Eridge 1-2 June 2012

I took the 3 boys on Friday (Tango (BE90), Corby (BE100), Ollie (BE100)) and Lady in the OI on Saturday.


The going at Eridge was ok, the ground there is old turf but there was a fair bit of grass cover.  The time was tight in the bigger classes and most were taking it more easy.


Tango did well he had a good dressage test in his section (33.5) and clear SJ.  It wasn't the best SJ round as I didn't have too much control.  


http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=402067453170320 
(Tango - SJ video!)


I've changed his bit now and I seem to have more control and steering.  He's a stallion so he does have a mind of his own!  We went clear XC which I was really pleased about as we were eliminated at Borde Hill, we picked up 10 time penalties which was fine and ended up on 43.5 in 8th place.

Tango

The BE100 boys (Ollie and Corby) did well 32 and 28 dressage and they ended up 5th in their sections so a good day out.


Corby - dressage
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-Vya3PYtdU&list=UUmE9tc5BtvErBdBeYCLnECQ&index=2&feature=plcp


Corby - SJ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J56Dg4g-gek&list=UUmE9tc5BtvErBdBeYCLnECQ&index=5&feature=plcp


Ollie - dressage
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNv26-BO8GI&list=UUmE9tc5BtvErBdBeYCLnECQ&index=3&feature=plcp


Ollie - SJ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4fQPFDliEU&list=UUmE9tc5BtvErBdBeYCLnECQ&index=4&feature=plcp

Ollie

It was great to have Lady back out doing and OI.  I was really pleased with her dressage 29.1 and she felt good.  Disappointed to have 3 down in the SJ (12 faults) although SJ has always been her weakest phase.  She never disappoints XC though and really is the best to ride, I'm just a backseat passenger, she takes you to and over the fences and I only have to point and steer!  We had a clear XC round and picked up 19.6 time penalties finishing just out of the placings in 11th.  I didn't rush her Eridge is hilly in parts and it was only her second outing of the season. 

Lady

We were amongst good company with Andrew Nicholson and Calico Joe 1st, Pippa Funnell and Billy Beware 2nd and Andrew Nicholson with Mr Cruise Control finishing 3rd and completing the top 3!!

I'm aiming Lady for a ** with her at SoE and hopefully should have her fitness spot on for that.

Eridge - 2 July 2011

I took Tango & Corby to Eridge and was also riding Cinderbanks (Kylie) for owner Elspeth Appleby.

Kylie was entered in the BE90 Retrained Racehorse Section. They didn't have enough entries for this section so it was combined with another. She had a good dressage (36) and a double clear with 3.2 time penalties. This put Kylie in 5th place (2nd Retrained Racehorse). It was a shame about the time penalties, Eridge is a bit hilly and it felt like we'd get inside the time, possibly could have pushed a bit more but as it was only our second competition together and I'd only ridden her a handful of times delighted with the 5th place and a great improvement on Rackham. She was really good and calmer than at Rackham, she's a lovely mare.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjnJYnZ3DEU&feature=channel_video_title video of Kylie's SJ round at Eridge.

Tango had a great dressage 26.5 which was best in his section. He had 3 poles down, he was jumping a bit flat and it was his first show with tents etc round the arena so a lot to look at. He had one runout XC the mushrooms at number 5, it was a bit cheeky of him as he felt like he was riding positively towards it! The rest of the course was fine and obviously he picked up time penalties because of the run out and I also took him a bit slower round the rest of the course as he was really out of contention because of the stop.

Corby had joint best dressage (25) in his section with Brook Staples and Jazz Dancing Star. It all went very wrong in the SJ which is most unusual with Corby as I fell off. He took off a bit oddly over one jump and we crashed through it with me up Corby's neck, I apparently looked like a ragdoll as I flew up his neck then came off. We got eliminated so obviously didn't get to do XC so not the best results with my two for the day apart from their dressage but I was really pleased with Kylie and pleased with Tango really as it was his first BE event and his behaviour, particularly as he's a stallion was very good.

I used the Prolite Event boots I recently got from Dragonfly as you'll see from my earlier post. The horses were also wearing their Griffin NuuMed saddlecloths. The dressage ones are really smart and I'll get a photo at the next event to show how well they fit. The close contact ones are great as you'll see from the picture of Tango in the Prolite post as he's also wearing his smart new saddlecloth too!

http://www.dragonflysaddlery.co.uk/addtocart.asp?categoryid=23&subcatid=107&hr=h&categoryname=Saddle+Accessories&subcatname=Griffin+Nuumed&itemid=531

Prolite Event Boots

Tango in his Prolite Boots!!

I bit overdue but as promised here's my review on the great set of Prolite Event boots from Dragonfly Saddlery.

I tested these out at Eridge on Tango and have been using them on all of the horses since. I've had Prolite boots before and they really do last well.

What I love about the recent set I got from Dragonfly is how light they are and how great the velcro is. They stay in place really well and are in exactly the same place you put them on once you've finished a XC round which is just what you need and there is also no need for tape over the velcro as I find it really strong.

They are also great through water as they don't get heavy and filled with water like some boots do. They also look smart too and offer great protection. I honestly can't fault them!

If you're looking to upgrade or replace I definitely recommend!!

http://www.dragonflysaddlery.co.uk/addtocart.asp?categoryid=11&subcatid=211&hr=h&categoryname=Boots&subcatname=X%2DCountry+Boots&itemid=351

June Update

I've been really busy recently with lots of exciting stuff and must remember to keep my blog up to date!!!

It was Rackham last weekend where Corby was 2nd in his BE100 section. I was also riding Cinderbanks a new ride I have this year, we had a few faults in the SJ and one stop XC but hopefully will improve on this throughout the season.

We've also had more lorry issues which will hopefully now be resolved with two new batteries which will be fitted shortly!

On Tuesday this week I went to my new sponsor Dragonfly Saddlery. I picked up some great bits including schooling and XC boots and some reins. I tested out the boots XC on Wednesday when I took Tango to Lodge Farm to have a run round before his first BE event at Eridge on Saturday. I also took Percy round for Anna, I've been staying with me for schooling whilst Anna has had a break to have her baby. Tango went really well and was nice and calm. Percy was a little strong and excited but did really well as he hasn't really done much but really does enjoy jumping!

The lovely embroided saddlecloths and rugs have arrived from Dragonfly and some photos are below.

More detailed blogs to follow with Eridge report and I'll be posting more info on all the great new kit.