| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| templars |
Posted - 27 Jun 2010 : 10:21:09 PM
I know he's not Arab but seeing as one of our pure bred mares will be visiting Harry's TB sire to give him a pure Anglo baby bro or sis, I thought I'd give an update on how the boy is doing.
We got Harry at the beginning of this season - his original rider was Louise Skelton and he's a 3* eventer who has done Bramham and Gatcombe. He was sold after Bramham to a rider who wanted to "go to the top". Long story short, she smashed her leg and she had to spend several months in hospital. Harry was put out to grass then used to give riding lessons. When we got him, he'd had two seasons off so we knew we'd have some work to get his focus back.
At the beginning of the season, it was a complete nightmare . His dressage was terrible, his show jumping literally non existent but his cross country was phenomenal. He has wings 
First event was Isleham and after a hash of the dressage (he thinks he knows best and found it very difficult to transition down from canter to trot to change rein - he insisted on showing off perfect flying changes!), he was eliminated in the show jumping. He doesn't knock any poles down - he gets so stressed, he literally bounces up and down on the spot and won't move.
Next couple of events, we withdrew him and worked on his show jumping at home. All seemed well.
First outing after the debacle was at Kelsall and it all seemed to have clicked into place and he flew round. 
Next outing, down to Solihull - not our favourite event because the show jumping is indoors but the cross country is ok. That's where we found out, Harry has a problem with indoor show jumping - he hates, hates, hates jumping on a surface. So, a couple of stops when he did his bouncy stuff but then he flew round the cross country again
Then off to Richmond - we thought it might be a compromise. Show jumping is on a surface but it'd outdoors so we thought we might get away with it Ha ha!! He had other ideas and dumped Evie just before fence 3. Undaunted, she got back on and completed.
Round the cross country with another flying performance
Next stop Northallerton. It was here that sadly, Heron pulled up lame in the dressage and so is having a summer holiday! Poor Heron!
We were all a little upset about Heron but Harry went double clear!!! Amazing!!
We thought we'd cracked it - we honestly thought his hang ups were gone. We relaxed too soon.
A few weeks ago we went to Brigstock International. Evie made a dream come true for me because it was the very first event I ever went to over twenty years ago and I always wanted to go back there.
He put in a good performance - dressage was improving, show jumping not brilliant but the most incredible cross country. The cross country course was true international standard.
By now, Harry had become a complete stress head He can just about manage to contain himself in the dressage. Show jumping is a bit like watching someone walk blindfold over a rope bridge - scary as hell and it call all go wrong very quickly. For cross country, he has to be led into the start box because he just does his bouncy thing and becomes a complete ball of froth - Evie says he looks like a meringue.  We've had the nutritionist and the vet to him because he can become almost unmangeable. He's now on a cocktail of vitamins and minerals and we think we've found the routine that works for him.
By now, he'd qualified for Junior Regional Novice (despite the problems). Our first one was Hexham a couple of weeks ago - Evie has terrifying memories of the show jumping with Heron - it was H U G E. It wasn't a surprise when Evie froze and Harry was eliminated
So last week, we dropped down a level and went to Hutton - same story - ever improving dressage - eliminated show jumping for just bouncing on the spot.
Today, we went to Skipton and back up to Novice. I think we were all so expecting elimination that we'd kind of accepted it - like I said, let's expect the worst and anything else is a bonus!
Dressage - unbelievable. Sometime when Evie rides, I literally come out in goosebumps and today was one of those days. She got the best dressage result ever with Harry. Since the beginning of the season, they have improved by a mammoth 20 percentage points. Today, he managed to keep the flying changes under control. His medium trot and canter were just wonderful and he did the most amazing leg yields and canter down centre line for an almost perfect halt.
Then a three hour wait before the dreaded show jumping. Lots and lots of time for both Evie and Harry to get nervous. They have both worked and trained so hard and it paid off - he still wanted to try and bounce but for the first time he listened to Evie and they worked through it together - a team at last!!!! It was wonderful to see.
We decided to use the time before the showjumping to walk the course again. I have to be honest and say that since we moved up to Novice, all the courses have been challenging. Some have been big, some have been technical but this was way, way more technical than anything we've ever encountered.
Fence 1 was large (usually fence 1 is inviting!!). Fence 3 was a skinny barrel - and I mean skinny! - down to a hedge. Up the hill to a solid dry stone wall that was about 4 feet wide. Over the wall, down a scramble slope and over a log into water. Three strides, back up a step out of water and a couple of strides later, an enormous log. The line from the step out to the log was impaired by a telegraph pole.
On to a step up on to a bank, down the bank and over a very, very big arrowhead just two strides from the bank.
Fence 8 a let up fence and off up the hill. Nothing too technical now - big and odd stride patterns but all manageable. And then down to the corners - they were horrid. Evie must have walked her line to them at least ten times. The main problem was that the actual jumping gap of the first corner was sooo narrow - just about as wide as a horse. In this photo, you can see the false ground line, how narrow the flags are and how Evie is leaning to the right to make sure Harry went the right side of the flag. You can also see the big smile on her face and Harry looks pretty pleased with himself!!
(Evie says this is her most favourite photo of all time)
After this, there were some other very nasty fences but Harry was well and truly in his stride by now and Evie said she could just tell how much he was enjoying helping her out at the spooky fences. All his skill and experience came out and he loved it - but more importantly, he kept my baby safe - thank you Harry
So, they finished clear
Sorry for rambling but we're all so pleased. Tonight, Harry has been awarded the status of Honorary Arab. Well done Harrison Horse, you're hard work and a pain in the backside at times but we love you  You're a star |
| 23 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| gabriele ault |
Posted - 30 Jun 2010 : 07:50:05 AM
Well done Evie, we always knew you were and are brilliant, actually the whole family is!!!!
Lots of love and our very best wishes
Doug & Gabi |
| spirit |
Posted - 29 Jun 2010 : 1:08:58 PM
Evie is always an inspiration to see!
She is so brave and talented. So happy to see her doing well!I cant believe how far she has come!
 |
| Kelly |
Posted - 29 Jun 2010 : 10:53:48 AM
As always when I read your posts, I am in awe!
I wish I had half of Evie's guts |
| templars |
Posted - 29 Jun 2010 : 09:49:07 AM
LOL - it's a massive balancing act but she's pretty much a straight A student (maths and physics being the lower grades, English, Latin, History, French, German and Art being her best subjects). We have to balance everything because of her illness. I think that's why she does fairly well, so much of her life is impacted by her illness that she throws herself into things when she's able to. |
| Goldenmane |
Posted - 29 Jun 2010 : 08:46:09 AM
Well done!! Brilliant photos. Does Evie manage any school work!? |
| templars |
Posted - 29 Jun 2010 : 08:10:20 AM
Hi Rosie - Evie is 15 now, Year 10. |
| vjc |
Posted - 29 Jun 2010 : 12:04:27 AM
Weldone team templars, what exciting stuff!!!! |
| haggis |
Posted - 28 Jun 2010 : 9:39:41 PM
Great to hear more adventure stories from Team Templars, wish I'd known you were at Hutton. Look forward to the next report! Haggis |
| rosie |
Posted - 28 Jun 2010 : 7:50:04 PM
Well done Team Templars.
Lovely photos as always.
How old is Evie now? - shes a super rider!!! |
| templars |
Posted - 28 Jun 2010 : 4:59:52 PM
Thanks for the support.
Heron should make a full recovery and be competing again next season. He'll be fully fit and ready by autumn but given his age and the miles on the clock, we want to give him the time so that he can get re-acclimatised and have a winter perfecting his dressage. He's very happy being hacked out at the moment and being pampered. He positively grins at Harry when I appear with the plaiting stuff at 3 o'clock in the morning and he knows he can have a duvet day!!
Harry is mainly Thoroughbred breeding with a hint of something else in there I think (Irish Bog Pony? ha ha) - he has the biggest hooves - great plod hopping feet. His sire raced in his youth and is still at stud but getting on a little bit now. |
| Mrs Vlacq |
Posted - 28 Jun 2010 : 1:16:29 PM
Well done Evie and HonArab Harry, Super pics and a great write up Rachelle, Sorry Heron is out of action, hope he mends soon. You guys certainly have a busy life, but obviosly enjoy all the hard work.
Good luck for the rest of the season,
Sue. |
| Emma B |
Posted - 28 Jun 2010 : 12:24:07 PM
well done to all of you and especially evie how brave you are i know how big those jumps are. Keep going for the future it will be nice in years to come when you are a professional say to people i used to read her stories when she was younger. |
| Miska |
Posted - 28 Jun 2010 : 11:54:20 AM
I love Harry - I think he is such a stunning boy! I love the skinny pic and the Richmond pic. What breed is Harry?
Shame about poor Heron, hope he gets better soon.
I look forward to hearing more Harry stories in the future |
| pinkvboots |
Posted - 28 Jun 2010 : 11:41:43 AM
Well done Evie and Harry hope Heron is better soon xx |
| sab2 |
Posted - 28 Jun 2010 : 09:58:56 AM
Well done Evie and Harry, my old mare used to get very tense in the dressage but made up for it sj,xc so she was forgiven. Hexham is our local course i didnt go this year as the weather was not brill on the Sun, its a fab course on lovely old land, we get to go to the schooling days there.Good luck with them in the future. |
| Pasha |
Posted - 28 Jun 2010 : 09:23:33 AM
Wow what a season!!! Bless Harry and well done to Evie for sticking with him x |
| LYNDILOU |
Posted - 28 Jun 2010 : 09:04:37 AM
I agree nailbiting stuff , but well worth the read , I am so full of admiration for Evie what a star she is and Harry ! well he must have some arab in there somewhere |
| BabsR |
Posted - 28 Jun 2010 : 08:28:48 AM
Yet another exhilarating but nailbiting read...how Honourable Harry and the amazing Evie and Team Templars work through the problems with patience and expertise......
Photos brill and always so enjoy your running commentary....almost feel we are riding the track with Evie and Harry....def.felt the jolt of being `dumped` in the showjumping but typical Evie...just get right back up in the saddle and complete
So sorry to hear Heron has been sidelined and look forward to seeing him back in action again.....a natural superstar!!
Babs
www.SunrayAngloArabianStud.co.uk |
| nn |
Posted - 28 Jun 2010 : 07:58:10 AM
Well done Evie and team Templars
Glad you are getting the measure of him.
We had to retire Dougs mare, she could cope with the jumping and cross country but fell apart with nerves in the dressage!
Sometimes you just cant win LOL
Keep up the good work and hope to see you both at some point.
Nicky x |
| Nut |
Posted - 28 Jun 2010 : 07:25:38 AM
I love reading about your adventures, your both an inspiration |
| Arabian Girl |
Posted - 28 Jun 2010 : 12:15:18 AM
Well done team Templars.. i love looking at your fotos too they are brill xx |
| Callisto |
Posted - 27 Jun 2010 : 11:01:55 PM
Well done the pair of them - I'm exhausted after reading that! |
| Honeyb060674 |
Posted - 27 Jun 2010 : 10:55:40 PM
Another success story for Team Templars! Well done, just goes to show what you can do with time & patience! A perfect example of how all our fabulous horses should be treated..no matter what level |
