I had a nice 35 minute gap between SJ and XC, so after my jumping round we went back to the trailer to put all of our XC stuff on. Studs and XC boots for Presto, and my cross country vest. We both took the chance to have some water (it was hot by this point in the day) and then I got back on and headed over to XC warmup.

Walking the course the day before, I felt like the course itself was pretty straightforward.

I only had 2 points of concern – the trakehner and the half coffin. The trakehner because, much like the one at Ocala a few weeks ago, it was in the middle of a field off of a long gallop, with lots of distraction in the distance, and it had a footing change right in front of it. I thought it might be a little spooky. As for the half coffin…. ha. So. It was utilizing the exact ditch that Presto had his massive meltdown about at that schooling day in 2023 before we figured out the ulcers. Like that exact ditch. Of all the ditches on this property and all the various ones they use at the level, I really just didn’t want that one to be on the course. Therefore, naturally, it was. And that half coffin was tricky in that you went through this little patch of trees, hung a sharp left, and it was only a few strides to the ramp at A. Superrrrrrb. Cool cool.

But ya know – it is what it is. I didn’t lose any sleep over it, I just didn’t love it. The rest of the course gave me zero pause.

XC was running a little late so we ended up walking around warmup for a while, which kinda worked out. Alex made it down there on his Modified horse and was able to give me a few last minute tips, mainly about revving the engine and keeping Presto up and in front of my leg. I was able to combine that with a couple things Ellie had told me to do in warmup, then headed over to the box and away we went!

The first 4 jumps essentially circled around warmup, so I knew I really needed to send him out with purpose and get his mind on the job at hand. Plus I was determined to go faster this time so I wanted to set the stage right from the start. We jumped 1 and I took the most direct, ground-saving route I could to 2, only getting straight for a few strides before it.

That one came up great out of stride, so we were off and running again to the next, which was the first big, wide table on course. This one went directly past and then turned away from all the trailer parking, so I made sure to keep him extra focused on me and not all the other horses and goings-on. We made the turn to the table and he jumped it great.

Then we had the steeplechase at 4, which I saw a long one to but Presto was like “ma that’s maybe a little too long, haven’t we been working on finding the base?” and he put another stride in. Smart boy, really. After that was the first combo at 5AB, which was a rolltop on top of a mound, then down the mound and 5 slightly bending strides to a skinny brush. He was absolutely spot-on there and made very easy work of it. Then we had the tan table (my brain called it the Naked Table, since it has no colored stain or paint) to the XXX table (it has three X’s on the front, that one isn’t my fault).

The Tiki hut combo rode great too. He was just really on it and I soon as I put my eye on anything and closed my leg he was like YUP GOT IT. Easy peasy, picking them off.

I wish there had been a photographer at the big MIM oxer before the water because we got there perfect and he jumped the absolute shit out of it. We landed, turned right, and made out way down the slope and through the trees to the water. I thought he might give it a little peek before he put his toes in since he hasn’t seen that particular water in a long time and it’s kinda dark/sus, but no, he was absolutely laser focused on the B from the moment we jumped the A, and he never wavered.

After that we finally got to our long gallop stretches of the course, and I tried my best to keep coming forward and save as much ground as possible on the way to the next table. He jumped it fantastic.

Then, before you knew it, we were at the trakehner. I made sure that he was up in front of my leg and listening as we headed towards it, but I totally felt him do the same thing he did with the one at Ocala. He looked at it from a ways away, clocked it as just a log, and then put his eye past it to keep soaking up the sights further out in the field. We got there on the perfect distance but at the last second he went HOLY SHIT THERE’S A BIG DITCH UNDER THIS and popped in another tiny little step as he peeked down at it. Yes my love, I have been saying for the past 20 strides that you should maybe pay attention to what’s in front of you. Whatever. He jumped it, just like an awkward deer with surprised Pikachu face.

Then we had the next combo: a ramp, 5 bending strides to a corner, 5 bending strides to another ramp. This rode like it was the easiest little gymnastic exercise in the world. He couldn’t have been better. (This is also the point in the course where I run out of photos because all the photographers were in the first half.)

I sliced the approach to the brush table a little bit to save some distance, and again he jumped it super. Then the next steeplechase, no problem. Then we went into the trees, hung a sharp left, and were upon the half coffin. He definitely felt slightly surprised to see it there off the short turn, but I just closed my leg and clucked and he kept coming forward, no problem. Big big big “GOOD BOOOOOY!” after that, and a big pat. Guess I can stop being haunted by that ditch now.

After that was a pop over the log cabin, the next skinny mound combo (which again rode like a simple gymnastic, he was dead-on), the bench, and the last log box. I finished feeling like SURELY I made time, and walked over to ask the finish line volunteer what my time was (I don’t wear a watch, I want to prioritize good decisions over worrying about time, so I don’t see the point) and lord y’all. I was still 8 seconds slow. Apparently I am just a granny, because I really felt like I was flying and cutting off as much space as I could. Womp womp. Ultimately it didn’t matter, my 3 time penalties didn’t affect my placing this time, and we ended up 6th and the highest placed amateur. I’m just annoyed at being slow when I thought I was fast. It’s fine though, Ellie said we’d work on the speed/efficiency part some more.

Ultimately I was really happy with the round. Aside from his surprised Pikachu at the trakehner (which he didn’t even think about stopping at, he just took a peek) it felt exceptionally easy. He was locked in and I felt like I made good decisions. I’m relieved to have gotten back out to Rocking Horse after such a long hiatus, relieved that it went well, and honestly I’m even relieved that the one stupid ditch was on our course, because now it doesn’t have to live rent-free in my head anymore. Plus Presto recovered and cooled down really quickly after XC and was not at all tired the next day. That’s about all you can ask for.

I have no idea what’s next on the docket for us as far as shows go… the March and April schedules get a bit weird for us so we’ll have to see how things pan out!