Thanks, Ry! Solo Minion #2 did this one for us, Pt II was another friend while Minion was on phone, hence the hilarious commentary while friend was holding Solo & he found treats in her pocket, ROFL! Hope you are doing great, miss seeing ya, hope your gorgeous chestnut is finding a great person!!
haha, i enjoyed the solo minion commentary very much! too funny. i miss seeing you too! and thank you, hopefully we can find him his person :) *hugs* keep up the great work!
Hello, I am conpeting at running start this september. I was wondering if the jumps are small or you have a big horse? Also are the stadium jumps inviting? Thanks!
Hi Grace -- Encore is 16.2 with a big stride and big jump, so he does make jumps look little! I do LOVE Mari's XC courses: the jumps are quite normal sized for the level, not huge, but the courses are creative and challenging in terms of lines and questions, which I enjoy. I don't think I went there last year, but the Novice course definitely asked for a bold & willing horse (which luckily mine are). The stadium courses were also challenging for the level: you definitely needed to really focus and ride as rollbacks and bending lines were standard. But they are not height maxed. To be clear -- I really like the courses I have ridden there in the past because the challenge was balanced: if there is a tougher line, the jump will not be huge. If there is a larger jump, it will be on an easier line. As it should be, not throwing everything at the horse at once. They also require that you have done your training homework, as a horse trial should! Folks who got caught out that I saw were those who took the jumps for granted & did not give a positive, focused, forward ride. Here is my write-up of the event: www.teamflyingsolo.com/2012/09/encore-goes-training.html It's a beautiful facility, Mari is wonderful, & I'd actually like to return & see if the organization has changed in two years. But my take-away is that if you have a green or timid horse, I would probably enter at a lower level (not sure what you are planning). I would call it a great event if you are looking for a safe challenge. If you are looking for something small and more straightforward, I would look at FoxTrack or the Cabin Branch series instead. Hope that rambling is at least a little helpful, feel free to ask if you have more questions! Sorry my helmet cam is always drunk!! The Contour site ate my stadium video, I will try to repair that!
Hilarious! I have never seen him in the round pen running before. He tried to pull the ole switch-a roo on you in that same spot that they all do in the round pen!
It's the Flying Solo Farm "Wishing Well", now complete! Another great accomplishment on your behalf. 30 gpm is impressive! That well drilling rig was wide open! lol
I was going to go to this, but my trainer had something going on!!! Really awesome ride! I love cross country helmet cam videos! This has great quality!
@Jumpingperfection - aren't they great!!? Pop Star has won at 2* level and Ryan is a lovely rider and a lovely, kind person. I envy her seat -- with my back, I'm not sure my hips do that anymore, but I'm trying to come up with a way to make them go back to when I was 20, sigh.
@llyle1 -- SHHHH! Don't tell him, that's my secret plan all along, but if he finds out, well, we know what horses will do to ruin our plans! Thank you for your kind words though!
@sNiCK -- Hahaha, he's only black when he's covered with mud. Or maybe black with shame when he misses a jump. Fortunately for him, I was too busy trying to stay on to punish the booger!
I showed against a horse named Encore today and I thought of you and your boy! However, this Encore was a black hunter, quite different from your Encore!! :)
For me, Chambacunero is always one of the highlights. He bucked less this year than in past years, but that big buck on the final fence is always BRUTAL!
