Update

Laura has been woken up briefly and responded well to family. She is now asleep again.

Update

Laura had a comfortable night and remains in a stable condition.   Will keep you updated.  Her family appreciate all the support from friends and well wishers

Tweseldown

Following Laura's bad fall today Laura is now in ITU in hospital. She has been stabilised and we will know more over the next 24 hours....  Thank you for your messages and we will keep you updated

Badminton

Sadly we only made it to Badminton with Noble Bestman after Rayef picked up a small injury at Belton.

Driving through the village is the most amazing feeling.... It is THE big one and to make it there is fantastic!

Noble Bestman performed a very relaxed test, I was so pleased with him in that atmosphere but unfortunately the judges didn't like him! I think he got a bit lost in with all the big guns!!

He gave me a great ride xc.... He picked up a few time penalties but jumped brilliantly. Galloping into the arena, hearing the crowd is a spine tingling moment, but one I would love to feel again and again!

In the shhowjumping he was jumping his socks off but got a bit tired and had the last 2 fences down. Over all I was chuffed with him, he always tries his heart out!

Withington

Busy weekend in the run up to Badminton 

Kauto headed off to Sandown to the parade of Champions on Saturday and my friend Felicity Hook took him because I have been at Withington.  LRT collected him and he was in good company!  He travelled with Bobsworth, Sprinter Sacre and Simonsig!  Felicity said he behaved himself and was pleased to be out and about!

I headed off to Withington with Controe and Obos Cooley for the Intermediate on Saturday.

Controe finished 6th – he was a superstar.... He's only 6yo doing his first intermediate and he made it feel soooo easy!!

Obos Cooley finished 9th. after a really good 34 dressage, rolled the last fence sj and had a lovely spin round the xc!

Very happy with both young horses! Seriously exciting future ahead. 

Back to Withington on Sunday and I felt like all my Christmases had arrived at once – after 8 years I competed Noble Springbok again – he is now owned by Grace Walker but she has too many to ride and has exams at the moment so I was handed the reins for a spin. There aren't words to describe how amazing it was to be competing him  again.  He did a 29.5 dressage and cruised round adding 5.6 time pens to finish in 3^rd

Allora did 35 dressage and jumped a fantastic double clear round the Advanced....she gave me a fantastic ride xc! 

Withington is one of my favourite events – local! But with a great team of ever helpful volunteers , perfect ground, fantastic courses. 

Back at home Super Steve is ticking over prior to leaving for Badminton on Wednesday 

Thank you for all your messages re Henry – it is a huge disappointment for the team –  he has done so much for my career and I am hugely disappointed that he doesn't get the chance to have a spin round Badminton after he was awesome on his debut!

I have been watching the events over in the USA with great interest and am excited about the battle ahead at Badminton – the Rolex Grand Slam really is a possibility again!

WESTON PARK

Well Weston Park did not quite end up the way I had wished

It started well on Saturday

Noble Skyboy was cheeky in his dressage-thought the whole test should be done in canter! He redeemed himself with an awesome double clear 

Cooley Lord Lux did a nice test, unfortunately 2 down sj when the photographer decided to stand in front of the jumps!! Fab clear xc!

Nankin did a lovely test to score 25, had the last fence down sj and had a baby stop xc. But I am thrilled with him

A quick turnaround at home on Saturday night – thanks Flick! And we left at 415 for the Intermediate/Advanced horses

Obos Cooley was a star today.... Finished 2nd in his first intermediate after doing 25 dressage and super double clear

Noble Bestman was on cracking form in the advanced.... Did 33 dressage and pinged round double clear... Felt amazing xc!

I saved the best till last! Rayef led the dressage on 22, had one rail sj .. Was flying round the xc until 2 from home where he decided I could go on my own!

I am fine after my gentle tumble but am annoyed!  

Not quite the Badminton prep I wished but it has sharpened us up I am sure.   Both head to Belton at the weekend for their final prep

Weston was bathed in sunshine and no mud in sight  - happy happy days

 

Laura

 

Lincoln

It has been a crazy few days!

Friday saw team Collett at Cheltenham parading Kauto Star before the Gold Cup – he was really well behaved and seemed to know exactly where he was.  I am so pleased for Team Henderson – what an amazing week they had.   Mr. Henderson kindly lets me use his gallops with my big boys and he occasionally uses the school here at the yard for lessons with Yogi so I follow the team closely. 

We headed north to Lincoln this weekend – good shout as it turned out with Aldon being cancelled for the first time in over 20 years.  The team at Lincoln did an amazing job to keep going in the rain and snow and I ended up running all of mine. 

Rayef was 1st winnerwinnerchickendinner !! he was very cheeky in his dressage...Scored his first ever 3!!! But to be fair he did have to contend with snow during the test.  But the rest was lovely and he scored 25! He then jumped a lovely double clear...  It is great to have him back out after his minor injury last year and we now head to    His Badminton entry is now in. 

My good run continued with Noble Bestman was 2nd, Controe was 6th and Allora was 7th.... All have been fab 

Heading home now and we leave for Fointenbleu on Tuesday

 

Laura