Straight home from Gatcombe and off to Smiths Lawn the very next day with Carolyne's duo, Dunny and Dawn. It was time to put the weekend to the back of my mind and concentrate on the new day and give the girls the best chance, especially as it was Dawn's first BE100. I love Smiths Lawn, it is a lovely, low key but very well run event in the gorgeous setting of Windsor Park. Dawn's dressage had a couple of little wobbly moments but overall lots to like and a fair mark of 34. She then jumped easy- peasy round the jumping for another double clear and inside the time! She aced her first 100, making nothing of it at all! Dunny produced another lovely test, however she was given a very disappointing mark of 30.8. As a rider, I am well aware that not all horses produce the same test every time out, but Dunny is an exception and her test is always the same consistency. Therefore, I find it difficult to understand how varied the judging can be at the same level. One week she scores 23 and the next 30 for what is basically the same test? Moving on, Dunny finished the day off with another double clear inside the time (ever reliable Dunny!). Both girls amazingly finished 7th in their sections. They both did their very best and I was delighted with how they went. I have to thank Carolyne for being so supportive after a tough day!
Two days later (definitely going mad at this point!!), it was a 3am start and off to Aston Le Walls in Northamptonshire with Skip for the Intermediate. I was super excited to be back out on her again after her amazing win at Eridge. I haven't been to Aston for about 3 years, and I have to say I really enjoyed the event. They put on a really friendly event and I loved the live music playing in the background of the dressage which was very calming!! Skip has matured into the perfect event horse, behaving impeccably and knowing exactly what her job is. She comes out totally chilled for the dressage, bounces in the XC start box and walks back to the box on a long rein when she finishes. Just a dream! Despite having a near miss in the dressage warm up with a loose horse which proceeded to ping its rein in Skip's face when it stood on it, I managed to keep Skip settled. I was worried she was going to be spooky in the test as it was on a surface with scary boards around the outside. Yet again, she proved me wrong and didn't bat an eyelid at them! I was really pleased with her test and feel like each time out we are improving. She scored 32.7. The show jumping was also on a surface and the warm up was indoors in a small arena which Skip hated. I think she gets claustrophobic! I jumped about 3 fences as that was all she could cope with, I didn't want her being too tense when going in to jump. I had my plan in my head and knew exactly how I was going to ride the course. She jumped incredibly well, and saved our bacon at the last double where we had a slight miscommunication but somehow she jumped out clear! It just went to show how her confidence has grown show jumping. Another clear at Intermediate level- we couldn't have been happier with her. The XC was nice, just one particularly tricky combination at the water which was an owl howl, one stride to a brush jump into the water. This was very new to Skip! We set off at a good pace, she is very keen XC so I never really have to push her. As I came round the corner she just went pop- pop and into the water! SO easy. We watched some horses later making complete howlers of it- I can't believe how bold she is. I had a fantastic ride around the course and she finished easily inside the time to finish in 3rd place!! She is most certainly a very exciting horse for the future. I was pleased that Guy (Bridget's brother) who bred Skip was there to see her go so well!
The August bank holiday always brings about one of my favourite events of the year, Firle Place International. It is one of our local ones and held in the stunning grounds of Firle Place in East Sussex. It was going to be a busy weekend, with four horses competing in the BE100 over the two days. Saturday was the turn of Carolyne's two horses, Dunny and Dawn. This year, the horse trials had been taken over by Bede events, so the layout of the event was very different to usual with a new lorry park, dressage arenas and new XC start and finish. I must admit that the new layout of the dressage in particular did not play to my horses strengths as it was located in the middle of the XC with the loud speakers and crowds cheering and on quite an unkind slope for young horses. First to go was Dawn, and just as we started warming up for the dressage the heavens opened and the weather was awful! She got very upset especially as the other horses were misbehaving in the bad weather but I managed to calm her a little. Some of this tension showed in the test but considering all that was going on for a young horse she scored a 36.5 which was ok. One very unlucky pole show jumping but another bold clear XC inside the time left her just outside the top ten. This was a much harder BE100 than her first one so a positive outcome. Next was the wonder-dun Dunny. Yet again producing a beautiful dressage test to score best dressage with a 23.3. She is so reliable and consistent! I was a little nervous for the show jumping as the competition was hot on our heels but she jumped effortlessly for a clear! Knowing Dunny I knew she could fly round the XC inside the time and that she did- even managed to let out some squeals of delight and a little bronk on the way round!! Hoorah- first WIN of the weekend! Very pleased to see Dunny back on top again.
The next day was Joss and Des. Des has really turned a corner with his dressage since I've had some training on him to help with the connection issues and it has made the world of difference. He was first to go in his section and led from start to finish, finishing on the best dressage mark of 27.8. He is most certainly turning into a little superstar and absolutely loving his new job! Unfortunately our dear Jossy was most lit up by the XC going on around the dressage and although most of her test was lovely she had a couple of moments of lapse of concentration resulting in a 31.5. She was show jumping well until the first double where she got her legs in a muddle over the first part, resulting in also having the second part down. Rest of the round was super- just one of those things! However she finished the day with an easy clear XC to pick up 7th place!
Straight after Firle, it was the start of a different season; the hunting season. So far we have managed to get out a couple of times with the horses including Joss, Des and a new horse for a friend. I always manage to find myself taking horses out for the first time!
I managed to fit in a quick holiday to the South of France before returning home in time for the Sports Pony Studbook Society grading with Dunny (Silken Creme). Carolyne was keen to have Dunny graded as a Sports Pony to be included in their studbook so I happily agreed to show Dunny off. The day started with conformation and paces, I had to stand her up and then walk/trot her before letting her loose in the indoor school so she could canter round. After this it was riding. The judges instructed me what to do on the flat and of course Dunny was perfect. We then moved to the outdoor school to show jump. Dunny showed off her perfect temperament, the weather was awful but she did not put a foot wrong. I jumped her over several jumps so they could assess her. It was then a nervous wait whilst the other mares were being graded before knowing the outcome. They also take into account competition record and suitability as a dam for Sports Ponies. We all tentatively waited in the indoor school whilst the judges read the scores and results. Amazingly, Dunny scored the highest marks becoming a Premium Mare (highest grade possible) and crowned Grading Champion of the day! This was the first day of grading and the judges continued the tour around England and Wales for the next 8 days, grading hundreds of mares and stallions. We have now found out the incredible news that Dunny was the best mare in the whole country scoring the most points to become Supreme Champion Mare!! She is such a special horse and incredibly talented! I am very honoured to have such a good partnership with his horse and have the pleasure of riding her.
This month I was delighted to welcome aboard a new member to the MJEventing Team- 'Ashford Cleave Little Man', aka Hurley, owned by Suzie Priest. Hurley is 7 year old gelding but still lacking some experience although Suzie has done a great job of starting him. Suzie bought Hurley as a 3yo, but from what I hear he was not an easy horse to start and there was certainly some teething issues! Suzie evented herself but has kindly passed over the reins to me to get Hurley out eventing!
Hurley is another horse favouring Arka Equipe's Lorenzini Titanium bit collection- seen here wearing the french link with short cheeks.
We knew Autumn was very much upon us when the day ended at the C&H Hunt Hunter Trial with a complete washout! The day started so positively with blue skies ready for the 80cm. First I jumped Andrea Stearn's pony, Cumin, (who I have never jumped before) as she is keen to get him going well XC for her daughter Claudia. We had a couple of 'airs above the ground' before making it into the start box, but once we were away he flew round the course clear! Second to go was Onyx, owned by Lily Furber. I have been schooling Onyx over the last couple of months to get her confidence back and we felt it was time she started to get out and about again. Although the first few fences took some persuasion from me, we did get over them and as we went on, Onyx became more confident and started to take me round the course. Somehow we managed a clear- perhaps not the most stylish! Mum and I whizzed back to the yard to collect Elvis and Joss who were waiting for their turn in the 100cm class. I returned in time to take my new horse, 'Hurley' round the 90cm. He really surpassed expectations and was super bold and keen making nothing of the course and going clear. I was so pleased with how he had come on so quickly! Just as Edward and I started to warm up Joss and Elvis for the last class, the rain started. At first it was just a drizzle and it gradually got heavier and heavier. Edward went first (as I wanted to watch him go round!) and I told him to ride strongly to the first fence. This was Edward's second ever individual hunter trial and his first time jumping round a 1m course, made even harder by the fact he hadn't been XC in about a year! Joss and him did me unbelievably proud by producing a really lovely clear round. Edward rode all his lines perfectly and set Joss up right for the trickier fences. An amazing achievement! Little Elvis was rather keen in the warm up, he hasn't been out XC since June and I don't think he liked the weather at all!! This was his first time also doing a 1m course but we thought it would be a perfect opportunity to see how he copes. He was jumping round easily but one little spook at a wishing well meant I had to turn a circle and re-present. Not a problem and something he will learn from. All the time Elvis is meeting new fences XC and he just has to understand what is being asked of him. However I was really pleased he jumped off the step into water for the first time and jumped a grown-up corner! Despite the weather, a good day and a huge step forwards for all the horses.
After my last blog, I am excited to report that this month Myrtle has been scanned in foal! We had planned to do an embryo transfer with Myrtle (In Vogue) next year, but due to her injury at Gatcombe we decided to see if we could get her into foal this year as after much discussion we decided we would rather breed from her than do an embryo transfer. Fingers crossed for a successful outcome! She achieved so much this year becoming a Grade 1 Event Horse, winning at Intermediate level, stepped up to Advanced and completed the Intermediate Championship at the Festival of BE.
So it was time for Munstead and it was to be a very busy day with all 4 horses competing on the Sunday, starting with Des' dressage at 8am and finishing with Hurley XC at about 4pm! In the morning it was the BE100 and Des started us off with another super dressage test. I'm not sure if it was just bad luck but I had two horses that were first to go in their sections which I don't know if it bears down on the dressage marks! However, really pleased as Des scored a 25.5; he is becoming really consistent and understanding what is expected of him now, producing fluid, soft and rhythmical tests. He jumped a beautiful double clear picking up just one time fault (I think I was enjoying myself a little too much!) but finished 4th. I was delighted than Annie could be there to watch and support, it is a pleasure to see how Des has matured this season. Second was Dawn who was very bold and ate up the course, receiving many compliments from the fence judges for her super round. She is a very talented mare with oodles of potential! She finished in the top 20 in her section. No time to stop as it was on to the BE90. It was Elvis' first event since Rackham in June (he has been busy doing summer holiday jobs!) so I wasn't sure how he was going to come back but I needn't have worried as he did a beautiful test, remaining calm and relaxed. Elvis has lovely paces and he was rewarded with a 28.3 in the BE90open section (open section as I have now been Advanced). It was then the turn of the new kid on the block, Hurley. No-one really knew what to expect as it was his first time out on grass and he can get quite excited! When I took on Hurley we had some 'forward thinking' issues but we seemed to have turned a corner and he is now very much 'forward'! It was a good start as he seemed to be warming up just as he had been at home. It was then time for the test and he remained the same. I have to say he probably did the best version of the test in all the practices we had done, with no bucking, no jogging in the walk and didn't break once in his canter! We were all very proud of him. The show jumping was very spooky but luckily both the boys tried so hard and didn't dare touch any poles for two clear rounds! I took Elvis XC first, and I must admit after going a bit slow on Des I panicked and got 1 time fault too fast on Elvis! Silly me. However, everyone was amazed at how confident Elvis has now become XC, with no wobbles and so much straighter. He finished with his double clear and 3rd place! Last but not least was Hurley. He set off very determined and the smile on his face when he finished said it all. I think he really genuinely enjoyed himself He finished his first ever event on his dressage score of 30.5 to come 6th in the open section too! Another fantastic event over thanks to my special horses who are all so talented. It is a pleasure to spend days like this with such a lovely group of people who make it all possible for me!
I just want to finish this blog with a picture of the latest Local Rider Magazine, where the editor Fiona has done a really lovely article from Eridge Horse Trials featuring my winners (all 3 of them!). Make sure to get your copy!
