Family outing to Tweseldown

After some finger crossing with late entry forms, the organisers came up trumps with start times for both Hugo and Bea at Sundays Tweseldown one day event. Bea's times came through first, starting just after midday, all a bit civilized, then Hugo's 9.30 time came through. Another 6-something start on a Sunday for all except zipper who had to stay at home. Gavin, Hugo and Bea set off followed closely by Boo, Diane Dizzy, Nutty and the puppy Bonnie!

Sneaking into the dressage arena almost unnoticed, Hugo powered round to rack up a very respectable 35 penalties. All he had to do now was what he loves and jump a double clear! Alas it was not destined to be, he was more interested in looking good for the cameras than looking at he show jumping fences. He made it to the double at fence 7 before he ducked out, incurring 4 penalties. There were another 3 time penalties after Hugo failed to show his usual turn of speed over the country. By the end of the day Boo & Hugo had slipped to a still very respectable 12th in the overall standings, just those 7 points adrift from 5th place.....if frogs had wings....

Now for Gavin and Bea's first Intro event, aah! It looked as if Bea's eyes were going to pop out of he head trying to comprehend how many horses were warming up for the dressage! With some great help from super-groom Diane, Bea started going forward nicely rather than bouncing up and down. A 43 penalties dressage test followed, something about a lack of submission.... like riding a tightly coiled spring with a wobbly nose!
The partnership clicked for the show jumping producing a nice clear round to induce a very large grin from both of them.

After a delay at the start of the cross country, they finally got the go order. As captured on the video, there was an unscheduled dismount just prior to fence two, the clock was ticking but no penalties incurred as it was between fences. Bea settled into a slightly nervous, but forward going gallop across the country and was taking all the obstacles in her stride, perhaps even an incorrect Pre-Novice fence just for good measure! The bogey fence combination of a sturdy house followed by a ditch was jumped nicely but with hindsight knocked Bea's confidence. When an next identical house appeared on the horizon she was full of trepidation but she cleared it after a wee discussion, but now the ditch was replaced with a pond, and there was no way she was going in there!! A long, slow walk home, with only four jumping efforts untackled, big disappointment but a huge learning exercise.

So the day ended with no rosettes but plenty of plans for the future.