The birthday boy and his jet plane cake
I love reading Hamish’s blogs on the website and articles in the Eventer. But I’m sad to report that I have broken at least two of his so called rules! I really had no choice last week but to go into a shopping centre in jods, chaps and boots (despite Hamish’s warning one should never do such a thing!). Ben was having his birthday party that afternoon and in between finishing icing his birthday cake (a jet, not a passenger jet as I had originally hoped, but a fighter jet!) and getting everything sorted out, things were on a tight schedule and thus I made a fashion faux pas! I think the shopping centre that I graced in this stunning attire is probably quite used to seeing such clad females, as it is in close proximity to at least four equestrian agistment centres. In reality – I couldn’t give a dam as long as the cake turned out and all the kids had fun. Which I am happy to report, they did.
The grown ups had fun too
Secondly (sorry Hamish) but I cried - at an event and in front of my dressage judge. Okay, maybe they were a LITTLE bit of an act, but I was TIRED, I was STRESSED and I didn’t really want to be bucked off in the mud at Berrima! To explain I got on to warm up for my test and Astro felt fresh, very fresh. So much so that that a friend even said – looks like you’re having a few problems there! So we decided to lunge him … great idea, however the judge took exception to my lunging technique and scolded me but five minutes before I was due to ride my test. GREAT way to impress the judge! So I cried. Serves her right for telling me off and it worked as I did the best test I’ve ever done on him! So the next event (Denman) I will be lunging him prior to going in and if the judge even looks at me in a way I don’t like – BAM – I’ll throw in a few tears and see if that helps! So far I’m on a 100% success rate so I’m prepared to embarrass myself further.
Since my last blog I’ve been to Equestriad event in Camden with about every other eventer this side of a Nullabor and a few from the other side! What a massive undertaking for the committee running an event with over 600 horses and they did a super job. As I am familiar with what goes on to run an event, I was truly appreciative of all the efforts involved and was thoroughly impressed. However, I think they’re mad.
Astro did a test that I was happy with, but it seems that the others' horses were simply better! I wasn’t last, but almost (gee there’s a surprise – I always look for my score from the bottom of the page and work my way up – if I don’t see it in the first few lines, I assume they haven’t scored mine yet – so imagine my surprise when at Berrima I was equal fifth!) Anyway, at Camden my dawn rides seem to affect the way I ride, as I am not used to sharing a warm up in the showjumping with anyone, so having about eight extra horses in that small area did my head in! I did the worst round I think I’ve done in ages, with three rails down. Lesson learnt, in small areas keep going forward, or something like that!
The cross country course looked terrific and I was really looking forward to it and, although waiting all day was slightly painful, it was great to absorb all that atmosphere and watch some impressive riding. The warm up for cross country was right beside the first water jump for pre novice and during the time I was watching very few got over it! There were four eliminations in 10 minutes but I was pretty confident about it, and thankfully it all rode really well. Over time as usual, but clear!
Camden cross country. Is it only me who thanks the jump judges as I ride past or does everybody do that?
The following weekend we drove up the road to Berrima, the event of the waterworks! I was disappointed not to be able to ride cross country and show jumping after doing such a good test and being in 5th place, but that’s the nature of the sport. In some ways it was a blessing as I’d had a dreadful night with Laura, who woke at 1.30am and refused to go to sleep for the rest of the night, so riding the following day on three hours sleep would have been a challenge, little treasure that she is!
My little treasure tucks into a banana in her rain proof buggy
I’m eagerly waiting to hear about who has made the Australian team, but equally excited about the Kiwi team. There are some super combinations to choose from, and it’s so amazing that Andrew and Toddy are still there getting a chance to compete again. I assume that some of the younger members probably weren’t even born when Todd won his first medal!
Hope you are all keeping warm; can’t recommend merino thermals enough. But don’t try riding with two pairs of gloves, seems that when you can’t bend your fingers, riding sucks.
Until next time – take care,
Kate
