Equine Highs and Lows

On my return from Las Vegas I was off to see the horse as soon as Maxime had been put to bed for his afternoon nap. The intention was to get back into the saddle ahead of a big three day show jumping competition over the Pentecost weekend. That session on the Friday went badly (no surprises really after 19 hours in a sardine tin), but at the end of it I felt that I had understood something and that I knew what I had to change (Ordre, Equilibre, Ecarte mains, Reins, Monter le virage, Attendre, Jambes). I was delighted to see that when I did change things the next day, it resulted in a clear round…another three clear rounds followed over the next two days which resulted in a ninth place finish (out of 120 horses) with only two horses going clear over all four rounds. I was feeling quite happy with myself that is until I went to the next show jumping competition last weekend in Pau. The wheels most definitely fell off as things deteriorated over the course of the three days culminating in the ignominy of a fall and elimination on Sunday. Not the way to start the week. I think I’m going to take up triathlons instead….