Vin’s first full-on affiliated horse trials (or One Day Event if you prefer) is next Saturday.
A few days ago we received an acknowledgement letter that said (essentially) that we’d jumped through the correct administrative hoops, survived the ballot and told us our entry number.
We can pick up our times for each of the three disciplines from Thursday.
Whatever times we do get, it looks as though it might be a very early start on Saturday.
Working backwards from the ‘knowns’:
Dressage in our section kicks off at 08.00
Our section entry numbers run from 51 – 100
We are entry number 64
Estimate 5-1/2 minutes for each dressage test and judge’s comments, therefore:
Probable dressage time of: 09.12
Add time for working in, tacking up, getting changed: 08.00
Arrival stuff, checking in with the secretary, picking up numbers etc: 07.45
Travel time (approximately 1-1/2 hours): 06.15 leave yard
Arrive yard, feed and groom Vin, load lorry, stuff haynet, put Vin in and go: 05.45
Leave house: 05.15
Get up at???
Now obviously, at this stage, all of these times are ‘best guesses’.
But I’m pretty sure they’re accurate ‘best guesses’.
Ho hum.
There are two sets of ‘unknowns’:
1. The show jumping and cross country times
2. The amount of time that will be available to us to walk the show jumping track (less important) and the cross country course (very important).
The organisers at some venues give a generous amount of time for course walking.
Some don’t.
To mitigate the risk of having to jog around the cross country track having just completed the dressage, I’m considering driving to the venue the afternoon/evening before.
Hmmm…
We shall see how that idea pans out.
It’s a lot of effort but putting it in to action would bring an enormous comfort zone!
In other horse-related news…
Vin looks good.
He’s replaced the condition he lost in the early Spring when his coat began changing from Winter.
It’s weird; Beech also went through dramatic weight loss at that seasonal change.
But yeah, he looks good – and feels good.
In fact he was a little argumentative during a couple of exercises yesterday.
I don’t mind that, it’s a good sign.
Last Thursday Jo came in and gave us a thorough flatwork work-out.
At the end of the lesson we ran through BE Test 102 (which will be our Dressage test on Saturday).
She gave us helpful words and a little bit of ringcraft – I love that she’s a highly listed dressage judge as well as a trainer and an FBHS.
There’s nothing left to do now except schooling and worrying.
I’ll school lightly this evening and try to fit in some after-work sessions three or four evenings this week.
I need to dismantle all of the tack and clean it thoroughly; that’s really going to eat in to my spare time this week!
The lorry’s been checked over, it’s been cleaned out, is fuelled up and ready to go.
The only thing that really needs keeping an eye on is my nerves!
B.