It gives me great pleasure to start this blog with news of another exciting win from Carolyne Allen's wonder- dun Dunny! After galloping around the main arena at Windsor for the Hunt relay, a week later she donned her dancing shoes and pulled off the most beautiful test to win the Elementary Dressage Championships at Hickstead with a whopping score of 73.10%! It was one of the best tests we have ever done and I was delighted at the transition she has made to this level. It was lovely to be there competing with Carolyne who was riding in the Novice Championship aboard her other horse, Yogi.
Video of Dunny.
On a high from Dunny's win, we set off to Tweseldown with Bridget Lyne's Skip (doing her first Intermediate Novice) and Brigitte Jaquillard's Myrtle (Intermediate). Skip was first to go in her section and so I think her mark of 31.8 was a little harsh as it was one of her best tests. I can't believe what a long way she has come with her dressage, and it is now a pleasure to ride into the arena with her... she has taught me bags of patience and perseverance! Show jumping went really well but I was anxious of the white wall in the first part of the treble as Skip has taken a dislike to them in the past, therefore I probably over-rode it resulting in two down as she got a little flat. Cross country (XC) was causing problems but Skip made it feel like a BE90 and cruised round inside the time to finish 10th! This gave me confidence as her next run she was to step up to Intermediate. Poor Myrtle had a very long day waiting for her turn and she showed her annoyance by a rather 'lively' dressage test to also score 31.8. We had quite a few explosions back to the box after. I wanted to kick myself for having the first fence down show jumping as she did not deserve it but I was made up after a fantastic spin XC which was very speedy putting us up into 2nd spot!! Now we have gained a partnership together I am learning where I can and can't take risks XC, which is making a difference to our speed. So many people say they do not get on with mares, but I can truly say I love mine and I know they always give their all!
No time to rest as I had 5 to prepare for our lovely local event, Borde Hill, spread over 3 days. First day was Michele Mallinder's Elvis competing in his second ever event. After really struggling with the concept of dressage, he is finally understanding and produced a much improved test to score 20.5! Although the show jumping is on a formidable hill here, he coped really well for a lovely clear round. He set off round the cross country so boldly and he tackled all the tricky fences, many which he had never seen before. We were clear all the way until the most unfortunate end! Just as I came to the last fence one of the trail riders came round the corner on his bike which shocked Elvis meaning the hand brake went on! I couldn't believe we had the most unlucky stop at the last fence after he had gone so well. Very disappointing but a great learning curve for him.
Video of Elvis.
The second day was a busy day with both Carolyne Allen's horses Dawn and Dunny, and Edward Goodsell's Joss. Dawn was making her BE debut and she showed some real potential. After an excitable warm up for the dressage she settled down to score a respectable 33. She was a little green show jumping, we must have cleared the first fence by about 6ft, but she tried so hard to jump clear. She is very bold and we were whizzing around the XC until we came to the water... unfortunately when Dawn came over from Ireland she had a slight aversion to people (especially humans she doesn't know!). I couldn't believe it when I came around the corner to see two people standing directly behind the fence walking the course. I shouted at them to move but it was too late. Dawn had already decided they were going to eat her and was heading back in the direction we had just come.. minus me! Luckily she didn't venture too far and once the people had removed themselves from 'said obstacle' we were away again and needless to say she popped into the water and continued on to clear everything else. I was a little frustrated to say the least as she totally did not deserve that at her first event after going so well! A little debrief and we were away again for the BE100. Dunny once again did a lovely test and was a mile above the rest with a smashing 21. Following this up with another foot perfect double clear meant she took the win! She just seems to jump anything XC! This mare really very rarely ever puts a foot wrong and just loves her job. I have so much fun competing her! Last on the Sunday was Joss who was coming out for her first event this season and also her first BE100. She was first into the dressage arena (which was like the side of Mt. Everest) and for a big horse she is so balanced and rhythmical. A good score of 27 was enough to be best dressage! We love Joss but we know she struggles with the show jumping due to her inexperience and 'interesting' technique. However she tries so hard and we were pleased with her round even though she had two down. Slightly ring rusty! A super XC inside the time meant she could drop no lower than 2nd! A great start to her season!
Last but not least Annie Allen's Des. After his win at Chilham I decided it was time to have a crack at BE100 on him. His dressage was not bad, he has lovely paces full of expression which scored him 29.3. Much to our delight he went on to jump double clear, making the step up to BE100 easy and came 3rd! He has been a great addition to the team this year showing real class.
Video of Des.
A quick turnaround and some last minute training with the two girls, Skip and Myrtle, ready for their big day at Little Downham. I was so excited. Skip was making the step up to Intermediate and Myrtle and I were entered in our first ever Advanced! Mum and I left the yard at 4am having started at 2.30am with the two girls for the trip up to Cambridgeshire. We managed to walk most of the two XC courses before the dressage but not the last few. I had to get back and prepare Myrtle for our debut! Tailcoat on and toes painted we were on. Having practiced our flying changes so well the day before Myrtle thought they were SO exciting on the day... Anyway, we gave the test our best shot. Myrtle was little more excitable than I would have liked which reflected in our mark of 32.1 (but that did include one explosive flying change!), but, I was so pleased with her and just delighted we could do it! Although it was not our best test we have learnt so much together over the past year and have already come on leaps and bounds from where we started. It was then Skip's turn and she warmed up beautifully. A totally transformed horse. A lovely test for 30.9 which was in the top 5! I then jumped off and ran and walked the remainder of the XC before jumping. Skip's show jumping was going really well until she jumped huge over a big white oxer. We then made up too much distance running down the hill and I wasn't quick enough to get her back on her hocks which resulted in us taking the related distance down.. sadly also making up too much distance in the treble meant one more down. Although not the result I had hoped for I was pleased as it was the biggest track she has jumped and she took it on positively. Our problem is she is so keen, which is not a bad problem to have! The XC was tough, and it was going to be an eye opener for her. I had faith in her as I know her so well having brought her on all the way from BE90. After giving her a reminder and fence 1 she zoomed off. I intended to get her round with a confident clear so time was not on my mind. There were a couple of testing jumps including an enormous drop into water and out over a skinny brush and also a tricky coffin with hanging rails on a downhill gradient. Once she had cleared these two I nearly had a tear in my eye as I couldn't believe what a super super round she was giving me. When we crossed the finish clear I was overwhelmed and so proud of Skip. Even though we were not chasing the clock we were amazingly the third fastest of the day moving her up into 8th place! Her round was just so smooth. A very exciting performance indeed. The air was becoming more humid and the skies darker. Luckily I managed to jump Myrtle before the heavens opened! We did one of our best SJ rounds, it jumped big but Myrtle was pinging. Just an unlucky 4 faults. I was a little nervous before the XC as I wanted it to go well. It was Myrtle's first one and it seemed a lot bigger and tougher than the intermediate. I needn't have worried. I'm pleased to say Myrtle is just as nuts as me and if I go, she goes to! Heart and soul straight over the fences! She was totally amazing clearing the ditch and hedge which the commentator referred as the 'cottesmore leap', the London Olympic 'barge' fence, and the Burghley rugby world cup fence! There was one combination of four fences. The first was a hanging log on a mound which ran down left handed to a big brush corner, left handed again up a steep mound to a very skinny but wide flower box which then dropped sharp down hill right handed to another flower box. Sadly Myrtle jumped so big over the first box I could not make the turn for the final element which meant I had to turn a circle to jump it resulting in 20pens for crossing our tracks. I was not cross with her as it was an accidental mistake, I think she was just quite literally 'attacking' the course! We completed and what a huge milestone it was. A great feeling to know we can do it and I am now ready to have another go! Myrtle has taught me so much already that I am now teaching my younger horses. We arrived home at about 10pm but a great day and both horses sound and happy.
Thanks to Spidge, Jason Bax and Lorraine Porter for the photographs.
After the highs of Little Downham, it was back down to BE100 again, this time at BCA with Joss and Des. I have to say I was not over the moon with either of their tests, as I know they can do much better! However, they mustn't have looked too shabby as they scored 27.5 and 27.8 respectively. BCA SJ is on a surface in quite a small arena. They both coped well but Des just caught the second part of the double down as we were a bit quick through it and Joss just got in a bit of a pickle with her legs as we came round the corner so 4fault-itus! I set off first on Des XC. It is a nice inviting course at BCA but Des was not jumping his usual self. As I came down the drop half way round the course he then was not happy about jumping the arrowhead that followed. It was quite out of character but I did manage to persuade him over it. Afterwards we found he had a loose shoe so I think the drop may have aggravated his feet a little making him feel uncomfortable. We gave him the benefit of the doubt! Joss the machine finished on a high note for a clear round to finish 7th!
For the last month, I have had an ex-racehorse/ polo pony called Merlin owned by Natalie in to re-school. He is very sweet natured and has been easy to look after. It took a while for him to understand shapes in the school and using the correct bend etc but he has progressed so well that I thought he was ready for his first dressage competition. Merlin is the first of his kind that I have had the chance to re-school and I have enjoyed seeing his progression with his flatwork. We decided to throw him in the deep end for a test in a 'posh' long arena (he has never been in one before!). He warmed up totally chilled, just like at home so that was a good start. He did a really lovely test with no mistakes and we even managed an 8 for our centre lines and all his transitions were soft to the hand. We were delighted with his mark of 70.80% which came 1st! A small but most pleasing triumph! Always nice when the hard work pays off.
Video of Merlin.
And last but not least, no better way to complete this mammoth blog than with a mammoth day! 5 horses at our local event, Rackham! It has to be said without the enormous support from all the owners, family and friends, I would not have got through this day in the very warm temperatures we had! First to go was little Elvis in the BE90. He was first to go at 8am and he got his head down and got on with the job in hand! A really lovely test full of swing and rhythm earned him best dressage of 25.3! It was then Dawn's turn for her dressage. She came out SO much better from her last outing. Nice, calm and soft. I was really pleased at how she had grown up already from her last event. Sadly the judge was rather harsh and gave her a thoroughly undeserved mark of 34.5 but the best in the section was a 31 so not far off the mark. Both these babies jumped beautifully for two double clears! This meant that Elvis won for the first time and Dawn got her first BE placing in 7th! So proud of both of them and really excited for their futures. Dawn showed some real class for only her second event! Then it was time to ride the three BE100 dressage tests. Dunny was first in her arena and scored 27.8 which I think the judge erred on the side of cautious as her test was really lovely... no different to usual! Joss followed Dunny later on and did one of her best ever tests to score 27 which was best in the arena! For a hunter she sure can move... And last but not least Dessie produced a much better test than the week before to score a wonderful best dressage in his section of 26.5! Good boy. The jumping in the SJ was tricky as the distance in one of the doubles was far too short which caught both Dunny and Des out which was a shame. I actually had to trot Joss through it! Both Des and Joss are still relatively new to this level so a couple of poles was not life threatening. I know they can all jump! It was a great team effort getting all the horses on time to each phase, with all the right kit on and keeping both the horses (and me!) hydrated, which is really important when it is hot so you can keep up a good performance. It was a really fantastic for them all to finish clear XC and inside the time with no problems. Dunny led the way giving me a good feel of the course first, she never gives me a reason to worry. Joss let me be a passenger and Des was back to his confident self! This meant a full house of placings- Dunny was 6th, Joss picked up her first win at BE100 and Des was 5th! And no better way to finish off a cracking day than with my grandma's famous picnic!
Video of Elvis, Dawn, Dunny, Joss and Des.
Photographs by very kind courtesy of my sponsor, Nigel Goddard Photography, and Spidge Photography. Also a big thank you to my other sponsor, Arka Equipe, for supplying me with more head gear for the horses ahead of the hot, busy weekend!
Huge thank you once again to everyone, including Carolyne, Michele, Annie, Edward, Bridget, Martin and Brigitte for their support and giving me the ride on this talented bunch of lovely horses which I have such pleasure of training and competing. As I sign off this blog I look to see I have moved up into 4th place in the BE foundation point rider league... not a good month. A great month.
