April Update

April..Already! Where is the year going?? It is probably close to a month ago now that Gamble and I competed at Wodonga Ag Show. It was a really good day, challenging course, but good to get out. I put Gam in the 90cm and D grade. The 90cm he jumped beautifully, clearing all the fences nicely. I unfortunatly angled wrong into one jump and decided to circle to give him a better approach. Rider error, doh! Should have made it to the jump off..Focus Jill, focus!
We had a bit of a break before they set the course for the D grade. Wow..it was a big D grade! First jump was a generous 1.10m oxer..oh dear! Gamble warmed up great again, and this time I had the canter I wanted. I was a tad nervous, but tried to put that aside. We came into the first oxer, and Gam was busy looking at the fences on either side running up to the first fence. Unfortuantly we got in deep and he couldn't get up in time. So we crashed. Circled around, re focus and re approach and he cleared it super. Always good to get the first fence out of the way. We continued around the windy course, and I was just not on my game. My reins were getting long on corners..not ideal, but Gam managed to help me out and we got half way around. I decided that I would retire before the solid combination as I was not happy with how I was going and didn't want to ruin Gam or my confidence at this height. So we walked out, and I was a bit disapointed.
After talking to a regular show jump judge, he reassured me that we were very capable of jumping this level, and were not out of our depth at all. I just needed to keep my reins under control! So that was nice to hear, especially when he went out of his way to come and see me. Geez I love country shows!!!
The next few weeks involved a trip to Tassie at easter for a wedding, Gamble rounding up cows and the discovery that bulls are attracted to him...very not excited about that!
We then entered a local CT day. I originally entered the grade 2 open, for 2 reasons. 90cm is my comfort height, and I know we can do that with out too much training leading up. Seeing I had been away and then Gam being a cow pony for another week, the dressage and jump training had been limited. The other reason, was for competition. Normally there are a few more competitors in the grade 2 over the grade 1, so I was thinking this would be a win win situation! Then I got the phone call 4 days out from the comp... "there are no competitiors in grade 2, but there is 1 in grade 1. Do you want to up grade??' errruuumm when was the last time I jumped 1.05m...probably at Wodonga, 1 month ago...preparation limited...but having another rider to compete against is better the no one, and I probably need to challenge myself... ok upgrade me!!
So the next few days Gam and I were in boot camp. I was very happy with his dressage, I think the hills when chasing cows has really helped him strengthen up. Jumping, I put the poles up and he was crusing nicely..until I put him in short. Now normally when I accidently do this, he saves me and gets me out. That day (2 days before the comp) he told me he was sick of me putting him in this position and it was time I learnt to set him up better! Out the front door I went! As i was laying there looking up at the grey nose, I thought, damn, it was my fault, I can't even yell at you for me ending up here!!! Where was my lower leg? Dust off the clothes, jump back on and lets try that again! So over we went, over the bigger jumps and he was flying. Happy days!
So Sunday came around and we were plaited up looking flash. I even painted the hooves. Gam was shining! He warmed up great for the dressage and I was really happy with his test. I was a little nervous about the jumping. The course looked good, but it was a while since we jumped that height. But I think having nerves is a good sign, so I pushed them aside and tried to get them to work for me..not against me! Gam again warmed up nice, in warm up  Iwas looking for 5th gear but didn't have it quite as I wanted. But when we got into the arena the energy came. He always comes through for me! Loves him! We were first to go and off we went. He jumped super, we pulled 1 rail in a combination but I was happy with everything. We had the rhythem, energy and control. 1 rail, I can cope with that. The other girl also had a rail so it would come back to our dressage. I hadn't seen the scores, but I did see her dressage and it was nice. At the end of the day there was 4 points in it! If only we didn't have that rail!!! It was a good day and I was very happy with how we went. I think Gammy was also very happy with his red ribbon.
Next weekend we are dressaging it up at Wangaratta, hopefully bring home some more ribbons!
Photos from the CT day..