3/30/02
Adamir and Me at our First Recognized Event
(Trinity River Horse Trials - Beginner Novice)

My goal was to not be eliminated in the cross country. I achieved that.
The fences were very scary and it had rained extremely hard the night before.
Many of the riders in the levels above us scratched from riding the cross country course.
There were a few fences that were at max height at the top of the solid part. To these
they added the extra height of brush, and one even had a drop after it. The course was designed by Torrance Watkins.
Walking the course I noticed that Novice jumped all but one or two of our fences and only had a
couple of extra of their own that weren't any taller. Training also jumped two of our fences
in their course.
We scored 43.5 in dressage under Sally O'Connor, had three refusals on cross country and two in stadium.
He jumped everything, but really wanted to stop and look at them first...
It was at least a mile from the barns/arenas to the cross country, including crossing a busy 4 lane road.
When all was said and done, I was thrilled with our results. We had a great cheering section
following us through the event and even the organizers said how proud they were
that we stuck with it and finished.
After this weekend, I think I could tackle anything. I just don't know if I want to...
(click here for pictures from dressage and stadium)
(click here for more cross country pictures and video)
Does this give you any idea of how much rain we had the night before???
 

This gives you an idea of the size of some of the jumps. Nope, not a stop at this one, he just took a good look...
Pretty neat to get professional pictures. Too bad I was gasping for air the entire ride...
 
Any wonder I felt like we were jumping the training level course... Well, at least we know he can bascule. Unfortunately those landings are pretty jarring.
This was one of the jumps he refused. I was a bit enthusiastic about getting him over the second try.
 
Look at that tail. I guess he couldn't trust that the jump wasn't going to try and grab it.
OK, last picture of this jump. I guess this is where the photographers were...
 
Perfect hind feet. Notice the dual yellow and white numbers (yellow is beg novice, and white is novice). That's kind of a theme around the course. It's also what has increased my confidence level after this weekend...
There's that tail thing again. This was one of the refusal fences.
I attribute our last two refusals in part to having dropped my crop over a particularly hairy jump. 
There is nothing so troublesome as to have a refusal at a huge fence, and then turn and run at it again without a crop to give a bit of encouragement. Luckily Adamir responds to loud growling...
 
He actually reached down and took a drink as we walked across. I think the crowd was laughing a bit as I was kicking and hitting him with my hand to keep him going.
Still, he responded pretty well and picked up a canter right after we left the water.
 
Even after 10 or so jumps, he had to be tight and round and a bit suspicious of the jumps... By this time I had lost my crop and was reverting to my toes out style and looking for the finish line.
Except for going under the bridges with cars driving overhead, we kept at a pretty nice canter. Once over fence #2, he was eager to canter most of the course (except, of course, the water).
 
What a dedicated groom. 
Walking the horse the long walk back to the barns after cross country (we forgot she was allowed to ride if she was just getting the horse from one place to another).