The phases could be done in any order so first I did my map reading phase. Eddie munched on his hay watching me pick my way through the long, and I’m sure tasty looking, grass. Having completed that phase we warmed up for our show jumping. Eddie bounced over the jumps all excited and I began to wonder if perhaps we should have completed our dressage before the show jumping as now we were on springs!
In the dressage we could have been paying attention a little better but we gained a good mark and I was pleased with the feedback we received for Alli Crane with plenty of things to work on.
Eddie was very good at the control of gaits he bounced up the corridor in a nice steady canter and then pottered back down in a good pace of walk. We scored high marks in this phase.

 

After a tasty burger and refreshments we set out with Janet to walk the Le Trec course. Wow I couldn’t wait to give everything a go, it looked such fun!!

 

1. The Gate: Well we could do with more practice here. Eddie has a habit of pushing gates closed with his nose. Yeah ok this is helpful Eddie but not when you are trying to open a gate!!

 

2. Ditch: This was no problem walk in and walk out.

 

3. Bending poles: These could be attempted at canter or trot. I decided to play safe and trot through them so we weaved in and out nicely.

 

4. Jump a log: Err..... no problem "let me at it" would have been Eddie's words if he could speak!

 

5. Step up, Step down: Step up fine but going down we had to just check where our feet were going first!

 

6. Low branches: Trotted through no problem and didn’t get knocked off so everyone else should have been fine!!

 

7. Rein back STRAIGHT: Hee hee well we wiggled backwards rather than being straight!

 

8. Stairs: Eddie did not seem keen on walking down these so we missed them out.

 

9. Down hill and up again: We walked down nicely turned round and blasted back up! "Yippee"

 

10. Bridge: "There is definitely a monster going to eat me under that bridge mum!!" Ok Eddie we will miss it out! Bless.

 

11. S bend: Ok this is easy if you are on a pony but on a giant its a little more tricky! We tried our best to squeeze around and we actually got in and out without demolishing the whole thing! So I was pleased with our efforts there.

 

12. Dismount on off side: This felt strange and I nearly fell over (ha) but it was fine.

 

13. Immobility: Eddie had to stand still in a circle without me. He did not move a single muscle for a whole 10 seconds so we scored top marks here!

 

14. Walk in and out of trailer: Now I was dubious about this one as the trailer had no ramp and I was unsure what Eddie would make of it but he followed me in and out like a true star!

 

I thoroughly enjoyed the Le Trec course it was a good test of partnership between horse and rider.

 

What more could you ask for a day out full of fun and getting fed for only £14!!!!!!
Thank you everyone for organising such a brilliant event and Eddie and I would like to enter again next year please!!

 

Thank you
Helen and Eddie xxxxxx