Munstead - 22 March

Great event for the young ones to get them started. I did have three rides Saturday but got balloted on another new ride I have this season. Cavaliers Molly Moot (Mouse). I ride Mouse twice a week for Jo who owns her. So just had Penny and Bea. This was my first event back after breaking my leg, which has got the all clear now.

Bea has only done one BE event which was at Borde hill, she tends to get a little tense for the dressage but scored a respectable 31 a super clear SJ. XC  we had a naughty two stops going into the water never had problem with water before but stormed around the rest of the course inside the time. Water practice is in order I reckon!

Penny was amazing we had a 23 dressage being her weakest  phase she didn't do too bad all the hard work paid off and a super double clear coming 2^nd!

Next event for Bea, Penny and Mouse will be Chilham Castle.

Ollie was on Sunday doing the BE100+ also had Lauren and her horse on board.

Didn't have to leave until 11.30 so had time to ride before I left and a stop off at the M&S garage to stock up on yummy food.

Ollie started the show off with a 31 dressage which was ok being a Novice test he just let me down in the walk a little tension! But did a super double clear. We came 7th on our dressage score of 31.

Lauren did a super test in the BE100 with an amazing 16 dressage with 4 faults SJ and clear XC to come 4th with a score of 20 surely you’d think that would be a winning score but someone had a 14! Late night back!

September Update!

Hickstead

Six girls on board, the horses, Poppy, Madam and Holly and Kirsty, Lauren and myself!

Madam and Lauren were entered for the two unaffiliated Novice classes, Poppy in the BD Novice and Holly in the unaffiliated elementary and Medium our first medium test. Lauren had two thirds on Madam very consistent results. Poppy was fourth with a 67.95% in her first Novice BD which I was very pleased with. 

Holly won both her classes only being 4 in a class though, but I was still very pleased how she went. She finds the dressage a bit exciting! We scored a 60% in the medium I also did go wrong once, (little out of practice!) there were little things we need to improve on more bend and suppleness in the half passes in trot and canter. I will be signing Holly up to BD, lots of practice over the winter for us.  Also been having lessons with Liz West once a month with two horses. So hoping my dressage should be fairly good next year!

Even managed to do my ice bucket challenge thanks to Kirsty and Lauren, fitted in after a hot day!

Ireland trip

Always love an Ireland trip going to Goresbridge Horse Sales.  Dad, Lauren and I went. Mind you a trip to the horse sales is not that fun when you're only window shopping!

We also meet a few contacts we have out in Ireland whilst on the trip. There were so many nice horses going through.  The first day was the 5 year old plus sale there was only one which stood out that day a lovely dun 5 year gelding 15.1hh. 

We didn't leave the sales until late.  We met up with Edie and Shane who were there for the week horsey buying. Went out that evening had the best fillet steak (the Irish know how to cook) then went for a few drinks in a pub with live music had a few to many gin & tonics! Second day was the 4 year old sale, there were so many more quality horses going through, another nice dun Connemara also a grey connie was very tempted to bid, my hand had to stay down this time need to sell some horses back home first, and come back out in November.

It was a quick rush back from Stansted Airport to Lodge Farm for Lauren to ride Monty and Juno around the hunter trial, we met her mum there who drove the lorry with Kirsty who got the horses ready (thank you girls) I couldn't stay and watch as I had christening to attend. 

Monty went clear in the 2'6" ft and Juno clear in the 90cm a great end to the weekend!

Munstead!

A new ride for Lauren as I'm still out of action BE. Monty is owned by Tanya Reed who owned Spitfire Jack  who we produced and sold on Tanya's behalf. This was Monty's first BE event. We have been out a lot XC schooling in preparation. 

Dressage he scored a 37.5 a little disappointed as we thought he went better, just rolled one pole show jumping and done a super clear XC, just missing out on the placings next stop for Monty is Pulborough.

Special Wedding

The weekend after Munstead was Kate's wedding who owns the two lovely dark mares Poppy and Madam. Kate and Christian got married at Firle Place a beautiful setting for a wedding, I took both the mares there for photos. Kate looked amazing and the photos will look awesome both the girls looked amazing too. Kate got onto Madam for photos, no rehearsal she didn't mind the dress at all, think I made someone's day - well the horses did! Rush back put the horses to bed then back to the evening wedding reception. Fantastic wedding!

The beautiful bride with Madam

Hunting

Early start to a Wednesday morning, meet was at 7am in Ticehurst a 20 minute hack from us. Lauren took Lola for a first experience cubbing (Lola is for sale) I took Holly and my mum took  her pony Sam. 

Lola was a true lady and exceptional especially as it was her first meet, I plan on taking her to a few more meets before someone snaps her up! 

Lola out hunting

It's not so much fun when your reins snap out hunting!  I was lucky as after the rein went Holly and I just cantered across the field and stopped, not great when you have a broken leg! Luckily Holly is a good girl.

Snapped rein!

My leg is feeling a lot stronger just waiting on my second x-ray to get the all clear! Fingers crossed all will be fine, the NHS have seemed to have forgotten about me, not sure when the appointment will be.

I would like to say a big thank you to everyone who has helped me keep everything running owners, friends, family and of course my lovely sponsors Dragonfly Saddlery who have been great with all that's happened.  Not the season I planned but I'm pleased how much we've all still be able to get out and compete.

Next stop is Firle hunter trial with six horses, blog soon! 

Munstead - 23 March 2014

Munstead was my first BE event of the season and it was very exciting to be out again! 

With all the wet weather we have had,I didn't think it would run but the ground was perfect. 

A big thank you to all the organises and volunteers for all the hard work that went into organising and running it - it's always a great event.  

Holly and Ollie the two mature horses were off to Munstead for their first run, wanted to give Holly a nice first run at BE100 level just to build her confidence up. She lost her confidence back in 2010 at Houghon Hall where we did our first CCI**  I think it was a bit too much too soon. She started stopping a lot after that which was most uncharacteristic as she's so bold XC. So I took the decision to bring her back down to BE100 and Novice level to give her time to find her feet again. 

Good first run though scoring a 32.5 dressage even with her not doing her medium walk (jig jogging - a particular Holly trait!). I try and calm her working her in before the dressage the problem Holly has is she's so keen on the jumping phase quite a lot depends on where the dressage arena is situated in relation to the showjumping and XC course!  

Holly and Ollie at the lorry

Holly waiting patiently at the SJ arena!

Holly in action SJ

We had a fab clear showjumping and were walking back to the lorry when the heavens opened (a hail storm) it looked like we had snow! 

Hail storm - looked like a layer of snow!!

There's no way you can really prepare yourself being caught in a hailstorm competing.  I've ridden in terrible wind and rain many times but can't say I've been in too many hail storms whilst competing the horses.

We then went cross country and she did a fab clear however I had no brakes! 

Ollie was in the BE100+ he had a 35.5 dressage and clear show jumping.  We were all warmed up ready to go XC in the start box the red light went off to stop the course as another hail storm started. So glad I wasn't out on course at the time!  Ollie had a fab clear but being a little sticky over the ditches. This is something that I'll be working on with him XC schooling.  Through the season I tend to try to go XC schooling at least every other week.  It's really important to help the horses and not just expect them to perform at events, they need help in between to make sure their confidence is at the right level.

Ollie - held at the start box XC because of the hail!

Overall good start to the season and two pink rosettes (5th) both ending up double clear and finishing on their dressage scores.

The next event  will be South of England, Holly in the Open Novice and Ollie BE100. 

Lots of practising in between off to Pyecombe this weekend 5th & 6th April and Nick Turner clinic Tuesday 8th April. I've been finding Nick's clinics really beneficial, Nick is the High Performance Manager for Eventing Ireland and it's great to be able to have someone so experienced nearby holding clinics.

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!!

Munstead - 22 September 2013

I had my dressage at 11.00 am on Holly so didn't need to leave until 7.45 am which was nice and not quite such an early start!

After I had done my dressage on Ollie (he had a 32 dressage) at midday we had a few hours to spare before I showjumped, so we walked the course and saw two rider falls! The course was causing a few problems especially at fence 15 a roll top with a ditch underneath. This was the fence I thought Ollie might have a look at!

I showjumped Ollie first and he did a super clear. XC we went clear taking one longer route at the water, instead of jumping the step down in water (where we have fallen twice didn't fancy a third time getting wet!) he jumped number 15 perfect with big encouragement from me!!

Holly was a star and went double clear and winning her section with a dressage of 25, Ollie came 2nd in his section so it was a good day. Thanks to my groom Kirsty for making them look pretty!!

Ollie on the XC jumping the roll top!