An exciting competition at Hambleden Horse Trials with Tia competing in her second BE100+ on the Friday and Myrtle in our first Intermediate of the year on the Sunday. Hambleden is a stunning event with beautifully decorated courses and a very high attention to detail. We arrived Friday afternoon to walk the XC before Tia's dressage. We were the last section of the day so a late start! XC looked inviting and fun! The dressage test was tricky with new movements for Tia to handle including a rein back. I was really pleased with how she behaved in her dressage as she was the only arena running so had to go all by herself! One mistake in our counter canter where we broke a little early but the rest of her test was smart to score 32.5, even gaining an 8 for her leg yield. She then followed this up with a foot perfect double clear, making it seem far too easy! I forget she is still only a baby as she is so bold.. all I have to do is keep her steady! Delighted with her performance... it was nice that she also picked up a rosette for 10th place in a big section. She is an exciting mare indeed! A lovely day out with Kate, Mike and Mum!
A day in between for a little respite and to prepare Myrtle for Sunday. I felt Myrtle was on good form and was very excited to tackle what looked like a challenging track. She warmed up exactly how I wanted her to before the dressage and was confident of pulling out a good test as long as I could keep it to the arena! She was super chilled which helped as she was focused on me as the rider. She started the test and did some of her best trot work which gave me a great feeling. All was going well until a little mistake in our canter, but we recovered quickly and finished with some positive work. We then walked the XC and returned to the box where we eagerly awaited the dressage scores. I couldn't believe it when I saw our mark- 23.4!! Best dressage and a PB. I was so happy that the little mistake had not cost us as the rest of her test was really lovely. She scored a 9 for her shoulder in and 8.5 for her medium trot! The week before I had a really valuable show jumping lesson which paid dividends to my mindset going into the show jumping. I felt calm and prepared. Myrtle absolutely tried her heart out and gave me a wonderful ride. I felt a huge sense of achievement when we jumped the last clear because I had managed to conquer my show jumping demons when it mattered most. I think Mum and Edward nearly collapsed with relief too!! All was not over yet and with an intense XC to complete it was all to play for. There were many questions and only about 2 let up fences on the whole course. We had two water combinations, a running waterfall fence, a bank, a quarry, drops, skinnies... you name it! All I can say it Myrtle was epic. It was far from easy but we gave it our all! She flew round filling me with confidence and when I knew we had jumped a double clear I was so happy. After adding a couple of time faults and I saw that we couldn't be beaten I just couldn't believe it. In my mind I knew one day we would be good enough but it's hard to pull it out on the day. To win a notoriously tough Intermediate at our first one of the season was just AMAZING!!! (Please see my FB page for videos).
Just to really let Myrtle's victory sink in, she beautifully graced page 49 in the Horse and Hound magazine on the 27th April. A really nice surprise when Carolyne rang me to say I had to go and buy a copy! I was thrilled to be able to show Myrtle's owner, Brigitte Jaquillard, who had been away in Spain at the time.
In Vogue II | Hambleden Intermediate | H&H Magazine
This month we said goodbye to Carolyne Allen's, Cloon Fear Fionn, as he moves onto his next home. I have had great fun starting this super pony and hope his success continues with his new owners! However as we said goodbye to one we said hello to another; Silken Dawn. A gorgeous 6yo, trakhener x tb x connie, by the stallion Masurenfuerst (the same sire as Silken Creme). Although still green, she is a very exciting prospect and I am looking forward to gaining a partnership with her!
Silken Dawn
At the end of April we had a busy weekend with three horses at Chilham Castle in Kent. A very early start of 3.30am on the Saturday to get the yard done before competing Elvis and Des was worth it as both horses shone. Michele Mallinder's 'The Elvis' was making his BE debut in the BE90. He was a little anxious warming up for the dressage as it was very strange to him but I managed to get him to relax before going into the arena. He scored a 37, but in a high marking arena it was in the top 10. I was pleased with his test but lots of room for improvement! He show jumped really well for a lovely clear round. I was a bit worried that the XC would be too tough for his first ever time with steep terrain used very cleverly to make the course hard enough. After a wobbly start, Elvis got the idea and flew round the course answering every question. A fantastic start finishing on his dressage score to come 7th!
Annie Allen's Des was back out for his third event at BE90. He was a bit cheeky warming up for the dressage... feeling cocky I think! However, he did get on with the job once we entered the arena and pulled out a PB and best dressage of 27.3! Des didn't let the boys side down and continued with another foot perfect double clear leaving him unbeatable! I knew he was a talented chap but so pleased that he has shown his capabilities so early on. He has knuckled down and really taken on his work well with a great attitude. It was the first event his owner Annie had been able to watch him at and a very good one indeed!
Des is another one of my horses who loves the Titanium Lorenzini snaffle from Arka Equipe. One of my favourite tack room pieces!
Sunday was the day Bridget Lyne's, Skip To The Beat, made her first appearance this season in the Novice. Before Chilham I had a lesson with Gill Watson and it was brilliant. Skip and I really benefited from it and it paid dividends to our first test this year at Chilham where we scored 33.3 which was in the top ten. Skip show jumped really well but as we had slightly lacked practice we had two down - one was due to an unbalanced turn and the other was jockey error! A lovely XC round and even though my stop watch stopped half way round she was spot on the time as we took every direct route. Such a good start to her season, even picking up a frilly for 8th place! Thanks to Nigel Goddard Photography for the gorgeous pictures of Skip. Nigel always takes lovely photographs, be sure to check out his website.
A rare weekend off meant one thing; a trip to Badminton! Edward had never been before so with nice weather and good competition Mum and I thought it would be the right time to make the journey. Badminton has always been my favourite event and totally awe inspiring. Everything about it is simply magical! A very deserved win to Andrew Nicholson.
I was very honoured to be asked to ride in the C&H Hunt team for the Inter Hunt relay at Royal Windsor this year. My obvious steed of choice was the wonder- dun Dunny knowing what a super careful jumper she is! I only managed to get in one practice with the team on her before the competition and to say she found it over exciting was an understatement! I was a little apprehensive for the big day! So when we arrived at Windsor on the Thursday with the rest of the team first of all is the tack and turnout. The 4 of us scrubbed up very well and donned our very best hunting attire. We then had a long wait before walking the course and preparing for the relay. The relay involves two teams competing in the arena and racing round a course which is symmetrical either side of the arena before passing the baton (hunt whip) to the next member (at speed!). Every knock down incurs 5 sec penalty so clear rounds were important. We were in the main Castle arena so the crowd was full and lots of cheering and clapping. The horses were all bouncing on their toes! Dunny was last to go in our team and as we set off we were just behind the other team. I couldn't afford to take any pulls whatsoever. Dunny was amazing and flew round clearing every jump... as I made the turn to the last fence we were neck and neck but Dunny took a huge jump at the last fence to overtake the other team! What a superstar she was and such fun. She really is a special, versatile horse! Although our team overall had one too many knock downs we were knocked out the competition BUT we did win best turned out and got 4 magnums of champagne and got to enjoy the lap of honour! Big thanks to Carolyne for taking Dunny and letting me ride her.
After a successful couple of weeks it was rewarding to see I was among some of the top riders in the British Eventing Official top 20 riders earning foundations points so far this season league in =16th place. A great start to the season.
