Goodbye Duffy!

Duffy ("Cullawn Celtic King") left for his new home this morning. Very sad to see him go but I couldn't have wished for a better home for him.

Thank you Ceri for choosing Duffy I hope you have as much fun and success as I did with him.

Thankfully Duffy hasn't moved far and I look forward to following his progress with Ceri next year!

Not sure what to do with myself now - one less to ride!!

Tandy!

A few more pictures of Tango and Lady's foal (see what we've done with the name - Tango- lady!

These were taken by Laurance when Tandy was 2 days old. She's growing very fast and getting very cheeky, hopefully put some updated pictures on soon.

Sevenoaks RC - ODE 15 August 2010

Another busy week finished ready to start another busy week!

When I'm not competing I usually have Sundays off so last week has been a 7 day week but a very productive one!

I took Tango and Bobby to the Sevenoaks Riding Club Unaffilated ODE yesterday. It's a lovely event and always well set up. I was also riding Marilyn Warwick's horse Beau who I've been schooling regularly. Fantastic result with Beau, he won his class with 31 dressage and just 5 time penalties XC. Bobby unfortunately spooked at another horse who was warming up by the arena but still got a respectable 31.5 in his dressage. I've never done a dressage test in an arena on Tango and it was his so he did really well getting 36.5. He can fight a little when I take up the contact and put his head up so this is where we lost the marks, still very good though for his first competition and encouraging.

Beau had a clear SJ, Bobby went clear with 1 time penalty. Tango unfortunately had the last one down but otherwise went well.

Sevenoaks RC were very accommodating, as I had 3 to ride in the same class the timings were a problem. I was the last to go XC and jumped Beau, Bobby then Tango to finish. Marilyn and Dad were lined up with each of them and as soon as I finished one I was on the next!

Beau and Bobby both went clear, Bobby picking up 6 more time penalties than Beau. Tango was eliminated at the water, which was at the end of the course. It was a little frustrating but all in all for his first event I am delighted with him, especially as he is a stallion and he was very well behaved and level headed. I'll be taking him to Lodge Farm on Wednesday to get him going through the water! I rode Bobby and Tango both HC, Bobby would have ended up 6th.

I've entered Holly in Firle Open Novice to hopefully have a confidence boosting clear XC. Then hopefully be doing South of England or Twesledown. Can't believe we are heading towards the end of the season already!

Long overdue post - not enough hours in the day, week, year!!

I find myself apologising again for the lack of blog entries!! Just realised it's Friday the 13th!

I have been so busy recently any spare time I have I'm too tired to do anything!

Most exciting news recently is that James and I bought a house!!! I'm spending every spare hour sanding walls, ripping up skirting boards and painting. It's looking a bit bare at the moment and trying to get the furniture we need.

I have been working very hard on the yard too. Holly, Corby, Bobby and Tango to ride every day at the moment. Duffy has had a little break so I can concentrate on Tango and I've also been given the opportunity to school a few more horses which has been great. I've been schooling Beau for a while now and am also schooling Pandora a sweet Welsh mare who is at the same stables.

Also helping bring on a lovely coloured mare, first sat on her on Tuesday and she was very good considering she has only recently been backed.

I'm taking Bobby and Tango to the Sevenoaks Riding Club ODE on Sunday which I'm looking forward too, I'll also be riding Beau there.

I had a great lesson with Sharon Hunt a few weeks ago, she was so friendly and helpful. Holly hasn't been on form recently we've had a few problems XC since moving up to Advanced. Hopefully with Sharon's advice we'll be back on track soon. Holly is such a lovely mare that I don't want to rush things so I'll bring her back down a level or two to get her confidence back up and go from there.

We were due to compete at my favourite event The Festival of British Eventing at Gatcombe as we'd qualified for the Intermediate British Championships. Laurance kindly paid for this event and I was really looking forward to going. I withdrew Holly though as although disappointing it really is a championship standard course and as we're not quite on key at the moment I thought it best to get some confidence boosting rounds in first. Very well done to Sharon Hunt on her 2nd in the Novice Championships. My lesson was just before Gatcombe and I'd said to Sharon how much I love the event, I'm really pleased she is doing so well especially after the disappointment of the WEG selection. It is lovely at Bedgebury they've made some real improvements and I'm looking forward to going back.

As well as all the yard work and riding I did a bit of painting and decorating to earn some extra money to help with events and the mortgage (can't believe I've got a mortgage to pay now!) I'm also still working in the pub. Not quite sure how I got through those weeks first thing at the yard, decorating 8-12, then back up the yard to ride and some evenings working in the pub!

Lady's foal is doing really well and growing, she is very cheeky!

Must sit down and plan the next events. Hopefully maybe get a few more points to help towards the SEEL Rankings with Holly, before we know it it'll be November anyway and the ball! Not sure where this year has gone!

I'll plan to do another update next week after the Sevenoaks Riding Club ODE!

TTFN, Lisa

Lady's foal is here!!!!!! - 14 July 2010

So exciting - Lady's foal arrived this morning about 2-3am. A gorgeous bay filly foal!! Lady was very clever and delivered her by herself, Mum and Dad checked on Lady at Midnight and there was no sign of a foal when Dad got to the stables around 6am there they were!

Still thinking about names, any suggestions let me know!

I'm back!!

Can't believe it has been so long since I updated the blog, getting a bit behind with the admin!!

Lots has been happening, been very busy working (on and off the yard) especially to pay for events and training!

Having a good season with lots of good results. One unfortuate result with Corby he would have come 6th at BCA but 20 penalties was incorrectly put against us instead of the rider in front who refused and should have been eliminated at the fence. We ended up 21st very disappointed especially as it costs so much (time and money) to event. We'd gone home knowing that we'd done a double clear and I was expecting to come about 8th and knew I'd forfeit the rosette but when Mum and I have a yard full of horses to sort out when we get home thought we get on the road. We couldn't then object within the 30 minute rule and that was that! Anyway rant over (for this post anyway!).

I will sit down and draft a full report of what I've been up to in the last couple of months and hopefully get it posted this week or next.

Another busy week this week with preperations for Brightling. I'm taking Holly in the CIC**, Corbster in the BE100 and little Bobster in the BE90, future superstar!

Finally sorry to all who may have visted the blog and seen it is way out of date!!

Not quite finally - finally the most important and exciting news....... Lady is due to foal any day now watch here for updates and I'll post a picture!

TTFN!! Lisa

Hot Weather, plus Houghton Hall with Holly Hot Lips!

What lovely weather, although in a very British way I'd say a little too hot for riding! I jumped Holly late yesterday evening as it was far too hot to do so comfortably in the day!

We're off to Houghton Hall for the 3 day ** which I'm really looking forward to. I'll be double checking the red and white flags when walking the XC!

Corby had a good result at Mattingly coming 9th in the BE100, he had a 29.5 dressage which is good but he didn't go quite so well as he usually does so probably lost a few marks.

Mum was elimated with Sam on the XC, unfortunately there was a change on the course at the water, not having to jump in the water, Mum still jumped in the water and got eliminated, on the plus side she had a great round with Sam and he jumped everything and would have gone clear.