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!!!