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April 2011 Diary
Munstead
We took the long journey down to Munstead on Saturday with Luca and Dougal. They were both on very good form, although their dressage tests were a little more wobbly than Tweseldown. Dougal scored 33.5 and Luca 33.0. They both went on to jump super double clears with just a few time faults each. They finished just outside the placings, but I was pleased with them both. Luca heads to Somerley next week for his first PN.
Gatcombe
On the Sunday after Munstead, I was at Gatcombe with the 3 big boys ( and girl ). George, Barney and Tomi. George and Barney were doing the AI and Tomi in the OI. Tomi produced a really good test, and much improved for her to score 36.4, she then jumped the first half of the show jumping course in a lovely rhythm, but got a bit head strong and quick in the second half and rolled 2 poles, but generally her way of going was a lot better. She then jumped a super clear XC to add 7.6 time faults.
Barney too did one of his best tests to date at Advanced level scoring 36.3 and George got a little bit too excited and leaped about to score 40.4. The both jumped well over a true advanced show jumping track, just having 1 or 2 down each. Barney didnt run XC as he is only running twice before Badminton, but George jumped a fantastic clear with 14.4 time. They head to Belton for the Au25 next weekend.
Somerley International
We had 2 great days at Somerley Park. Luca was competing in his first PN. He produced a very grown up test to score a pleasing 30.0, and went on to jump a super double clear adding just 3.2 time faults to finish in 6th. A great result for his first PN. Next was Mexico competing in the Novice. He too did a nice test, with just one mistake, but still scored 33.3. One pole rolled in the SJ, but a clear XC adding 8.4 time faults.
Ollie and Woody were in the CIC**. This was Woody first attempt at this level. They both did lovely tests. Ollie scored 49.4, and Woody was a little green in places but I was pleased with a 53.6. I couldnt fault either of their jumping, with two super double clears. I pushed Ollie for the time XC, and he added just 4.4 to his dressage score to finish 3rd, and Woody added 13.2 time to finished in 10th. A fantastic weekend and I was pleased with them all.
Belton International
We had a fantastic trip up to Belton. I had Rocky competing in the Intermediate, our first at this level as a combination. He produced a nice test with a few mistakes to score 31.4, sadly rolled the last fence in the SJ but jumped a fantastic clear XC to add just 1.2 time faults to finish 4th. A great result.
I then had Barney, George and Tomi competing in the Au25. This was George and Barney's final run before Badminton as long as their entries are accepted off the wait list, and also my first advanced on Tomi. George produced a good test to score 35.7, Tomi too kept her cool, so I was quite pleased with 40.4, but Barney was far to fresh and was quite naughty to score 45.5. Tomi was great, but just rolled the last fence in the SJ, the judges thought that Barney and George both had 2 fences down even though they only had one down...very strange!! But they all jumped fantastic clears XC, Tomi added just 8.8 time faults to finish 5th, while George and Barney just went for steady clears.
Portman
I was at Portman on Wednesday with just Luca and Andy competing in the BE100. I was very pleased with Andy his first BE100 test of 32.0, but then sadly rolled 2 fences in the SJ, I decided to withdraw from the XC as he will be competing at Larkhill on Saturday and has previously missed a bit of work due to knocking his leg. Luca was quite fidgety in the dressage and scored 34.5, but redemmed himself with a lovely double clear with just 2.8 time faults.
Larkhill
We had a busy day at Larkhill with 4 horses competing in the BE100 / BE100 Open. It was my first event back on Henry and my first ever event of Victor, which was exciting. I also had Andy and Luca competing.
First to go was Victor, he did a lovely test, but the judge certainly hadnt warmed up with a very harsh score of 37.5. He rolled 1 fence in the SJ, but jumped a fantastic clear XC. Andy was next, he got a little bit strong in his test but was otherwise good to score 34.5. He had 2 down in the SJ, and sadly 1 stop XC. It was at chair before a step down, I think it just shocked him but he jumped it second time.
Luca was much more secure in his dressage to score 29.5, but got a bit too quick in the SJ and struggled with the short distances and had 2 fences down, but he went on to jump a bold clear XC with just a couple of time faults. Last but not least was Henry, he produced a faultless test to lie second after dressage with 25.5. I was even more pleased as he hasnt been schooled for about 6 months and I've only had him back a week. He then went on to jump a double clear inside the time and win. My first win of the season, and it was lovely to be on a horse I started myself.
All in all a good show, lovely to have Henry back eventing, and a great new ride in Victor.
South of England
This was the first 'not so successful' event of the season. We took Mexico and Rocky down to compete in the intermediate. They both did great tests, Mexico scored 30.9 and Rocky 31.8. Mexico rolled 1 fence and Rocky rolled 2, but they both jumped well. I set out on XC with Rocky, he was fantastic, but then got a bit strong coming into a coffin, he tried to take off then changed his mind and stopped but I flew over his head...I decided to retire and by the time I got back to the lorry, Jess my head girl had had an accident and got jumped on and has fractured her foot. I therefore had to withdraw Mexico whilst we sorted Jess out with the paramedics and sent her off to hospital for X-rays. All in all it didnt go to plan, but onwards and upwards and these two horses are going to Withington next.
Burnham Market International
We made the long journey up to the fantastic Burnham Market in Norfolk. It is a long way, but always worth it when you get there as it is such a lovely event.
I had Ollie and Woody competing in the CIC** and George and Tomi in the CIC***. Ollie and Woody both produced nice tests. Ollie was a bit tense but didnt make any mistakes to score 53.8 and Woody worked a lot better, but made 3 baby mistakes to score 55.6. Woody was very fresh and excited and jumped a bold and confident double clear. He felt very experienced for a horse who has only just moved upto the level and jumped well through all the direct routes. The ground was quite hard so I didnt run him fast, but he picked up 9.2 time to finish just outside the top 10. Ollie was awesome, he jumped a lovely SJ clear. Out on XC I didnt push him either for the time, but he felt so established and confident at the level, nothing phased him, he made no mistakes and came on a balanced rhythm into all the combinations, such an exciting prospect who now feels ready to move upto Advanced level, he picked up 8 time faults to finish a crediable 10th place. Such an exciting pair of horses who are both aiming for the 8/9yo at Blenhiem CIC***
Next was George and Tomi, I was pleased with both of their individual preformances in the dressage, George got a bit excited in the medium canters, otherwise was good, so I was a little disappointed with a score of 60.3. Tomi too, behaved very well and didnt get to het up, especially about the changes which is her most difficult movement to score 63.8. They both SJ very well, George caught 2 uprights and Tomi jumped an immaculate clear round. Sadly our luck didnt continue and both were a bit cheeky on the XC. George run out at a skinny brush at fence 4, very unlike him, but he was 4* fit, ready for Badminton, but sadly didnt get off the wait list, so he was re-routed to Burnham Market, but he was a bit too fresh and strong to be concentrating that early in the course. Tomi sadly ran past a left handed corner coming out of a coffin, two fences from home. It was a bit disappointing, but we dont know each other very well and she jumped fantastically well around the rest of the course, a very exciting mare for this year.
These two horses will now go to Chatsworth for the CIC*** and then onto Bramham for the CCI*** U25 Championships.
My 4th Badminton completion
It was amazing to be back at Badminton this year. It was so diappointing to have to withdraw both horses in 2010, it is so easy to take it for granted that I have a horse at this level. I had entered both George and Barney, but sadly George didnt have enough points and a wasnt accepted off the waiting list, but it was fantastic to have Barney there. He had competed at Badminton in 2007 and 2008 with Harry Meade and then again with myself in 2009, I was so excited to be back, it was my 4th Badminton aswell.
Barney too knew where he was and got very over excited. I was number 8, but as several of the riders ahead had withdraw I was actually 2nd the go. Following Andrew Nicholson on Avebury certainly didnt work to our advantage in the dressage. Barney started well in his trot work, but as soon as I got into walk he jogged and then got very tense in the canterwork, adding in a few unneccessary flying changes. I was disappointed with our score of 72.8 which left us a long way down the leaderboard after the 2 days of dressage.
Next was XC day, certainly our strong point. It was also a very special day, as not only was it Barney's 16th birthday, but was also his owner/breeders birthday. This is how he got his name 'Birthday Night' as he was born on Jane's birthday night.
We set off on the XC and he felt very good. The first few fences were just nice gallopy fences, sadly though, Barney lost both front shoes at fence 3. He went onto jump well through the house combination at fence 4/5, but the slid into fence 6, very genuine jumped and stayed straight to jump the skinny at the bottom of the hill. We then continued in fine style, I just had to be very cautious on the corners to make sure he didnt slip. I took one long route at fence 15, a double of corners on a long 2 strides, with a very short back rail, I just didnt think Barney would be able to read it, this was my first ever long route on him, but a necessary one. I kept on my minute markets though and we were always on time.
He was very quick and direct through the lake at fence 18/19/20, wasting no time, he jumped perfectly through huntsman's close at fence 22/23/24. The quarry was very punishing at the end of the course, with a big drop in, through to a simple log, then a steep hill with 1 stride before another log, I thought it was a very easy fence for a horse to make a mistake at, especially when they were tired at the end of the course, proving so with several horse falls, but Barney was very neat through it. The last 4 fences were quite straight forward, a brush, 4 or 5 strides to a roll top and a forward 5 strides to a narrow roll top. I was the 5 seconds up on my clock coming into the arena, but with the tight turn into and away from the final fence and no front shoes I had to be careful he didnt slip and sadly finished 1 second over the time to add just 0.4 of a time fault. But Barney finished well and later on our farrier Gary Urch came to put his shoes back on.
Trot up on Monday morning, Barney felt fantastic and flew through. We were lying in 42nd position over night. He warmed up well for SJ and jumped a lovely round, rolling 2 fences. But I was delighted, SJ isnt his strong phase and he really tried for me. It was also a very special 4th completion, and he will now join the horses listed in the programme for 4 or more completions at Badminton. A horse of a lifetime....what a superstar he is!!