BRC Area 10 Horse Trials - Borde Hill Sunday 10 July 2011

I went to Borde Hill Horse Trials with Beau and Tango to represent Rother Valley Riding Club in the British Riding Club Area Horse Trials. Beau was a last minute substitute as one of the other team members could not make it. Thankfully Beau's owner Marilyn was able to step in and offer his services! Those of you who have read earlier posts will know that I school Beau regularly for Marilyn and we have a good partnership now with quite a few 1st and places.

Beau was great again and had a 30.5 and double clear with no time penalties and won his section so qualified for the Nationals in August at Aston-le-Walls!

Tango had a good day too with a 31.8 dressage, 2 down and clear XC to come 4th individually and 2nd in his team which meant our team qualified for the Nationals too so hopefully both Tango & Beau will be going to the Nationals in August!

Beau - SJ Borde Hill

Photos: Dom Witham

Eridge - 2 July 2011

I took Tango & Corby to Eridge and was also riding Cinderbanks (Kylie) for owner Elspeth Appleby.

Kylie was entered in the BE90 Retrained Racehorse Section. They didn't have enough entries for this section so it was combined with another. She had a good dressage (36) and a double clear with 3.2 time penalties. This put Kylie in 5th place (2nd Retrained Racehorse). It was a shame about the time penalties, Eridge is a bit hilly and it felt like we'd get inside the time, possibly could have pushed a bit more but as it was only our second competition together and I'd only ridden her a handful of times delighted with the 5th place and a great improvement on Rackham. She was really good and calmer than at Rackham, she's a lovely mare.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjnJYnZ3DEU&feature=channel_video_title video of Kylie's SJ round at Eridge.

Tango had a great dressage 26.5 which was best in his section. He had 3 poles down, he was jumping a bit flat and it was his first show with tents etc round the arena so a lot to look at. He had one runout XC the mushrooms at number 5, it was a bit cheeky of him as he felt like he was riding positively towards it! The rest of the course was fine and obviously he picked up time penalties because of the run out and I also took him a bit slower round the rest of the course as he was really out of contention because of the stop.

Corby had joint best dressage (25) in his section with Brook Staples and Jazz Dancing Star. It all went very wrong in the SJ which is most unusual with Corby as I fell off. He took off a bit oddly over one jump and we crashed through it with me up Corby's neck, I apparently looked like a ragdoll as I flew up his neck then came off. We got eliminated so obviously didn't get to do XC so not the best results with my two for the day apart from their dressage but I was really pleased with Kylie and pleased with Tango really as it was his first BE event and his behaviour, particularly as he's a stallion was very good.

I used the Prolite Event boots I recently got from Dragonfly as you'll see from my earlier post. The horses were also wearing their Griffin NuuMed saddlecloths. The dressage ones are really smart and I'll get a photo at the next event to show how well they fit. The close contact ones are great as you'll see from the picture of Tango in the Prolite post as he's also wearing his smart new saddlecloth too!

http://www.dragonflysaddlery.co.uk/addtocart.asp?categoryid=23&subcatid=107&hr=h&categoryname=Saddle+Accessories&subcatname=Griffin+Nuumed&itemid=531

Prolite Event Boots

Tango in his Prolite Boots!!

I bit overdue but as promised here's my review on the great set of Prolite Event boots from Dragonfly Saddlery.

I tested these out at Eridge on Tango and have been using them on all of the horses since. I've had Prolite boots before and they really do last well.

What I love about the recent set I got from Dragonfly is how light they are and how great the velcro is. They stay in place really well and are in exactly the same place you put them on once you've finished a XC round which is just what you need and there is also no need for tape over the velcro as I find it really strong.

They are also great through water as they don't get heavy and filled with water like some boots do. They also look smart too and offer great protection. I honestly can't fault them!

If you're looking to upgrade or replace I definitely recommend!!

http://www.dragonflysaddlery.co.uk/addtocart.asp?categoryid=11&subcatid=211&hr=h&categoryname=Boots&subcatname=X%2DCountry+Boots&itemid=351

June Update

I've been really busy recently with lots of exciting stuff and must remember to keep my blog up to date!!!

It was Rackham last weekend where Corby was 2nd in his BE100 section. I was also riding Cinderbanks a new ride I have this year, we had a few faults in the SJ and one stop XC but hopefully will improve on this throughout the season.

We've also had more lorry issues which will hopefully now be resolved with two new batteries which will be fitted shortly!

On Tuesday this week I went to my new sponsor Dragonfly Saddlery. I picked up some great bits including schooling and XC boots and some reins. I tested out the boots XC on Wednesday when I took Tango to Lodge Farm to have a run round before his first BE event at Eridge on Saturday. I also took Percy round for Anna, I've been staying with me for schooling whilst Anna has had a break to have her baby. Tango went really well and was nice and calm. Percy was a little strong and excited but did really well as he hasn't really done much but really does enjoy jumping!

The lovely embroided saddlecloths and rugs have arrived from Dragonfly and some photos are below.

More detailed blogs to follow with Eridge report and I'll be posting more info on all the great new kit.

New Sponsor - DRAGONFLY SADDLERY

I am very excited to announce that Dragonfly Saddlery in Hassocks, West Sussex will be sponsoring me this year.

They have given me a very generous allowance to purchase new equipment. A lot of the horses kit is well overdue for replacing so it will be fabulous to be able to get essentials like brushing boots to replace the ones with holes in that I've had for years!

As you know competing horses isn't cheap, especially BE, so to have the support of Dragonfly for equipment etc really is great.

For those of you who haven't visited Dragonfly you must http://www.dragonflysaddlery.co.uk/! They are a lovely family team, Sue, Richard, Laura & Holly Paine and have a great range of stock. Richard is a qualified saddler and has been fitting saddles for over 20 years.

Dragonfly also stock items for pets too, great if you have a lorry load of dogs like me! They are also great for cross country colours so if you need a new set look no further!

Sue and Richard Paine

Dragonfly Saddlery

The Goods Shed

Station Business Park

Keymer Road

Hassocks

West Sussex BN6 8J

Phone: 01273 844 372 or 01273 844 606

Freephone: 0800 374878

Opening Hours:

Monday to Saturday : 9.00 - 5.30

Sunday : 10.00 - 3.00

sales@dragonflysaddlery.co.uk

www.dragonflysaddlery.co.uk

Chilham Park ODE - 15 May 2011

I had 3 to ride at Chilham. I took Tango & Bobby and I also rode Beau for Marilyn.

It was a long day as unfortunately a rider had a fall on the XC and was taken away by Air Ambulance. This put everything back by over an hour as the Dressage, SJ and XC had to be stopped whilst the Air Ambulance was on it's way and wait for it to take off and clear the area.

Hopefully the lady involved is out of hospital now, I did see an update on Facebook which said she had no broken bones etc and was being kept in for observation.

Beau won his class he had a 31 for dressage, the best in his section, one pole down and finished on 35 penalties.

Tango had a 34.5 dressage, he wasn't concentrating too well after his wait on the lorry! Clear SJ and unfortunately had one stop at the water. I was still pleased with him though as apart from the stop he had a good round.

Bobby had the best dressage in his section, 29, clear SJ but unfortunately we got eliminated XC. The course was up to height and it just wasn't our day, which is a shame after how well he went at Ardingly!

Beau - 1st, best dressage in his section

Tango - unfortunate stop at the water but otherwise a good day!

Nurstead Court - 30 April 2011

Took Corby & Holly Hot Lips to Nurstead. Corbs did the BE100 and Holly the Open BE100.

I've been waiting for the day Corbster gets placed 1st in a BE100 as he is so consistent he is usually placed and it happened at Nurstead. He is so good, always has a good dressage and is a good jumper and is bold XC. He got 26.5 dressage, double clear with just 2 XC time penalties. I'm so pleased with him and he really deserved his first with his great record.

Holly is feeling good again and hopefully next event will be Open Novice. She had a dressage score of 31.5 and double clear with no time penalties which put her in 6th place.

I'm not sure yet whether to do Borde Hill as the ground is still so hard. After that next event will probably be Berkshire College.

Corbs is still for sale, can't quite believe that he hasn't been found yet as he is so consistent he'd be a great horse for someone and is good looking too!!