Event Report : Dressage Riders Online November & Our first SJ Competition of the year!

We have been rather busy over here at Team Wrinkly!

Last month we entered another Dressage Riders Online test. I had planned on entering a Prelim and a Novice test in November, but I ended up having to do 2 weeks of self isolation, so I only had 1 weekend left to film! Luckily I had no symptoms, but 2 weeks of no pony time was tough! I only entered the Prelim as felt a little rusty after the break.

This test has been pretty influential on our training and schooling over these past few weeks. I have realised that through filming these online tests over the course of this year I have learnt so much about my riding and managed to curb some old habits. I usually have regular lessons and training, and last year when I was part of BRC I had access to some amazing instructors, however this year has been totally different and I have only had 1 or 2 lessons, which definitely shows! I cant wait to get back into regular training next year.

So onto the test! It was a nice ride, and it was a flowing test with some tricky parts to keep us on our toes. Canter transitions were over X on a 20m circle, so there wasn’t anywhere to hide a dodgy transition – they were right in front of the judges nose! And also a pesky half 10m circle to X which I always seem to have problems with getting the size right. But the main issue I found with this test were my centre lines! I looked fine as I got to X, but I couldn’t get my turn right at A, either we overshot it or cut in too soon. It was only until I watched the test back that evening I realised my centre lines in the test were probably the worst ones I had done that session. I sent the test in anyway.

First image : Turn at A down the centre line – turned too early.

Second Image : I have almost corrected it as it looks like I am level with C

Third Image : B Half 10m to X – Totally over shot it!

Fortunately for me, these little mistakes didn’t get picked up in my test sheet (thankyou judge!!), but I knew that it was something that I needed to work on. So the next few times I did work in the arena, I set up a ‘tunnel’ of poles to go through from A to C so I could make sure I was straight. We did them over and over, and I started to feel more confident in them. I filmed another test last weekend and was really happy with them, so practice really does make perfect!

Here’s our test sheet, I am super happy with the comments and the marks. These sheets are always so detailed and I love that I get a comment for each move, it helps so much with progressing and improving.

We haven’t only been prancing around though!

I was desperate to get out jumping again, and as soon as we heard lockdown was lifting after November I entered an unaffiliated SJ competition at RDA National Training Centre. The venue is less that 10 minutes away from my yard, and I had credit with them after our November dressage competitions I had entered with them were cancelled due to Covid.

Pepsi is a great jumper, he gives a great feeling over a fence, and over the years it’s what we have focused on. In our prime we competed consistently at 1m and were out most weekends! He really loves his jumping and I love to see his ears prick up as soon as we enter the ring. Nowadays, we jump round 80s and sometimes 90s. He feels much more comfortable at this height now. When the jumps are bigger there is less room for mistakes and errors, and he doesn’t feel as supple and nimble to pick himself up over the bigger fences now. I also don’t feel the need to put undue stress on his older joints – I need to preserve him!!

Turns out this was actually our first jumping competition of the year! Since March we have hired arenas and entered a few clear rounds, but haven’t managed to get out and compete properly in the jumping. I am absolutely going to change that next year. Unfortunately for us, last Sunday was probably one of the wettest days I have seen this year – typical. Our time was 1.15pm, so I let him have the morning in the field to freshen him up. I went to get him in at 11.30am and the rain was treacherous and the wind was so cold. Walking back up to the yard I had decided we were not going, and I was going to let him have a break from the rain for an hour or two, and turn him back out. As I was grooming I thought about all the preparation I had done for this competition – I had a jumping lesson from my Mum in the week in the dark, I had cleaned and scrubbed my tack and boots, I trimmed his mane the week before and I had already packed the car ready to go. I also thought about all those people who had given up their weekend to stand in the pouring rain allowing the competition to go ahead. I quickly changed my mind, and luckily the rain had calmed down a bit too (which certainly helped with my decision). I packed our Dry Rug, put his boots on, and off we went.

The venue is low-key and it felt like there was absolutely no pressure at all, which was nice for our first time out. As I was walking down to get on in the warm up, the rain got heavier and basically didn’t stop from the moment we got on! He felt good in the warm up, off my leg and fresh. Much better than the warm up I had a couple of months ago! We jumped a couple of crosses, and the Oxer a few times and were ready to go in. The fences were not spooky to look at, but from knowing him so well I noticed a couple of things which could catch him out - there were white small filler type things under some of the fences, and banners around the arena which would disrupt his focus. I would need to keep my leg on and push him forward.

He went like a dream! We kept a nice rhythm the whole way round, his ears were pricked and we had so much fun. We had a sticky moment at number 8 where we got a bit close, but he picked his legs up and did me proud. He is feeling so good at the moment. We have tried so hard with his weight loss and I think we have finally found the perfect feed and supplement mix which not only helps his joints but also helps with his energy. He certainly didn’t feel like a 21 year old.

I think this might well be our last competition of the 2020, but its only 2 weeks until January – I need to get planning!