I’ve been asked to join a team for the Cotswold team chase on 29 October. I am truly undecided. I’ve watched the YouTube Team chasing videos. I know Frank can do it and even when he’s galloping at fences flat out I have a kind of blind faith. He’s agile, scopey brave  and as far as I know he doesn’t have a death wish. When we’re on our own I can half halt before a fence and have enough control to negotiate technical combinations. In company he’s a demon – showhorse to eventer?  Showhorse to suicidal more like. Frank is a complex character. Out hacking, in company, he’s Mr Cool and collected.  Mr showy offy  looking like a dappled rocking horsy.  He’s happy to let others go ahead on the beach or on the gallop tracks. He doesn’t even get excited when I let my other horse off the lead  or when we are joined by herds of wild ponies.  Put jumps into the mix though and he loses his cool completely turning into  – Frankenstein the monster demon horse  who’s  far too hot to trot.  At Badminton ‘fun’ ride I had to put the steering strings on the bottom hole of the New Schule training bit and tie knots in them as they felt as much use as elastic.  He lunged and plunged when he saw any fences  – he cut up my friends horse, and crashed into and through a group of riders crushing me between a tree and a horses ass. The horse that gets left behind on the beach by my 24 year old anglo arab suddenly wakes up to the fact that he’s half racehorse and suddenly I can’t ride this side of him.  He was much the same in the pairs at Berkeley Team Chase – and I remember thinking, as I was hauled around the course, thank fook we didn’t manage to get a team together for this event as this is just insane – and never, ever again….

I’ve seen the Cotswold fences and have serious hedge envy….I know Frank will fly over them…. I really want to do this…. He cast a (new) shoe today galloping up the Bryn on the way to the beach – so annoying – he’s extremely fit atm – less oats in the bucket I think. The early start might actually be the deal breaker although the clocks go back so we have an extra hour in bed….Frank is definitely not a morning person.  I have watched some Cotswold team chasing videos on You Tube which just gave me palpitations.  In our favour the first three fences seem to be pretty much in a row with plenty of room in between and fence four requires only a broad sweep to the left not a sharp turn …this will allow Frank to let off a bit of steam before  the twisty and turny bits which come a bit later. The fences are quite beefy so he might have a bit more respect for these…. Would be comforting to think I could half halt him before some of the fences and reassuring to think I might be able to go whoa.

I think I’ll sleep on it  – and hope to dream of team chasing –  or will it be a nightmare? I don’t have to make a decision now as the team are going anyway.  They clearly need me though as I think I may be key to winning one of the special prizes 🙂

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