Things are just getting better and better with Eager at the moment. I am thoroughly enjoying riding her and starting to feel more like the rider I know I am. Riding in the school (out) is no longer an issue, although I still haven't ridden in the school at home. This is a small amount of me not wanting too but more now to do with the surface being rubbish.
Last weekend David and I went to Badminton HT for 3 days. Whilst not on any level am I thinking the **** is possible (that ship has definitely sailed) the Grassroots fences that I saw were do able.
So I really need to work on my mental attitude because I can easily ride what is needed. I just need to sort my head thing out. I need to change my mind, from that could happen if I do that? to there is the other side and I need to be there! Its all in your head. Which lets face it, is pretty much the difference between the people at the top of any sport and the bottom.
Progression in anything is all about the planning. Setting yourself smaller achievable to steps to attain an achievable goal. I say achievable, what I may mean is realistic. For instance at 43 having only been around 1 3DE and about 2 1DE and many x-country courses up to about 90cm it would be unrealistic to have a goal of winning the Rolex Grand Slam. Unless, of course I gave up work, won about 40 million and rode a 1 DE everyday for the next few years. Even then I doubt I would have the experience to do it!!! But, I do know qualifying for the Grassroots Championships is achievable.
For the BE90
Eligible horse/rider combinations that finish in the top 10 per cent in each normal BE90 or BE90 Open section held at BE events from 1st July 2014 and 30th June 2015 inclusive, will qualify to compete at a BE90 Regional Final. During August – October 2015, BE90 Regional Finals, confined to qualified horses, will be conducted in accordance with the rules for BE90 classes. Horse and rider combinations may only compete in one of the BE90 Regional Finals for each qualifying result attained, but, having qualified, may not compete in subsequent BE90 Regional Finals.
To start doing this I need to start eventing and I believe if I was to put it in scale it would look something like this.
Compete BE90 - YAY
Compete BE80 - YAY
Compete Unaffiliated 1DE
Compete Cross Country
Compete Show Jumping
Cross Country Training
Show Jumping Training
Try Jumpcross
Jump in different arenas
Jump on grass
Gain hours jump training
Start jumping Eager
School on grass
Compete Dressage
Strengthen Eagers canter
Sort out my arena
Now the ones at the bottom a reasonably interchangeable. Less so the ones at the top. The plan has begun....
