Working hunter show

[gem]

We went to a show today and I had entered the beginners class and the novice (one after the other). The ground was a bit slipping and the course a little bit hilly but I took it slowly. We were allowed 3 refusals at each fence in the beginners. I sat and watched as people fell off (one woman went through 2 point two air jackets but they looked great), people refusing left and right and one unlucky combination slipped and fell. Everyone was fine though thankfully.

I went in and did my round. There was no warm up jump which was a bit annoying. Refused the first (wooden barrel things) then went over fine, went over 2nd (double which had gates either side so it was all enclosed), refused 3rd once (had xmas trees either side :lol:), flew over 4th and 5th, refused 6th a few times (a tiny wall that was all wet and shiny), flew 7th and 8th, refused 9th twice. So not the best round in the world but we got round and we weren't too awful compared to the rest of the class. It was a case of her not being too sure of new things and needing a bit of encouragement. We got called back in to do the ridden showing and she did a very nice little show. Had to take it slowly because of the ground but her gallop was fab :D We came 4th out of 8!! Was so pleased :D

We then went in for the novice. Went over 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th (was really bounding forward by this point) then we got close to the 5th and they'd put a water tray out with a duck in it :shocked: :lol: Well, she thought I was being ridiculous asking her to jump over a pond with a duck in it so refused it 3 times. Technically we should've been eliminated then but they let me carry on (very nice judge), refused 6th :ashamed: went onto 7th no prob then wouldn't do 8th so had to leave. 8 was a pheasant feeder that she'd gone over no prob in the beginners class so not sure what was going on there as she wasn't taking the micky. I popped over a jump on my way out and took her back to the box.

Overall I was pleased with her. I know what we need to work on - jumping loads of weird looking fences to get her confidence up. The thing that we have been working on - getting her infront of my leg - was great. She was really forward going and the ones she jumped she jumped beautifully. There's definite potential there, it just takes time :)

xxx

[Ambers Mum]

Sounds like she was a good girl and just got a bit fed up! Pics? xx

[chance encounter]

Well done. Its all experience when you are starting off in workers. Some courses are easier than others. I remember when BCE & Chance had to jump ducks and a water tray. BCE was more concerned about the jump before hand as everyone was refusing it, she concentrated on that, kept her leg on and before she knew it she was over the ducks, lol!!

I cant wait till Diggi starts!! Well done again, good luck for the next one!!

[gem]

Thanks :) I'm loving the learning curve for us both.

Mandi - She was a very good girl yes but definitely not fed up :lol: She was trying to look at everything at once, I think that was probably part of the problem!

[chance encounter]

Sometimes Chance used to do that. She wouldnt be concentrating on what was in front of her and another jump might have caught her eye and she would slow down because of that one!

[gem]

:lol: Sounds familiar! She was gawping so much at something on the other side of the fence that when she finally locked onto the xmas tree just it scared the life out of her :lol:

[chance encounter]

Aw bless her, you did make me giggle though!

[amandaxx1]

Aw well done, its rubbish that there were no WH fences for you to practice over, never heard that before. She’s coming on so well, She’s a proper little all rounder now isnt she!!!

[Burnie]

She did brilliantly for her first go over those kinds of fences. You'll just have to start getting a bit inventive at home to practice, see if anyone has a spare rubber duck :lol:

[*Emma*]

Hi I've not been on EW for a while, but I'm guessing that you're just starting out with working hunter classes?

I am too!

I had my second attempt on Sunday and I loved it! Wish I'd had the confidence to try it sooner! Like you though I am just doing it for experience at the moment. We had a very windy day on my first attempt and all the trees and plants they had used to decorate the jumps were blowing all over the place which was great fun!

[gem]

:D Thanks guys. I've gone a bit mad in the pound shop and bought all sorts of weird things to put under/around jumps so the confidence building will begin this week! She doesn't struggle with height (in fact hasn't struggled with any height so far but I've stopped at 3ft :lol:), it's really just the fact she's not used to these bizarre things I'm asking her to jump.

Hi Emma! Glad to hear someone else is starting out with WH. I'm loving doing all the different jumps, can't wait until her confidence is a bit higher :)

[Vodkagirly]

Intrigued to know what you've bought to put under the jumps...

[gem]

:lol: Well I must've looked like a right saddo coming out of the pound shop! I got some lovely tacky glittery plastic bunches of flowers, a sunflower man (which Saf adores), a windmill, some reed type thingies, an extendable trellis fence and brightly coloured buckets :D I've got some of those bale covers too for when we're feeling particularly brave :)