South of England - Saturday 9th April

Second outing of the season for Corby & Holly was SOE.

After my fall with Holly in the SJ at Goring (see previous post!) I thought it was a good idea to see if I could move classes with Holly from the Open Novice to the Open BE100. Sarah Robinson the secretary for SOE was great and sorted this out for me. Holly went well with a 28.5 dressage and a double clear we ended on our dressage score in 3rd place. Holly felt great and just like the old Holly again. She's entered for the Open BE100 at Nurstead then I'll do a couple of Open Novices then we should be back up to Open Intermediates.

Photo: Pip Simpson

Corbster had another good day too. He had a 34 dressage which is unusual and he did feel like he went better then that, but was very good again giving a nice double clear, 2 time penalties XC put us in 5th place. Pippa Funnell won the class on one of her Billy Stud's horses - Billy Crackle. Corby is also entered for Nurstead in the BE100.

Busy week this week, schooling for Marilyn, Debs & Anna. Hopefully XC at Lodge Farm on Wednesday. Taking an RVRC clinic on Saturday at Lodge Farm and then the Ardingly Riding Club Unaffliated ODE on Sunday. I'll be riding Tango, Bobby and Debs horse, Cracker. Will update blog to let you know how I got on!

I'm going to be doing a few more unaffilated ODEs locally with Tango before he's signed up for a half season BE. I'm lucky that there are some good ones that are run in the area, Ardingly, Chilham, Pulborough, Borde Hill and my Riding Club Rother Valley, Sevenoaks RC also run great ones just to name a few!

SEEL - Seahorse Ball - 14 November 2009

I was lucky enough to have Kristina Cook present me with the Leading Owner Rider award. Kristina was really nice and it was a great honour to meet her. It was funny being second again in the Leading Horse and Rider behind Kristina and Miners Frolic, it was 2007 all over again but with Holly this year not Lady!

I had a really good evening and perhaps enjoyed the champagne reception a little too much! The Rodeo Bull was good fun and I had a few goes!

I'm very grateful to all of the companies who sponsored the league. I am very lucky to have won a WOW saddle and look forward to getting it fitted when Holly is back in work after her holiday.

Holly won a Stud Voucher for William Funnell's and Donal Barnwell's the Billy Stud for winning the Leading Mare Ranking.

R & R Stevenson Jewellers in Haywards Heath sponsored the Leading Horse & Rider award which I was 2nd to Kristina Cook & Miners Frolic. They kindly gave me a cheque which I will put towards training.

Net-Tex sponsored the Leading Intermediate Ranking in which Holly and I came 2nd, we were presented with a Net-Tex voucher and I've got my eye on some Lynn Russell grooming products.

Roll on next season!