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June 2011 Diary
Salperton
We have just got back from Salperton. I took 3 horses, Tomi, Woody and Rocky. Tomi was in the AI and having her first run back since Bramham. And the other two horses were running in the intermediate.
Tomi was a little over excited in the dressage, and decided that she would rather do flying changes than half pass and counter canter, but we got through it and scored 48. She went onto jump a super SJ round, just touching an upright coming out of the combination for 4 faults. We then jumped clear XC with 9 time faults.
Woody produced one of his best tests to date, thanks to help from Angela Tucker. He hasnt been to an event for about 6 weeks due to his over-reach at Hambledon, but he came back in style with a score of 28.6, sadly rolled one fence SJ, as he was a little over excited, but a foot perfect clear XC. I only took him very slowly as it was a hilly course and he hadnt done much fitness work, we picked up 22 time faults and a 7th place. Rocky was good, he was a little inconsistent in his head and scored 35 in the dressage. Two fences down SJ and a super clear XC with 12 time faults, finishing just outside the placings.
Photo thanks to HK Photographics
Longleat International
Well Longleat bought some ups and downs. The horses went well, but the conditions were pretty bad. Rocky was doing his first CIC**, he produced a good test, although was quite spooky at the white boards at the beginning of the test, but settled well into his canterwork. He scored 51.1, and lay in the top third after dressage.
Next was Milo competing in the Novice, he did a lovely test, just isnt quite secure in his lateral work yet, so scored 34.5. He then had one fence down in the SJ, which wasnt too disappointing as the conditions were very deep. He went on to be a superstar XC, clear inside the time. I didnt really push for the time, but he covers the ground very well, and coped with the soft going. He was the only one inside the time XC in his section which was exciting and picked up another 7th place.
We were meant to go back the following day for Rocky’s SJ and XC, but they had abandoned the second half of Saturdays XC and cancelled every class except the CIC** on Sunday, I decided to withdraw as I didnt think it was fair to ask Rocky to compete in his first CIC** in deep conditions, he will now go to Salperton for the intermediate and Barbury CIC**.
West Wilts
We had a last minute decision to take Andy and Luca to West Wilts to compete in the BE100, but they both went very well. Andy did his usual consitent test to score 33.0 and lay in the top 5 after dressage, Luca was a little spooky but scored 35.5. Both horses sadly rolled a pole SJ, but jumped well. Andy jumped a super clear XC inside the time to finish 7th, sadly he would have won if he didnt have his SJ down. Luca too jumped a lovely clear XC to add just 1.2 time faults, so finished just outside the placings in 12th.
Photo thanks to Michelle Scammell
Great Tew
We had two days at Great Tew. Luca and Andy were competing in the BE100. They both produced good tests. Andy scored 31.0, and Luca was very harshly marked on 40.5. The SJ arena was very tight and it had rained so the ground was a bit slippy and sadly both horses had a couple of fences down. Andy went on to fly round the XC clear inside the time, and Luca had a babish run out at a Skinny that was on a turn after a drop. It was quite a big BE100 and I was pleased with the way Luca jumped the rest of the course.
We were back the following day with Milo, Victor and Henry. Victor did a super test to score 29.0, Milo 33.5 and Henry 39.5. Victor jumped a lovely clear and the others rolled 2 fences, they all jumped well so it was a bit disppointing they weren’t all clear.
Victor jumped clear XC with 2 time to finish in 2nd place. Milo picked up 1.6 time to finish 7th and Henry had 8.8 to finish outside the placings. All in all a great day!
Summerhouse BSJA
I had a busy day at Summerhouse with 5 horses. Andy and Luca were competing in the BN, they both jumped loevly double clears, Andy finished 2nd and Luca was 6th. Next was the Discovery. Andy jumped clear in the first round and rolled a pole in the jump off. Luca too jumped clear in the first round, then ran out at the double as he was spooking at a sponsors sign in the jump off. He then went on to roll a fence in the 1.05m but jumped a lovely round.
Victor, Rocky and Milo were in the Newcombers. Milo jumped clear in the first round and had a fence in the jump off. Victor was a bit keen and had a fence going into the double in the first round. Rocky jumped two super rounds to finish 5th.
All 3 went on the jump in the 1.15m, it was a two-phase. All 3 horses jumped very well, but sadly all rolled a pole in the jump off. It was well worth going and all the horses learnt something so should be ready for Great Tew, and we took home some prize money!!
Bramham International
We were back up north with George and Tomi competing in the Under 25 CCI*** at Bramham International. Bramham is such a special event. They Georgie Spenceboth trotted up well, and it was on to the dressage. George did a super test, but made 2 small mistakes to score 58.6. Then Tomi was really on form and did her best ever test, she still hasnt established her flying changes which reflected in the mark as I was hoping to get into the late 50′s with her, she scored 62.2 which was still a huge improvement for her.
The XC was a typical Ian Stark course, big bold and gallopy. There were some serious questions, two decent water combinations and two sets of ‘double of corners’ but generally it was causing problems all over with the seniors running first. Our times were all about 1.5hrs late, due to all the hold for falls and fence repairs!!
George was my first to go, and as always was a star. He jumped an immaculate clear XC inside the time, jumping all the staright routes and with no hairy moments, its lovely riding a horse who is just so experienced at this level that I no inside out.
Next was Tomi, still a very new ride, but a horse who I love and am enjoying growing a partnership with. Sadly we picked up an early 20 penalties at fence 4. A gappy roll top with a drop on the otherside. It was obviously disapointing, but I could never be dis-pleased with the mare. She has been ridden by her owner Rachel Gough from Novice to 4* and developed a very concrete partnership. I understand it’ll take time for Tomi to trust me as everyone has different styles of riding.
She went on to be faultless around the rest of course, jumping all the straight routes with ease. We even finished on the time, she is a quick mare, and even when you think you are in a hand canter, she can really cover the ground. She is a very exciting prospect and I am very confident that we will get together in time.
Both horses trotted up very well Sunday morning, Tomi jumped a great clear in the SJ, and sadly George rolled a few fences, a bit disappointing as he has been jumping so well, but both horses finished in the top 20, and are qualified for Burghley, where they will aim for at the end of the year.
Photos thanks to Gus Winterman and Tom Wilkinson
Houghton International
I had a lovely quiet few days up at Houghton Horse Trails with just Ollie competing in the CCI**. The plan was to bring Woody aswell, who was doing his first CCI** but his over-reach from Hambledon was only just healing, and having had 3 weeks off, we thought it would sadly be best to give this one a miss. I also took Luca up there to competing in the Unaffiliated Show Jumping classes, and the eventers Grand Prix.
Ollie was very fresh to be out, he loves 3 days!! I rode his 2 or 3 times each days, and even cantered and jumped him as he was so exciting. Dressage day came, and he was just a bit too quiet and went a bit dead to the leg. I’m not sure whether I just over worked him or he just decided to behave in the arena, but I was still disappointed with a mark of 55.3 which left us just inside the top third.
I had walked the XC course several times. I was quite happy with everything, and thought Ollie was well prepared and ready. I was a little nervous though as the XC started, it was causing a lot of problems, but all over the course. But I decided to stick to my plan. Ollie was faultless from start to finish, and never flickered on any of his lines through the combinations. He is such an exciting horse, and I am looking forward to moving him up to advanced level this year. I picked up just 3.2 time faults. The amazing thing was, that he had moved upto 12th place, as there were only 22 clears XC.
He flew through the trot up on Sunday morning, and went on to jump a super clear SJ. He is so reliable and such a genuine horse. I moved up to 10th place and was delighted. He was was a joy to ride.
Luca to had a lovely week, he grew up so much working each day at the event. On the first day, he had 1 fence down in each class. On the second day he jumped double clear in the eventers grand prix (slowly) and went on to jump another double clear on the final day. I was very pleased with how he dealt with the atmosphere as there were lots of shops/people and flags around the arena and he was very well behaved.
Photo thanks to Guy Briselden