Copyright 2010 © Christina Wiederkehr
CHANCE ENCOUNTER VI
Chance had arrived at Lower Ham Farm shortly before the start of this season. Although his career as an event horse didn't begin until he was eight years old, he has since gained 41 points.
Chance is probably one of the most sensitive horses I have ridden. His sensitivity makes some riding wonderfully easy, as he reacts to the slightest aids! I feel, sometimes he tries so hard, he gets himself too worried, which causes a little too much tension.
Across country he is fast, honest and really switched on! I feel very lucky to have Chance to compete, it has given me the opportunity to compete at a higher level.
I owe Chance a huge Thank you, as he gave me some vital experience at Intermediate level. He gave me more confidence across the country.
Chance is extremely sensitive and can get anxious which I feel inhibits him to perform in the SJ phase to his full potential. I feel he is a very talented and athletic horse and feel his tendency to worry which also results in tension, is easier to manage in the dressage. For this, we have decided to “play” with the dressage for the time being!
I am extremely grateful to his owners Mick and Jacky, who have been so supportive and understanding.
News about Chance
May 2010
Chance has been working beautifully. He has developed more muscle over his back and neck, which I feel allows him to work in better self-carriage and balance.
He too, had an outing at LVFRC. After not having been out for a while, he was a little excited but still, finished third in the Novice class gaining 62.5%.
2009
I was very pleased with Chances performances too. To test the water at our first Affiliated Dressage comp. I entered him for 3 classes. 2 Novice and one Elementary test… thank god I had Hannah there to read the tests, one advantage in pure Dressage as supposed to Eventing dressage is that I don’t have to worry so much about where to go!
Chance finished twice in 3rd place with his best score of over 67%! I was thrilled.
Although the last class was not as busy, the warm up was busy with competitors and riders from the first few classes. Chance kept calm in a busy arena and was so obedient in the tests, it was a real pleasure. A bit of extra tension outdoors cost us some marks but points were gained in all three test and I was very pleased.
Our outing at East Soley was during cold wind and rain, which resulted in a little more tension that day. Nevertheless, Chance stood well in his halts and walked lovely in the free walk and kept his cool in the medium walks … all signs of improvement and we collected another point to his name so we have still plenty to be pleased about!
At Wilton in August Chance did a lovely dressage test. Although he gets a little excited when going over to the ring, he tried so hard and performed so well, he made me smile! The SJ proved a little too difficult. The "sticky" surface and the undulating ground made the situation tougher.
Although this was not a "typical" round for Chance, we have decided to leave the Eventing aside for the moment and focus on pure dressage whilst doing other disciplines for fun. Chance is such a lovely horse who always wants to please, I feel at the moment he gets too uptight and worried jumping over bigger tracks, which stops him from performing over a fence... but I love working with him and I can't wait to take him out to show off our work on the flat!
Chance travelled to Brightling Park CIC* on Sun July 19.
He was more tense in the dressage than usual. I felt the venue was very exposed and rather tight with a lot going on, which seemed to influence the horses concentration. The weather was rather eventful too, and after getting soaked in the dressage the wind picked up so much, that the jumps were blown over and the competition was put on hold until some sandbags were put in place to stop them from falling!
This seemed all a little too much for Chance and I decided to retire him in the SJ after he knocked a couple of poles. At the end of the day, he had nothing to prove in the XC phase and there is always another day.
Chance went to Tweseldown on July 13th and started off very relaxed and performed an outstanding dressage test, scoring 29.6!
He started off on the tricky SJ course with ease and only got a little tense after fence 8 where I encouraged him with a tap which cost us some poles at the end of the course... what a shame...
The cross country to me seemed a tough test with some big and bold fences well up to height as well us some more technical combinations. The course to me seemed full of turns and there was little space between fences to "get going". Probably also part of the reason why no-one was able to finish the course inside the time. But as usual Chance shone in this phase and we were all so very proud of him!
Chance had a run out at Portman in June doing an intermediate, his dressage was much better however he got three poles down in the SJ. In the XC he flew round with ease - rather fast actually - in fact the fastest of the day ;0)
Early May saw our first Intermediate run was at Aston le Walls, I worked on all phases to improve. The dressage work paid off... he gave me a lovely ride scoring 34.1.
In the next phase I tried to ride him quietly and accurately to avoid penalties... it worked for the first part of the course but resulted it too many faults overall and I will have to go back to the drawing board on that one. However, Chance was bold, clever, balanced and just great at XC! A big boost to the end of our day...
Chance also had a run at Moreton Morrell. Although the warm-up area was over crowded, Chance kept his cool and did a pleasing test. Unfortunately, I had a bit of a blip on the XC, where we came off a drop fence a bit too far off which resulted in missing the next fence. This fence caused me trouble that day! However, the rest of the run felt superb.
In April I enjoyed our very first outing at Hambleden!
Chance was certainly showing off his paces in the dressage! After scoring a 9 for his medium trot we were on such a roll, that we nearly went out the arena ... but we finished just about in control :-) with a pleasing score.