[jeda_horse]

On the weekend I had my first ODE of 2008 Yay!!!

Got up at 4.30 for the long drive and arrived at the ground at 6. Dressage to start at 8.30. Got Denzy all ready, and started warming up. He was frisky, fresh and full of energy. just what I need before dressage

So get him going fairly well and finally got him to start relaxing just before my turn. I was soooo nervous (not really a dressage fan lol) which didnt help the poor boy. Our test was decent, started nice, very relaxed denzell was doing great but as usual as soon as you do the first canter he tenses right up and just wants to go again. Still pulled off decent scores and was sitting mid pack after dressage but apart from a few clear leaders there was about 10 of us sitting around the same score.

There were about 30 people in my class.

THEN after dressage we waited for the poorly run event to get organised and no-one had been XC before 4pm. Keeping in mind it gets dark before 5.30pm here now! So they pumped out the riders 30 secs at a time anyway it was still almost dark when it was my turn (we were 3rd group to go and I was one of the last riders) but we did a great job! Went flawlessly, no jump faults OR time faults!!! woohoo! Denzell was soooo good. Took everything in his stride and flew over everything. The course was bigger then it was supposed to be with some jumps up around 1m with some tricky cominations and 26 jumps total. After my clear round I knew XC would weed out some of my more dressagy competitors.

Still I thought that I'd be sitting mid-pack though after XC but wasnt exactly sure.

Then the jumping was from 5.30 - 8.30 at night they did have lights but still, it was shockingly organised we were expecting to be gone by 6.30 and I hadnt even jumped by then.

I went out first (thinking I wasnt doing any well and I wanted to pack up and go by that point) Denz went out like a bull at a gate and went crashing straight through jump 2 (just cleared 1) after that decided maybe he SHOULD listen to his mum trying to slow him down and we did the rest of the course perfectly.

Didnt watch the rest of the group as I was trying to find all my gear sprawled around the trailer in the pitch black.

We decided to wait for presentations but when they said it would be another hour we went home.

The results were posted on the internet this morning and I ended up 2nd!!! out of the 30 people in my group. OMG I was SOOOOOOOOOOO excited!

Turns out no-one went clear SJing and only myself and one other girl (the winner) went completely clear (no time faults) XC.

So yeah, Im extremely ecstatic over the reult. Denzell did fantastic.

After this I qualified for the State Championships which Im off to in July

[magic_rider]

well done, thats great news

[kvmt10]

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO CAZ AND DENZELL!!!!


That is such an awesome result!!! So worth having to ride that late for. I'm very happy for you!!!!!

Now where are the photos??!!!!

[Jaenelle]

Hey that is so great!! Congratulations!!

[crazychickmia]

Congratulations from Mia and Mum.

We will be looking forward to hearing your results from the State Champs. What grade are you competing at?

Perhaps the organisers of the ODE you went to could learn something from the Para Plains Pony Club, which is in the northern suburbs of Adelaide.

We went there a couple of years ago - they had grades 3,4 & 5. There were about 150 people entered in total. All three disciplines were finished, with no dramas etc., by about 3.30 in the afternoon.

We had a 4 hour drive and were home quite early.

[jeda_horse]

Originally Posted by crazychickmia

Congratulations from Mia and Mum.

We will be looking forward to hearing your results from the State Champs. What grade are you competing at?

Perhaps the organisers of the ODE you went to could learn something from the Para Plains Pony Club, which is in the northern suburbs of Adelaide.

We went there a couple of years ago - they had grades 3,4 & 5. There were about 150 people entered in total. All three disciplines were finished, with no dramas etc., by about 3.30 in the afternoon.

We had a 4 hour drive and were home quite early.

Thank you everyone. and sorry but no pics

Im in "improvers" we dont have grades like you guys down there. There were about 150 people at this one too

[Chester]

Congrats. Did Pumbies stay home?

[jeda_horse]

Originally Posted by chester

Congrats. Did Pumbies stay home?

Yeah he did

I was going to take him but the thought of learning 2 dressage tests didnt appeal a whole lot

[yertle]

huge grats on the day and placing sounds like you had a great time

[aussie_jumper]

That is great news!! Congrats Caz!

Give Denzell a big hug for me!!