I have again been busy away with various things. I was at Hickstead for three days jumping which I loved. The warm up surface is divine to ride on and the grass arenas are too. I took Imp, Amber, Maisie, Columbo and Elsa.

I knew Columbo would be green but he was so surprised by the different fences and atmosphere and didn’t jump clear in the 1 metre the first day, but by the second he did a double clear and was placed. This is how quickly they come on in the environment.  It is a little bit much for them to begin with but they quickly grow up and become ‘adults’.  Elsa was a little the same and had two down in the 1 10 the first day and one down in the metre which really was too small for her as she is a little over brave!  The next day she jumped a much better round in the metre and then just the first fence in the 1 10 but otherwise a very good round.

Imp was exceptional. He was 5th in the 1 10 the first day and double clear in the Fox with decent sized fences and the next day was 13th again in a big class in the 1 10. He couldn’t have gone better. I decided not to jump him in the  Fox the second day as it poured and poured and the ground was soft, as I wanted to improve his confidence I gave it a miss as at Salperton two days later.

Amber was also brilliant, double clear 1 25 both days. I will start more jumping with her if I’m not happy with our eventing as she is such a careful jumper. I really enjoy it too so would be fun to do more.  Maisie was also double clear in the 1 25 both days so  a very good few days. We left Thursday evening, I was quite disappointed to be going as I do find it sharpens me up and really brings the horses on so next year I will forget the weekend event and go for a week. We also had the opportunity to watch a big class in the main ring which again was great. I never get the chance to sit and watch so enjoy when I can. I still don’t know who won the Derby!!

We left for Salperton Friday lunch time in the rain, which didn’t stop falling all night. I was on very early with Romeo at 8am.  He did quite a nice test, bits to improve to score 35. I wasn’t happy that he felt 100% in himself so withdrew him but he now goes to Barbury 2*. I also had Imp. After being the superstar of the week I had hoped that he would excel here… Well he did in the dressage and scored 23!! But for whatever reason he was not loving the SJ(unbelievably after Hickstead) so retired. Very, very disappointed but guess something must be sore so gave him a few days off and will do the ON at Barbury for a fun run. If only we could get inside horses heads!!

Maisie was brilliant as always, she did actually do a very good test, but quite crooked at times and anticipates the simple changes etc so I am schooling her for next year really as she won’t be truly ready until then. So we had 36 as I corrected the mistakes and then clear SJ and unbelievably (her record is immaculate!) we had 20 penalties on the XC course. There was a fence that was a big brush, two long strides in a straight line to a corner and then three very, very tight strides to an arrowhead. Well I was one of the few to try the direct route and didn’t know you could circle around the back so had 20 penalties as the turn was nearly impossible on slippery ground (I went very early…). I have subsequently practised it in the school and still find it hard!

I must admit I left feeling very deflated, but it didn’t last too long as I was on a plane for a few crazy days away for my best friends’ joint hen/ stag do (of which there are a few!!). A few days in the sunshine and a few nights of partying and I was back feeling very much refreshed.

I packed a few days into one and then went to Eridge. Well when I’d left we’d had rain. Obviously none since as the ground was bone dry. I was very disappointed to walk the course as I felt it was hard and rough in places but to be honest there is not much they can do here as this is the terrain. However this does worry me for keeping my horses sound so when the two 5 year olds performed excellent test (22 and 23!) I wasn’t surprised they didn’t SJ so well off the hard ground. Elsa found it ridiculously small and had two down and Columbo one. I was still in the lead with Columbo but ran him steadily for 6th. I think a lot of him and he has a very bright future. Elsa was a little strong into the sunken road and then was unsure of where to go and so incurred penalties, I have still to find the right bit but hopefully will do soon.

I had Bert in the NRF, our only chance to qualify for Gatcombe and as only 20 in it I had to finish 5th. He performed a good test but changed in one counter canter where he shouldn’t have and so scored 31. He then just didn’t jump as he normally does and had two down so this made my mind up to not run XC as I think so much of him that he doesn’t need to run fast around that track to come 10th. I think they went so fast to qualify and I wasn’t prepared to risk my horse, he has bigger and better chances I hope so will be patient for those. I do think that somewhere we go wrong at times to get these qualifications as you have to push the novices so fast to qualify, sometimes on not great ground and I’m all for preserving theses good young horses for the future years.

I’ve been trying a new treatment the last few weeks for the horses, acupuncture. It has shown great results so far with some of the horses I’ve felt slightly under par now do feel much better. Jessica Voss (vet) has come and treated them and I have been amazed at the horses’ progress. This will be an ongoing progress but so far so good.

Off to watch the Olympic Test Event so will be exciting to see how it looks!! 

 

 

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