To Jump or not to Jump - hormonal mares rule!!

Well we have had an interesting couple of months with my mare.

After checking with our vet Richard Sutcliffe, who performed flexion tests, that Darcie's arthritis in her hocks is still only mild and that she is fine to jump. We started her training.. Well I didn't you understand, I DON"T jump. I enlisted Amanda Donkin too be the jockey..

Darcie loves to jump.. she isn't exactly what you would call brave (that figures cos neither am I as I said) but when she is confident she has a nice bascule, she doesn't however attack the jumps.. oh well



We took her to the Brimham Riding Club Show Jumping points series in Feb.. Clear round twice.. No Problem.. Lets enter her for the 60cms says Amanda... I have to say that I am not sure they were at 60, the club had lost the measuring stick.. Well much to my surprise she jumped clear and only knocked a pole which fell in the jump off with a great time of 23 secs. Well done Darcie.

Ok lets put her into the last one in March and see how she does.....

Well it was just the wrong week. Anyone who has a hormonal mare will know exactly what that means!

Before she left the yard she had bitten Amanda in a place I wouldn't like to mention suffice it to say perhaps Amanda needed my seat saver (say no more) because.. wait for it Amanda dared to speak to someone else when she was grooming Darcie.

Anyway all was going well at YRC Darcie was given a go at clear round and duly entered for 60 cms she approached the first jump a small spread, she came into it nicely and at the last minute tried to send Amanda over her head with a stop, that girl has got a magnetic bum! Up they came for a second go (I have to say my soft mare had knocked her knees the first time) No she said... Can't do a spread as the first one...

Withdraw her I shouted from the gallery.. The Judge said would you like to put her over a different one before you leave in unison the jockey Amanda and I shouted a resound "NO, PMT"....

Ho hum will have to avoid that week if we are competing again!!