Weston
Lawns
First time
going away showjumping for a whole 4 days jumping, usually its going away
eventing!
Very
exciting and was looking forward to the competition but downside was I had to
leave Oscar behind :-(
I was very
lucky enough to get kitted out by my kind sponsors Dragonfly Saddlery ready for
the event.
I've always
had my Mum’s hand me down jackets (which I'm not complaining about!) but it’s
always nice to have a new jacket (or any new kit!
My new
jacket is by Cavallo (the Grannus) which I really recommend its always hard to
find a jacket which fits like its been tailor made, this one fits perfectly and
even better it has a few bits of bling on the buttons and collar, real
Swarovski crystals (very showjumper!).
Such a perfect fit it felt like it was made just for me! So exciting to have my own new jacket - very lucky.
New
jodhpurs by Rugged in white! I really love this brand, I was introduced to them
by Dragonfly a few years ago and they have a large range of Rugged jods.
I'll be needing some Daz to keep those beautiful comfy competition Rugged jods white!
Finally,
the horses weren’t left ouon this fab trip to Dragonfly - something for my
pony a new Jeffries bridle (the Wembley Pro grackle) which looks lovely on
Ollie! I was truly looking like a showjumper with all the bling! All I needed
to do was straighten my long blonde hair and tie into a pony tail!!
Ollie sporting his beautiful Jeffries Wembley Pro Grackle!
I picked up some Carr & Martin Mane & Tail Conditioner. Dragonfly are stocking the new Equimist spray one. Think Dragonfly still have both at the moment and website will take to old version but do ask for new one - you won't be disappointed. Highly recommend as it covers well in a fine mist. Worth giving it a try instead of conventional trigger ones, it didn't make much noise and all the horses have had a go with it and are happy with it and were nice and silky!
Ollie happy with his new hairspray - so handsome!!!
First day
On board
the lorry, my friend Katherine (Kat) Sands (part time helper and groom)! and
the three horses the beautiful Bea, wonderful poppy and my Ollie left on
Wednesday afternoon for the long trip up to Coventry. With a few stops loading
up on M&S and McDonalds and not forgetting Krispy Creme donuts! The journey
took 4hours, unloaded horses and got them all settled into their new home for
the next 4 days. Kat and I stayed in Shane's lorry in the horse part but we did
have a heater so we didn't freeze to death!
Thursday
first day jumping
I had 5
horses to jump over the next 3 days three from home and two of Shane's lovely
horses Donni who is a stallion Carraig Donovan (check his stud card out!), and Esther.
Donni (Carraig Donovan - he's handsome and he knows it!
First class
was the 1.05cm in the main ring I had Ollie, Esther and Donni to jump.
Ollie
Donni was
first we had a 12 faults, Esther done a fab double clear to come 10th.
Ollie had an unlucky 4 faults in the jump off, but they all felt fab jumping in
the main ring with the brightly coloured jumps.
Esther - 10th
Esther was
next to jump in the 1.10, just having one down which was a shame because she
was jumping so well.
Donni,
Poppy and Bea were jumping in the other ring. Poppy did the BN and 1m just
having the 4 faults in both.
Poppy
Bea 4
faults in the 1m and Donnie 4 faults in the 1m too! Very much a 4 faults day!
Friday
Great start
to the day where Ollie picked up the first prize of the day second place in the
1.10cm.
Ollie so handsome in his new bridle
Next class
was the 1.20cm where we had one down and a naughty run out, unlike the old boy
but jumped fab apart from that.
Ollie warming up for the 1.20m
Edie who
was jumping Shane's lovely horse Soli came 3rd in the British Novice.
Bea was
jumping in the 1m picking up 5th place with a double clear, Esther came 4th in
the 1.05 great start to the day winning ribbons!
Bea
Poppy was
last to jump of the day in the 5 year old class which was 1.05 her first time
jumping at this height in a ring, we had good prep the day before so were
raring to go. It was the worst day with the weather not playing ball, really
wet and windy.
Soaked warming up Poppy
Walked the course, went through the course in my head before I
went in, had a very blonde moment and jumped the wrong number two was SO So so gutted! Couldn't believe I
could make a mistake like that, she jumped the best round and clear!
Pinging Poppy
After a
long day jumping and with the weather being miserable we all sat down for
dinner. Kat’s mum made lovely lasagna for the first night and my mum made a
shepherds pie which went down very well. We weren’t going hungry this trip!
Kat’s mum also made the most amazing quiches!
Saturday
last day!
Ollie was
entered for the 1.25 open first class which was drawn order and I was 49th to
go, we tacked up in enough time so we would get down there for 15 until me, but
because there were quite a few withdraws I got down there to find I only had 3
to go, mad rush to warm up and jump! Ollie did well to warm up in 5 mins! He
jumped number one really sticky, had to get after him before number two which
he jumped better, number three was sticky again, he was jumping everything with
too much height I know that sounds weird but when you have a back bar you need
a horse to spread over more. Number four caught us out he jumped it so big and
landed on the back pole and crashed though it good and proper! I carried on but
retired after number 5 he wasn't feeling on form and didn't want to loose his
confidence, I do think its because we didn't warm up properly.
I decided
to take him in the 1.10 at the end of the day. I still had Poppy, Bea, Donni
and Esther to jump.
Poppy was
in the 1m and just had unfortunate one down in the jump off.
Donni had
two down I think Shane had been feeding him too many carrots the night before
or he was checking out the ladies too much!
Bea was in
the 1.05 just having the one down in the jump off she was jumping so well I
decided to put her into her first 1.10. She jumped her heart out just having
the two down in the jump off just though tiredness, I was so happy how she has
taken everything in her stride, this was her first big show and staying away.
Warming up Bea
Esther was
in the 1.10 she wasn't playing ball and had me off, I did hit the fence pretty
hard with my leg, didn't think it would be that bad to ride Ollie next, even
though I couldn't walk. Katherine got Ollie ready for me hopped on with bit of
help from Kat! My leg was killing by this point I started trotting, I couldn’t
see myself jumping 14 fences so decided against it, I was a bit gutted and took
him for a little hack instead!
That
evening had a few drinks to cheer me up and a massage from Kat in exchange for
a walk to the canteen for sweets! My leg was quite swollen and walked with a
limp – still sure a physio would say it was good to keep moving and it was in
pursuit of sweets!
Sunday
Time to go
home, there was more jumping this day but felt the horses had jumped well over
the 3 days and they felt a bit tired especially Bea and Poppy the babies! We
parked up and left around 12.30, we were very lucky with the traffic and got
back in 4 hours!
The girls, Bea and Poppy taking it all in on their first trip away they were so good and are ones to watch for the future.
Ollie's first stay away too!
Big thank
you to my sponsors Dragonfly Saddlery & Pets for kitting me out. I have to
say myself I looked very smart!
Thank you
to my owners Kate, Jamie and Shane for letting me have the opportunity to ride
such lovely horses looking forward to the future!
Also big thank
you to my friend Kat who helped me with the horses and did a great job turning
them out for me! Clare and Mum for the delicious food! Great fun had and hope to do another
showjumping trip!
