Pony Club Picnic Rally

Today I have been teaching at my favourite rally of the year, Ledbury Hunt Pony Club Picnic rally.

I had 9 seniors in my ride due to an Instructor shortage misunderstanding. We began with some flat work, tidying up positions and working on the horses way of going, they all worked really hard on this, several of them were on new horses so it made it all the more interesting to teach. They were meant to be analysing each other but I think Bella did most of this!

After a yummy lunch donated by all the parents we went XC. I had to explain to my group that due to having so many in the ride it would be difficult to do more flat work in a small arena, they were so disappointed!!!!

We had fun getting the younger (and a few of the older ones) horses over the new lead rein fences, they were so spooked by these dinky new looking fences, it was quite amusing, we hoped no one was looking. Then we moved on to the XC course proper. As the ground was hard we kept to a few select technical fences, steps, water, skinnies and a coffin. They all jumped well and picked up on the importance of having their horses balanced on the approach and depart, which was especially important as the ground was firm and the grass a little slippy due to the rain over the weekend.

All the riders finished our day by jumping the horses with balance and confidence through the rather fierce looking coffin. A good day with nice weather and no one fell off!

Hard Ground Stops Play and Chickens Help Icons Dressage!

Cleobury cancelled due to lumpy hard ground so Duvet Day can have a week off.

Icon went to Pontispool and the ground was pretty bad there too. Although they had done lots of work to it, with gravel on all the landings and used one of those machines to loosen it up a bit. But it was still rough and as I really shook Icon up here last year when he was 2nd we decided to just dressage and SJ.

He then of course does a super test for a 36, beating Louise Skeltons Mr Potts which is a first! Louise and her mum Jackie bought some chickens off us earlier in the week, turns out she is scared of them, so I think she was still a bit shaky from the experience!!!

My heart was not in the SJ and I didn't work hard enough and Icon clunked 3 early fences down, I then woke him up and he nearly jumped me off for the last part of the course.

Milo has now competed at his first dressage competition and once again behaved perfect and was 2nd in a walk and trot test. We won't stay in the arena at canter yet, need all of Castlemorton Common to turn in!!!

Clear All Weekend!

Duvet Day at Mount Ballan BE90 had a weird dressage mark. It was his best to date and the judge said at the end "He is beautiful' . So why did she give him a 40! The sheet said he tripped up the centre line when he did not! Very weird and I have never ever been so disappointed with a mark. It made it even worse when I spoke to Sam Smith who won with a 28 dressage, he said he couldn't believe his mark either, his horse fly bucked through its entire left canter!!!

Duvet Day then popped round the easy peasy XC and SJ finishing on his dressage mark. BE100 next for him.

Top Gun and Milo went to Allens Hill early on Sunday morning for very tiny clear round, They both jumped clear. I was especially pleased with Milo at his first ever show. He had none of the usual young horse issues. He behaved like a horse who had been to shows for years, even standing on the lorry on his own waiting for Top Gun to return from his jumping. Every horsey home should have a Milo!!!

Feeling Dreadful at Chatsworth Advanced

I have a cold, I can't breath properly, feel dizzy, watery eyes and the steps up into the lorry seem like mountains to climb. We left for Chatsworth at 4.30 am this morning, having no sleep due to coughing all the time. Not a good start for your first Advanced for 18 years!

We arrived and got ready quickly as I had early dressage times. I warmed Icon up for the dressage and despite my Top Hat and Tails I felt completely out of place, everything else looked so supple and confident. I was sneezing and trying to practise half pass and changes, every part of me ached and Icon felt stiff. I felt so ill I had no nerves at all.
However a cheery hello from Adrian Little gave me a lift and Icon did some good changes and we began to feel like dressage stars!!

Icon did his best test ever, he obliged every step of the way and we got the changes, I couldn't believe it. He scored 39 and we were thrilled.

I walked the XC course and it was big (very big). I am not sure why but the Advanced was jumping the exact same course as the CIC***. In view of my cold which was getting worse by the hour I decided to show jump and see how I felt afterwards.

Icon jumped really well with only 4 down and few time faults, which would be a qualifying result for 3* with a good XC round. I walked (cycled actually) the XC with Louise Skelton who gave me lots of advice and it all began to look very jumpable. By the time I got back to the Lorry I was exhausted my nasty cold was happily sapping all my energy and so I decided to withdraw, pleased with our shortened outing.

Next plan for Icon is to do a couple more Intermediates then an Advanced, hes proved today he can cope with the first two phases which are his weakest so hes almost a 3* horse!!

He was furious not to go XC he kicked all the way home, I best take him for a gallop tomorrow.

Sarah Flys at Rodbaston

Sarah who I train, and her 15 hh cob Champ (Mister Muddle)
went to Rodbaston to do their first BE100 of 2010. Despite a couple of cheeky run outs XC they had a fab day, Sarah was thrilled at how her little gutsy cob coped in all three phases, as you can see he loves to jump!

I took Duvet Day in the BE90. He once again went double clear inside the time with a pleasing dressage test.

Next stop Icon at Chatsworth, we have been practising half pass and flying changes for weeks and I am beginning to think we may actually get one good change on the day.

Long Reining Monty and Milo Gets Going

This week I have long reined 3 year old Monty ( Top Guns full brother). I find doing a few days work with them sets them on the correct road to trusting me and enjoying their training, all very important for an event horse.

He is just like Top Gun bold and willing, within 3 days hes accepted the tack and is long reining round the school and field. He is walking and trotting over cross poles, ditches, watertrays and small logs all with me running behind! He has learnt to stand and wait even when turning towards home. He will be now turned out until the Autumn, when real work begins.

My lovely 4 year old, Milo (Man Friday - father of Crunchie and Smartie) is back in work. He is the kindest horse. I trusted him to look after last years foals when they were weaned. Sadly 14 months ago he suffered a horrific accident, severing a tendon when he was savagely attacked by another horse. It was touch and go but after 3 months box rest and endless bandaging he survived.

Riding Milo today for the first time since his accident was a pleasure and he seemed pleased that it was his turn to be at last doing something.
He made the decision to ride him for me, I went out to catch Spicer, but instead Milo came over and pushed his head into the headcollar!

Babies do Dressage and I try No reins Show Jumping

Saturday I took Top Gun and John Wayne to Hartpury to do a dressage class. This was Top Guns first visit to an indoor school and he was unsure at first, however he was soon inside warming up like a horse twice his age. I couldn't stop looking in the mirror thinking he looked georgeous!
He did his test in the huge International arena and was totally brilliant although a little green but spooking at nothing. John Wayne did a lovely test although a tiny bit spooky. A superb result as John Wayne won it and Top Gun was 5th.

Next day we took Icon to Hambledon near London for an Intermediate. He did a super dressage test, so good Andrew Nicolson commented on how nice it was, shame he wasn't judging it as the judge got stuck on 6's. He then warmed up fab for the SJ, Anthony had me jumping 1.40 the day before and it helped big time. He jumped clear but not without incident. He jumped the triple bar very big onto the hard ground and backed off the treble jumping in short, I slipped my reins to give him some freedom and to my horror somehow let go of the reins completly. We came through the final two elements with no reins and on landing he took off across the arena, I thought he was going to jump out, but at the last second I regained the reins and turned him to jump the last three fences safely.

XC he was fab, clear with 16 time faults,the course was twisty and very technical and caused problems for several good combinations, including Pippa Funnell and Zara Phillips so I was thrilled to be going home with 2 more points to our name.

Moreton Morrell and a visit to Hospital.

Duvet Day has today been to Moreton Morrell to do another Intro. He did another pleasing test and is getting more established every time. He was careful & clear Show Jumping with a few nifty jump off turns as people were getting time faults.
XC he was brilliant, hes really getting the hang of it now and feels like he almost doesn't need me. I jumped one alternative, avoiding the giant step onto the bank, choosing the two smaller ones instead. It caused a few elimintions, I think he would have been fine the direct route, but we would have wasted time jumping off huge afterwards. As it was we were clear 6 seconds inside the time, loads of much quicker looking horses had time faults.

Next we had to dash as Anthony's knee had a MRI scan appointment at Droitwich Hospital. I am sure not many patients turn up in a horse lorry complete with horse!

We asked Carol Broad to collect any prize,and left an apology with the secretary. When arrived home we discovered he was third, so I am tonight feeling very pleased with my clumpy homebred!

A Long Trip To Scotland

We had a very enjoyable and successful day at Sapey when Duvet Day finished 8th on his dressage score in the BE90. The following day I had the lorry all packed and ready for Perth. All sorted a day early as before Scotland I was booked to dressage write at Withington on Friday. I had an email from the organiser saying I was doing the ponies, easy I thought! When I arrived I discovered I was writing for Angela Tucker and it was an FEI test under the watchful eye of the FEI pony selectors. Angela was looking for good quality movement, rhythm (thank god I had thought to look up the correct spelling and written in on my hand) and lots of engagement. It was an interesting and educational afternoon.

Saturday morning we left for Scotland and arrived 8 hours later. Its an easy drive all motorway and dual track, but we were concerned as Icon did not drink on the way up. At the stables he did drink some water but by next morning he had drunk very little, compared to at home.
The event setting was stunning set in the grounds of a Scottish Palace, we were towed onto the field so the going was perfect. He did a lovely test and we were thrilled, and afterwards thankfully he drank some water, but it was worryingly over a bucket full!

He show jumped well with only one down, he made me work very hard, sometimes I think It would be easier for me to carry him! After SJ he drank loads of water, but he seemed bright and XC was a couple of hours later so I was not too concerned.

I set out XC meaning real business, determined to be quick and clear, but Icon was not right making mistkes getting too deep or standing off miles, although we were clear I decided to pull him up after fence 12.
Next day back at home we had him blood tested which came back clear and so we put it down to the long journey and dehydration. He was unusually quiet for two days but is himself again now.

Tuesday we took Duvet Day to Milton Keynes and again he finished on his dressage and was 8th again, such a reliable chap.

I have just come home from a local dressage show with Top Gun and John Wayne. Both boys went well, scoring over 60% although I had to ask to be HC as it turned out the judge was one of my pupils. It was excellent practise as held on grass, in a lovely setting and some yummy cakes on sale.

April 2010 update

I have had a good season so far, Icon is well and very bouncy, he has had good runs in three Intermediates, although a little clumsy in the show jumping. He is just the hardest horse to get clear over a show jump and then we get time faults because I am trying to be so precise to help him as much as possible!
XC he was good at Isleham, bold at Lincoln and nipped round Weston like it was about 2'3".
We have also been pleased with his dressage this year as he is now accurate although still lacks cadence as the last judge advised. We are aiming for an Advanced in the near future, he can do changes at home but it will be muddled tangle of legs on the day!

The youngsters are going brilliantly. John Wayne won his first proper dressage with 73%, he is such a lovely horse in every way and only 4 this year.
He is a very gentle person with great personality. At Christmas he let himself out of his stable in the middle of the night and helped him self to Champs advent calender. He opened all the treats but dropped them all on the yard as he didn't like them. Woken up by the noise I found him playing with a broom, it was as if he was trying to clear up the mess! I was out in my nighty for ages picking up carrot flavoured treats before Trevor the dog ate them all up!

Top Gun (also 4 this year) has been back from being broke 6 weeks, and is also just lovely, he won his first dressage (walk and trot at Allens Hill) and is very bold, he has been trotting small fences, ditches logs etc and nothing seems to spook him. He has just started cantering over easy fences this week.

Spicer (Duvet Day) is doing Sapey this week, a super event, lets hope he does not spook at the flowers this time. He was hilarious at Stafford shying at the xc flowers then popping the jump fine once he understood. It was as if he was saying "Well why didn't you say it was a jump, I can do those!"

last years two oldest foals Smartie and Snip are now weaned, Crunchie who was born before Xmas will stay on his Mum (Josie Jump) a bit longer.
Thats all my news so far, I am off to Withington dressage writing this week, eventing at the weekend whilst recovering from a busy Easter teaching Pony Club and trying to fit in lots of riding and mucking out along the way.