Icon On Sky TV

Great excitement at pony club last night, I had just finished teaching when Bella Bradford came over to excitedly tell me that my SJ round at Houghton had been shown on Sky Sports Horse and Country TV. Beth Moore had been watching her favourite TV channel when to her surprise Icon and I came on. Very exciting. I just need to try and get to see the repeat showing now.

Stonar School

Top Gun went double clear at Stonar School eventing today BE100. He was a touch cheeky in the dressage, shooting off with his head up for one whole movement, he was even cheeky SJ spooking, and then went a bit green XC too. I had been worrying he was eventing only off grass so he has been on TOP SPEC feed balancer for 2 weeks. I am going to take him off it as I think it has done this to him. We will go back to eventing him just off the green stuff, as before!
Next outing is a Burghley Young Event Horse Qualifier for the two full brothers Hartpury Top Gun and Hartpury Take It 2 The Top. I never do well in these so just going for a day out and to give the boys extra experience.

Milo Has His First Ever XC Fault!

Milo was 7th, only 6 clear XC out of 32 horses!
Warwickshire Pony Club ODE today. Milo did an accurate dressage test to score 23.21. I took Rory and Emma with me who own (Alfie) Lux On Your Side and he also scored 23.21. Must be all down to the trainer! The scores ranged from 15 up to 57 so it was unbelievable we got the same. Then we both rolled a pole so 4 penalties SJ. Next the XC, although only a 90(3 ft), it was a big technical course. More like a BE100 with a decent coffin, big corner, ditches, steps, 2 waters (one with an 2 foot step down) and some difficult turning fences involving skinnies. Rory and Alfie went clear, Milo gave me a super ride but had a glance off at a skinny, the last of 3 on a turn. Rory and Alfie won the class and we all came home knowing we have 2 lovely brave horses both ready for a BE event now.
A really nice lady fell in love with Milo and wanted to buy him, I took her number as I explained he is not for sale yet but maybe in the Autumn once I have done some BE events on him. Or maybe not as I can feel my heart strings pulling at the very thought of letting him go.

Monty beaten by John Wayne!

Monty did his first eventer 80 training class today at Allens Hill Competition Centre near Pershore. He scored a 34 dressage and popped smoothly round the SJ. Clear XC until the last fence when he spooked and shot sideways. He came 3rd and would have won if he had not spooked. The XC was beautifully presented, well dressed with flowers, XC jumps on a surface. I took one of my pupils Emma Potter with her young horse Alfie, she went double clear and came 2nd, I told her she would have to walk home for beating me!!! Emma broke her shoulder 8 weeks ago and has only been back on her horse 2 weeks, a perfect first outing for her. John Wayne was there with his new owner, I felt very proud when he won the class with a double clear on a 35 dressage.

Longleat Cancelled

As Icons day at Longleat was cancelled, due to wet weather, here are some more photos of Top Gun at Longleat, courtesy of www.fromthesticks.co.uk.

Fence 2, he was just amazing a real machine XC.

His dressage canter is improving, he can be a little too laid back!

Top Gun 6th at Longleat BE100

Top Gun was amazing, a good 33 in the dressage despite the Sealions making noises, clear SJ felt like he was not going to hit a thing, then XC he was point and go, brave, careful, athletic and one of the fastest rounds of the day. It was a big and testing course that was hilly and getting boggy in places, he just made nothing of it.

Fab But Wet Weekend

This is one of my pupils Rory riding (Alfie) "Lux On Your Side" at Solihull 90 today. Look at the rain! In just a few weeks they have improved their dressage to achieve an outstanding 22 today putting them in the lead. A clear XC but a couple of poles SJ left them in a fabulous 4th place at only their 2nd ODE.
I took Top Gun to Great Tew yesterday, what a superb event, he had a 33 dressage, 1 down SJ (my fault completely) and clear XC inside the time. It was a big BE100 and the most lovely course, the best BE100 event I have been to for years.
Monty (Hartpury Take It 2 The Top) did Solihull 80 today, he was appalling in the dressage very green and naughty but went double clear to finish 8th in the pouring rain.
Hedgerow, our beautiful tiny tabby cat, yesterday gatecrashed our neighbours all day party, they returned her at 10 pm last night smelling of very expensive ladies perfume. She had been the star of the party apparently, getting lots of cuddles and new admirers!!!

Monty Sleeps Likes A Log!

I caught Monty fast asleep (4yrs "Hartpury Take It 2 The Top") using a log as a pillow this morning. Never have I ever seen a horse asleep like this before. Very funny. Luckily he woke up in time to go to Ledbury Pony Club Dressage show. He scored 65% and came 4th.

Milo Clear at Rodbaston

Milo did another 90 today, he did a lovely dressage to be in 3rd place with 31. Then 2 poles SJ, he was a bit unbalanced as it was his first time he has jumped on grass. Clear XC he was jumping huge and very bold. We didn't stay for results as it looked like he was going to only be just in the top ten.

Icon Is Anaemic and Goodbye John Wayne

I have had Icon blood tested, to see if he had any reason for not flying round Houghton last weekend. The results came back that he is mildly anaemic, enough to effect his performance XC. He is on an iron supplement and has had some vitamin injections. He looks well in his coat and we hope to run him at Longleat in a couple of weeks if he gets the all clear from Claire Gilbert his vet.
My other big news is that I have sold John Wayne. He has gone to an eventing home in Warwickshire. Sad to sell him but good to know he will continue to do what he is good at and when he is a super star I will be thrilled to have been the one who began his training. The money is being used to (14 years after we moved in) put central heating in our house, bring on the snow!
Monty (4 yrs old - Hartpury Take It 2 The Top) has been SJ schooling at Hill View Equestrian Centre today and went really well. Hill View http://www.hillview.myzen.co.uk/ have a super new arena with some posh new jumps. Monty is jumping 80-90 cm easily, just still spooking at fillers so I have to sit tight. We are aiming for an 80cm ODE in a few weeks.