Saturday 20 September 2014

BROKEN FOOT!

After a successful trip to Goring where BRAWO won his BE100 on his dressage score of 25.5,we headed off to Blenheim with GRAND MANOEUVRE for the CCI*** and OUZO for the Brightwells Auction.

Unfortunately the week started in disaster when OUZO slipped over on the Tuesday landing on my foot, I was in a lot of pain but was sure by the end of the week I would be ok to ride GRAND MANOEUVRE!
My foot was so swollen that I had to go tomy amazing sponsors, Ariat, and get new boots a couple of sizes bigger!!!! On Thursday I tried jumping to see what my chanves were of being able to go xc on Saturday and annoyingly it was far too painful so I decided to do the dressage on Friday and then go to hospital to get it checked out!
GRAND MANOEUVRE did a lovely test and I felt like we were becoming more of a partnership, he lay in 7th place with a score of 40.8.
I withdrew and reluctantly went to a foot specialist who confirmed I had broken 4 metatarsals in my foot!
The only good news is that he is optimistic that I will be back in time for Boekelo CCI***.

So the plan now is to rest up, get fixed and be ready to GRAND MANOEUVRE to Boekelo CCI***, followed by Le Lion 7yo World Championships with CONTROE and PAMERO!

Fingers crossed all goes to plan!!!!!!!!!

Monday 15 September 2014

August....

We headed toCamphire in Ireland with MR BASS, COOLEY AGAIN and COOLEY LORD LUX.... This was my first trip to Camphire and I was very impressed with how lovely the organisers were and how much work they did to the ground to ensure the horses had the best possible going!
MR BASS finished on his dressage score of 45.9 towin the CIC*YH section.
In the same section, COOLEY AGAIN just added 2.4 time pens tohis dressage of 47.9 to end up in 6th.
I was over the moon with COOLEY LORD LUX who finished on his dressage score of 44.1 and end up in 4th place in the CIC**.

Next up was Gatcombe Park for the Novice and Intermediate Championships.... SANNANVALLEY JUSTICE was very lit up in her dressage but made up for it by flying round the xc after 1 fence down in the showjumping.
PAMERO did a super test for 29.6, he annoyingly rubbed the planks to pick up 4 faults but felt incredible round a tough xcto finish 12th.
OBOS COOLEY jumped brilliantly but unfortunately had the last fence down showjumping and picked up a frustrating 20pens on xc... I was still very pleased with him because it was my fault for not making it clear what the question was!

Hartpury was the next event... CONTROE and COOLEY LORD LUX were in CCI** and GRAND MANOEUVRE the CIC***.
The dressage didn't quite go to plan in CCI** with COOLEY LORD LUX doing a nice test but deciding to stick his tongue out the whole way through which left us with a score of 50.9 but thoroughly redeemed himself with an amazing double clear to finish 10th in his first CCI**. CONTROE disgraced himself in his test but jumped an incredible clear xc and just one unlucky rail... so pleased with how these boys felt jumping in their first CCI**!
GRAND MANOEUVRE was super in his test to score 43.8, he then jumped an immaculate double clear just adding time faults! He gave me a great ride!

The babies then had a trip to Solihull for the 5yo class.... All were very good boys withORATORIO winning on his dressage score of 21.5, OUZO was 10th and BRAWO 12th!

We made the long trip up to Blair Castle with SANNANVALLEY JUSTICE for CCI* and GRANDMANOEUVRE for CIC***.
Blair is a beautiful venue and both xc courses were tough but rode well.
SANNANVALLEY JUSTICE did some nice movements but lost marks with a few errors to score 53.5, she flew round the xc clear inside the time but had an uncharacteristic 2 fences down on the final day.
GRAND MANOEUVRE felt much better in his test but struggled slighlty in the mud!! He still lay in 5th place with a score of 46.5. He jumped another super double clear, adding time faults to finish 14th but filled me with confidence for Blenheim CCI***!

We arrived home from Blair at the early hours of Monday morning and after a few hours sleep, we went to Wellington with PAMERO for the Advanced! I have to say a big Thankyou to Holly Woodhead who kept Pee schooled ready for me!! He did a lovely test to score 30.9 and then jumped an awesome double clear and win!! What an unbelievable 7 year old he is!