Chilham Park ODE - 15 May 2011

I had 3 to ride at Chilham. I took Tango & Bobby and I also rode Beau for Marilyn.

It was a long day as unfortunately a rider had a fall on the XC and was taken away by Air Ambulance. This put everything back by over an hour as the Dressage, SJ and XC had to be stopped whilst the Air Ambulance was on it's way and wait for it to take off and clear the area.

Hopefully the lady involved is out of hospital now, I did see an update on Facebook which said she had no broken bones etc and was being kept in for observation.

Beau won his class he had a 31 for dressage, the best in his section, one pole down and finished on 35 penalties.

Tango had a 34.5 dressage, he wasn't concentrating too well after his wait on the lorry! Clear SJ and unfortunately had one stop at the water. I was still pleased with him though as apart from the stop he had a good round.

Bobby had the best dressage in his section, 29, clear SJ but unfortunately we got eliminated XC. The course was up to height and it just wasn't our day, which is a shame after how well he went at Ardingly!

Beau - 1st, best dressage in his section

Tango - unfortunate stop at the water but otherwise a good day!

Nurstead Court - 30 April 2011

Took Corby & Holly Hot Lips to Nurstead. Corbs did the BE100 and Holly the Open BE100.

I've been waiting for the day Corbster gets placed 1st in a BE100 as he is so consistent he is usually placed and it happened at Nurstead. He is so good, always has a good dressage and is a good jumper and is bold XC. He got 26.5 dressage, double clear with just 2 XC time penalties. I'm so pleased with him and he really deserved his first with his great record.

Holly is feeling good again and hopefully next event will be Open Novice. She had a dressage score of 31.5 and double clear with no time penalties which put her in 6th place.

I'm not sure yet whether to do Borde Hill as the ground is still so hard. After that next event will probably be Berkshire College.

Corbs is still for sale, can't quite believe that he hasn't been found yet as he is so consistent he'd be a great horse for someone and is good looking too!!

Rother Valley Riding Club - Easter Dressage Monday 25 April 2011

I went to Bedgebury on Easter Monday with Tango, Bobby and Corby. I also rode 2 tests with Beau, Marilyn Warwick's horse, who I normally school around once a week.

I enjoy going to Bedgebury, it's great to have such a good venue nearby, I'm looking forward to seeing the Cross Country course completed too.

Another well run event by my riding club, Rother Valley, they hold lots of events through the year and are always popular.

I had another great day with wins or placings in each of the classes I entered.

Prelim 18 - 1st Beau - 72.50%

Novice 27 - 5th Beau - 63.57%

Novice 24 - 2nd Tango - 66.92%

Novice 24 - 4th Bobby - 57.30%

Elementary 40 - 1st Corby - 69.35%

Beau went really well and I was very pleased with him, he hasn't done a Novice test before so his 5th was really good.

Tango was well behaved, I originally was going to bring Holly to do the Elementary test but she was in season so thought with Tango on the box too it was better to take Corbster!

Bobby's mark doesn't quite show how well he can do, he managed 57% despite me going wrong in the test and he got distracted at one point by a ditch the other side of the indoor school! But the rest of the test was good and he got some nice comments.

Ardingly Riding Club ODE - 17 April 2011

I had a great day at Ardingly Riding Club unaffilated ODE. It's a great event and well run. I had 3 to ride, Tango & Bobby as well as Cracker for Deb Shillabeer. Couldn't really have had a much better day as they were all placed 1st!

Tango went really well 30.5 dressage, double clear and 8 time penalties XC. He was great through the water as that is his only sticking point, he's very bold with everything else considering he hasn't really done an awful lot.

Bobby had a 27.6 dressage, double clear and 3.2 time penalties. Again really pleased with Bobby as he hasn't been out much this year.

Cracker had a great dressage of 24.5 unfortunate pole down in SJ and 3.2 time penalties (for going too fast - not bad for a little cob!). Cracker is going really well and I school her normally weekly for Debs, she is a lovely little mare. I'm a bit late adding this post live as with the others, had written them but forgot to post. Since drafting Debs took Cracker to Mattingly on 7 May and came 6th in BE90 so they're doing really well together.

Below are links to the official photographer's website with photos of Tango, Cracker & Bobby.

Let's hope we can continue with the winning spree!

Tango

http://www.everybodysmile.biz/spidgeeventphotography/eques/124970/page_es1.php?Cat=200%20Lisa%20Pilbeam

Bobby

http://www.everybodysmile.biz/spidgeeventphotography/eques/124970/page_es100.php?Cat=326%20Lisa%20Pilbeam

Cracker

http://www.everybodysmile.biz/spidgeeventphotography/eques/124970/page_es45.php?Cat=254%20Lisa%20Pilbeam