" /></a>No.4;<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMuWNvBSGRQdskzH7RRU6xyaB41kEpFTY_vxN5MXK5QM6dwR-wCHK7SijznaokV0Vsdrru5LbuWuSPvuXcWyrZsOsg3TbKKncx7at9-0fje1FDlYOnsxrqVGQ-hI3wzSvWDiEwNdcHtaI/s1600/KirrieMuir19.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 262px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMuWNvBSGRQdskzH7RRU6xyaB41kEpFTY_vxN5MXK5QM6dwR-wCHK7SijznaokV0Vsdrru5LbuWuSPvuXcWyrZsOsg3TbKKncx7at9-0fje1FDlYOnsxrqVGQ-hI3wzSvWDiEwNdcHtaI/s320/KirrieMuir19.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460104754605976386" border="0" /></a>No.7;<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_GpQe3iMQyGvhbfYogwuIf8wChHqSywnyhLog032gjY-lMqCnNiMA7ara36y1adF168KfISUfU_pSswSt-EUg3Bh4dpw4wmshTVyWuktlw_o_8JWpKOgH1JrxHmbYCt57H6SUY9AngUQ/s1600/KirrieMuir22.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 258px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_GpQe3iMQyGvhbfYogwuIf8wChHqSywnyhLog032gjY-lMqCnNiMA7ara36y1adF168KfISUfU_pSswSt-EUg3Bh4dpw4wmshTVyWuktlw_o_8JWpKOgH1JrxHmbYCt57H6SUY9AngUQ/s320/KirrieMuir22.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460104773957684258" border="0" /></a>No.8- the offending fence that gave us 4 faults!;<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaMlhPq8Vcbt5U-VHIJMPVVIhYg98klEHgvDSdMIBRBKpnEUGEMk-pQVAUkInd4uavpbPqCJD6RrGkEMCSk0o5d8u-53M4sxpal5iazIviBLmoQ3bna3KcSdDe3psT_YDaPq6KtrxlCis/s1600/KirrieMuir24.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 238px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaMlhPq8Vcbt5U-VHIJMPVVIhYg98klEHgvDSdMIBRBKpnEUGEMk-pQVAUkInd4uavpbPqCJD6RrGkEMCSk0o5d8u-53M4sxpal5iazIviBLmoQ3bna3KcSdDe3psT_YDaPq6KtrxlCis/s320/KirrieMuir24.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460104781857179650" border="0" /></a><br />So then cursing the 4 faults SJ (usually our strong phase!) when we had our best ever dressage (typical!) we had a quick tack/clothing change at the stables and headed over to the XC. Course was really nice but quite hilly so I was hoping we were both fit enough! Had a really good ride, first 4 fences up the first hill a little wiggly (not sure if she was trying to head for the PN/Novice fences or the other horses in the warm up?!) but jumping nicely.<br /><br />No.3;<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Aqaie4MGAo1X7Kt760iikBQdNgFBij5lbXvcwVFcJeWUTQOXXsgK_EnxtRGSSxKXrJIpyUrdEEiuTRwrp1NqJ4Du18QjHblXP-sVCPI0P6lqsRvh9cS3V7nTysTp01qo9-Tfpse1A4s/s1600/KirrieMuir25.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 254px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Aqaie4MGAo1X7Kt760iikBQdNgFBij5lbXvcwVFcJeWUTQOXXsgK_EnxtRGSSxKXrJIpyUrdEEiuTRwrp1NqJ4Du18QjHblXP-sVCPI0P6lqsRvh9cS3V7nTysTp01qo9-Tfpse1A4s/s320/KirrieMuir25.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460105935528785314" border="0" /></a>Then down the hill, sharp turn and over the double of roll tops fine and then the Helsinki step at no.6;<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR4_fXhuydXEW3XVf305pm6N2PrLz0mAv9cZnNbpBGMG68LQsENOK3xYGYImNFm0adGYJbeutjB9XFDoK9A92mgwKKtpyAOO7xyugIth7jO3CZSNFxTQS2v2nQusy2-VPoPWcsOv-PDvE/s1600/KirrieMuir27.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 205px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR4_fXhuydXEW3XVf305pm6N2PrLz0mAv9cZnNbpBGMG68LQsENOK3xYGYImNFm0adGYJbeutjB9XFDoK9A92mgwKKtpyAOO7xyugIth7jO3CZSNFxTQS2v2nQusy2-VPoPWcsOv-PDvE/s320/KirrieMuir27.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460106428891925650" border="0" /></a>A sharp 180deg turn and gallop up the hill and over the chair on a slight angle at no.7;<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLAehyiMQRo26duRfUGAEySkJVsgynTLcnIOyiNGmuOuksCAep6Ta9ZZzUUu1sP9AjLpkKdToB_l8plnZNjLL4lfWvjm1Ilc_SMU_9on1IvyfshfBVvTUsDfzymj1g33lZqwrXsZaMwGI/s1600/KirrieMuir30.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 235px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLAehyiMQRo26duRfUGAEySkJVsgynTLcnIOyiNGmuOuksCAep6Ta9ZZzUUu1sP9AjLpkKdToB_l8plnZNjLL4lfWvjm1Ilc_SMU_9on1IvyfshfBVvTUsDfzymj1g33lZqwrXsZaMwGI/s320/KirrieMuir30.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460106435022420738" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr29n5IEGwKOsJw1mYz60S7499J8IKNmsL2x3zRxtFdMY6BivEilZZyH2xzp7MD_YvzwHvS62ujqZN3wXWN3Hy8nZCjbiZVNnQegEFF0AHFpTMTnKdiiYZyscXugmcGuM7bJmZVnomJ4Q/s1600/KirrieMuir32.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 231px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr29n5IEGwKOsJw1mYz60S7499J8IKNmsL2x3zRxtFdMY6BivEilZZyH2xzp7MD_YvzwHvS62ujqZN3wXWN3Hy8nZCjbiZVNnQegEFF0AHFpTMTnKdiiYZyscXugmcGuM7bJmZVnomJ4Q/s320/KirrieMuir32.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460106443940103586" border="0" /></a><br />And then a gallop up a really steep hill to no.8;<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg75oXi6PkUHKUo05bfKsFo1bgLmORJEf-J6dCBndawRY7wl__k_sNfxtrrZQMWsBjMEqaQnzhiw6w8rAmlF-Ab10KHBqgzCs3zKSGj4xT6XjgdnwhjIeDiiZMUkoJfVn23KV7RJkNA6yM/s1600/KirrieMuir35.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 228px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg75oXi6PkUHKUo05bfKsFo1bgLmORJEf-J6dCBndawRY7wl__k_sNfxtrrZQMWsBjMEqaQnzhiw6w8rAmlF-Ab10KHBqgzCs3zKSGj4xT6XjgdnwhjIeDiiZMUkoJfVn23KV7RJkNA6yM/s320/KirrieMuir35.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460106941987500338" border="0" /></a><br />We then cleared the palisade, drop, shark's teeth, wall, half coffin, log, corner, brush fence, water and another wall with only a slight hesitation on her way down towards the water! (Princess Heidi does not particularly like getting her feet wet/muddy!) However we did get canter rather than trot once in and got a nice jump out over the roll top.<br /><br />Back in the main field and a gallop towards the penultimate table fence;<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmtvm2eSd_XIcMczWpEcyHetWBX8vzLOFGqWEk1hdQBXStc6qXzv7R2yDiRiR5BbSf5AuW-9sWva-MtnxwfdsqMOzvh5m_00DcT_hM4BXrTIU9PCfyFaqDWiekpcPA2VZ1bl9etpWlrxg/s1600/KirrieMuir36.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 273px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmtvm2eSd_XIcMczWpEcyHetWBX8vzLOFGqWEk1hdQBXStc6qXzv7R2yDiRiR5BbSf5AuW-9sWva-MtnxwfdsqMOzvh5m_00DcT_hM4BXrTIU9PCfyFaqDWiekpcPA2VZ1bl9etpWlrxg/s320/KirrieMuir36.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460107724144066562" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6hPVZqzBFRWhF46OpwDrZZ-vRPwqAJehLl_rpZJ36OXibHe205en4WuYnKfQNF0r0wxQc20TDTQVryEyoyoZKdZFrCBKU8fwTW26AnZ1ZZlBU8xkuVf3JdxgK45KYBuQNF2jQjsN3oHY/s1600/KirrieMuir39.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6hPVZqzBFRWhF46OpwDrZZ-vRPwqAJehLl_rpZJ36OXibHe205en4WuYnKfQNF0r0wxQc20TDTQVryEyoyoZKdZFrCBKU8fwTW26AnZ1ZZlBU8xkuVf3JdxgK45KYBuQNF2jQjsN3oHY/s320/KirrieMuir39.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460107726624162994" border="0" /></a><br />Then over the last fence to finish clear, yay! :D Hoped I'd remembered to kick on after the fences and not dilly dally too much as we had time pens at both BE90s last year. Took ages for XC times to go up, but was thrilled when they did to find out were were inside the optimum time... by a whole 20s! Very pleased as she didn't feel like she was struggling at all, even with all the hills. :)<br /><br />Got our hopes up when the commentator announced a provisional top 10 for our section with us in 10th place, but it turned out we ended up 11th, very frustrating with BE rosettes going to 10th place! Without the pole down SJ we'd have been 5th! But very pleased for our first ODE of the year, hopefully we can keep improving the dressage and get back to clear SJ/keep the clear, fast XCs, not asking for much really?! ;)<br /><br />Thanks to my Mum for coming down to watch and cheer us on (and bring mini eggs, yum!) and Bob for sprinting around the XC taking lots of photos. :D<br /><br />Next event is Scone BE90 on Sat 24th April, can't wait, definitely got the bug back! :DTeam Hopalonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14180960486280148285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8048594497321924187.post-8679295411257124932010-04-04T11:48:00.000-07:002010-04-04T11:56:10.851-07:00XC schooling in the sunshine!Had a lovely day up at Lindores XC course doing a little XC schooling as preparation for our first BE of the year at Kirriemuir next weekend. Heidi was very enthusiatic and on really good form, jumping everything first time of asking. We jumped everything that we could find that had a ditch involved and she was really good, didn't even hesitate or think about stopping, even over the coffin or quite an airy trakhener. :)<br /><br />Had her jumping nice and confidently on/off the bank and also had a really good couple of runs through a drop fence to tyre fence combo. Water fence was too deep to do more than wade through although with the course being on a hill, the ground was spot on and not too wet at all. :) She jumped really nicely over their pretty skinny corner fences too, so very pleased.<br /><br />Hopefully she will be as enthusiastic and good next weekend!<br /><br />A wee SJ lesson with David Gatherer at SNEC tomorrow night for a last minute tune up and then some dressage practice at home through the week. As our section next weekend is on first and it's quite a distance away, we are going up the day before and staying over. It will be our first time "camping" together, hope she likes it and behaves! She will be stabled on site and I have had the lovely offer of a space in my friend's lorry which will be far warmer/comfier than a tent. :)<br /><br />Sadly no photos from today, but Bob being dragged along next weekend! :)Team Hopalonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14180960486280148285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8048594497321924187.post-60638366628576356292010-03-28T12:55:00.000-07:002010-03-28T13:18:14.861-07:00Montrave HT todayToday Team Hopalong headed off to Montrave for our first solo XC of the year. :) We were doing the 90cm course which had plenty of questions including a couple of ditchy fences, a sunken road that had a real murky bottom to it, a couple of combination fences on funny distances and a step into water, eeek! (full course pics <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/Eliza.Mather/Montrave90cmHTCourse#">here</a>)<br /><br />We were lucky with the weather, lovely sunshine while we were riding, but all the recent rain had left the ground really soft. "Princess" Heidi does not like mud very much and when the ground is soft and churned up she likes to get in close! Also a bit of rustiness on both our parts meant we were being a bit "looky" and not kicking on as we should have been.<br /><br />However, the ditchy fences jumped lovely, one of the combinations I was worried about jumped lovely, (the other she squeezed an extra stride in and we got a rather "upwards" jump over the second part leaving me worried we may part ways, but luckily not!) and although she took a look at both the murky drop at the sunken road and the water, she did go. :)<br /><br />So a clear round (although over the time by a fair amount due to mud/rustiness!) and now we hopefully both have remembered what it's all about, remembered that we <span style="font-weight: bold;">can</span> do it and will kick on and have a more flowing round next time out. :) Our first BE is at Kirriemuir and now only <span style="font-weight: bold;">2 weeks away</span>! Fingers crossed the snow that has been forecast for the next couple of weeks is just the met office playing an early April Fool's joke?!<br /><br />Some photos courtesy of Bob. Rustiness definitely showing in rider's position, most embarrassing!<br /><br />Over fences 1, 2 and 3;<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGIPEW1GMo0JVnyniUlkgdyt4uLo1_gTzfteecJLyDBxtC3izyOeQ9kRy5t0A6siPgh21ePx5RhTNfaUaGLUMn5GsMlI95P9B7eRaey6SxXxg8TqtltxAOvoPpKXjm1h3Zm8yEAo7vRx0/s1600/Montrave28.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 220px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGIPEW1GMo0JVnyniUlkgdyt4uLo1_gTzfteecJLyDBxtC3izyOeQ9kRy5t0A6siPgh21ePx5RhTNfaUaGLUMn5GsMlI95P9B7eRaey6SxXxg8TqtltxAOvoPpKXjm1h3Zm8yEAo7vRx0/s320/Montrave28.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453779706231297890" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1sFZfcIUTBJ7rEJvzSpYsSCRxq5VHtPQpjjlFSS9Jov3n8G8PFvGm5ZNLASpD26XL8i41X88W-ivUAY9Eq8tPnLe2y5fTphOqjjbRzY7bwyqCPyQMUG4oQSmoyyE7E_c4lv3olEocTGE/s1600/Montrave25.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 263px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1sFZfcIUTBJ7rEJvzSpYsSCRxq5VHtPQpjjlFSS9Jov3n8G8PFvGm5ZNLASpD26XL8i41X88W-ivUAY9Eq8tPnLe2y5fTphOqjjbRzY7bwyqCPyQMUG4oQSmoyyE7E_c4lv3olEocTGE/s320/Montrave25.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453779703166117538" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR-dOpLbasFIU28gwIuIs1V07dbsCE3eSZmBXrT7pA5m6QuM1QTMJtRy-Bl7lyMrrrR3Kmp0MfWKE6Pbbo6SrmUj3LCm6HwnpPziaKa1smNDC-rVLFUiqjWvUvcdxiSMOEw1FdQgPYABg/s1600/Montrave23.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 244px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR-dOpLbasFIU28gwIuIs1V07dbsCE3eSZmBXrT7pA5m6QuM1QTMJtRy-Bl7lyMrrrR3Kmp0MfWKE6Pbbo6SrmUj3LCm6HwnpPziaKa1smNDC-rVLFUiqjWvUvcdxiSMOEw1FdQgPYABg/s320/Montrave23.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453779692868097506" border="0" /></a><br />Fence 16 (actually beefier than it looks in the photo, honest! ;) )<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBSAcLPgm_Wl3npCTOCntsRiy0Uee55i3YBsG8ITrgOGvFlIuqx98YvpFa2yXNYfISDIUhcI8OrkBeklcmiJCBvUgMw5IXFCdXpM31JkibsKGzAQFXL4Y3KoanGGpJr2HVwkF-hm6ejI8/s1600/Montrave18.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 222px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBSAcLPgm_Wl3npCTOCntsRiy0Uee55i3YBsG8ITrgOGvFlIuqx98YvpFa2yXNYfISDIUhcI8OrkBeklcmiJCBvUgMw5IXFCdXpM31JkibsKGzAQFXL4Y3KoanGGpJr2HVwkF-hm6ejI8/s320/Montrave18.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453779710465169634" border="0" /></a><br />In and out of the water- much happier going out the way than in! ;)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoyyQfAsvMA1c7lE4_nNlqq2oMLthVrpxS9HFK98d8P6oZVInmxC1Av4tWpZoIfpJn5m9V8eXIzwjQkqRqudoR0zP0kYNQPGbCNg_fPmgwoSBeENZjLlJNQPqOpDDb68BbmQIVED-qfQA/s1600/Montrave16.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 260px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoyyQfAsvMA1c7lE4_nNlqq2oMLthVrpxS9HFK98d8P6oZVInmxC1Av4tWpZoIfpJn5m9V8eXIzwjQkqRqudoR0zP0kYNQPGbCNg_fPmgwoSBeENZjLlJNQPqOpDDb68BbmQIVED-qfQA/s320/Montrave16.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453780486333287506" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7bSB7yDUoIsmmkz2FcxZSYtohEeUQJThsV27qIVHCi2K_htG-iJsC7Ml3SyhdTs8OIxWbxtFHmllhrMBLzgOfay6nxEZMg_53vKKSvPSKjPvKkuOfpR0-NehA-hpa3YTBpHixFLag8tI/s1600/Montrave11.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 265px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7bSB7yDUoIsmmkz2FcxZSYtohEeUQJThsV27qIVHCi2K_htG-iJsC7Ml3SyhdTs8OIxWbxtFHmllhrMBLzgOfay6nxEZMg_53vKKSvPSKjPvKkuOfpR0-NehA-hpa3YTBpHixFLag8tI/s320/Montrave11.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453779691789845282" border="0" /></a><br />And a wee video courtesy of us jumping the trakhener at 5, then bank to rails at 6 and over ditch/log at 7. Video courtesy of my friend Lisa (who did brilliantly and came 4th! :D )<br /><br /><embed width="600" height="361" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allownetworking="all" wmode="transparent" src="http://static.photobucket.com/player.swf?file=http://vid162.photobucket.com/albums/t276/mceeaw/Montrave%20HT%2028-03-10/IMAG0193.flv"></embed>Team Hopalonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14180960486280148285noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8048594497321924187.post-4340493431700475242010-03-21T12:00:00.000-07:002010-03-21T12:13:15.927-07:00Team XC- three times the fun?!Today, Team Hopalong joined ranks with a couple of pals to form Team "Here Comes Trouble" at Duns Castle team hunter trial. Not done a team XC before, but have always fancied it. Course looked really nice with a couple of questions and the ground was just perfect. We were lucky and got lovely sunshine too. :)<br /><br />We were tacked up (and, most importantly, colour co-ordinated!) in plenty of time and went down to warm up. Spent a bit of time walking, trotting and cantering around together and they were all happy, but very keen. Did a couple jumps individually each and then attempted one in a line, all fine.<br /><br />So ready to go and all sorted, Hopalong would be lead (as most experienced and so, fingers crossed, least likely to stop, no pressure eh?!) with my friend Laurie on Tara tucking in the middle and her pal Jay on Jed bringing up the rear who was in control of speed with our brilliant system of "hold" or "push on" to be shouted to differentiate from any "woah" or "steady" commands to the ponies! "Coming through" was also to be used in case of a problem and the person behind was wanting to overtake.<br /><br />Set off and before we were even at the first fence I could hear "Tara, woah"! Uh oh... she was on a mission! Was slightly concerned we'd be jumping the 1st fence (cross rail) together!! Luckily Hopalong popped over just a horse length (literally!) ahead and stayed in front over the 2nd (sloping gate) until poorLaurie's arms gave out and she overtook to the 3rd with poor Jay at the back desperately shouting "hold"! We ground to a halt after 3 (brush) to let Jed catch up and then attempted a steady descent down the hill to ski jump at 4. Got a huge jump over this (Hopalong felt the take off spot looked a little cut up so opted to jump it also!) and then en route to 5 (chair type thing) hear more "whoas" and then a squeaked "coming through" again!<br /><br />A quick circle by me (as very close to 5 at this point) and a grey blur later and we were all over, we let Laurie stay in front for the next few and managed over 6 (skinny roll top) and 7 (stile) fine. 8 & 9 were a road crossing double of gates in the fence line with some mucky bedding down as surface in the middle. We were worried they might all spook at this but all were on such a mission I don't think they noticed it!<br /><br />10 was some barrels, with Laurie taking a scenic route towards 11 (rails) to try waste time and let us catch up (poor Jay still yelling "hold" intermittently as her wee pony's legs weren't quite at the pace of the other two.) Hopalong at least was letting me slow her up to hold back for Jed. Round the corner to 12 (barrel spread fence) where we attempted to regain the original order as Laurie was finding it just as hard to hold Tara back in front as she was behind, however this only lasted the one jump and she was back in front! 13 was a skinny roll top and then 14 rails with Tara a dot in the distance! Round to 15 which was the uneven ground with log after- you dropped down a dip, then up the other side and one stride to the log.<br /><br />16 was a table on a downhill approach, got a good shot to this, then on to the water (which we'd all decided to play safe and jump to the left, then circle down to water instead of straight, you had a steep drop down to running water a stride after landing and we wanted a nice, confidence building clear first and foremost. Other route not hugely longer. Hopalong ponced down the bank and tip -toed through the water and then got a bit close to the fence on the other side, but over ok.<br /><br />Check back to make sure Jay ok (poor Laurie miles ahead trying to steady her steam train up!) and over chair fence at 19, trot through gateway into home field. Last fence was steeplechase brush and I told Laurie to go on but she insisted she wanted to tuck Tara in behind us... Tara didn't agree!!! Two seconds later "COMING THROUGH!!!" and they were off over the last fence a couple of strides ahead of us, me desperately trying to hold Hopalong up to give us enough room in case of "issues"! No need though, all three flew it and over finish line... with Tara still making good headway straight off into the distance in direction of lorry park!<br /><br />So lots of fun, but with all the stop/start we were too slow for a placing. All very happy with a nice clear round and as it was our first XC since Oct, I was happy with Hopalong jumping the skinny/spooky fences, especially with it being a bit stop/start and there being other distractions. In fact, I was so busy making sure everyone else was ok I can barely remember jumping a fence myself!<br /><br />Hopalong happy back home in the field and Tara apparently looking very smug when she got home too! Bob was our Team 'Tog, so some photos below courtesy of him.<br /><br />Team "Here Comes Trouble" ready for the off;<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgtwwHUZuFbay2gXixs4I0lbpNXXD40u5G03YuWUf0ayivwWOqWFTFmYHq7Whimk0W65zF-zL0K4lfMO_hVz4WKj_zzj4dQs3u7JfHw7UzKCpmZ7_sa6VW2GPS2k7ShkywKrjsIqEmoEs/s1600-h/DunsTeam6.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 218px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgtwwHUZuFbay2gXixs4I0lbpNXXD40u5G03YuWUf0ayivwWOqWFTFmYHq7Whimk0W65zF-zL0K4lfMO_hVz4WKj_zzj4dQs3u7JfHw7UzKCpmZ7_sa6VW2GPS2k7ShkywKrjsIqEmoEs/s320/DunsTeam6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451166057191101058" border="0" /></a><br />And off to the first... Hopalong and Tara looking keen and poor Jed trying to get his legs shifting!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWV-VS9J0nLHj5Q7G0F0dXmTeehrzUEQUdg37s7WvFI20fGAcfwGH-E8Idd_0XzsEN6o9qgIrLQyUz4wXoP263Fo1p6OAJDk7v3cw6-140mgzCnTmFB2SzARaLFlGnf7l-cl81uSFMXaU/s1600-h/DunsTeam1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 189px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWV-VS9J0nLHj5Q7G0F0dXmTeehrzUEQUdg37s7WvFI20fGAcfwGH-E8Idd_0XzsEN6o9qgIrLQyUz4wXoP263Fo1p6OAJDk7v3cw6-140mgzCnTmFB2SzARaLFlGnf7l-cl81uSFMXaU/s320/DunsTeam1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451166064599696578" border="0" /></a><br />Over the first with Tara on our tail... literally!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdw4lVpqSgosAnkPxN81zoT0RAAEdiceImAiAU9OmDgIr5xslqnkEDkvEh4UEA_YPwFRHpNQ0V81V9JCB4CmGD03Jir_guHP0P4lKBnEtKPqbz6g651rdwkj-T2H2L_578Qh-QU4xl_Ts/s1600-h/DunsHeidi12.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 207px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdw4lVpqSgosAnkPxN81zoT0RAAEdiceImAiAU9OmDgIr5xslqnkEDkvEh4UEA_YPwFRHpNQ0V81V9JCB4CmGD03Jir_guHP0P4lKBnEtKPqbz6g651rdwkj-T2H2L_578Qh-QU4xl_Ts/s320/DunsHeidi12.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451166066976010242" border="0" /></a><br />Stile fence (no.7);<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT6iW5a2e0YsQhzKSg62Rp5V_GOuqSamL9gHbcyN3-RKqfurOokiT4UA0-AkLSRgafh5NELOz1IrIQrTgJBlvcVXOgSgUPbL2I-Gj-2zlFpJniFTzSmKvLDkzh8tXrqB4RfpfAg3-W1NA/s1600-h/DunsHeidi10.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 225px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT6iW5a2e0YsQhzKSg62Rp5V_GOuqSamL9gHbcyN3-RKqfurOokiT4UA0-AkLSRgafh5NELOz1IrIQrTgJBlvcVXOgSgUPbL2I-Gj-2zlFpJniFTzSmKvLDkzh8tXrqB4RfpfAg3-W1NA/s320/DunsHeidi10.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451166072921878514" border="0" /></a><br />Table fence (no.16);<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF5f1vGi9fwnUgDthrGzOpw2fsNyAOw-ObLtYUEo7k8r4S169igFslyXhvz4rdpHVskMoUq5zU4I1hjPRls0euXzPwnjfNgbYv6cB02iUUQWOH8dKbhFAHTu_MsEvb8JbHx0Q5svXZwkU/s1600-h/DunsHeidi5.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF5f1vGi9fwnUgDthrGzOpw2fsNyAOw-ObLtYUEo7k8r4S169igFslyXhvz4rdpHVskMoUq5zU4I1hjPRls0euXzPwnjfNgbYv6cB02iUUQWOH8dKbhFAHTu_MsEvb8JbHx0Q5svXZwkU/s320/DunsHeidi5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451166081488025378" border="0" /></a>And over the last;<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM1U_GNKqE-lJnYbAT2ZJZhEc0Jh-dEXskEWssbZxKXcmkEFpRIzmo90s1ooSGHkknozVRFAoumgzK8RF3N3NI-VmW06gQ347FmGsmNfl0cqJj-ak_ti99KsCXeSAtXKe189AjhE2pfL8/s1600-h/DunsHeidi1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM1U_GNKqE-lJnYbAT2ZJZhEc0Jh-dEXskEWssbZxKXcmkEFpRIzmo90s1ooSGHkknozVRFAoumgzK8RF3N3NI-VmW06gQ347FmGsmNfl0cqJj-ak_ti99KsCXeSAtXKe189AjhE2pfL8/s320/DunsHeidi1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451166888123476466" border="0" /></a><br />Really good fun and a great warm up for Montrave HT next weekend. :)Team Hopalonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14180960486280148285noreply@blogger.com0