Rackham - 27 June 2015

Great event always seems nearer then it is. Just Penny and Bea on the Saturday. I was hoping Bea wasn't going to be as clumsy with the hot weather we had. We did improve our dressage with 30.8 just feels a little tight at times and needs to relax. I would say show jumping is her stronger point, but we had two down, Brian Lear built a very good course which coursed a few problems and plus I didn't have many brakes, I think a bit change is in order!!!  Cross country we had a hairy moment at the sunken road, we had to jump down and out over a skinny - it wasn't quite straight forward as that. We jumped to the left out to the right and crikey we’ve got to turn left to the skinny! We got around inside the time just missing out on placings.

Penny had a 30.8 showing I was very consistent in the dressage! We went ahead and jumped our best double clear coming 6th.

Next stop will be Brightling only 15 minutes down the road - yay!!!! I will have three horses in the BE100 Ollie, Bea and Mouse. I’ve been asked to be the Guinea Pig for the CIC*  dressage test. Will have to take one of the dressage divas but not sure who Madam or Poppy???!

Mattingley (UA) - 5 June 2015

Mattingley unaffiliated ODE

Dressage divas this time, they were hanging up their posh white boots for the day and turning into event horses. Entered Madam into the 80 this time just to give her a confident round across the XC, she has only started XC jumping this year so it might take a little time. We started off great this time with a dressage score of 26 a lot calmer than Munstead being first time on grass, so I was really happy with the mark. Show jumping she was on form feeling like she wanted to go XC. She jumped clear, was worried she was not going to respect them as I moved her up to 1.10 BSJA so looked very small. Warming up XC was a lot better and went flying out the start box until we got past number two she wasn't too sure going through the scary woods to get to the next field but after that we was on our way with a few spooks at fence judges and people walking by. We just had the one step back at the water giving us 20 penalties which was a real shame but straight through the second water and we finished missing out on 2nd place, really happy to finish and she felt great.

Ruby who I ride for Anne Clarke also did the 80cm we had a much improved dressage of 31 and clear show jumping but had a disappointing stop at number 4 just went a bit green with lots of things to look at by the fence. Always another day and she’s coming on well.

Poppy was in the 90 scoring another fab dressage of 25 and clear SJ going around like a pro but XC caught us out. She felt super jumping across country just need to keep practising going into boggy wet puddles! It was a shame but that's horses for you! I feel she and Madam will make great event horses but it just going to take time and they’re all the better for it when they’re given the time. Their next events will be BD and BSJA shows until another unaffiliated ODE comes up.

Poppy, Kirsty, Madam and Peanut with Kate O'Mara's (Poppy and Madam's owner) Mum!

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!!