Weston Lawns 23 - 27 April 2014

Weston Lawns

First time going away showjumping for a whole 4 days jumping, usually its going away eventing!

Very exciting and was looking forward to the competition but downside was I had to leave Oscar behind :-(

I was very lucky enough to get kitted out by my kind sponsors Dragonfly Saddlery ready for the event.

I've always had my Mum’s hand me down jackets (which I'm not complaining about!) but it’s always nice to have a new jacket (or any new kit!

My new jacket is by Cavallo (the Grannus) which I really recommend its always hard to find a jacket which fits like its been tailor made, this one fits perfectly and even better it has a few bits of bling on the buttons and collar, real Swarovski crystals (very showjumper!).

Such a perfect fit it felt like it was made just for me! So exciting to have my own new jacket - very lucky.

  

I also had a new shirt by Showquest stock shirt with a few bling bits on the collar!  

New jodhpurs by Rugged in white! I really love this brand, I was introduced to them by Dragonfly a few years ago and they have a large range of Rugged jods.

I'll be needing some Daz to keep those beautiful comfy competition Rugged jods white!

Finally, the horses weren’t left ouon this fab trip to Dragonfly - something for my pony a new Jeffries bridle (the Wembley Pro grackle) which looks lovely on Ollie! I was truly looking like a showjumper with all the bling! All I needed to do was straighten my long blonde hair and tie into a pony tail!! 

 Ollie sporting his beautiful Jeffries Wembley Pro Grackle!

I picked up some Carr & Martin Mane & Tail Conditioner.  Dragonfly are stocking the new Equimist spray one.  Think Dragonfly still have both at the moment and website will take to old version but do ask for new one - you won't be disappointed. Highly recommend as it covers well in a fine mist.  Worth giving it a try instead of conventional trigger ones, it didn't make much noise and all the horses have had a go with it and are happy with it and were nice and silky!

Ollie happy with his new hairspray - so handsome!!!

First day

On board the lorry, my friend Katherine (Kat) Sands (part time helper and groom)! and the three horses the beautiful Bea, wonderful poppy and my Ollie left on Wednesday afternoon for the long trip up to Coventry. With a few stops loading up on M&S and McDonalds and not forgetting Krispy Creme donuts! The journey took 4hours, unloaded horses and got them all settled into their new home for the next 4 days. Kat and I stayed in Shane's lorry in the horse part but we did have a heater so we didn't freeze to death!

Thursday first day jumping

I had 5 horses to jump over the next 3 days three from home and two of Shane's lovely horses Donni who is a stallion Carraig Donovan (check his stud card out!), and Esther.

Donni (Carraig Donovan - he's handsome and he knows it!

First class was the 1.05cm in the main ring I had Ollie, Esther and Donni to jump.

 Ollie

Donni was first we had a 12 faults, Esther done a fab double clear to come 10^th. Ollie had an unlucky 4 faults in the jump off, but they all felt fab jumping in the main ring with the brightly coloured jumps.

 Esther - 10th

Esther was next to jump in the 1.10, just having one down which was a shame because she was jumping so well.

Donni, Poppy and Bea were jumping in the other ring. Poppy did the BN and 1m just having the 4 faults in both.

Poppy

Bea 4 faults in the 1m and Donnie 4 faults in the 1m too! Very much a 4 faults day!

Friday

Great start to the day where Ollie picked up the first prize of the day second place in the 1.10cm.

 Ollie so handsome in his new bridle

Next class was the 1.20cm where we had one down and a naughty run out, unlike the old boy but jumped fab apart from that.

 Ollie warming up for the 1.20m

Edie who was jumping Shane's lovely horse Soli came 3rd in the British Novice.

Bea was jumping in the 1m picking up 5th place with a double clear, Esther came 4th in the 1.05 great start to the day winning ribbons!

Bea

Poppy was last to jump of the day in the 5 year old class which was 1.05 her first time jumping at this height in a ring, we had good prep the day before so were raring to go. It was the worst day with the weather not playing ball, really wet and windy. 

Soaked warming up Poppy

Walked the course, went through the course in my head before I went in, had a very blonde moment and jumped the wrong number two was SO So so gutted! Couldn't believe I could make a mistake like that, she jumped the best round and clear!

Pinging Poppy

After a long day jumping and with the weather being miserable we all sat down for dinner. Kat’s mum made lovely lasagna for the first night and my mum made a shepherds pie which went down very well. We weren’t going hungry this trip! Kat’s mum also made the most amazing quiches!

Saturday last day!

Ollie was entered for the 1.25 open first class which was drawn order and I was 49th to go, we tacked up in enough time so we would get down there for 15 until me, but because there were quite a few withdraws I got down there to find I only had 3 to go, mad rush to warm up and jump! Ollie did well to warm up in 5 mins! He jumped number one really sticky, had to get after him before number two which he jumped better, number three was sticky again, he was jumping everything with too much height I know that sounds weird but when you have a back bar you need a horse to spread over more. Number four caught us out he jumped it so big and landed on the back pole and crashed though it good and proper! I carried on but retired after number 5 he wasn't feeling on form and didn't want to loose his confidence, I do think its because we didn't warm up properly.

I decided to take him in the 1.10 at the end of the day. I still had Poppy, Bea, Donni and Esther to jump.

Poppy was in the 1m and just had unfortunate one down in the jump off.

Donni had two down I think Shane had been feeding him too many carrots the night before or he was checking out the ladies too much!  

Bea was in the 1.05 just having the one down in the jump off she was jumping so well I decided to put her into her first 1.10. She jumped her heart out just having the two down in the jump off just though tiredness, I was so happy how she has taken everything in her stride, this was her first big show and staying away.

 Warming up Bea

Esther was in the 1.10 she wasn't playing ball and had me off, I did hit the fence pretty hard with my leg, didn't think it would be that bad to ride Ollie next, even though I couldn't walk. Katherine got Ollie ready for me hopped on with bit of help from Kat! My leg was killing by this point I started trotting, I couldn’t see myself jumping 14 fences so decided against it, I was a bit gutted and took him for a little hack instead!

That evening had a few drinks to cheer me up and a massage from Kat in exchange for a walk to the canteen for sweets! My leg was quite swollen and walked with a limp – still sure a physio would say it was good to keep moving and it was in pursuit of sweets!

Sunday

Time to go home, there was more jumping this day but felt the horses had jumped well over the 3 days and they felt a bit tired especially Bea and Poppy the babies! We parked up and left around 12.30, we were very lucky with the traffic and got back in 4 hours!

 The girls, Bea and Poppy taking it all in on their first trip away they were so good and are ones to watch for the future.

Ollie's first stay away too!

Big thank you to my sponsors Dragonfly Saddlery & Pets for kitting me out. I have to say myself I looked very smart!

Thank you to my owners Kate, Jamie and Shane for letting me have the opportunity to ride such lovely horses looking forward to the future!

Also big thank you to my friend Kat who helped me with the horses and did a great job turning them out for me! Clare and Mum for the delicious food!  Great fun had and hope to do another showjumping trip!

South of England 11-13 April 2014

It was a long weekend for me being at South of England as I was there over the three days. I had the day before dressage with Ollie (Cullawn Warrior) on Friday.

Didn't have a great start to the day on Friday by getting lost – it took us 2 hours to get there because Lindfield village was closed. We followed diversion signs which took us the opposite way.  We ended up getting back on track by taking the lorry down a narrow lane towards Ardingly!

My dressage was at 1.48 pm and we ended up getting there for 2:00 pm. I wasn't the only one being blonde!! It was a rush to get us both ready and we only had 10 minutes to warm up. I forgot to do my give and retake on both reins! However, we had a respectful score of 32.5 if the rider didn't forget 2 movements I'm sure we would have had a better score!!!

Kirsty and I treated ourselves to a McDonalds on the way back home.

It was an early start Saturday with 8.15 am Show Jumping! We didn't get lost on the way to Ardingly this time and found another quicker route!

Ollie went clear SJ.  

We bumped into Laura from Dragonfly Saddlery & Pets, my lovely sponsors, who was helping out on the XC warm up.  It takes a lot of volunteers to make BE events work and as a competitor I am really thankful to those who give up their time to help make all the events successful.

Ollie did a super clear XC inside the time there were a few questions to ask on the course and I was pleased with him.  It was a competitive section and Ollie finished on his dressage score of 32.5 to come 10^th.

Back again Sunday this time with Holly (Cullawn Holly) doing the ON. Dressage is Holly's weakest phase. I find she always goes better when travelling solo to events.

She warmed up beautifully and tense free, our dressage arena was the other side of the hedge where the show jumping warm up was. Holly found this great fun and made it very hard for me to ride her - a very tense and excitable horse! We had a 41.5 dressage and I’ve not had a score like that in a long time! Meant she was raring to go for the jumping phases!

She had a lovely clear show jumping and XC with just 4.4 time penalties. I loose a lot of my time by setting her up for jumps, I think I need to try some new bits out!  I was really pleased with how she went XC and she felt that she was back on form and really enjoying the XC. With the 4.4 time penalties she ended up on 45.9 it was another competitive section so out of the placings ending up 20^th.

Our next BE event will be Borde Hill - I'm missing Chilham because I'm away for 4 days show jumping at Weston Lawns. I will be taking Bea (Galway Timberlina), Poppy (Popstar) and Ollie (Cullawn Warrior).  I am also lucky enough to be riding Shane Carter’s horses Esther (Poppinghole Patchwork) and the handsome Donni (Carraig Donavan). I’m really looking forward to Weston Lawns as it’s a BS show it will something different for me and will be a change being a showjumper for the 4 days!

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!

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!!