News

August 13th 2003

I am sorry that I didn't write while the show was on. The following is retrospective, as we are now back at home (the family not Pzazz of course).

The last week before the show was complicated by the fact that Pzazz slipped over. He seemed ok, but developed sore muscles and needed some physiotherapist. Miraculously a wonderful physio came on Saturday and Sunday, and he was much more comfortable. I decided that it was better to give him rest and get to the competition, than risk interfering with the healing, so I didn't ride him until after the trot up. At no time was he lame, he just lost his suppleness. We hand walked him and jogged him, and the mantra became “when the going gets tough the tough get going”.

So we went to Verden on Wednesday, and I lead him around to show him the scenery. After the trot up on Thursday I rode him in the main arena, as it was about to close. Now this was pretty overwhelming; there were many big names in there and I kept getting in the way of Tineke Bartels, who was most charming about it. The main arena closed at 6.00PM and the arena for the qualifier opened. This time I made a real mistake with the road rules (pass left shoulder to left shoulder) and nearly caused a collision with someone who was very cross with me. So my riding crumpled up and I felt like a real amateur trying to play with the professionals (in fact I was the only amateur rider in the event). However I was pretty determined not to let anything get to me and assured Susanne I would do a better job in the morning. So it was up early for a last practise. No movements, just getting him loose, supple, on the contact and uncrumpling myself. Pzazz felt like his normal self so we didn't do too much, keeping him fresh for the hot day. You may have heard that there has been a heat wave in Europe and temps of around 38-40 have been the norm.

I watched some of the five year olds, until it seemed normal to be at the world champs, then went off to plait and do some imagery and stuff. Pzazz warmed up really well and I pretended I was a professional. Of course I had done a lot of work getting my head right about entering the international arena, but no-one had told Pzazz about it, and me believing completely that he is perfect and wise, I just thought he would find it normal too. Stupid me. He is completely reliable at home, but we don't do many shows. So we went under the arch into the arena and he saw about 20 photographers with big lenses, and tensed up big time. I really thought he'd be fine if he just looked at them and understood, as that is usually enough for him. I can tell you that this was definitely the wrong strategy. I should have shown him some leadership and given him something else to think about. You can learn from my mistake and not do this yourself. So the test had some great moments (I loved the extended trot and the changes were good) but there was inattention at the halts, he came above the bit a few times and the consequent unsteadiness was very costly. He just wanted to look at everything. I was concentrating on lots of stuff and missed out the second shoulder in and travers, also very costly with 0.2 subtracted from the score.

We had a very good response from the crowd with cheering etc but the score put us in equal 23 rd of 30. Not what I had hoped for. But we went out for tea with the Aussies who were there encouraging me, and I finished the day thinking it was still possible to get into the final, which had always been my goal. (FULL RESULTS:

http://www.sporthaus-verden.de/site/wm03/ergebnisse.php4?prnr=04 ).

Next day I didn't think it would be that easy. We had to move up at least 9 places, over some pretty nice horses and riders like Coby van Baalen. Anyway, I thought we would have a shot. I managed to put my top hat on backwards, having only ridden in one three times before. Pzazz warmed up really well. I started to get a bit intense in the warm up when I felt too exhausted to ride for the 10 more minutes that was necessary, but I hit the delete button, Susanne got me to ride quieter and we did canter trot transitions with the quarters out to get some more bend. We had a minute to look at the arena, Pzazz taking it all in his usual self assured way the second time. One of the Dutch press commented on this afterwards. This time I was not going to give him a second to think his own thoughts and the price was that the trot work was too rushed, as was the walk. I didn't give him time to get any length in the walk or enough expression in the trot. Of course the canter was good, the crowd loved him and the judges put us into…..second. Fantastic! I didn't think too much about it until the last horse went and I knew we had got to the finals!!

FULL RESULTS:

(http://www.sporthaus-verden.de/site/wm03/ergebnisse.php4?prnr=05 ).

That evening we met some really interesting people, watched the foal finalists, the 4yo riding horses, the Grand prix freestyle and the Pas de Deux (the show is a CDI and the Hannoverian championships). Then there were fireworks. This is one gala affair.

In the morning the 5 year olds were fabulous. The winner Furst Heinrich is a glamorous black stallion (Florestan/Donnerhall) bred by Heinrich Ramsbrock, (whose company we had enjoyed before). The third placegetter was the same bloodlines, with second going to the dutch bred Rousseau by Ferro.

I decided that I had nothing to lose so I might as well go down in a blaze of glory, rather than fiddle about. Its pretty awesome riding through the tunnel under the stands into the main arena, built in a soccer stadium, under the flags of the nations competing. I wanted to focus on the frame (that high competition frame that we were going to work on in the last week) and the energy level, as well as my position; as if I can't keep the position I lose the quality of the work. Halt, salute. Breathe out, medium trot, half halt, good. Shoulder in, half pass, more energy, half halt, again, again, extend, maybe not as flash as yesterday. Once again I rushed the walk, realised the error at X but too late. I must remember to lengthen the frame into the contact before I put the lag fully on; otherwise he has no time to develop length in the stride. Super to canter, the circles are too big, damn. Stretch up, stretch down hands vertical. Collect. Collect, forward, change. And bugger-it the bell rang and I've just reversed the order of the last two movements, which rather flabbergasted me. Better make the extended canter really flash to make up for it. But stay straight, shoulder fore position to collect, show them how good he is at the transition. Great, breathe out and... Oh no, I've ridden to the wrong marker, leg on to get the medium even if the line is wrong. Last change, make it good. Up the centre, collect, straight, don't stop yet, up to halt. And breathe out. What a star he is. The crowd love him and Christoph Hess (commentating) loved Lindy's lone "Aussie, Aussie, Aussie - Oi, Oi, Oi" so much he got her to do it again. The judges commented on how much the rider obviously enjoyed the ride, even if it was marred by a lapse of concentration. They loved his canter (8.2), but the too big circles and poorly ridden corners were costly in the Suppleness mark, and I think the error cost marks for overall impression too.

So at the end of the day we were 15th. I made costly mistakes; I'm not going to go crazy over it. The only person who never made mistakes never made anything and you certainly do learn most from your mistakes. I can tell you a few things I am not going to do next time I'm inside an international arena (well I can hope for a chance to redeem myself, cant I?)

The winner was Poetin, with trot work that was so beautiful it made me cry, which was embarrassing as people might have thought the tears were about finishing last, but that was not it. She is by the hot young stallion Sandro Hit out of a Brentano 2 mare. Brentano was a name I saw a lot. Painted Black (Gribaldi/Ferro) was second with Anky with a test with incredible controlled energy. Anky still has a limp from a fall. Third to Rose Noir with a test the judges said was exactly how a young horse should be.

(FULL RESULTS: http://www.sporthaus-verden.de/site/wm03/ergebnisse.php4?prnr=06 ).

At the presentation ceremony I was glad to be in the corner away from any commotion, and Pzazz stood on a loose rein taking it all in. Then we had to go out under the stands while everyone went crazy for Poetin's lap of honour. He felt so explosive I wasn't sure if he was going to rear or bolt, but luckily he couldn't decide, and just dived into the open space behind the stands and settled so well that I could sign autographs for kids! Cool.

Then a mad rush to get him on the truck as it was blocking the exit, unpack and repack for the trip home, pizza at 11pm and bed. Up early to catch the plane to Frankfurt next morning (except that the kids didn't have tickets so we raced of to get a 3-hour train with all the luggage). I wished so much I could tuck Pzazz into my suit case and bring him home to his own stable, but I can't. He will stay in Europe at the moment and we are investigating the possibility of collecting semen in Germany so it could be available here in October or so (frozen only). I'm back here with nothing to ride. If anyone knows a nice FEI horse for sale you could let me know.

So we are plotting another scheme. Everyone needs a dream in their pocket. And you can never tell what will happen next if you just keep putting one foot in front of each other, with honesty and responsibility. I'll keep you posted, maybe a little bulletin once a month. We hope to have some nice pictures some time. Thanks very much to everyone who sent me emails; I hope you have enjoyed being a part of our journey.