Brightling - July

I was entered for Brightling on 14/15 July but unfortunately it was cancelled, another casualty of the weather!  Brightling did run their International classes but I was only entered in the 90 with Tango and Novice with Ollie.  It was due to be Ollie's first run Novice because I felt it was a nice first Novice course to do with him.

The following week it was my Riding Club, Rother Valley's ODE Friends of Freddie.  It went ahead although I think it was probably touch and go as there was a thunderstorm the night before which left the dressage arena looking like a ploughed field!

I had a very busy weekend at FoF and was riding 4!  I rode my friend Anna's pony Percy Pig for her as she'd been kicked in the leg the week before and was having difficulty walking!

Percy was a good boy and got a 35.5 dressage, one down SJ he was a bit too keen and is a very strong pony!  He went clear XC which was great he hadn't been XC schooling for nearly 2 years as Anna has been having some time out with baby Eva.

He ended up finishing on 39.5 and coming 3rd only 1 penalty point away from 1st!

Prima was also in the Novice class and had a 37.5 dressage, her arena was even muddier and the going was pretty slippery!  She had 3 down SJ and unfortunately was eliminated on the XC at the water but I was pleased with how she went particularly as it was her first event and she hasn't long been backed.  Her attitude at the event was great and she didn't get fizzy with all the horses and boxes there.

Esther was in the Intermediate class and had a 30.4 dressage and 1 down SJ and again was unfortunately eliminated on the XC.  She hasn't done much either and this was her first ODE.

I rode Beau in the Open for Marilyn Warwick he got a 31.2 dressage which was the 2nd best dressage score in his class.  He had an uncharacteristic 3 poles down SJ, but by the time he got to jump SJ he was the last to go and the arena hadn't held up that well after all the previous rounds of the day.  He did a great round XC and came 5th, it was very close 2nd-5th with only a pole in it.

Unfortunately Beau hasn't been quite right after Brightling and must have pulled something in the mud.  I've heard a couple of other horses have too with the bad weather and mud. He's on the mend now and hopefully will be out again competing soon as he is so consistent and I enjoy riding him.

Rackham - 23 June 2012

With Berkshire College (BCA) cancelled the next event we went to was Rackham.  I was fortunate that both Ollie and Tango were on on the Saturday as by Sunday the event was abandoned.

Tango was in the BE90 class he was lovely and relaxed in the dressage and scored 27 which I was really pleased with.  He had 2 down in the SJ (8 faults) but the course was tight and twisty.  He's in his new bit now and I felt like I had more control though.  He went clear SJ and ended up on 35 penalties which took him just out of the placings in 11th place.  After Rackham he seems to have had a bit of a cold so was obviously slightly under the weather although I didn't know this at the time so he was a very good boy for getting us round without complaining.  He's had some time off since and seems to be much better.

Ollie was an absolute star!  He was doing his first BE100+ so does a Novice dressage test and SJ and the BE100 XC.  He had the best dressage in his section by a number of points on 25.5 went clear SJ and XC and no time penalties so won his section on 25.5!  I'm really excited about Ollie and he will be doing his first Novice at Brightling in a few weeks. It will just be how things go in the XC as dressage and SJ are fine but he has less experience XC although feels like he's ready to progress and Brightling is a good first Novice course for him.

Eridge 1-2 June 2012

I took the 3 boys on Friday (Tango (BE90), Corby (BE100), Ollie (BE100)) and Lady in the OI on Saturday.


The going at Eridge was ok, the ground there is old turf but there was a fair bit of grass cover.  The time was tight in the bigger classes and most were taking it more easy.


Tango did well he had a good dressage test in his section (33.5) and clear SJ.  It wasn't the best SJ round as I didn't have too much control.  


http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=402067453170320 
(Tango - SJ video!)


I've changed his bit now and I seem to have more control and steering.  He's a stallion so he does have a mind of his own!  We went clear XC which I was really pleased about as we were eliminated at Borde Hill, we picked up 10 time penalties which was fine and ended up on 43.5 in 8th place.

Tango

The BE100 boys (Ollie and Corby) did well 32 and 28 dressage and they ended up 5th in their sections so a good day out.


Corby - dressage
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-Vya3PYtdU&list=UUmE9tc5BtvErBdBeYCLnECQ&index=2&feature=plcp


Corby - SJ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J56Dg4g-gek&list=UUmE9tc5BtvErBdBeYCLnECQ&index=5&feature=plcp


Ollie - dressage
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNv26-BO8GI&list=UUmE9tc5BtvErBdBeYCLnECQ&index=3&feature=plcp


Ollie - SJ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4fQPFDliEU&list=UUmE9tc5BtvErBdBeYCLnECQ&index=4&feature=plcp

Ollie

It was great to have Lady back out doing and OI.  I was really pleased with her dressage 29.1 and she felt good.  Disappointed to have 3 down in the SJ (12 faults) although SJ has always been her weakest phase.  She never disappoints XC though and really is the best to ride, I'm just a backseat passenger, she takes you to and over the fences and I only have to point and steer!  We had a clear XC round and picked up 19.6 time penalties finishing just out of the placings in 11th.  I didn't rush her Eridge is hilly in parts and it was only her second outing of the season. 

Lady

We were amongst good company with Andrew Nicholson and Calico Joe 1st, Pippa Funnell and Billy Beware 2nd and Andrew Nicholson with Mr Cruise Control finishing 3rd and completing the top 3!!

I'm aiming Lady for a ** with her at SoE and hopefully should have her fitness spot on for that.

Borde Hill - 26 May 2012

After Nurstead Court was cancelled at the end of April the next event I was entered in was Borde Hill.  I took 4 in total over the weekend.  Tango in the BE90, Ollie and Corby in the BE100 and Lady in the ON.

Tango had a 36 dressage and was clear SJ.  Unfortunately we were eliminated XC. It was fence 5 which was a double of boxes a blue wall underneath.  He put in a really naughty stop and I nearly fell off!  He really wasn't keen and I couldn't get him over it!

Tango

Corby went really well he had a 33 dressage clear SJ but we picked up 20 penalties XC.  I jumped the wrong B element of a hedge jumping the BE90 and not the BE100 B element.  I realised whilst we were in the air jumping the wrong fence so had to circle and then jump the correct fence which meant we picked up the 20 penalties plus we also ended up with 11.2 time penalties finishing 24th.  I pity as Corby is consistent and this result was due to rider error!!

Corby

Ollie had a 30.5 dressage and a pole down SJ which is unlike him and clear XC with just 6 time penalties finishing in 7th place.  The ground was good going.

Ollie

It was Lady's first event of the season in the ON and she was amazing.  It was great to be back on her again!  She had a great dressage (27) the best score she's had in a Novice and went really nicely.

All in all not a bad weekend just a shame about the rider error with Corby and Tango is still getting the hang of things, more on his progress in the next posts...

South of England Horse Trials - 14 April 2012

I took Corby and Ollie to SOE both in the BE100.  A great day with Corby coming 2nd finishing on his dressage score of 29.5 and Ollie 3rd on his dressage of 31.

I'm really pleased with both of them. Ollie is doing really well it was only his second BE100 event and I thought the XC at SOE might be a little testing for him as XC is his weakest phase.  This is only because he hasn't done much XC. I've taken him hunting over the winter and he is jumping well.  He's Mum's horse and she's had him for a long time he's now 12 but Mum mostly did SJ and dressage with him.  He did one BE90 or intro as it was then when he was 5 but didn't get round the XC.  He is definitely bold enough now for the XC and I'm really hoping he goes a long way hoping to Intermediate at least.  We'll see how the season goes!  He is entered into the Eventers Challenge at Golden Cross at the weekend, he is a great jumper!

Ollie my new eventer - I've nicked him off of Mum!

Corbster!

British Riding Clubs - National Championships - 7-8 April 2012

I went to the BRC National Championships in Hartpury representing my Riding Club Rother Valley.  I took Cullawn My Way (Corby) and we were doing a Novice test and representing both individually and part of a team.  My other team members were Sarah Baldwin (Sweep), Tanya Draude (Bill) and Clare Walton-Cole with Theo.  We also had our fab helper Tina Jackson.

We set off on Friday 6 April (which was Good Friday) because of the bank holiday traffic it took us 5 hours to get get to Hartpury.

Sarah and Tanya went up in Sarah's trailer and we were in Clare's lorry.  Hartpury is a great venue and the stables were lovely as they were indoor and not the usual portable ones that you get at big events so it was a nice treat!

We all slept in Clare's lorry (all 5 of us!) it is supposed to sleep 4 so it was a bit of a squash!  The others were a bit mean shoving me in the top of the cab by the sloping roof so I didn't have much room!  There were also problems with an airbed, Tanya brought the pump but not the plug so the air hole had to be sealed with duct tape!!

We got some sleep before Saturday but can't say it was a very comfortable night!

Hartpury has lovely hacking tracks so it's great for taking the horses out for exercise.

We all managed really good tests and we came 1st!

Sarah and Sweep won the overall title and 1st in her arena and the 1st for the team.  I'm not a massive fan of cobs but I've got to say I quite like Sweep and he does move nicely and I'd make an exception and be happy to have him on the yard!  Sarah has done a great job with him!

Tanya and Bill 2nd in their arena and 1st for the team

Clare and Theo were 5th in their arena and 1st for the team

Me and Corby were 6th in our arena and the 1st for the team.  He did really well considering I'd been on holiday & only got back 2 days before and he hadn't been ridden whilst I was away!

We got some lovely prizes a bridle, boots, a NAF rug and £30 NAF voucher some easter eggs and also the sash and rosettes!

It was a great weekend and fab results for all of us and the Club.

There have been a few write ups in Local Rider Magazine and South East Rider

Munstead - March 2012

I took both Corby (Cullawn My Way) and Ollie (Cullawn Warrior) to Munstead.  It was Ollie's second event and first BE100.  He did really well and got a 28 dressage had a very unusual 4 faults SJ as he's a very careful jumper he finished up 9th in his section.

Corby was consistent as usual and finished on his 27 dressage.  There were some other good tests and he ended up 4th.

I tested out my new hat silk from Dragonfly Saddlery (I lost the last one in bad weather at Brightling last year!).  It is a lycra material compared to the old silk like material I had for the last one and hopefully with it being stretchy it appears to grip the hat better!  My colours are quite distinctive and I often get people coming to say hello at events because the recognise the colours!

I also now have a Point Two jacket.  Dad caved in and bought me one, I haven't jumped off setting off the canisters yet!  I've seen many things about them and I think it's well worth wearing.  I have lots to ride and even a small fall could cause injuries so anything that helps is worth a go!

Ollie (Cullawn Warrior) after XC with new XC Purple Charles Owen Hat and hat silk from Dragonfly Saddlery.  Also Prolite boots still fab!