Since my last update ALOT has happened!!
Firstly we had a successful trip to Chatsworth... Ginger didn't win me the £50 from Kenneth for showjumping clear but she did only have 2 down and then flew round the XC which meant we were qualified for Bramham CCI***. Landro, Steve(Noble Bestman) and Mexico all went well with Steve picking up a 5th placing.
The following weekend we were at Mattingly with Minimee and Caster in the open Novice, Caster did a lovely double clear but not such a good dressage left him just out the top 10! Minimee was leading on a 25 going into XC but took a dislike to the white Polar Bear coming out of the water so unfortunatele picked up 20 pens. In the Novice Regional Final, Steve and Mexico both jumped double clear to finish 5th and 9th respectively.... This meant Steve qualified for the Novice Championships but sadly Mexico just missed out!
Next stop was Tattersalls, Ireland with Cristal and Jambi(Mere Oak)... They were both doing their first CCI** Under 25. Jambi was first to go and he was doing a super test until the second walk pirouette, the wind got caught of someones jacket outside the arena and it started flapping... Jambi thought this was terrifying and so messed up the pirouette and the last canter movement down the long side as he thought the 'monster' was still there!!!! He still ended up on 48.8 which was pleasing but annoying to think it could easily have been a 43!
Cristal was next and he can be spooky at home so I wasn't too sure how he would cope in the main arena,however horses love to prove me wrong and he went in and did a beautiful test, he did everything I asked of him and was really impressive. He shot straight into the lead with a 38.5.... This meant I was lying 1st and 2nd with my two boys after dressage!
The XC was a big bold test with lots of ditches and a tricky sunken road at fence 4. Jambi was first out, so I didn't get a chance to watch anyone else... He was absolutely flying round until we came to water complex 3 from home, he jumped the skinny, then I got him right back as 3 strides later was a big step down into water... Jambi never read it as a step and before I knew it we were submerged under the water!!
A quick change of clothes... Polly Stockton very kindly leant me her Body Protector, whilst Winston Williams ran up to the trade stands to get a new air cannister for my Point 2 air jacket!
Then it was a phone call to Yogi to find out what I did wrong.. he assured me that neither me or Jambi were to blame and that it was just unlucky!
He came down to the warm up for Cristal and said he had seen a few falls in the water and that I needed to make sure I had cristal in trot after the skinny and then soften my hands to allow him to look down the step!
I had a plan and I was really looking forward to running Cristal as he was feeling mega in the warm up!
He set off and felt incredible... he was like riding an old campaigner not an 8yo doing his first **!!
As I came to the water I knew my plan... I got him back and he popped the skinny, I had him right back in trot and then softened... he dropped his head to look but didn't jump down... he took a stride so landed on one front leg and lost his balance... he was trying really hard to stand up and I was still sat there waiting for him to find his feet but unfortunately he lost his back legs and fell.
Two duckings was not what i had planned at all..... Thankfully both horses were absolutely fine and we will all live to fight another day!
I had started to ask myself if I could have stayed on Cristal so the next morning I went to watch the video replay... I then realised that if I had stayed on him I would have been underneath him!!!!!
I was so cross that the water had punished the horses unnecessarily... neither of mine did anything wrong they just didn't read it right, along with a number of other horses who also fell.
Onwards and Upwards.....
Wednesday, 9 June 2010
Thursday, 13 May 2010
World Class training with the DREAM TEAM!!
Yesterday Alex and I set off for Weston Lawns for a World Class training day... With GINGER MAY KILLINGHURST, RAYEF(Henry), MERE OAK(Jambi), FERNHILL CRISTAL and UNO DI LANDRO on board we decided we had the DREAM TEAM!!!!!
Henry was having his first public outing since his European Championships last September... He made sure everyone knew the beast had been unleashed!!!! He was however on his best behaviour!!
I'm not sure Kenneth Clawson appreciated all his extra jumps he did between the fences during his little jumping session!
Henry did put his best foot forward for Angela Tucker on his dressage lesson!
The others all went really well and found the training very beneficial as always!
I also have the chance of winning some money this weekend... Kenneth has said if i showjump clear on Ginger at Chatsworth he will give me £50... Come on Ginger!!!
Henry was having his first public outing since his European Championships last September... He made sure everyone knew the beast had been unleashed!!!! He was however on his best behaviour!!
I'm not sure Kenneth Clawson appreciated all his extra jumps he did between the fences during his little jumping session!
Henry did put his best foot forward for Angela Tucker on his dressage lesson!
The others all went really well and found the training very beneficial as always!
I also have the chance of winning some money this weekend... Kenneth has said if i showjump clear on Ginger at Chatsworth he will give me £50... Come on Ginger!!!
Pretty Blue Bells....!
Last weekend we were at Hambleden in the pretty blue bell woods!
Alex actually made me buy her a photo of Caster cantering through the blue bell woods!!!!
Enough of the site seeing!... MERE OAK (Jambi) and FERNHILL CRISTAL were doing the Novice Regional Final, both boys performed a good test, infact they were on the exact same score of 31.8!!
Both showjumped clear, Jambi then came home from XC with 4.4 time faults to finish 10th. Cristal on the other hand decided to take his time and enjoy the views so it was a very steady round from him.
Both horses now head for Tattersalls CCI**... Both doing their first CCI** and both 8years old...The challenge is on!!!!
GI MASTER CASTER was out doing his first OIU21, he was doing a lovely test until a trailer drove behind the arena down a bumby track... for a few moments Caster resembled a giraffe but luckily settled down again as soon as the trailer had passed! He still managed to score 33 so I was pleased.
Yogi very kindly came to help warm me in for the showjumping as we have had a few problems with Casters confidence at recent events... He showed us he was back on form and just had one unlucky rail but jumped fantastically other than that!
The XC was causing quite a few problems so my main aim was to get him round and build his confidence... He settled into a rhythm and felt great, a little hesitant at the first combination at fence 4 but other than that he flew round. I even got brave and jumped the direct route into the water.... I was pleased when Alex Colquhoun had photographic evidence!!!
Alex actually made me buy her a photo of Caster cantering through the blue bell woods!!!!
Enough of the site seeing!... MERE OAK (Jambi) and FERNHILL CRISTAL were doing the Novice Regional Final, both boys performed a good test, infact they were on the exact same score of 31.8!!
Both showjumped clear, Jambi then came home from XC with 4.4 time faults to finish 10th. Cristal on the other hand decided to take his time and enjoy the views so it was a very steady round from him.
Both horses now head for Tattersalls CCI**... Both doing their first CCI** and both 8years old...The challenge is on!!!!
GI MASTER CASTER was out doing his first OIU21, he was doing a lovely test until a trailer drove behind the arena down a bumby track... for a few moments Caster resembled a giraffe but luckily settled down again as soon as the trailer had passed! He still managed to score 33 so I was pleased.
Yogi very kindly came to help warm me in for the showjumping as we have had a few problems with Casters confidence at recent events... He showed us he was back on form and just had one unlucky rail but jumped fantastically other than that!
The XC was causing quite a few problems so my main aim was to get him round and build his confidence... He settled into a rhythm and felt great, a little hesitant at the first combination at fence 4 but other than that he flew round. I even got brave and jumped the direct route into the water.... I was pleased when Alex Colquhoun had photographic evidence!!!
Thursday, 6 May 2010
Sorry...!!!
Firstly I would like to apologise for the lack of updates recently…We have not been very good at updating the blog so here go’s with a months worth of our antics!!!
It kicked off a month ago with Jitterbug going to the British Open for the Eventer’s Grand Prix, she had a great time and so did I… she is awesome at these classes and even though we only finished 5th she is my favourite and puts a huge smile on my face when ever I jump her!!
Next stop was Weston Park on the Saturday… And the British Open!! We weren’t quite sure how we were going to manage to be in the right places for the right times!!
Alex drove the big lorry to Weston with Noble Springbok for Grace and GI Master Caster for me, I followed in the car to help Grace who was doing the Pony Trial. Whilst we were at Weston, Mum was on her way to the NEC with Noble Bestman. I helped Grace showjump and then hot footed it in the car to the NEC where Mum had Steve looking beautiful ready for the Working Hunter Grand Prix.
I hadn’t competed in a Working Hunter class since 2003!! Luckily nothing had changed and although I think I stood out like a sore thumb… Steve looked the part!!
The confirmation judge didn’t give him a good mark, I think he was looking too much like an eventer and wasn’t carrying enough weight! He gave the judge a good ride and then jumped out of his skin to score 19/20! With his good style mark for jumping he finished 4th… In our minds he won!!!!
Straight back in the car and up the motorway to do a dressage test on Caster… Alex had lunged him and he did a lovely test to score 29.5.
Whilst I had been at the NEC Grace had flown round the XC on Spring and finished 3rd.
Back to Weston on Sunday, Caster didn’t enjoy the ground in the Showjumping and had a round to forget, so we then withdrew him from the XC.
I was doing my first Advanced on Ginger May Killinghurst, she did a nice test although didn’t do her flying changes on the markers! She scored 35. The showjumpig was up to height and very airy! She jumped very well even though she had 3 down we were all really pleased.
She gave me an absolutely awesome ride XC, picked up a few time faults and finished 10th.
It was a really lovely day as John Studd who bred Ginger came to watch and he was thrilled to see her out competing again!
Mid week we had World Class training at Weston Lawns, we took 5 horses and they all benefited greatly from Tracie Robinson, Angela Tucker and Kenneth Clawson.
Next stop was Belton Park. Uno Di Landro was in the Novice, he did a nice test and jumped double clear but due to the hard ground he just ran slowly XC.
Mere Oak (Jambi) and Fernhill Cristal were both in the OIU21.
Jambi started of with a very nice test with one mistake in the simple change to score 30.5, Cristal then made a couple of mistakes and scored 31.4, this had them lying 3rd and 4th after dressage!
Both boys jumped lovely clear rounds show jumping. I decided to run Jambi steadier XC as he didn’t feel like he was enjoying the ground as much as he had at Burnham Market. He still managed to finish 8th.
Cristal was the star of the show and flew round the XC picking up a couple of time faults but it was good enough for him to be a winner!!
A few days later the lorry was loaded again for Sapey. I was having my first run on My Mexico, which went very well, jumping double clear and just adding a couple pf time faults to his 28.6 dressage and picking up a 2nd placing!
Noble Bestman was a winner!! He finished on his dressage score of 26.7.
GI Master Catser and Royal Hilarity had educational outings!!
Hunters Legend had his first run back for about a year… he was feeling very well and went well, just had a few cobwebs that needed dusting away so hopefully he will be in flying form next time out!
From Sapey we went to Withington.. Noble Bestman (Steve) and Uno Di Landro were out again in the Novice. Both went well again, Steve was cheeky in his dressage so only got 36, he jumped double clear but steady XC and finished 9th. Landro did another nice test to score 32. He rolled one pole in the SJ and was steady but clear XC. I was also riding Grace’s little horse Minimee in the Open Novice… he is lovely and led the dressage, followed by a super double clear but with a few time faults to finish 5th.
On the Sunday Ginger was in the Advanced but the ground was a bit too hard so we withdrew after the SJ.
Finally to finish off, we headed to Moreton Morrell, Steve was a superstar again and added just 0.8 time faults to finish 2nd! Landro led the dressage with a 26.7, had one rail and then a brilliant XC round with a few time faults, picking up 7th place. Mexico did a 33 dressage, had the last 2 fences down SJ and flew round the XC to finish outside the top 10. Unfortunately Royal Hilarity didn’t want to play today and I retired him on the XC…
Now you are fully up to date with our antics… off to Hambleden on Saturday… With Yogi lessons tomorrow!!!
It kicked off a month ago with Jitterbug going to the British Open for the Eventer’s Grand Prix, she had a great time and so did I… she is awesome at these classes and even though we only finished 5th she is my favourite and puts a huge smile on my face when ever I jump her!!
Next stop was Weston Park on the Saturday… And the British Open!! We weren’t quite sure how we were going to manage to be in the right places for the right times!!
Alex drove the big lorry to Weston with Noble Springbok for Grace and GI Master Caster for me, I followed in the car to help Grace who was doing the Pony Trial. Whilst we were at Weston, Mum was on her way to the NEC with Noble Bestman. I helped Grace showjump and then hot footed it in the car to the NEC where Mum had Steve looking beautiful ready for the Working Hunter Grand Prix.
I hadn’t competed in a Working Hunter class since 2003!! Luckily nothing had changed and although I think I stood out like a sore thumb… Steve looked the part!!
The confirmation judge didn’t give him a good mark, I think he was looking too much like an eventer and wasn’t carrying enough weight! He gave the judge a good ride and then jumped out of his skin to score 19/20! With his good style mark for jumping he finished 4th… In our minds he won!!!!
Straight back in the car and up the motorway to do a dressage test on Caster… Alex had lunged him and he did a lovely test to score 29.5.
Whilst I had been at the NEC Grace had flown round the XC on Spring and finished 3rd.
Back to Weston on Sunday, Caster didn’t enjoy the ground in the Showjumping and had a round to forget, so we then withdrew him from the XC.
I was doing my first Advanced on Ginger May Killinghurst, she did a nice test although didn’t do her flying changes on the markers! She scored 35. The showjumpig was up to height and very airy! She jumped very well even though she had 3 down we were all really pleased.
She gave me an absolutely awesome ride XC, picked up a few time faults and finished 10th.
It was a really lovely day as John Studd who bred Ginger came to watch and he was thrilled to see her out competing again!
Mid week we had World Class training at Weston Lawns, we took 5 horses and they all benefited greatly from Tracie Robinson, Angela Tucker and Kenneth Clawson.
Next stop was Belton Park. Uno Di Landro was in the Novice, he did a nice test and jumped double clear but due to the hard ground he just ran slowly XC.
Mere Oak (Jambi) and Fernhill Cristal were both in the OIU21.
Jambi started of with a very nice test with one mistake in the simple change to score 30.5, Cristal then made a couple of mistakes and scored 31.4, this had them lying 3rd and 4th after dressage!
Both boys jumped lovely clear rounds show jumping. I decided to run Jambi steadier XC as he didn’t feel like he was enjoying the ground as much as he had at Burnham Market. He still managed to finish 8th.
Cristal was the star of the show and flew round the XC picking up a couple of time faults but it was good enough for him to be a winner!!
A few days later the lorry was loaded again for Sapey. I was having my first run on My Mexico, which went very well, jumping double clear and just adding a couple pf time faults to his 28.6 dressage and picking up a 2nd placing!
Noble Bestman was a winner!! He finished on his dressage score of 26.7.
GI Master Catser and Royal Hilarity had educational outings!!
Hunters Legend had his first run back for about a year… he was feeling very well and went well, just had a few cobwebs that needed dusting away so hopefully he will be in flying form next time out!
From Sapey we went to Withington.. Noble Bestman (Steve) and Uno Di Landro were out again in the Novice. Both went well again, Steve was cheeky in his dressage so only got 36, he jumped double clear but steady XC and finished 9th. Landro did another nice test to score 32. He rolled one pole in the SJ and was steady but clear XC. I was also riding Grace’s little horse Minimee in the Open Novice… he is lovely and led the dressage, followed by a super double clear but with a few time faults to finish 5th.
On the Sunday Ginger was in the Advanced but the ground was a bit too hard so we withdrew after the SJ.
Finally to finish off, we headed to Moreton Morrell, Steve was a superstar again and added just 0.8 time faults to finish 2nd! Landro led the dressage with a 26.7, had one rail and then a brilliant XC round with a few time faults, picking up 7th place. Mexico did a 33 dressage, had the last 2 fences down SJ and flew round the XC to finish outside the top 10. Unfortunately Royal Hilarity didn’t want to play today and I retired him on the XC…
Now you are fully up to date with our antics… off to Hambleden on Saturday… With Yogi lessons tomorrow!!!
Monday, 3 May 2010
Tuesday, 6 April 2010
An update on our busy life at Membury...
Life at Membury has been a little busy of late. We went to Gatcombe Park for two days, on the first day I took my new ride Eliza Sangster’s Mere Oak (Jambi) to do the novice. He did a lovely test despite being a little ring rusty and scored 28.1. This was followed by 4 faults in the show jumping, he had jumped a flawless round until we got to the last upright when he took his eye off the fence and took the top rail with him. He jumped a super round across the country to finish the day and collected 2.4 time faults but I was delighted with his first run with me. This left us in first place less than one penalty in front. Not a bad start! Uno di Landro (Landro) was having his first novice run the year and scored a very impressive 19.5 in the dressage, followed by one down show jumping. I took him slowly cross country in order for him to read the fences himself and enjoy the whole experience. He jumped brilliantly and came home with 16 time faults. A very encouraging result for him and I am looking forward to his next few outings. Then on Sunday we headed back with Vancouver who had a late entry in the OI. He did a good dressage to score 31.4 followed by a not so good appearance in the show jumping. He stopped in the middle part of the treble, having landed very short and unable to make the distance. Luckily he came round again and popped over it second time round. This resulted in 19 faults but he followed up his misdemeanour with a faultless round across the country. He is heading to his first CIC** at Burnham Market at the weekend.
During the week, I had a jumping session with Yogi at Boomerang. I find a change in venue helps to keep the horses fresh and looking for new things. Then on Wednesday I headed to Somerley Park with GI Master Caster (Caster) and Noble Bestman (Steve). I couldn't quite believe they were running after all the torrential rain we had had over the previous few days. Needless to say we were towed in, albeit backwards!! Both horses tried their best in the dressage, getting stuck in the mud occasionally and scored perfectly reasonable marks. Against all the odds they both jumped super clear rounds in the jumping but when I went cross country on Caster he appeared to dislike the going and slipped into a fence badly so I pulled him up. There will always be another day. So I then decided not to run Steve as his next outing is at the NEC doing a working hunter class!
The week ended with a long drive to Burnham Market with four horses on board. The Lochore family did a fantastic job with the ground and keeping the event going. I had Fernhill Cristal, Vancouver and Ginger May Killinghurst in the CIC** and Mere Oak in the intermediate. Quite a luxury of four horses over three days! Mere Oak was a winner in the intermediate having scored 32.3 in the dressage and then jumped a double clear with a few time faults. He has yet to blot his copybook and is the main yard winner so far! Cristal did a good test despite being very tense in the wind and did not enjoy my tails flapping around on his back! He too jumped a super double clear and came third in his first attempt at this level. Ginger did a good accurate test to score 45.8 just behind the leaders. Her jumping is improving all the time and despite two down I was happy with her overall performance in the ring. Cross country was awesome, but we had a slight miscommunication coming out of the water and she locked onto the advance fence, and when I said no, she argued and dropped her head and by that point we had gone past my intermediate fence. Whoops!! However it is still a learning curve for me with her and I am very privileged to ride such an amazing cross country horse. Vancouver did a good dressage to score 48. However he picked up a stone bruise and so was not presented at trot up on Friday morning so sadly had to be withdrawn. Typically as with horses he was right as rain come Saturday morning, but it was obviously not meant to be. A long way to go for an expensive dressage test!!
The week ahead is fairly hectic as I have been invited to the NEC to take part in the Eventers Challenge on Thursday evening with Jitterbug and also the Saturday I return with Noble Bestman for the Working Hunter class. During all this I am also competing at Weston Park with a couple of horses. We are still trying to sort out the logistics of the whole operation!! At home things are going well and I'm pleased to say Hunters Legend has been coming over for me to ride, I hope to be out eventing on him soon. Also I have been given the ride on Nicky Betteridge's My Mexico. He will have his first run with me at Sapey.
Also this week we have visits from Simon Pratley, the dentist and Leigh Miller, the chiropractor. They are both an essential part of the team to help keep all the horses on the road to being happy and healthy and performing at their best!!
During the week, I had a jumping session with Yogi at Boomerang. I find a change in venue helps to keep the horses fresh and looking for new things. Then on Wednesday I headed to Somerley Park with GI Master Caster (Caster) and Noble Bestman (Steve). I couldn't quite believe they were running after all the torrential rain we had had over the previous few days. Needless to say we were towed in, albeit backwards!! Both horses tried their best in the dressage, getting stuck in the mud occasionally and scored perfectly reasonable marks. Against all the odds they both jumped super clear rounds in the jumping but when I went cross country on Caster he appeared to dislike the going and slipped into a fence badly so I pulled him up. There will always be another day. So I then decided not to run Steve as his next outing is at the NEC doing a working hunter class!
The week ended with a long drive to Burnham Market with four horses on board. The Lochore family did a fantastic job with the ground and keeping the event going. I had Fernhill Cristal, Vancouver and Ginger May Killinghurst in the CIC** and Mere Oak in the intermediate. Quite a luxury of four horses over three days! Mere Oak was a winner in the intermediate having scored 32.3 in the dressage and then jumped a double clear with a few time faults. He has yet to blot his copybook and is the main yard winner so far! Cristal did a good test despite being very tense in the wind and did not enjoy my tails flapping around on his back! He too jumped a super double clear and came third in his first attempt at this level. Ginger did a good accurate test to score 45.8 just behind the leaders. Her jumping is improving all the time and despite two down I was happy with her overall performance in the ring. Cross country was awesome, but we had a slight miscommunication coming out of the water and she locked onto the advance fence, and when I said no, she argued and dropped her head and by that point we had gone past my intermediate fence. Whoops!! However it is still a learning curve for me with her and I am very privileged to ride such an amazing cross country horse. Vancouver did a good dressage to score 48. However he picked up a stone bruise and so was not presented at trot up on Friday morning so sadly had to be withdrawn. Typically as with horses he was right as rain come Saturday morning, but it was obviously not meant to be. A long way to go for an expensive dressage test!!
The week ahead is fairly hectic as I have been invited to the NEC to take part in the Eventers Challenge on Thursday evening with Jitterbug and also the Saturday I return with Noble Bestman for the Working Hunter class. During all this I am also competing at Weston Park with a couple of horses. We are still trying to sort out the logistics of the whole operation!! At home things are going well and I'm pleased to say Hunters Legend has been coming over for me to ride, I hope to be out eventing on him soon. Also I have been given the ride on Nicky Betteridge's My Mexico. He will have his first run with me at Sapey.
Also this week we have visits from Simon Pratley, the dentist and Leigh Miller, the chiropractor. They are both an essential part of the team to help keep all the horses on the road to being happy and healthy and performing at their best!!
Sunday, 4 April 2010
Pictures from a successful Burnham Market...
MERE OAK... 1st Intermediate
GINGER MAY KILLINGHURST
FERNHILL CRISTAL... 3rd CIC**
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