I'm not really sure why it is, but I have definitely lost momentum this season. Having ages between shows doesn't help, and the injuries neither because you get out of the habit of working them. That and they are all full of beans like it's some sort of spring rerun. It took me an hour to get Connie going nicely the other day and to stop bucking and trying to bolt. She isn't malicious just so full of herself. I hate having to ride the snot out of them but I always ride until they are going kindly and if it takes an hour and a half so be it. Unless of course I'm struggling to keep my temper, then I just get off because there is nothing to be gained from that. It's a crappy time of year, I'm so full of food from Christmas still, motivation is low and I'm having a bout of poor health (I should go see a doctor but I'm terrified of doctors so it will be interesting to see how this goes down.)
I guess one thing that really bothered me, was realising that the chances are I wont make HOY again this year. I should put entries in soon if I'm going and so it creates a dilemma. Do I really think I will be jumping 1.20ms by the end of the season? The pessimistic side of me thinks it isn't possible- no way no how, the optimistic side of me thinks it's a possibility. The 10cms from 1.10s to 1.20s is a fairly big 10cm. Not as big as going from 1.20s to 1.30s of course but who knows. There are only 5 more NZEF shows before HOY, so it feels like not a lot of time. I know Kate has jumped that big before so it's more likely on her, but I don't know how much longer she is going to be off with this skin thing as it's not improving, though it isn't spreading any further either. The vet thought she might have a suppressed immune system but her selenium, copper and cobalt levels were all normal so he is confused.
The Daniel Meech clinic is in 5 days and I'm nervous about that. I always find going to a new instructor incredibly nervewracking. I'm always worried they will just say "you might as well give up". Of course they wont they never do because I'm paying them. Maybe I can do it though if I work really hard. I just need to get motivated again and get fired up. I sort of want to send Bill away to get her going again because I'm not sure I will ever find the time, especially now I'm working Rascal as well. I'm sure I will et back into the swing of things and I'll just have to play it by ear I guess. I'll decide about HOY after Levin.
Um... I'll be confident for you. I have trouble converting the heights in my head, but I know a meter is a couple inches over 3', and you're going well over that, so hey, sure, you can do the 1.20m.
ReplyDeleteLet's face it: my horse hasn't even jumped yet. You can do it!
Hey hey there chin up.....its a new year ahead and I think you can do it. I'm there with sprinklerBandit ....we'll be confident for you!
ReplyDeleteIt's not the extra 10cm, it's that there is a noticeable increase in track technicality - you can fudge a trebble at 1.10, but it's not as easy when they're bigger AND they throw difficult striding at you.
ReplyDeleteBut you know what, the only way to know is to get to your clinic, let the instructor know what your goal is - then send in an entry form and give it a shot :) I figure you can always retire partway around if it goes to shit :) At least that is how I look at it haha
I guess I find it frustrating because I used to show these heights and it's so hard getting back up there.
ReplyDeleteI think getting back up to 'good' heights is even harder than the first time you try them. We probably had just enough ignorance on our side the first time haha.
ReplyDeleteYou get lots of good training though, I am sure if you set yourself a goal and post off the entries you will be right as rain. And never ever ever ever(!) walk the course with a negative or nervous person.
I don't have the guts for the big tracks, I found at 1.35 that I was too scared to even walk the course - lucky back in those days I'd bought myself a horse who could do it all for me. These days some 1m tracks look too big depending on which horse I'm on!! How awful is that.
Are you doing Levin A&P?
I was thinking of registering Neo and doing a few SJ classes on him, just need to get the money tree to grow a bit quicker.
Ignorance definitely helped! I totally understand about tracks changing size. The 90cm on Rascal looked big the other weekend just because she isn't my usual ride! Yup I'm planning to go to Levin it's on the schedule.
ReplyDeleteHaha the money tree looks pretty bare here too so I can sympathise and I have no where near the horses you need to feed.