Hambledon Again...

We were back at Hambledon on Monday with Nenagh and Desi. Desi went well again in the PN, he scored 31 and double clear, finishing 5th. For the first time he wasn't in the lead after the dressage, He went a bit too deep and heavy on me, think I was trotting round the arena too long, as the judge took ages to beep the horn, so even though he did a lovely test he lost marks for being 'behind the vertical'. I was still pleased with him. Nenagh earned herself another point by going double clear in the novice. She didn't do a great test, but totally redeemed herself on the XC. I rode her in a waterford snaffle rather than the gag, and she jumped round really well, in a great rytham. I got quite a few time faults again, but I can live with that! 6 horses, 6 double clears. I couldn't of asked much more of any of them.
Yesterday I took fitz to have a dressage lesson with Hannah, and we worked on collecting his canter without using much hand. I have to train him to collect without shortening his neck.....good job I like a challenge!

A worthwhile day

Yesterday was a long but worthwhile day at Hambledon Horse Trials, which is between Marlow, and Henley on Thames. We set off at 5am with 4 horses, Dean, Heather, Penny, and myself. Lexi ran first in the PN, doing her best test to date, scoring 33.9, and another double clear we finished 7th. Pascal is a new horse to the team and is her for a short period whilst his owner/rider is recovering from having pins taken out her leg. I was pleased with his performance, little improvements can be made all round, but a 33.2 and double clear left him also in 7th place. Millie and Bee were head to head in the 5yr old section in which the top 3 were to qualify for the 5yr old national finals at Tweseldown in October. Millie hasn't ran since Oasby due to the balloting, and so I organised Heather to lunge her twice before my test. She behaved very nicely, apart from in her free walk I felt her attention was more on the XC start! She scored a 30, the best dressage mark in her section, and jumped a great double clear. I just pressed her XC for the first time and she felt she found another gear which is great. Bee did a lovely test scoring 31, and again a double clear, although a bit green in places! To my delight, Millie won and Bee was second!! Both have qualified for their final, and both Nicky and Gilly were there to watch their girls do so well. We got home around 10.30pm, so it was a very long day, but with results like that, everyone was happy. I am back at Hambledon with Desi and Nenagh on Monday.

Belton

Nenagh and Fitz ran at Belton this weekend. Nenagh did her first novice on friday, and fulfilled all my expectations of her. (apart from a couple of wobbly bits in the dressage!!) She had good bits and bad bits in her test, and scored 31.9, which was pretty good, although someone had a 20 in my section! She jumped a nice clear showjumping, despite suffering a hail storm whilst warming up! She felt great XC, and the 2nd half she was very settled and easy to ride. I kept a steady rytham, and came home with 14 time faults, so we were out the money, but a double clear gave her her first point. I really enjoy winning their first point, its like the first step on the ladder. One day I would like to achieve the 1000 points with a horse to join those elite few special horses. Fitz also did his dressage first thing on friday. I rode him twice, and by the last 10 minutes his work was the best I have had it. He did a good test, scoring 50.9, leaving us in 16th place out of a strong field of 85, I was thrilled. Both his changes were a bit late behind, and his rein back crooked, so if I can improve these bits, I could crack that 50 barrier, and score in the late 40's. So I have set my target!
Saturday we were at home, and jumped most of the horses on the yard. With Deans help they all jumped well.
Having not had a party to go to in months, last night was my brother and his wifes joint 40th party. However I was unable to get in the party mood as typically today I had my showjumping at 8.02am, so it meant feeding Fitz at 4am! So my night out was a quiet one, one glass of champagne, followed by lots of tonic water!
Fitz jumped a good clear in the SJ, I got 3 time faults, being 2nd in it wasn't obvious how tight the time was, and it proved very tight the more the class went on. I took an extra stride coming to the last which would have cost me that bit of time, but he jumped very well. The XC course was far from a first timers track as it had stated in the omnibus. It was technical and big. I didnt go XC until 1.45pm, so had plenty of time to go and watch how it was riding. Fitz excelled himself. He jumped round easily. I chose to take 3 longer routes at the fences where the angles were very steep, as he doesnt know enough yet, and although he is very good on a line, I wanted him to stay that way, and not risk any run outs. I will practice some more first. So I cruised round, didn't press him, and gave him the best ride I could. Having had his biggest test to date at Burnham Market you never know until you run them again how mentally they coped with it. He felt full of confidence today, he has taken the move up to this level happily in his stride. Not sure where we finished, I know we will have quite a few time faults, but his future is very exciting!!!

Kellymoss goes to The British Open

For the second year Mossy and I were Invited to compete in the Eventing Grand Prix at the British Open Showjumping Championships at the N.E.C in Birmingham. Friday night was the individual competition, and Saturday afternoon was a Power and Speed relay where I was paired with an international showjumper, and the showjumper jumped the showjumps and me (the eventer) jumped the cross country part.
Last year I was drawn first to go, and I couldn't believe that the same happened to me this year. It was a poor draw, and they were slow building the course giving me little time to mentally prepare. However he jumped well, I had a stop at the first corner as I just didn't get my line in time and ended up on a nothing stride. As the class went on alot of horses ran out at the corners or a skinny hedge. Gradually a steady clear meant you finished in the top 6. I finished 9th......but if only.......However finishing in the top 12 meant I got invited back to have another go on Saturday! The course was very similar. I was paired with Di Lampard which was great as I know Di anyway. Di rode Williams Spirit. I was determined to go well, and i had a great ride, more control, and jumped the corners spot on. It was nice to finish on such a good note, and Di and I were 5th. Once again the atmosphere was electric, and I really enjoyed being part of such an elite show. I love watching showjumping anyway, so I had a great weekend. Apart from we slept in the lorry which was next to a train track and every hour freight trains rattled their way by. None of us had a very good nights sleep!!!! This week I have Hannah coming on Thursday, and Nenagh and Fitz at Belton over the weekend. I hear Weston Park was cancelled today, all I can say is thank goodness Fitz has had a couple of runs, I bet some advanced horses have not even ran yet.