Borde Hill (UA) 18/19 August 2012

I took Ollie, Esther, Prima and Tango to Borde Hill unaffiliated which made for a busy weekend although thankfully there was only 2 for each day!

Prima had a 35 dressage two down SJ and clear inside the time XC. She ended up on 43 and came 9th.

Esther had a great 26 dressage one down and clear inside the time (or at least I thought!) XC.  She was given 20 penalties at the water she did hesitate but didn't step back or exceed the 10 second rule for standing there. I did complain about the 20 penalties but it unfortunately stood which I felt unfair, it is a shame as without the 20 penalties she would have won.

Tango came 7th with  34.5 dressage, unfortunate 2 down SJ but another super clear XC.

Ollie redeemed himself after the stumble in the Novice at Chilham and came 3rd in the Novice. He had a 32.5 dressage, clear SJ and clear XC with 7.2 time penalties.

SRC ODE - Lodge Farm 12 August 2012

I went to Sevenoaks Riding Club ODE at Lodge Farm in Matfield ODE.

I took Prima, Esther and Ollie. Esther and Prima were both in the 85 cm.

Esther did a fab test of 27 and even scored two 9s! Clear SJ so in the lead and had a stupid stop xc which was a shame. 

Esther - Poppinghole Patchwork

Prima is another new ride owned and bred by Fiona Cialfi.  Fiona has bred many  eventers and owned the TB stallionMore Pokey who evented very successfully at ** and Intermediate level.

Prima was only backed earlier in the season and has done very well and behaves well at events.She still has a lot to learn and I need to work with her SJ she's keen to fly at the jumps which sometimes means we drop the back rail off.

She had a 29.5 dressage and she had quite a few down SJ and two run outs xc. So it wasn't our day but all good event experience for her.

Prima - Pokeys Pioneer

I did the 1m with Ollie he had a 28 dressage and a fab clear SJ round like always! Clear XC jumped in the water perfect and didn't go swimming this time! 

Ollie came 3rd he was a little slow so had time faults otherwise we would have won. 

Ollie - Cullawn Warrior

Ollie and Esther had the best dressage in their sections.

Brightling - July

I was entered for Brightling on 14/15 July but unfortunately it was cancelled, another casualty of the weather!  Brightling did run their International classes but I was only entered in the 90 with Tango and Novice with Ollie.  It was due to be Ollie's first run Novice because I felt it was a nice first Novice course to do with him.

The following week it was my Riding Club, Rother Valley's ODE Friends of Freddie.  It went ahead although I think it was probably touch and go as there was a thunderstorm the night before which left the dressage arena looking like a ploughed field!

I had a very busy weekend at FoF and was riding 4!  I rode my friend Anna's pony Percy Pig for her as she'd been kicked in the leg the week before and was having difficulty walking!

Percy was a good boy and got a 35.5 dressage, one down SJ he was a bit too keen and is a very strong pony!  He went clear XC which was great he hadn't been XC schooling for nearly 2 years as Anna has been having some time out with baby Eva.

He ended up finishing on 39.5 and coming 3rd only 1 penalty point away from 1st!

Prima was also in the Novice class and had a 37.5 dressage, her arena was even muddier and the going was pretty slippery!  She had 3 down SJ and unfortunately was eliminated on the XC at the water but I was pleased with how she went particularly as it was her first event and she hasn't long been backed.  Her attitude at the event was great and she didn't get fizzy with all the horses and boxes there.

Esther was in the Intermediate class and had a 30.4 dressage and 1 down SJ and again was unfortunately eliminated on the XC.  She hasn't done much either and this was her first ODE.

I rode Beau in the Open for Marilyn Warwick he got a 31.2 dressage which was the 2nd best dressage score in his class.  He had an uncharacteristic 3 poles down SJ, but by the time he got to jump SJ he was the last to go and the arena hadn't held up that well after all the previous rounds of the day.  He did a great round XC and came 5th, it was very close 2nd-5th with only a pole in it.

Unfortunately Beau hasn't been quite right after Brightling and must have pulled something in the mud.  I've heard a couple of other horses have too with the bad weather and mud. He's on the mend now and hopefully will be out again competing soon as he is so consistent and I enjoy riding him.