Scotts of Thrapston

My first BE event…

Posted on 25. May, 2011 by Julia Berrie in Alex Elliott, Rider Development Programme

Training with Nick ~ 2nd May 2011

We arrived to yet again beautiful weather and a warm welcome. Nix was certainly calmer on arrival this time but feeling good with all the spring grass.

We started by popping some small fences to get warmed up then slowly walking through the water to relax the horses to the questions being asked. When we started to pick the pace up a little, Nix was like a coiled spring and bouncing all over the place (only when Nick was facing the other way).

I explained to Nick the problem I had with a ditch in a previous training session and how I was worried Nix had dinted his confidence. Nick was quick to correct me that he would have no connection between hurting himself and ditches, so for my benefit we repeated the training we’d done in session one of slowly approaching a ditch and calmly letting the horses relax. We then linked a course of fences together including steps and a coffin fence. Nix loved it, he bounded over everything with Nick also pushing me forwards to get a longer stride and the pace used for competition.

The lesson was running smoothly so Nick asked whether there was anything any of us would like to work on, and I plucked up the courage to say jumping into water, our real problem! Nick told me to quickly turn around and pop down a small step into water, I trotted up and Nix stopped suddenly and frantically started backing up, I knew I had picked a fight and it was not going to be pretty!

Nick had me getting angry and forceful with him as he was just being silly, yet still no progress so Nick stepped up and tried to lead him off the step. After still no progress Nick took my flash strap off to encourage Nix to lower his head and not fix his mouth. After Nix getting very angry, kicking out and covering Nick in mud we got him in! We kept him jumping in and out till it bored him and after a small asthma attack on my behalf we were ready to continue! We did a small course of fences again allowing me to finish on a positive and take away some great advice.

Finally the weekend of my first BE event had arrived, and I was terrified! I walked the course twice practically with my eyes closed, just daring myself to peep at the fences that loomed ahead. I thought cross country was intimidating enough but then I saw the small issue of a car parked in the middle of the showjumping ring. Nix normally doesn’t mind cars but parked cars are a whole new issue! I returned home almost feeling sick about the next day, I had no sleep not knowing what to worry about first! The cross country, the car in the showjumping ring, the flowers everywhere or the fact that my air jacket might just blow up mid course! The 5am start was not appreciated but I was soon down the stables getting ready to leave.

We arrived in plenty of time for me to have a good warm up for dressage and start to relax. My test was acceptable but not great, we did everything correct but not well as Nix found the white boards awfully scary meaning an incorrect bend and tension through his neck and back. After we’d both started to relax Nix managed to catch his bridle on the trailer panicking he pulled back and snapping the whole thing! With 20 minutes before my show jumping it was just what we needed! A replacement was soon bought and with a quick warm up and finding my dressage score to be a reasonable score of 36.0 I headed into the showjumping more positive. Nix did not look at anything; he flew round clear and loved it. With all my worries behind me I couldn’t wait to get out on the cross country, I warmed up and before I knew it I was in the start box being counted down. Although I have done unaffiliated before the buzz I was getting about to set out on a BE course was unreal! Leaving the cheery good luck of the starter behind me we were on our way to the first fence, Nix had a slight look and awkward jump at the first but then settled happily into his gallop. Even my fear of the steps was quickly put aside thanks to my Carlton training and Nick’s expert coaching. We flew round, Nix was fast and fearless and finished with plenty of time to spare! With a double clear I finished on a score of 36.0 leaving me in 13th place.

The whole day was fantastic and I loved every second of it! I have definitely been bitten by the bug of affiliated eventing and cannot wait for my next event!

Alex Elliott

Tags: affilaited eventing, affiliated eventing, British Eventing, Cross Country, Dressage, Scotts of Thrapston Rider Development Programme