Lots to catch up on!!

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.....