Event Report - Norton Disney BE90

So on Saturday I did my first event of the year in the BE90 at Norton Disney. I've been suffering quite badly with the flu, so I wasn't on my best form, and the weather only just started to brighten up later in the day. I was really pleased with her, she didn't really do anything particularly wrong or naughty, there are just lots of things to work on for the next one!

Dressage 

I would say historically dressage has been a very unpredictable phase for us, with our first year in eventing spent just attempting to stay inside the boards. Last year was much improved, and we actually achieved a highlight of a 28.5 at one event, which shows we have it in us! I have been working on the dressage over winter, but the past couple of weeks it's taken a bit of a back burner due to bitting troubles.
The weather was not really ideal because it was super windy after being really nice all week. She was a bit tense and reactive. She did warm up really nicely, but started to get a little feisty just before going in.

She was hanging on my left rein and avoiding the right, which is something she's been doing a fair bit recently. I actually think the issue comes down to me - I had an accident a couple of years ago and it took months to fully recover from the nerve and muscle damage it left me with. As a result I think I've become quite one sided, and am passing that on to her. Anyway, back to the point - the test was tense and not great, she had a couple of moments, broke to canter far too early and then had a tizzy down the long side. All in all, she's done much better! But still, we were awarded a 38, which was definitely a fair (maybe too kind!) mark for the test we gave. We had some great constructive comments and lots of nice things said about her paces and the good bits, which is always nice to hear, especially when the test itself doesn't go so well. 

Show jumping

I hate showjumping. Actually, I don't - I love jumping Emmie at home, where she is super careful and great fun. However at competitions we both lose it. I've been eliminated before in the sj phase for having too many poles.. and then we sometimes go clear! it always seems like a luck of the draw. She felt like she was jumping beautifully, but took 3 poles - one was inevitable because I got a terrible stride and there was no way she could dig herself out of the base of the fence where I dumped her, but the other two were just unfortunately rolled. See the second photo.. she looks awesome, though!

Cross Country 

Cross country is by far our best phase, and she did not disappoint! She absolutely stormed round inside the time. I have had some bitting issues recently as she is very strong. Last year I XC'd her in a straight bar pelham, but have recently found she has learned to just bear down on it and go really on the forehand. I tried out a waterford tom thumb and used that on Saturday, and it was a success, I did use it with two reins though and might try it with just one, as she was still a little slow to sit back. 

So we finished on an overall score of 50 (ouch!) and in 22nd place (double ouch!). That said, it was definitely not a *bad* run - we had fun, which matters the most, and if I didn't have the flu I think the overall preparation would have been a little better. 

Next one is Richmond BE100 in a month - best get ready to improve some scores!