XC Review: Bulla Horse Trials

In the background - jump 3 on the Cross Country course.  This jump caused a few refusals at the higher levels.

The Bulla grounds are just East of Tullamarine Airport, and if you have a child fascinated with planes then bring them here.  You get to see aeroplanes taking off and landing all day long, and they are close enough to make out the brands on the tail, but not so close that you get bothered by the noise.

The cross country is set on beautiful undulating terrain.  Like a scaled down Wandin.  Most of the jumps are set either on fairly flat ground, or across the hill, and the course rides really well.

I did Level 5 at Bulla, so my comments relate primarily to that level.  The height of the jumps was perfect, with some smaller jumps, and some at the maximum height.  The variety of jumps was fantastic, with little trakeners, brushes, logs, and other challenging looking obstacles.

I would rate the water jump at this event as hard.  The entrance to it is fairly narrow, the water is dark and murky, and it seems deeper than some other events.  Having said that, a horse that's used to water will have no problems with it.  But I think it deserves a healthy respect.  The water is also late in the course, so if you get elimiated there you only miss the last jump or two.

Overall this is a great course, especially at the lower levels, with a great variety of obstacles.  I would happily travel the 2 hours for a Cross Country clinic here.  And my 8 year old daughter on her pony - start here!

XC Review: Woady Yaloak Horse Trials

Woady Yaloak is a wee bit South of Ballarat, on flat land.  Having said that, there are small undulations in the land - not dissimilar to those found on a BMX track - and each one of those is cleverly used to get you jumping either up the hill, or down the hill.

Most of the jumps are either natural obstacles, or made of unpainted wood.  No scary looking chook houses or trains here.  Most of the jumps are about 65cm or so, which makes it look like a really nice beginners Intro course.  And then you get to the brush, with the ditch before it.  The brush is a serious 80cm, and the ditch adds a fair bit of scare factor.

In addition, the event is keen to become a serious contender on the eventing calendar, so you can expect some new jumps to appear in the future.

If it wasn't for that ditch-brush fence, then I would rate this as the most inviting Intro course I have seen to date.  However, because of this fence I would make it your third attempt at Intro.

As a side note, parking at this even was an issue.  The organisers are aware of this.

XC Review: Wandin ODE

Everybody knows Wandin.  It is open and undulating, with the odd steep section.  This year a new Intro and Prelim course have been built in Big Wandin.  Before these courses were built, they were run in Little Wandin.

The new Intro course is big.  The jumps are big and solid, and if you're not comfortable jumping the 80cm, then don't attempt this.

Other than the jumps being imposing, the course is actually a very good Intro course.  The jumps are spaced a long distance apart, giving you lots of time to catch your breath and balance in between.  There are no difficult banks, drops or ditches, and the water is simple.  There is a sunken road section that has a steep slope going into it.  I am not sure how it rode, as I didn't ride it (finding the constant 80cm too much for me), but it's a solid half way into the course, so by this stage you and your horse should be travelling well and it shouldn't cause any issues.

The second half of the course sends you up a hill that's more in the steep zone, so your horse needs to be fit enough to jump the big jumps that follow.

To me, as a pretty inexperienced eventer at this level, it seemed like a fairly advanced course simply because of the height.  (Keep in mind that my mount is 13.2hh.)  Something you would do before going Prelim.  The jumps are also solid and inventive - trains, chook houses, that sort of thing.  However, when I think of the technical difficulty of the course, its actually quite simple, with most jumps on a fairly flat approach and landing.

So, if you and your horse is comfortable with the 80cm required, then I would definitely add this course to your eventing calendar.  Perhaps not as a first up event, but maybe third or fourth.

XC Review: Pakenham Horse Trials

The beautiful water complex at Pakenham Pony Club.

Pakenham is totally flat.  Upper Pakenham, which is where the Pakenham Pony Club is, is steep.  Undulating at best.  The Pakenham Pony Club grounds are vertical!!! 

The grounds have been cleverly terraced to provide flat areas for the club rooms, arenas and access roads.  The cross country course starts at the top of the hill, and runs across the slope.  It utilises all the undulating sections (as opposed to steep) to kindly meander down to a wonderful water complex in the valley.  Then it turns around and makes it's way only about half way up the hill.  So your horse doesn't need to be excessively fit to complete the course.  Nevertheless, this is not a course for the faint hearted, and just the lay of the land is enough to give you vertigo.

The height of the jumps at EA Intro is just perfect.  Most of them are about 65cm high, and fairly straight forward.  The water complex was followed by a couple of 80cm portables, which I thought was quite challenging as your horse just came out of the water, but then had to jump the maximum height jumps in close succession.  Other than that, I thought it was quite a nice entry level course.

If your horse is a solid HRCAV Level 4 performer, and you can comfortably trot down hills, then I would definitely consider this as your first EA Intro outing.  My 8 year old daughter at level 5 on her pony - barely in control - no chance.  I would want to see my daughter tackle all the other level 5 courses I can find in the area, before I allowed her to ride this - simply because of the steepness.

XC Review: Yarrambat Pony Club

The region is generally known for its steepness and relentlessly winding roads.  However, the Yarrambat Pony Club grounds, including the cross country course, are uncharacteristically flat.  You'd call it undulating at best.

In this particular case I did the Grade 4 course.  The height of the jumps was perfect for Grade 4, with very few being at maximum height.

The complexity of the course was another matter altogether.  The first jump was tyres with agapanthus growing out of it.  A lovely jump, and rode very well, but it certainly added a few jitters as the first jump.  The second jump was a key hole, and the organisers managed to leave an A4 sheet of paper (which instructed the Grade 3 riders that this jump will be raised for their course), attached to the jump and flapping in the wind.  The third jump was a small jump onto a sunken road type thing - not the easiest of things to be tackling at the start.  Well, so now having tackled all these difficult jumps, the rest of the course was easy right?  No!  There were numerous other questions along the course, and the complexity of the course certainly made up for the lack of height in places.

The course rode beautifully.  There is a lovely long stretch along a model aeroplane airfield, which allows you test out your gallop.  (The model aeroplanes did not fly on cross country day).  The return is a little more undulating, cutting through a strand of trees.  The water jump is friendly, although it pays to plan your approach.

I think I would want one other course at Grade 4 under my belt before I rode this course.  If my 8 year old daughter was capable of controlling her pony in undulating terrain, then I would certainly let her have a go at Grade 5 here.

The Cross Country Course Review Series

Recently I have managed to make it to a few cross country courses, either because I have competed there, was intending to compete, or just went to have a look in case I decide to compete there in the future.

I have decided to do a review of these - for my own benefit, as well as for everyone else's.

All the courses reviewed are generally EA Intro level (EA80).  In each review I try to look at the lay of the land (steep, flat, undulating), the height of the jumps, the technical difficulty of the course, the challenges specific to that course, as well as whether it's a basic or advanced Intro course.

One of the things I've noticed is that the courses that are on steep land do everything to make them flat, while the courses that are on flat land do everything to create uphills and downhills.  And just because a region is known for its steepness, doesn't necessarily mean that the XC course is set on steep land.

Balance

One of the most important things I have taken away from my lessons with Ron Patterson is "balance".

In my very first lesson with Ron, he walked up to my horse, pointed two fingers just in front of the girth, and just below the saddle flap, and said "Your horse's centre of gravity is here".

My mind panicked, because of course I was sitting a solid 10cm behind that point.  But as it was my first lesson, shyness overtook me, and I said nothing.  I wish I had screamed "why am I sitting so far back then?  Isn't that wrong?".  I should have screamed.  Or at least asked the question.

Later in the lesson, when Lil was travelling particularly sluggishly, Ron told me to lean forward.  But he meant bring the hips forward, not lean forward with your shoulders.  The minute I brought my hips forward, Lil shot forward with renewed energy.

Since that experience I have been madly experimenting with balance.  The more I experimented, the more I got it right.  The more I got it right, the more my position aligned with the text book description of what a correct position looks like.  But, I've stressed this before, and I will stress it again - the correct position feels nothing like what it looks like.  Don't copy the visual perception, understand how it needs to feel.

Also, the more I got it right, the more I realised how unbalanced I had been.  I realised how often I lost my balance; how often I still lose my balance.  I learnt how much I had been sitting back in the saddle as though it's a recliner.  Or leaning on the reins for balance.  It's not that I didn't have the strength or the skill, it's just that no one had explained it correctly.

When you are unbalanced, the more fussy horses will fuss because, quite frankly, they are not comfortable.  They might run, put their ears back, or pigroot.  I have experienced all of these, at various levels, on different horses.  My first reaction was always to question the horse's soundness - is it's back ok?  is it stiff?  do I need to call out the chiropractor?  And I hate calling out the chiropractor - it's expensive!

I noticed that Lil's fur was wearing thin just where the back of the saddle sits (Lil is my more fussy horse, who puts her ears back a lot, and has thrown the odd pigroot or two).  Maybe the saddle doesn't fit correctly?  I also hate calling out the saddle fitter - it's also expensive.  Well, I have found that since realising where true balance lies, and working towards perfecting my balance, those saddle marks have disappeared.

And regarding those pigroots - imagine if you were wearing a backpack, and that pack kept sliding further, and further down your back.  What "action" would you do to send it back up?  Wouldn't it be the equivalent of a pigroot?  I am not saying that all pigroots are caused by poor balance.  I am just saying that if your horse pigroots, try and fix your balance first.

So, how do you know if you're balanced?  How do you achieve balance?  Halt.  Stand up in your stirrups.  Drop the reins.  Balance.  Found that sweet spot?  Now drop all the weight into your heels.  Balance.  Find that sweet spot again.  Now lower your bottom until it just touches the saddle.  Don't sit down.  Just touch.  Now ride.  Walk, trot and canter.  Try to ride on a loose rein so that you don't use your reins to balance.  For one or two or three or however many sessions it takes, forget your reins, and forget about your horse.  Once you get your balance your horse will progress much faster, and you will make up the time.

Don't look for perfection.  Just look to get the "feel" of it.  You'll probably spend the rest of your riding life perfecting it.  You just need to become aware of what true balance really is.

You are allowed to have a break.  Sit back in the saddle.  But see that as a break, then get back to balancing again.  Once you "get" the "feel" it will become easier.  You'll be able to relax.  You'll be able to play with it.  Enjoy it.

Pakenham Upper Riding Club Combined Training

Lil showing some style in the Dressage.

Two horses on the float, half asleep daughter in the back seat, and I have never been this relaxed on my way to a competition.  I must be getting seasoned, or something.  At 6:06 am we roll out the front gate.  (6 minutes late - negligible).

No yards to hold the horses this time, so we tie them up to the float and cross fingers.  (Later on I discover where the yards are, but by that stage Lil is so settled it matters no more).

Lil is up first.  At gear check the ladies comment that she's shivering with fear, which, she is.  To me her state of mind seems much more sensible than last competition.  She warms-up well. but remains anxious to get back to Dingo.  Her dressage ring runs about 20 minutes late.  If I had known this I would have warmed her up differently.

The Dressage test goes relatively well.  I do my final halt at G rather than X, and it costs me 2 points as an error of course.  I am actually amazed that I got the rest of it right.  Might have to add some priority to learning tests in the future.  There are many details that could be fixed, but overall it was far more relaxed than Bulla.  It was also a Level 4 test, which asks for 20m circles in canter, and I was very pleased with those.  Especially considering that just yesterday I was getting some serious pigroots.

The warm-up arena for showjumping is right at the very top of the hill.  From there you get the most amazing view into the La Trobe valley.  It's like you're on top of the world.  And horses, or at least Lil, don't really like being on top of the world.  It's scary stuff!  Regardless, I make good progress in the warm-up, and then eye off the showjumping course.  The dazzleboard has certainly proven to be a show stopper, and the brick wall looks ominous.  Lil jumps well, but the dazzle board stumps her.  I drive hard and she jumps it, but has a rail down.  She puts in a big jump over the brick wall, but it never causes a problem.

I think that's a really good effort for her first (jumping) start at Level 4.

Lil getting some air in the Showjumping warm-up.

 Dingo's turn.  The dressage appears to have caught up, so I don't have as much time to warm-up as I hoped.  However, I get him going well, and I don't think more time would have made that much difference.  Dingo's dressage test is amazing.  It's not good enough to put him in the lead, but there is a world of improvement since 6 months ago.  There is "on the bit", there are moments of relaxation and a flowing trot, and the canters are slow and steady.  Mind you, I was using quite a lot of force to get those canters.  The judge comments that he can be "unsteady in the head".  Six months ago he was madly head shaking all through the test.  Like I said.  Amazing.

At the showjumping warm-up arena, Dingo is not as phased by the location as Lil was, and the warm-up is fairly normal.  He jumps over the cross rail, but when it comes to the straight bar he slams the breaks on big time.  What?!  I try again.  Same.  I have a look at the surface - the sand there is pretty deep.  Hmm.  I do know that is his weak point.  I should be panicking, I should be getting the cold sweats, I should be digging my heels in and flailing with the crop.  But, I'm not.  I'm totally calm as I observe my mind trying to find a solution that's in line with my training.

"Drive more".  The "drive" gives me a pony that's on the forehand, and it feels like I'm trying to hold back a steam train with my hands.  "So lift him a bit".  The lift helps.  I keep adjusting Dingo, and testing the feel on the cross rail.  Finally I'm happy, and he sails over the straight bar.  That's good enough.  My daughter and I head back down to the showjumping ring.

"Mama, you've got to get more drive", my daughter shakes her head at me.  "You've really got drive him.  Don't let him turn away.  Drive, drive, drive.  You must add more drive."  We pass some floats, and a lady gives us a knowing look.

I start my showjumping round.  I drive and lift and we clear the first jump, and then I know we're good.  I keep adjusting, a bit more drive here, a touch more lift there.  Dingo sails around the course as though it's child's play.  He never even glances at the dazzleboard, and he does a huge jump over the wall, but only because I prepped him up for it.  Probably with the look of fear painted on my face.  Clear.  That's all that matters in the end.

Sabina is ecstatic.  Obviously I've followed her advice.

We don't get any placings, and I'm wondering how I'm going to face my husband without a ribbon.  But I am very happy with the performance of both horses, I can see a lot of improvements, I've had a couple of "A-ha" moments, and I've got lots of material to work and improve on.

In the end I think Dingo came equal 11th, and Lil came about 16th in a field of 22 horses.

Lil now goes out for a spell of about 3 to 4 weeks.  While Dingo ramps up his training in preparation for Horse Trials.

Dingo flying over the wall in Showjumping.