Averageness
OK, so the title of my blog indicates where I am in the grand scheme - average. It's nothing to do with modesty or lack of confidence, it's just the way it is and I am comfortable with it. Why? Because it means I can improve and my efforts are not for naught! I may not be able to get over 70% at prelim yet, and I may still be a wet drip at jumping, but I'm trying and I reckon that's what it's all about
Just because you're not as good as Mary King or John Whitaker or Charlotte Dujardin doesn't mean you can't get out there and have fun!
Demonstrations
Quadrille
Sadly this may be the last year ever. Only 9 teams came forward this year and although it was as much fun as ever BRC has said that if there are fewer than 10 teams entered by 31st January 2018 the competition won't run. That would be a complete disaster and we need every Riding Club to make a team and enter in January to make sure the fun continues!
This year was amazing. We placed sixth in the competition itself with our Ride of the Valkyries theme. A week later we got a call from BRC head office to ask if we would be happy to contest the final! One of the qualifying teams had dropped out, and the fifth placed team were a) based near Aberdeen (Buchan RC), and b) borrowed Sardra in the qualifier as they had a pony with a poorly leg, so we were next in line.
It was an amazing experience. The lights, the incredible four-in-hand extreme carriage driving, the Shetland pony Grand National and the showjumping made it a fabulous evening even without getting to do our display to a packed house! I have to say it was the worst we'd ever done it. One of our ponies decided we were doing it too slowly and took it upon himself to gallop off and finish all the moves on his own in record time! We held it together just enough though and pipped one team so we got third place.
I have to say they are the biggest and best rosettes i have ever seen, and the CVRC championship rosettes are pretty special so that says a lot.
Ireland
Just before competing at the quadrille final, and i mean literally a couple of hours before, I was getting off a plane after a wonderful family holiday in Ireland. We went to the West Coast and if you ever get the chance - go. Loved it. Thank you Mrs Whipcracker and Justina for getting Beau cleaned up and delivering him to me at Bury Farm in time to play!!
Quest
This year we haven't done much with Team Quest. Cherwell Valley RC sent teams and individuals to regionals and nationals so they didn't miss us, but this season we're planning to try again and even see if we can move up a level
Affiliated dressage
I also plan to increase my competing at affiliated dressage competitions over the winter. It's sufficiently outside my comfort zone to be challenging, but not too much for Beau's old legs. I really really want to be getting consistently over 65% at novice by the end of the winter - let's see. I strongly feel that until I get this dressage thing nailed then i won't improve at jumping enough to be a valuable team member for CVRC
Work Life Balance
This one is still a challenge - especially now we're into dark mornings and evenings and wet windy weekends. Also Christmas is a massive deal in our family so time is spent preparing and getting pressies for everyone at this time of year. Thank goodness for internet shopping! Though some things have to be felt and examined before buying so I still have to venture out to the shops
Field Shelters
We treated all 3 horses to their own field shelter this year. I can't be the only horse parent that lies awake at night listening to wind and rain and worrying if my horse is comfy enough. This year they have a place to hide. Sardra has her princess boudoir, Parker has his shed and Beau has his man-cave. Sardra likes to itch on hers so we had to install water collectors to protect the drain pipes!
CVRC Dressage
Well now it's winter Cherwell Valley RC is running indoor dressage. monthly on a Saturday morning. I love competing here because it's so relaxed, friendly, helpful and inclusive. This month I was brave enough to try an Elementary test, and Tory tried Novice. We figured we can do all the moves at home so ought to be able to to put them all together into a test. Well mine was a bit of a 'must try harder'. We lost canter in a loop, the leg yields can best be described as wiggly wanders, and the 15m circles were simply not ;) But, I take a small victory in knowing that I at least now know where we went wrong and I also know how I can fix it next time. So in November I will continue with the public humiliation and try again to see if I can better my score of 56.33%. The class scores ranged from 58-62% ignoring mine (I was last), which made me feel a little better
RB Grand Opening
We are lucky enough to have a marvellous huge tack shop just down the road in Milton Keynes called RB Equestrian. They have recently made-over their store, and this weekend was the Grand Opening. They have done a lovely job, it feels like browsing through an equestrian Selfridges (without the silly price tags) now! Good job RB!
Bonfire night
As a kid I loved fireworks. As an adult I see the impact they have on the animals and wish oh wish they were illegal to sell other than to organised displays. I am sure I don't need to plead with my readers - don't have a fireworks party at home, and please please don't use Chinese lanterns under any circumstances. There is always a good chance an animal will suffer for your few seconds of fun, so just don't
Vets air ambulance ball
Our local vets is holding a ball in November in aid of the Air Ambulance. Well with such a good cause it would be rude not to, right? More on that next month if I remember ;)
Equetech
My fabulous Equetech clothes are still going strong. I may need to be soaked out of them in paraffin before long ;) I can heartily recommend - such good quality and completely fit for purpose. nice one Liz and the team! Also, in December's issue of Horse and Rider magazine, there we all are! So cool, and what an experience :D
TTFN. Much love, Tam and Beau
Who has a new bridle to wear now, and is still the grumpiest most awesome pony ever
OK, so the title of my blog indicates where I am in the grand scheme - average. It's nothing to do with modesty or lack of confidence, it's just the way it is and I am comfortable with it. Why? Because it means I can improve and my efforts are not for naught! I may not be able to get over 70% at prelim yet, and I may still be a wet drip at jumping, but I'm trying and I reckon that's what it's all about
Just because you're not as good as Mary King or John Whitaker or Charlotte Dujardin doesn't mean you can't get out there and have fun!
Demonstrations
Having said that, who'd have thought I would ever need a
blog section entitled 'demonstrations'!
The word is defined as: a practical exhibition and explanation of how
something works or is performed. This
means people will be watching us to see how it's done. Blimey.
Tory and I are demonstrating pairs dressage to music at the
next Moulton College Quest event on 9th Dec.
We have also been asked to display our DTM, and our Quadrille at next
year's Blenheim International Horse Trials - a real honour and privilege,
especially as they've seen us before!
Here we are ready to go at the BRC Qualifiers, and below in
front of Blenheim House ready to do our demo in the Attractions Arena.
This arena is a friendly and thoroughly interesting feature
of Blenheim, all demos were marvellous
and my sidesaddle instructor and friend Ginny runs the every present Bit On The
Side demo team so it's full of friendly faces!
Sadly this may be the last year ever. Only 9 teams came forward this year and although it was as much fun as ever BRC has said that if there are fewer than 10 teams entered by 31st January 2018 the competition won't run. That would be a complete disaster and we need every Riding Club to make a team and enter in January to make sure the fun continues!
This year was amazing. We placed sixth in the competition itself with our Ride of the Valkyries theme. A week later we got a call from BRC head office to ask if we would be happy to contest the final! One of the qualifying teams had dropped out, and the fifth placed team were a) based near Aberdeen (Buchan RC), and b) borrowed Sardra in the qualifier as they had a pony with a poorly leg, so we were next in line.
Just before competing at the quadrille final, and i mean literally a couple of hours before, I was getting off a plane after a wonderful family holiday in Ireland. We went to the West Coast and if you ever get the chance - go. Loved it. Thank you Mrs Whipcracker and Justina for getting Beau cleaned up and delivering him to me at Bury Farm in time to play!!
This year we haven't done much with Team Quest. Cherwell Valley RC sent teams and individuals to regionals and nationals so they didn't miss us, but this season we're planning to try again and even see if we can move up a level
Affiliated dressage
I also plan to increase my competing at affiliated dressage competitions over the winter. It's sufficiently outside my comfort zone to be challenging, but not too much for Beau's old legs. I really really want to be getting consistently over 65% at novice by the end of the winter - let's see. I strongly feel that until I get this dressage thing nailed then i won't improve at jumping enough to be a valuable team member for CVRC
Work Life Balance
This one is still a challenge - especially now we're into dark mornings and evenings and wet windy weekends. Also Christmas is a massive deal in our family so time is spent preparing and getting pressies for everyone at this time of year. Thank goodness for internet shopping! Though some things have to be felt and examined before buying so I still have to venture out to the shops
Field Shelters
We treated all 3 horses to their own field shelter this year. I can't be the only horse parent that lies awake at night listening to wind and rain and worrying if my horse is comfy enough. This year they have a place to hide. Sardra has her princess boudoir, Parker has his shed and Beau has his man-cave. Sardra likes to itch on hers so we had to install water collectors to protect the drain pipes!
CVRC Dressage
Well now it's winter Cherwell Valley RC is running indoor dressage. monthly on a Saturday morning. I love competing here because it's so relaxed, friendly, helpful and inclusive. This month I was brave enough to try an Elementary test, and Tory tried Novice. We figured we can do all the moves at home so ought to be able to to put them all together into a test. Well mine was a bit of a 'must try harder'. We lost canter in a loop, the leg yields can best be described as wiggly wanders, and the 15m circles were simply not ;) But, I take a small victory in knowing that I at least now know where we went wrong and I also know how I can fix it next time. So in November I will continue with the public humiliation and try again to see if I can better my score of 56.33%. The class scores ranged from 58-62% ignoring mine (I was last), which made me feel a little better
RB Grand Opening
We are lucky enough to have a marvellous huge tack shop just down the road in Milton Keynes called RB Equestrian. They have recently made-over their store, and this weekend was the Grand Opening. They have done a lovely job, it feels like browsing through an equestrian Selfridges (without the silly price tags) now! Good job RB!
Bonfire night
As a kid I loved fireworks. As an adult I see the impact they have on the animals and wish oh wish they were illegal to sell other than to organised displays. I am sure I don't need to plead with my readers - don't have a fireworks party at home, and please please don't use Chinese lanterns under any circumstances. There is always a good chance an animal will suffer for your few seconds of fun, so just don't
Vets air ambulance ball
Our local vets is holding a ball in November in aid of the Air Ambulance. Well with such a good cause it would be rude not to, right? More on that next month if I remember ;)
Equetech
My fabulous Equetech clothes are still going strong. I may need to be soaked out of them in paraffin before long ;) I can heartily recommend - such good quality and completely fit for purpose. nice one Liz and the team! Also, in December's issue of Horse and Rider magazine, there we all are! So cool, and what an experience :D
Who has a new bridle to wear now, and is still the grumpiest most awesome pony ever
I LOVE the name of your blog; I'm a tiny bit jealous I didn't think of it first ;) I would like to point out that us average riders may be a little less expert than half the people out there, but we are also ahead of the other half!
ReplyDeleteDead right! And you know what the most important thing is - we are trying!
ReplyDelete