XC Schooling at Gibbes Farm in SC

It's funny how a weekend full of jumps comes down to just one or two that stick with you.  Good and bad.  I tend to dwell on the bad, both to figure out how to get better, but also as a confidence killer.  I have to try really hard to find the good things to offset that.  Luckily I have over a hundred pictures to review and the majority of them are not bad.

We traveled to Gibbes Farm in SC, an amazing place built by a father for his two eventing daughters.  It's a huge place with lots of great jumps for all different levels. We went with 7 horses and riders and our trainer (B).  I rode down on Saturday with Lara and her horse Benji, it took about 4.5 hours and when we got there we let the horses rest and graze for about an hour.

The riders:  Kristi (Tobey), Rachel (Allie), Lara (Benji) and I (Cody). 

Chris (Dazzle), Beth (Trigger), and Leandi and her project horse walked with us and took (a bunch!) of pictures.


All of my pictures can be found here

lots of logs!

Big house!

Jump in the water

DAY ONE

We started out in log land, a woodsy area with lots of smaller logs and natural looking fences. They also have a small bank area and a water complex. 

We worked through that area shaking the dust off and getting comfortable with multiple fences. 

The day went very well.  Cody and I jumped almost everything well, even some of the larger fences that the last time we were here were difficult for us. 

In particular the water jump rode very well, and the max feeder and roll top felt great.  The bank down is still problematic for us, he likes to launch, and I have trouble remembering to keep my hands down.  So we trot the banks more than canter.  We did LOTS of banks so got lots of practice. 










We ended the day working over the ditch in the big field.  We had hauled down standards and poles so B could set up combinations.  While walking over the ditch to begin with, Cody got lazy behind and stepped down into the ditch, knocking himself off balance and pulling off a boot.  No injury, just disconcerting.  Moving on, the ditch to a barrel warmed us up, and then we did the big ditch to the roll top.  Cody and I did not jump the roll top great, yikes! 

Ditch to barrels

Overall it was a good day, I felt pretty comfortable and heck, no injuries is always a good day!

That night we all went to Ruby Tuesday's for dinner, I'm not a fan...they couldn't fit us all at one table, so we didn't get to socialize like we normally do.  The normal dinner routine is finding the closest mexican place...I think we will have to do that next time!

Ditch to roll top.  Yikes!

Then we headed off to the hotel.  Not a bad place, queen size beds for once!  And except for one late night disturbance from a restaurant worker as he put out the trash with his car stereo blaring, we got a good night's sleep. 


Day Two

Ditch to barrel - 2nd day!

Day two started of quickly, we went back to the ditch to barrels to 'get it right' as B said.  She had been thinking over the day before and wanted to do the exercise again, as we just weren't perfect!  It rode very well for all of us. 

Big ditch from the other direction.  Can you tell he didn't want to get stuck in it!

Oh!  you want me to JUMP it!  Okay!  (thanks Kristi for the catch ride)

finally getting it done

From there we went to the coffin jump.  This is where things went a bit south for Cody and I.  The jump involves a small hill/rise to a big ditch to another hill/rise.   I'm not sure if it was the up/down of the hill or the big ditch or the issue from the day before, but I freaked and Cody refused.  I couldn't get him to jump that direction.  I did get him to jump from the other direction (and jump it he did! WAY up in the air).  After multiple tries with me just unable to get over my fear, B got Kristi to get on Cody and boot him over it.   Then I got back on and was able to get it done...not my favorite moment of the weekend, when I get scared, I sob...alot...but I was able to push through it and the rest of the day was fine.

Sunken Road

We moved on to a bank complex with gymnastics, then to the sunken road (love that combination!).  We also jumped a hill fence to the sunken road. 

Ugly!

coming down from a HUGE jump

Last we worked around the big water.  Jumping in the water, into the water and out of the water.  Cody did well, although he jumped HUGE into the water.  We were starting to get tired, mostly mentally, but a little physically.  So we had a bad jump at the big table, and a run out at the boat after the water. 

Last fence, the boat on the second try

It was a learning moment for me, I've never had to push on Cody to jump, and I will need to be able to do that during the 3 Day if he is tired at the end of XC.  

All in all it was a good weekend.  I wish I hadn't had the issues I had, but I hope I learned from them.  I have certainly been processing the weekend for the past couple of days.

We rode back with Kristi, and it was a good time to decompress and debrief the whole weekend.  Kristi will be my groom/coach/babysitter for the 3day, and it is good for her to know what I am thinking and what we need to remember from this weekend's lessons.  

I think we are generally well set up for the 3 day XC course.  I will also be ready for Deep Run at Novice this weekend.  I haven't gone Novice in a while, and Deep run is a big course, but last year it looked really fun (we didn't run because of Cody's bruised knee) so I'm looking forward to it!


Go Cody!

20 minute trot set

We are halfway to our 40 minute trot set goal, and I wasn't sure if either one of us was going to make it this morning.

With the weather rolling in (sleet in April!!) I had to ride this morning, so we did two 20 minute trot sets in 12 hours...not the best plan in the world.  We were both on autopilot by the end.

I did figure out how to run the Iphone music on speaker (can't find my earbuds) and set an alarm for 20 minutes so I don't need to keep checking my watch.  (has it REALLY been only 7 minutes since we started!!).  And we were able to work in the big field, so lots of hill work and bigger circles.

Music helps, and hopefully after a day and a half off and a fun trek to Gibbes farm this weekend in SC to do some XC schooling, we will be back on track for the 25 and 30 minutes sets on the schedule for next week!

I did give him the all important 10 minutes of grazing out on the power line...if it would finally warm up so the grass in his pasture would come in, I would be able to stop checking him daily for ribs showing.  Poor guy is eating his head off, but just can't quite gain anything with all this new work we are doing.  We are maintaining, so the goal is to keep stuffing his face as much as he will eat and hope the grass comes in soon!

I'm having the vet out next week for spring shots, teeth and general health check.  Want to ask her about the cough he has, nothing new, he's always had a bit of a cough when first worked, but every now and then it continues into the rest of his workout.  So, better to check him out than have a problem later.

Yay for day off tomorrow, time to spend some quality time with the hubby and thank him for putting up with this crazy month!

Busy 4 days

This is going to be a busy 4 days!

3Day Schedule

THURSDAY – May 2- Arrival and Clinics

MORNING          

8:00-9:30              Arrival Exams - BRAID

10:00-–11:30      Horse Inspection Demonstration

- Competitor #’s: 51 - 65: 10 until 10:30

- Competitor #’s: 66 - 80: 10:30 – 11:00

- Competitor #’s: 81 - 95: 11:00 – 11:30

11:00     Pre-ordered Catered Lunches Delivered

 

AFTERNOON     

11:30-12:30         Figuring Times for Roads &Tracks @ Covered Arena

                Bring paper and pencil/pen to the indoor

1:00-3:00 What is the Judge Looking For/Dressage Ring; All competitors: Bring chair and lunch or snacks. Training and Novice Rides

3:30-4:30              First Horse Inspection @ inspection Track next to Covered Arena

6:00   Welcome Hello Meet and & Greet : What to expect in the Ten Minute Box and What to expect in the Vet Box after XC

BRAID

 

FRIDAY – May 3 – Dressage Starts

MORNING                          

8:00        Test Ride for Dressage @ Dressage Ring              

8:30-– 2:00 apprx.            Dressage Begins              

11:00-2:45           Steeplechase Demonstrations and Practice (meet at Start Box Phase B)               

11:00-11:15         Demonstration:               

11:15-–Noon      Training Riders – Competitors #51-65    

AFTERNOON                     

Noon to 12:45    Lunch (Pre-ordered Lunches Delivered at 11:00)              

12:45 – 1:45        Novice Steeplechase Demonstrations: Competitors #66-80        

1:00-2:00              Dressage ends by 2:00 pm          

2:00-2:45              Beginner Novice Steeplechase – Competitors #81-95    

2:00 on                 Nikon Hat Decorating Contest – Come as time permits.  - Bring fun decorating items.   

3:30- 5:00             Cross Country Walks: all meet at Start Box Phase D  - Start of Cross-Country       

6:00        Competitors Briefing with the Officials   - Presentation: How to set up the 10 Minute Box and Vet Box 

 SATURDAY – May 4 – Endurance Test

MORNING          

7:00        Saturday Breakfast

9:00        Endurance Test Begins @ Cross-Country Course

Vetwrap, extra shoes with the studs already in them, buckets, sponges, extra reins and stirrup leathers with irons

 AFTERNOON     

2:00        Nikon Hat Decorating Contest – Come as time permits.   - Bring fun decorating items.

3:00- 5:15             Show Jumping Course Walks –

Training Walk: 3:00 – 3:45 –

Novice Walk: 3:45 – 4:30 –

Beginner Walk:   4:30 – 5:15 pm

5:30        Barbeque Bash/Party in Covered Arena/KY Derby Viewing  - Nikon Parade of Hats, Live Music

 SUNDAY – May 5 – Show Jumping

MORNING          

8:00        Final Horse Inspection

10:00     Three Day Jumping @ Indian Mound Field/Photos Taken   - Awards given after each division

ouch

yeah, I'm thinking Pilates and riding in one day is NOT going to be a good choice...today our Pilates instructor ramped it up to advanced work, and now my arms won't work!

Need to hang on till 5, then head to the barn and get that trot set done...whew, gonna be a long day...

Long Term Goal - REALLY long term!

Saw this picture on eventing nation today, and this is what I want to look like eventually when I ride:  even if I never jump a jump that big, I want to be that athletic and having that much fun!!



Jennifer McFall on High Times in the Galway Downs CIC3*. Photo by Bill Olson.

The road to a BN 3-day!

Cody and I are officially 30 days out from our first 3Day event at Southern  8ths Farm in South Carolina!  Entry Status

We qualified for the event by going to 4 recognized BN events:
Full Gallop - 4th
Paradise - 2nd
CDCTA - 1st
SP HT I - 2nd (pictures!)

This past Saturday we went to Buckhorn Farms to do two dressage tests.  This was our first time ever doing a 'real' dressage test (not an eventing test) in a BIG arena.  It went pretty well.  B came to warm us up, and Cody was a bit tense to begin with, but he eventually relaxed and we went in for our test.  1st Training level 3 (click to see video) test seems to ride pretty well.  I forgot to salute with the first halt...yes it does say halt. salute on the test, but I spaced out on that...and then I forgot to go left in the free walk, so got an error there, but the rest of the test was pretty steady, we got a 70.08 and 3rd place in the class.

The second test (click to see video)  was better, still forgot to salute, but got the rest of the test correct.  transitions were much better and Cody wasn't as tight so looked more relaxed.  I felt more comfortable in the big ring as well, so our geometry looked better too.  We got a 74!  Best score ever!

Sunday was supposed to be a jump lesson, but with 1.5 inches of rain that morning, the footing was too slick, so B gave me a conditioning lesson instead.  I've never marked off distances and practiced speeds before, so it was good to feel what a 220 trot, a 300 canter and a 350 canter felt like.  I suck at doing math in my head on my watch, but it seemed to work out that we were on the speed most of the time.

2 5@220 trot sets and 3 3@300 canter sets and our first real conditioning set was done!

Next weekend is XC Schooling at Gibbes, then on to the rest of them month's activities...it's going to be busy!

4/6-7 - Gibbes XC Schooling
4/13-14 - open - trail ride?
4/19-20 - Deep Run (1st time at Novice!)
4/25-28 - Rolex (will ride on Th, then B will ride on Saturday to keep him in work)
5/2-5 - 3Day!!