The weather has been less than cooperative as we all know lately, and needless to say even less this past weekend at Poplar Place Farm Horse Trials.
Luckily it was WARM, or it could have been miserable. First off, I have to say a big thanks to the organizers Donna and Gary Stegman, and all of the volunteers who made sure we could compete!! It turned out to be a successful weekend for Figjam aka Amigo moving up to the I/P and good experience was gained for Katie Bartz with As You Wish aka Westley in less than ideal conditions!
Saturday was dressage for some of us! My dressage ride time was initially at 9:33, but this promptly changed, as in my early morning schooling ride (around 7:30) with Amigo, the weather seem complacent with some drizzle off and on, and then out of nowhere lighting hit very close leaving everyone scrambling to get to the barns. That was just a hint of what was to come for Saturday and ride times were delayed 50 minutes. The storms let up a little bit and it was actually not raining when I rode my test. We had an okay first dressage test for the season. Amigo was a little tense (he always gets a little barn sour and tries to be a know-it-all). The canter walk transitions that we have been working on were our weakest movement, but I was overall happy with our test and we were in a 3 way tie for 8th with a 40.00. After my dressage test, storms came through again, and ride times had to be delayed once again. Luckily, Katie was able to squeeze in her ride on Westley. They as well had a "dusting of the cobb webs" test as well, with an unfortunate spook, but I was very pleased with Katie's composure and she finished up her test with a 35.7.
Full competition footage (including helmetcam) of Elisa Wallace riding Figjam (owned by Beatriz Halbert) at the 2012 Poplar Place Farm January Horse Trials (January 21 - 22, 2012). The competition was plagued by delays due to severe weather, which included risk of a tornado. This video includes entertaining footage taken as competitors huddled together in and around the public restrooms for safety.
After Katie's ride, we were waiting for our friend Krissy Hicks to go in her BN division, but then again out of nowhere, it seemed like all HELL broke loose, and everyone was sent to the barns, even a poor rider who was stopped as she went down the centerline. I say poor, because we know how frustrating that can be, but we all know SAFETY FIRST!! We were warned to take cover as a tornado had touch down 6 miles away!!! A lot of us went huddling into the bathrooms with our pups of course! The rain was amazing, blowing sideways and it reminded me of the Forest Gump scene when he was talking about all of the different types of rain--yeah that was Saturday! So the organizers decided to cancel competition for the day and they were going to squeeze it all in on Sunday. I was trying to stay positive as rumors of full cancellation were being whispered. The cross country was already soggy so it was a wait and see type of game. I have learned to be patient in these types of situations since drainage and footing can be amazing! Then an interesting thing occurred around 5pm...the sun came out...and we actually had a sunset! It was kind of strange, yet incredible hopeful.
Helmetcam footage taken during Elisa Wallace's cross country ride on Figjam (aka Amigo) during the Poplar Place Farm January Horse Trials (January 21 - 22, 2012).
Sunday came around with a mist blanketing the grounds of Poplar. The courses had been checked and everything was a-GO for an on time start. The stadium had been moved to one of the arena's with the footing(it's excellent in rain), so that was a bit of relief. The course seemed very doable, but you never know how your horse is going to handle it when you are in the moving-up stage. We also had to go ahead and put our studs in, as we were scheduled to ride stadium then go straight to cross country. My warm-up proved to be a little difficult, because Amigo swore we were going to do cross country first--he saw me with my vest on! The little adrenaline junkie that he is, he was excited and bouncing around a bit. I can sometimes get the glare of "oh there is a Arab," but once he starts jumping everybody gives him respect. He finally calmed down and we went into our stadium. I let him move on a bit so he would stay relaxed, and he was jumping great--he tends to be a over-achiever and wants to over jump everything. I unfortunately, came in on a awkward stride to the double combination of 5A and B, taking down 5A. But he jumped around great and we had only 4 faults.
Competition footage of student Katie Bartz riding her own As You Wish (aka Westley) in the Open Novice division at the Poplar Place January Horse Trials (January 21 - 22, 2012).
Then it was on to Cross Country--Finally! This is what we all do if for, RIGHT!!! Amigo was pretty amped up and ready for his first course of the season. My plan was to try to go slow, emphasis on try...he had other plans. I didn't have my watch, but I figured I would go on feel and ride accordingly. Riding a brave, clever, sure-footed Arab in the mud... equals a great cross country ride! He felt great and didn't even slip once, he was leaning on me to let him go, and my reins kept slipping (I hadn't switched back to my notch reins) so I had to work to keep him slow-er. But he listened well and we finished with 1.6 time penalties. I was very proud of him and his performance and we finished up 5th!
Katie had a good stadium round with an unfortunate rail, then she was on to cross country. You might see some video of Westley being a hasty little pony about mounting--he can be a quirky little thing! It was Katie's first time competing in these conditions, and her pony was barefoot. She did an excellent job riding the terrain. She had a run-out in the novice combination in the back, but finished up well. Although it may be a little disappointing having that 20, it makes you a little grittier and I was very proud of how she handled the footing. Plus the first event of the season means some clearing of the cobb webs!
Our friend Krissy Hicks had to basically ride a one day--all 3phases on Sunday! Congrats on her completing her eventing debut on Grey Goose!
So all and all it was a soggy weekend but we all walked away with some good experiences!
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Luckily it was WARM, or it could have been miserable. First off, I have to say a big thanks to the organizers Donna and Gary Stegman, and all of the volunteers who made sure we could compete!! It turned out to be a successful weekend for Figjam aka Amigo moving up to the I/P and good experience was gained for Katie Bartz with As You Wish aka Westley in less than ideal conditions!
