Round up.....

We have been busy the last few weeks with events and training....

Lincoln was a mixed day, OBOS COOLEY was fantastic jumping a super double clear after a 25 dressage, just a steady run xc for his first event so finished 8th.
CONTROE was far too excited about going xc and we had no steering so picked up 2 run outs on the xc... new xc bit needed!!!!
RAYEF was also a bit cheeky and didn't respect a corner fence so we had do a circle before the next fence, they gave him 20 pens even though the fences were sepeartely numbered so that was a bit annoying!

The following week we headed to Gatcombe where the star of the show was PAMERO, he led the dressage by 4 marks on 22.5 and jumped a lovely double clear to win.
The next day was full of hail storms and the ground in the showjumping got quite deep and slippery, this upset COOLEY LORD LUX so we didn't run him xc.
OBOS COOLEY had lead the dressage by 4 marks on 22.3 but he struggled in the ground so had 2 down, he then flew round xc to finish 5th.
NANKIN was having his first run at Intermediate level, he scored 30.9 in the dressage and jumped a fantastic double clear... just steady for his first run at this level but I was so pleased with him, its special because I have had them since a 3yo!
CONTROE was going brilliantly in the new bit xc but I was having such a lovely ride that I completely forgot to ride properly into the water so he came to a stand still... Thrilled that the bit worked but now the jockey needs to ride properly!!!!!

Our next run was at Goring, I ran COOLEY LORD LUX in the novice and he was so happy to have nice ground! He did a great test for 25 and had an unlucky rail to then finish 4th.
CONTROE went for a spin round the novice (hc) to check our brakes out again before he did his first CIC**, he was cheeky in his dressage but jumped a fantastic double clear!
I also rode SANNAN VALLEY JUSTICE for Karen Huyten and she made a couple  of mistakes in her dressage to score 30.5 and followed that up with a great double clear for 3rd.

Belton Park is such a lovely event and a huge Thankyou must go to Stuart Buntine and his team who ran a brilliant event! I had PAMERO doing our first Intermediate together, he finsihed 2nd after just picking up a few time penalties on the xc to add to his dressage of 25.5.
CONTROE was doing his first CIC** and I was pleased with his dressage but he didn't get a good score, he then was a bit cheeky in the showjumping and had 2 down but redeemed himself by flying round the xc (in control!!!!!)
OBOS COOLEY found the atmosphere all a bit much and was unsettled in his dressage,  he tripped into the first fence showjumping so had it down and then rolled another pole ealry on before jumping really well. He totally redeemed himself round the xc when he was totally awesome, it was his first Advanced and he made it feel easy!
I've had CONTROE and OBOS COOLEY since they were 4yo so it means alot now they are stepping up the levels and feeling grown up!!!

Training and first event.....

Last week we had 2 days of World Class training... I took PAMERO, CONTROE, COOLEY LORD LUX and OBOS COOLEY.

It was jumping both days with Yogi Breisner and Philip Surl.... all the horses improved so much by day 2. We really concentrated on the ridability and control round the turns.

Yesterday we headed off to thr first event of the season... COOLEY AGAIN and PAMERO in the Novice and CONTROE in the Open Novice.
After a very early start leaving for Isleham at 3am, all the boys behaved beautifully and the sun was shining!
All 3 boys managed a top 10 placing and all felt fab xc.
PAMERO - 4th
COOLEY AGAIN - 6th
CONTROE - 9th.

Now a couple of weeks before we head north to Lincoln.

"Bucking fun"!!!!!

Claire Lomas asked me to ride in the eventers vs jockeys bucking bronco fund raising evening.... It was a fantastic night and I hear she raised over £10,000.
When asked by Claire, I didn't need to think twice... she's a total inspiration and anything I can do to help her I will.

On the jockeys team they had 'The Champ' (A.P. McCoy), Andrew Tinkler, Choc Thornton, Sam Thomas, Mark Bradburne, Alice Fox-Pitt and Dominic Elsworth.

Joining me on the eventers team were William Fox-Pitt, Tina Cook, Lucy Jackson, Jonty Evans, Pheobe Buckley and Bruce Haskell.

As you can imagine it got very competitive!! Luckily the eventers came out on top and I managed to win after staying on the bronco for over 6mins 30secs.... I tried to explain that the last time I fell off, I ended up in a coma, so I have learnt to sit very tight!!!!!!!!

For full report and videos following this link....

http://www.eventingstig.co.uk/1/post/2014/02/laura-collett-dominates-at-bucking-fun.html

I'm now looking forward to Claire's next fund raiser!!

First competition.....

We had our first competition at the weekend... we headed to West Wilts BSJA with 5 horses! They were all cracking form....

COOLEY LORD LUX jumped 2 super clear rounds in 1m05 and Newcomers, he was only on a ticket so no prizes for him!
OBOS COOLEY was 2nd in Newcomers and had an unlucky rail in 1m15.
RAYEF was on flying form and enjoyed being a showjumper for the day!! He won both the Newcomers and Foxhunter classes.
CONTROE was out competing for the first time since 8th July, he had the first fence down in 1m15, I think he was a bit shocked he was actually out jumping!! He then finished 2nd to RAYEF in the Foxhunter.
I was super excited to make my first competition with PAMERO a winning one! He won the 1m15 and then got a bit forward in 1m20 and had a rail, he was very cool and just need to get to know each other a bit more!

All in all a successful first trip out.... let's hope this winning form continues throughout the season!

XC schooling....

Yesterday we had another trip to the fantastic facilities at Aston Le Walls for some more xc schooling.

I tried a new bit on RAYEF and he went really well, he likes to be in control so I now have him in a rubber snaffle!

Karen Huyten bought SANNAN VALLEY JUSTICE  along for me to school... I haven't xc schooled her simce 8th July but she was in great form.

COOLEY LORD LUX and COOLEY AGAIN came for another play, they were both very good and excited to be out xc again so soon!!

I schooled a pony called SMOKEY that I have in for schooling and he was very cute... I do love being able to still ride the ponies!!

The highlight of my day was having my first xc school on the new boy, PAMERO, he was electric! I hadn't even seen him go xc so was hoping he was as mega as his previous owner had said... and he was!! After the first little spin round, Yogi said to me "it's a good job its not a hot day otherwise you would catching flies with a smile like that!!"

A huge Thankyou to Emma Bearman who was on hand to take some photos for me....

Here is one of PAMERO...

And one of RAYEF.....

First XC school of 2014.....

Today we headed to Aston Le Walls for the first xc schooling session since the end of the 2013 season!
With all this wet weather it was fantastic to make use of Aston Le Walls new all-weather xc schooling ground.
Cooley Lord Lux was a bit nervous of all the other horses whizzing round in all different directions but he jumped great!
Obos Cooley was on brilliant form, he felt really established on his lines and seemed pleased to be out doing xc again!
Controe was having his first outing since 8th July so he was totally over excited but had a fabulous time! He so enjoys his jumping!

I gave Francesca Sargent lessons on Nankin and Cooley Again, she rode beautifully and both horses jumped fab!

Exciting times....

We have a very exciting new addition to Team Collett.... PAMERO 4.

Clive Smith (Kauto Star's owner) has very kindly decided to buy an event horse for me to ride. PAMERO 4 is a 7yo German horse who has competed in showjumping and a handful of events.

The main aim for this year will be to take him to Le Lion D'Angers for the 7yo World Championships.

PAMERO arrived last Wednesday and has settled in extremely well.... I can't wait to get to know him better and begin to build a partnership with him.

Last weekend I had a little trip to Ireland... I had an absolutely fantastic time hunting with the Fingal Harriers. Going hunting with Sam Watson and Ciaran Glynn seemed like a good idea before I went but I did have to 'grow a pair' when I saw the size of some of those ditches!!!!!!! Luckily the horses we were given were incredible and we could just leave them to it!
My visit coincided with the David Foster Injured riders' ball.... this was a great evening and the Irish really do know how to party!

I then headed off to World Class training for 2 days of dressage lessons.... RAYEF, OBOS COOLEY, COOLEY LORD LUX, NANKIN and COOLEY AGAIN were all very well behaved.
Angela Tucker, Nick Burton and Gill Watson were teaching and I now have lots to work on ready for the season that is just around the corner!!