One Day Event at Tyrella with Samson :)

[allie0]

**PICTURE OVERLOAD**
Firstly I'd like to say how sorry I am about not being on here :/ I haven't been partaking much on people's threads, simply because I've been really busy lately with school and Samson and don't have a huge amount of time. I feel bad because I always get lovely responses and I can never seem to get around to other people's threads. Exams are looming but I will try to come on here as much as I can :)

So last Saturday (13th March) I went up to Tyrella House (i competed there last year, cross country course by the sea etc) to take photos for a few friends. I spent a good bit of the day there and I was freezing. Then my friend Connor (has an account on here but never comes on, Finn) asked me if I'd like to bring Samson with him to the event the following week (20th March). So I got the chance to event! :)

I have never done 2'9 at Tyrella before, only at my old barn Tullymurry. So as you can expect I was VERY nervous, especially for cross country. Some of the fences were complete death traps in my opinion, and I still can't believe Samson jumped them. We got four stops I think, two of which were due to exhaustion on both of our parts. I think I might have pushed my back a little far, I was going to retire halfway around the course but went on to finish it, and its killing me now. We got two down in showjumping due to the fact I had to compete in a D ring snaffle and he was VERY strong. We had a slight blip with my dutch gag, unfortunately being unable to use it. We had a solid dressage, but Samson tried to take off a few times, silly pony ;)

We didn't place but the photographer took two magnificent photographs which I bought off him onsite. This was one of the combinations I was most worried about, two fences with a stride between them on a hill, but jumping along the hill. As worried as I was, my horse performed like a complete star and jumped them perfectly. The photographer was lovely and the photos were a brilliant price of £10 each.

Samson was cream-crackered after cross country bless his heart, but I ensured he had a special feed made up for him last night and plenty of treats! :) He'll get until wednesday off work because I really think it took it out of him, but no matter how much I tried to pull him up cross country he galloped on. He loves his job.
On a side note, we were all worried for rain on saturday. Good ole ireland surprised us with some sun haha.
So here's the pics from Saturday:

Professional pics. First fence:
http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs394.snc3/23983_1422155113029_1207246578_31237588_6878329_n. jpg
second fence (:
http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs434.ash1/23983_1422155073028_1207246578_31237587_5306604_n. jpg
my friends and I (:
http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs394.snc3/23983_1422205994301_1207246578_31237739_6599330_n. jpg
Skye & Samson (:
http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs374.snc3/23983_1422274436012_1207246578_31237981_1851131_n. jpg
Dressage:
http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs394.snc3/23983_1422290756420_1207246578_31238025_735444_n.j pg
http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs394.snc3/23983_1422295276533_1207246578_31238029_8065273_n. jpg
http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs394.snc3/23983_1422295396536_1207246578_31238032_6817374_n. jpg
http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs374.snc3/23983_1422295436537_1207246578_31238033_6029488_n. jpg
Showjumping and Showjumping warmup
Getting ready for a flying change..
http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs434.ash1/23983_1422302276708_1207246578_31238043_7333437_n. jpg
I look really freakin' fat but he's so cute (:
http://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs434.ash1/23983_1422302356710_1207246578_31238045_4892879_n. jpg
http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs434.ash1/23983_1422313916999_1207246578_31238065_3348126_n. jpg
http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs374.snc3/23983_1422313997001_1207246578_31238067_5452072_n. jpg
http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs394.snc3/23983_1422335677543_1207246578_31238161_4362718_n. jpg
big fences! haha
http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs374.snc3/23983_1422344677768_1207246578_31238179_3556419_n. jpg
http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs374.snc3/23983_1422335717544_1207246578_31238162_5088162_n. jpg
starting line xc (:
http://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs394.snc3/23983_1422350877923_1207246578_31238191_3722874_n. jpg
first xc fence
http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs374.snc3/23983_1422356118054_1207246578_31238197_1566019_n. jpg
jump dosss
http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs394.snc3/23983_1422356158055_1207246578_31238198_641200_n.j pg
going to jump threee
http://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs394.snc3/23983_1422356198056_1207246578_31238199_1201317_n. jpg
http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs374.snc3/23983_1422356238057_1207246578_31238200_1538145_n. jpg
http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs374.snc3/23983_1422367478338_1207246578_31238234_2496901_n. jpg
http://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs434.ash1/23983_1422367598341_1207246578_31238236_1165826_n. jpg

I am very proud of him.
All photos bar the first two are taken with a Canon EOS Digital Rebel 1000D and an 18-55mm lens.
A friend of mine also told me I was mad taking Samson for 2'9 at Tyrella and that it was too much for him..
Shun the disbelievers!

[HeavensEast]

Wow, that looks like such a thrill! I have done one or two one-day events and it was really fun, but it was only like 2'. You and Samson are a great team :)

[mandisue]

Those are some awesome pics! Big jumps and he looks great going over them. MAN is it beautiful over there!!!! Those mountains in the distance look sweet. Must be great to live over there and be surrounded by it all the time!

[gaited07]

Looks like a blast. You and Samson are quite the team:)
Thank you for sharing these beautiful pics.

[Gypsy Rose]

Wow, Alice! You and Samson look fabulous! He's one awesome pony for sure!

Lovely pics! You know how much I love the beautiful Ireland scenery. Maybe someday I can see it for real!

[JackieB]

Wow! Fantastic job and such beautiful photos! Thanks for sharing.

[WashingtonBay]

Magnificent, and congratulations to both you and Samson!

[missyfritz]

Those are awesome pictures! :) I'm glad you and Samson had a great time. I don't think any one of us could ever get bored of your pictures!

[mare]

Fantastic pictures! Congrats to you both.

I think "Shun the disbelievers." would be a good signature line for you and Samson. :)

[vicklynn]

Way Cool!! Awesome pics of you 2!! Thanks for sharing them.

[CaddoCinnamon]

Great pics of Samson and you. I love those first 2 pics. Unbelievable really. Man that looks like a lot of fun. I love your Gypsy Vanner. Very beautiful. Loves the feathering on his legs.

[RipSpark]

We can never have to many pictures! They are great. I love how his knees are tucked up so well in last, omg! The pics of your and your friends are great. I love Skye! And of course I love Samson! I am a huge fan of his ;) I have always wanted a horse like him. My dad said if I sold all my guys I could get a GV, hahaha. The landscape is beautiful there!

[GrungeEquestrian]

Well I already saw these on facebook...but WOW you and Samson are such a team :greengrin:. Congrats and beautiful pictures!