Competition

In all the excitement about Jazz I forgot to tell you that Tia was going to a Riding Club combined training today. She did her first ever novice test (because that’s the one which went with 2ft 9 jumping, not because she’s ready for one!) and she scored 56% which I am very happy with. It was novice 21, which is not the easiest, so I am really pleased. Plus it was indoors with huge mirrors and she behaved really well with it all. Then to cap it off she went and jumped a lovely clear round. It’s the first time she’s jumped since September 23rd, so wasn’t that just brilliant?? I started without a martingale, then she got terribly cocky and strong and started to cross country the practice fences, so I put it on and she took the hint and was a real sweetie. She is probably placed with that performance, but I had to leave a friend to get the results – Superhubby was hungry for his McDonalds :- )

Meanwhile, I had left Jazzy, for safety, at home in the barn with only a foot wide slit in the doors for him to be able to get his head out. He was cool when we got home, so he had not been fretting. When he saw her though, he tried to barge the doors open, then to kick them open. I wouldn’t take him out until he had completely calmed down, so that he does not associate making a fuss with getting what he wants.

The lorry is now parked downhill, lessening the slope on the ramp, and the next wind free day we get I will be practicing loading with him again. I have a plan mapped out which starts with putting him in and taking him off again, several times over. Then shutting the ramp on another day. Then the next time going somewhere on a short trip and coming home without unloading, unloading at home and putting him straight back on again. Then the next time, going somewhere close to home so I can hack back if necessary and unloading, having a cup of tea and loading again. Then a bit further afield and then we hope everything will be hunky dory. He’s never going to be as quiet as Tia is on a showground though, she’s a little angel :- ), so unstressed to go anywhere with.

I’m off out now to get them in from the field.

C

ps at the show there was a chestnut with similar markings to Jazz who moved in a very, very similar way (including the bit-snatching). He wasn't quite the same quality, but he had an awful lot in common. I asked the girl on him how he was bred and he was a Dutch Warmblood from a showjumping father - and the way she described his character was just like Jazz and he even had the white eye. I think they must be related somewhere close in their background. It will be interesting to see them together one day.