Hickstead - BD Masters - 9 April 2014

Can you believe I've never been to Hickstead to ride or spectate?!  So I was very excited to compete there with Madam and Poppy who are owned by Kate Woodhouse. 

Poppy was entered for two Prelim tests and Madam for two Novice tests. This is my first year doing British Dressage and really enjoying it - this was my third BD competition with the girls 

It was a early start leaving at 6.45 am but had to do all the horses at home before we left. Luckily I had my mum and Kirsty  to help and both horses were plaited the night before. I always plait the horses the night before if I have an early time. To make sure the plaits stay in I use Lycra hoods which cover their neck and face and they keep them stain free. Thank you to my sponsors Dragonfly Saddlery and pets for supplying them.  I've had them for well over a year now, they were particularly handy when taking Corby out competing and to the BRC Dressage Championships as greys show all the stains! At £31.99 for the version I have it really does save me a lot of time and means that I get an extra half an hour in bed which helps when it's a really early start!

The first test was at 9 am with Popstar first to go. I was lucky not get eliminated - I left Poppy's boots on, which the very nice judge told me. First test we scored 67% and the second Prelim we scored 70% she won both her classes. I was so pleased with her - a very grown up Poppy!

Popstar - Photos Spidge Photography

Madam was next we scored 64.11% in her first Novice test we had rein back which I've only just started teaching her. We won the the restricted section and 4th overall. 

The second test felt a lot more relaxed we improved by scoring 67.41% and came 6th overall and 2nd in our restricted section.

Swanky (Madam) - Photos Spidge Photography

A very good day with the two beautiful black mares!

New Year roundup!

My blog is well over due sorry everyone - it's been a busy winter but that shouldn't be a excuse!!

Had a lovely Christmas spending it with the whole family and it was even more special being Oscar’s first Xmas!  He got spoilt rotten and so did mummy who got a gorgeous pair of diamond earrings from Daddy.

No rest for me over Christmas just had one day off from riding and took a few out Boxing Day for a lovely hack. Then it was back getting the horses ready for a dressage competition on 28th December at Bodiam.

I took three young/ new horses out which I've got in for schooling, Bea who is owned by Jamie Flint and Poppy and Madam who are owned by Kate Woodhouse.

This was Bea’s first ever event she had a 61% in the first prelim test and came 8th then she improved by scoring 63% in the second test.

 Bea jumping at home

Poppy was going so well in the warm up so relaxed, and just got a little unsettled in the test scoring 62%. Madam was 3rd in the novice test scoring 64% with a few naughty parts in the test!

Madam jumping at home

I also rode Shane Carter’s Irish Draught stallion, Carraig Donovan (Donni), he is such a lovely horse who has a very kind temperament. He hasn't done a lot of dressage and the first time I rode him was a few days before the competition, he came 2nd with 70%!

Handsome Donni or is it Corby?!

All in all a great day but something had to go wrong... Our lorry broke down a mile from home grrrr but a very kind farmer with his brand new John Deere tractor rescued the Dragonfly Wagon and towed her back home so a late night!

 Farmer in shining armour!

New year!!

No box to start the new year. Shane took me out to Felbridge for the combined training I took Juno and Shane took two of her’s Donni and Esther. Juno and Donni were in the 90 and Esther in the BE100. Donni won the 90cm on his dressage score of 30. Juno, who hadn't been out for a very long time, had a good dressage of 33 and a few down SJ - just a little keen!

Esther came 6th on her dressage score of 32 a very competitive section.

Next stop was Golden Cross BSJA with Esther, Ollie and Holly.

A 4 faults day for Esther in the 1.05 and took her into her first 1.10 just had the one down in the jump off. Still very happy how she jumped a complete star!

Holly was 3rd in the 1.05 and Ollie the pro was 2nd in the 1.10!

Back to Felbridge at the end of February with Juno who was 3rd with 27 dressage and one down.  Poppy 5th with 33.5 and clear SJ and Bea 33.5 and one down.  Very pleased with all of them!

The lovely Poppy 5th at Felbridge Combined training!

Horses signed up and registered BE ready for Munstead in a few weeks – can’t wait!!