I have been truly spoilt this morning, thanks to everyone!! Celebrations started on Friday evening in The Plough in Ford with alot of my friends from the Stow area. On Sunday evening, I went a select group to support the local Lambourn Carnival and had a very good evening, despite being covered in bruises from the dodgems. On Monday, I went out for a quiet meal before heading home to start my packing for Burghley, all getting close now.
This morning packing has started and the fencew outside the yard resembles a washing line.... drying begins in earnest! Hope to leave around 11am to go via the pool with Ginger before heading to Burghley.
Cristal is joining us for the week as he qualified for the CIC*** at Blenheim next week by jumping a fantastic round cross country yesterday. Despite having 2 fences down we finished 11th in a strongly contested advanced section. His first ever!! So proud of my boy, he's growing up quickly!! All being well and if Blenheim goes to plan he will go on a much deserved Winter break before starting work again in December.
My Grandparents are over from New Zealand and are coming to support the team for the week. They are also using the chance to catch up with all their friends in the UK before making their way home after Blenheim. Its been so nice to have them around.
Hope to keep updated frequently on my progress from Burghley.....
Tuesday 31 August 2010
Monday 30 August 2010
Dassett Courage
I am very lucky and i have been bought Dassett Courage to ride. He is a 6 year old bay gelding aiming for the CIC* at Osberton this Autumn. 'Teddy' to his friends has settled in really well and will run at Pontispool and Gatcombe before heading to Osberton. I hope to have a photo of him soon.
Burghley 2010
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Day 2 at Highclere
Yet another busy day at Highclere with 5 on the lorry.
Noble Bestman did a 35 dressage followed by a double clear in the inermediate and was pipped o he post by Sharron Hunt. But a second place in his third intermediate is not bad. His aim will be Weston CCI** in October, providing he qualifies at South of England.
Vancouver was out again and did 38 in dressage, hit the first rails of the treble in the showjumping and went briiliantly but slowly accross the country to get 19 time faults. He too might aim for Weston CCI**.
Master Caster did a lovely test marred by one mistake in the canter work, but i feel was harshly marked to score 37. He hit the first show jump and then jumped his socks off. Which is very pleasing as it was a big show jumping track, Sadly his performance was marred by a naughty stop xc, but having been reminded that her was here to jump the fences, not stop he went really well. What annoying stop!!
Mere Oak did a fab test to score 29.5, but had 3 fences down jumping followed by a fast cleasr xc to come home with a rosette for 9th. He is aiming for the CCI** at Osberton.
We also took Lottie Kennedy with us as she has been based with us over the Summer. She did a lovely test on her mare Sunny. Sadly show jumping did not go according to plan and she had a parting of the ways. Having beem checked by the doctor it was decided to send Lottie to hospital for a more through check up. Good news is that she was let out that night. Wishing her a speedy recovery at home now.
Today Fernhill Cristal goes to Highclere for his first advanced with the aim of securing a qualificaion for Blenheim CIC***.
Mean while hings at home at ticking along as usual. I jumped Jitterbug bare back o pracise for the jumping class at Blenheim. I have taken a video and will try and get it up later.
Ginger has had her last jump for Burghley with Yogi his morning and then went and did 32 laps round the poool. She will be fit for Burghley!! Tomorrow she will have a gentle swim before we leave as she will be unable to swim whilst we are at the event. She has been swimming three times a week, averaging 75 laps a week.
Packing for Burghley begins in earnest tonight when we return from Highclere. As we plan to leave at about noon tomorrow. Fingers crossed now for the 'Big One'!!
Noble Bestman did a 35 dressage followed by a double clear in the inermediate and was pipped o he post by Sharron Hunt. But a second place in his third intermediate is not bad. His aim will be Weston CCI** in October, providing he qualifies at South of England.
Vancouver was out again and did 38 in dressage, hit the first rails of the treble in the showjumping and went briiliantly but slowly accross the country to get 19 time faults. He too might aim for Weston CCI**.
Master Caster did a lovely test marred by one mistake in the canter work, but i feel was harshly marked to score 37. He hit the first show jump and then jumped his socks off. Which is very pleasing as it was a big show jumping track, Sadly his performance was marred by a naughty stop xc, but having been reminded that her was here to jump the fences, not stop he went really well. What annoying stop!!
Mere Oak did a fab test to score 29.5, but had 3 fences down jumping followed by a fast cleasr xc to come home with a rosette for 9th. He is aiming for the CCI** at Osberton.
We also took Lottie Kennedy with us as she has been based with us over the Summer. She did a lovely test on her mare Sunny. Sadly show jumping did not go according to plan and she had a parting of the ways. Having beem checked by the doctor it was decided to send Lottie to hospital for a more through check up. Good news is that she was let out that night. Wishing her a speedy recovery at home now.
Today Fernhill Cristal goes to Highclere for his first advanced with the aim of securing a qualificaion for Blenheim CIC***.
Mean while hings at home at ticking along as usual. I jumped Jitterbug bare back o pracise for the jumping class at Blenheim. I have taken a video and will try and get it up later.
Ginger has had her last jump for Burghley with Yogi his morning and then went and did 32 laps round the poool. She will be fit for Burghley!! Tomorrow she will have a gentle swim before we leave as she will be unable to swim whilst we are at the event. She has been swimming three times a week, averaging 75 laps a week.
Packing for Burghley begins in earnest tonight when we return from Highclere. As we plan to leave at about noon tomorrow. Fingers crossed now for the 'Big One'!!
Saturday 28 August 2010
Catch up!
Ok ok ok - Apologies for lack of news recently I have just been so busy in the run up to my first 4* at Burghley and celebrating my 21st but don’t worry am back on the case now!
The Europeans was an amazing trip for me - the team won team gold and Cristal and I finished out of the medals in 8th place but I am delighted with his progress this year and to stand on the podium with my team mates was a special way to mark the end of my young rider career.
The whole week was an emotional one for me as Grace was part of the european pony team with Spring. He yet again proved he is the best pony in the world by winning a Silver individual medal and team gold. Grace and he are a great partnership and I was thrilled to hear their progress over the weekend but sad not to be there to witness it.
Felicity , a member of my hardworking back up team, recently got engaged and left us to concentrate on her wedding and the next phase of her life – we will miss her
Back home and back to earth with a bump. We headed to Gatcombe and Ginger did a great dressage to score 32, a fantastic clear show jumping and was then withdrawn. I always planned to run at Hartpury the week later.
West Wilts was next with the younger horses and 3rd and 8th was not too bad a day at the office
Aston Le Walls was the next stop with the intermediates – they both went well and jumped clear xc but our show jumping let us down
Ginger was having her final run before Burghley at Hartpury and started well with a great test and a fantastic clear round show jumping. She got really strong on the cross country and sadly we had 2 run outs – not the perfect prep for Burghley so we decided to enter her at Hatherleigh the following weekend for another run. We borrowed a bit from Lucy Wiegersma to try and moved on .
The trip to Hatherleigh was fitted in at the last moment and down the M5 and the A38 on a summer weekend was a trial all on its own but we made it and were greeted with the best ground we have seen for ages. Ginger did a great test but 2 down marred that score but we came here to test her brakes before Burghley so that was the important phase. Lucy’s bit did the trick and I pulled up after 8 fences with mission accomplished. We took her home and will wrap her up in cotton wool until we leave for Burghley on the Tuesday.
We have been lucky to be able to swim Ginger at Harry Dunlop’s http://www.harrydunlopracing.com/ and Oliver Sherwood’s in Lambourn http://www.oliversherwood.co.uk/ and thanks must go to both of them and their team at home for helping us in the run up to the big one
We left at early o’clock for the trip to Somerford park and yet again were greeted by amazing going – Noble Bestman was 8th but Caster was naughty and stopped twice at the third last. Vancouver came for an outing too – he did a great test of 28 and then was withdrawn as it was his first outing since April.
This week has been full of lessons with Yogi and gearing up for 8 at Highclere over the weekend. Oh yes and a small matter of the start of my birthday celebrations!
Today MILLFIELD CONDESCEND did a test of 29 and followed it up with a double clear and finished 4th in the five year old section
The Europeans was an amazing trip for me - the team won team gold and Cristal and I finished out of the medals in 8th place but I am delighted with his progress this year and to stand on the podium with my team mates was a special way to mark the end of my young rider career.
The whole week was an emotional one for me as Grace was part of the european pony team with Spring. He yet again proved he is the best pony in the world by winning a Silver individual medal and team gold. Grace and he are a great partnership and I was thrilled to hear their progress over the weekend but sad not to be there to witness it.
Felicity , a member of my hardworking back up team, recently got engaged and left us to concentrate on her wedding and the next phase of her life – we will miss her
Back home and back to earth with a bump. We headed to Gatcombe and Ginger did a great dressage to score 32, a fantastic clear show jumping and was then withdrawn. I always planned to run at Hartpury the week later.
West Wilts was next with the younger horses and 3rd and 8th was not too bad a day at the office
Aston Le Walls was the next stop with the intermediates – they both went well and jumped clear xc but our show jumping let us down
Ginger was having her final run before Burghley at Hartpury and started well with a great test and a fantastic clear round show jumping. She got really strong on the cross country and sadly we had 2 run outs – not the perfect prep for Burghley so we decided to enter her at Hatherleigh the following weekend for another run. We borrowed a bit from Lucy Wiegersma to try and moved on .
The trip to Hatherleigh was fitted in at the last moment and down the M5 and the A38 on a summer weekend was a trial all on its own but we made it and were greeted with the best ground we have seen for ages. Ginger did a great test but 2 down marred that score but we came here to test her brakes before Burghley so that was the important phase. Lucy’s bit did the trick and I pulled up after 8 fences with mission accomplished. We took her home and will wrap her up in cotton wool until we leave for Burghley on the Tuesday.
We have been lucky to be able to swim Ginger at Harry Dunlop’s http://www.harrydunlopracing.com/ and Oliver Sherwood’s in Lambourn http://www.oliversherwood.co.uk/ and thanks must go to both of them and their team at home for helping us in the run up to the big one
We left at early o’clock for the trip to Somerford park and yet again were greeted by amazing going – Noble Bestman was 8th but Caster was naughty and stopped twice at the third last. Vancouver came for an outing too – he did a great test of 28 and then was withdrawn as it was his first outing since April.
This week has been full of lessons with Yogi and gearing up for 8 at Highclere over the weekend. Oh yes and a small matter of the start of my birthday celebrations!
Today MILLFIELD CONDESCEND did a test of 29 and followed it up with a double clear and finished 4th in the five year old section
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