Brightling - July

I was entered for Brightling on 14/15 July but unfortunately it was cancelled, another casualty of the weather!  Brightling did run their International classes but I was only entered in the 90 with Tango and Novice with Ollie.  It was due to be Ollie's first run Novice because I felt it was a nice first Novice course to do with him.

The following week it was my Riding Club, Rother Valley's ODE Friends of Freddie.  It went ahead although I think it was probably touch and go as there was a thunderstorm the night before which left the dressage arena looking like a ploughed field!

I had a very busy weekend at FoF and was riding 4!  I rode my friend Anna's pony Percy Pig for her as she'd been kicked in the leg the week before and was having difficulty walking!

Percy was a good boy and got a 35.5 dressage, one down SJ he was a bit too keen and is a very strong pony!  He went clear XC which was great he hadn't been XC schooling for nearly 2 years as Anna has been having some time out with baby Eva.

He ended up finishing on 39.5 and coming 3rd only 1 penalty point away from 1st!

Prima was also in the Novice class and had a 37.5 dressage, her arena was even muddier and the going was pretty slippery!  She had 3 down SJ and unfortunately was eliminated on the XC at the water but I was pleased with how she went particularly as it was her first event and she hasn't long been backed.  Her attitude at the event was great and she didn't get fizzy with all the horses and boxes there.

Esther was in the Intermediate class and had a 30.4 dressage and 1 down SJ and again was unfortunately eliminated on the XC.  She hasn't done much either and this was her first ODE.

I rode Beau in the Open for Marilyn Warwick he got a 31.2 dressage which was the 2nd best dressage score in his class.  He had an uncharacteristic 3 poles down SJ, but by the time he got to jump SJ he was the last to go and the arena hadn't held up that well after all the previous rounds of the day.  He did a great round XC and came 5th, it was very close 2nd-5th with only a pole in it.

Unfortunately Beau hasn't been quite right after Brightling and must have pulled something in the mud.  I've heard a couple of other horses have too with the bad weather and mud. He's on the mend now and hopefully will be out again competing soon as he is so consistent and I enjoy riding him.