Winter Dressage Update

Started off the new year with a lovely new pair of boots thanks to the lovely people at Dragonfly!!

The boots in question are Mountain Horse Supreme High Rider Boots - the first time I wore them was for dressage on 16 January at Golden Cross.

http://www.dragonflysaddlery.co.uk/addtocart.asp?categoryid=&subcatid=&hr=h&categoryname=&subcatname=&itemid=1550

I have to say they are so comfortable and they are by far the favourite pair of competition boots I've had  to date.

Golden Cross - 16 January

I took Ollie because we only had one partition in the lorry with the others being on order.  Ollie did very well coming BE112 and Novice 27 tests coming 2nd & 3rd.


Bodiam Dressage - 10 February

A busier day at Bodiam taking Corby, Beau & Ollie.  Not a bad day with 3 wins and 1 placing!

Beau was favoured by the judge coming 1st in both Prelim 7 and 13, Corby came 1st in the Novice 28 and Ollie a disappointing(!!!) 8th, he felt better than Corby but you never can tell until you get the test sheet back!

The weather was grim but luckily we could warm up indoors.  Bodiam have great facilities and there is an indoor viewing area too (for my Dad to sit and eat a bacon butty - sorry Dad!).

Next dressage is Golden Cross on 6 March and Bodiam (for more bacon butties!) on 23 March.  In preparation for the Riding Club Dressage Championships at Hartpury the last weekend in March.

By the Dressage Champs I'll be about 30 weeks pregnant so the wardrobe will be interesting - anyone with any maternity jodphurs please let me know!  Although I'm told by people I'm not really showing too much at the moment!

BRC Area 10 Horse Trials - Borde Hill Sunday 10 July 2011

I went to Borde Hill Horse Trials with Beau and Tango to represent Rother Valley Riding Club in the British Riding Club Area Horse Trials. Beau was a last minute substitute as one of the other team members could not make it. Thankfully Beau's owner Marilyn was able to step in and offer his services! Those of you who have read earlier posts will know that I school Beau regularly for Marilyn and we have a good partnership now with quite a few 1st and places.

Beau was great again and had a 30.5 and double clear with no time penalties and won his section so qualified for the Nationals in August at Aston-le-Walls!

Tango had a good day too with a 31.8 dressage, 2 down and clear XC to come 4th individually and 2nd in his team which meant our team qualified for the Nationals too so hopefully both Tango & Beau will be going to the Nationals in August!

Beau - SJ Borde Hill

Photos: Dom Witham

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!

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.

RVRC Chilly Fingers SJ - 19 March 2011

Took Ace & Bobby to my Riding Club's (Rother Valley) members showjumping on Saturday. Mum also took Sam.

I've only just bought Ace in to school and he behaved really well considering it was his first outing. Poppy came along to help us she's been helping me out on Saturdays and spent some time sitting on Ace and went down the lane with him.

I took him into the practice arena but I think it would have been too soon for me to take him round a course as there were plenty of fillers etc. Still it was a positive first experience and I'm pleased how he behaved with the atmosphere and surroundings

Anna brought Percy over who I've been schooling and I did two classes with him the 2'3 and 2'6. He's only been round a few SJ courses with Anna. He did really well and we got 2 double clears. He has got a pop on him for a cob! He is a bit spooky but not at the fences he loves jumping. He really didn't like the turkey on Shane's Farm that was wandering around with a few chickens and it took a bit of encouragement to get him past it!

Percy

Marilyn also brought Beau over to do the 2'9" and 3'. Unfortunately we had to leave so I couldn't do the 3' with Beau but he did a lovely jump off and came 2nd in the 2'9". Bobby also went well in the same class and came 5th. Mum went clear in the first round but had one down in the jump off.

Beau & Bobby

Photos taken by Dom Witham - www.ggtack.com

RVRC - Christmas SJ - Sunday 12 December 2010

I was due to take Tango to my riding club's (Rother Valley) Xmas SJ at Bedgebury Park. I got Tango loaded and ready to go but the lorry wouldn't start!!! I managed to get it started with jump leads but for various reasons was not able to make it which was a real pity!

I still went as I was also due to ride Marilyn Warwick's horse Beau, who I regularly school.

I did the 2'9" - 3' class as well as the Puissance! There were only 3 clears in the 2'9, Beau unfortunately got 4 faults just glancing the top plank jump 6. He did a great round though and jumps so nicely. All the schooling is definitely working and he really is very responsive and a pleasure to jump.

I haven't really been jumping him much higher than 3' and that has just been at his stables in the school. He's only done a few courses recently. Marilyn was happy for me to take him in the Puissance and very glad we did as he won! Really pleased with him he really tried and ended up clearing just over 4'. Sorry no pictures of this one it was getting dark and my friend took some pictures but they are too blurry! So afraid you won't get to see me with a santa hat over my riding hat!

Bedgebury is really nice venue and it's great to see it being used again and all the work that is going into it to make it top class. They hold clear round on Wednesday and course hire on Thursdays so I think I'll be taking some of mine over to get some winter practice in. They also have a winter series of unaffilated dressage and affilated which is great with Bedgebury being one of nearest venues to me.

Dressage with Bobby & Beau

Had a successful day yesterday, took Bobby out for his first dressage competition and he came 2nd!

I was also riding Marilyn Warwick's horse Beau. I've been schooling Beau for Marilyn and this is the third dressage competition I have ridden him at. The last 2 outings we came 3rd but yesterday Beau did a lovely test and beat Bobby to 1st place!

Mum took Sam too and he came 5th so we had a good morning. Going to take Holly up the gallops today and probably Corby too. Corby has been going really nicely and I've been testing out my new optimum time watch taking him round the greyhound track at home, hopefully he will be back up to Pre Novice (sorry BE100!) speed by South of England!