Tips on how NOT to event

Written by Lucy Steding

2023 Newsletter Article

After competing at Moora horse trials recently Lucy has learnt a valuable lesson to pass on. Shimi performed a lovely dressage test to put them in 3rd place and the following day went double clear XC.

However, after proudly trotting up to the show jump judge and halting to smile and salute is where the problem started.

Immediately after saluting the judge the buzzer was pressed and Lucy did not realise she was standing right in front of the start flags laser beam and proceeded to turn around and pass straight through them before starting her lovely canter half circle to approach the first jump.

Big Mistake!!!

This resulted in her actually passing through the start flags twice which resulted in a bucket load of time penalties AND to top off a technical refusal at jump number 1.

She was very confused when the results were posted and luckily a friend that was watching along with video recordings confirmed what she had done!

Moral of this story, Know where the bloody start flags are located and don't stand in the middle of them!!!

Lucy did have a fabulous weekend though and would highly recommend this super friendly event with an amazing home made food available all weekend and a lovely old man cleaning the porta loos continuously for our comfort.