Milo would have won but.......
......I messed up in the show jumping and he had one down. Just landed a bit unbalanced and I made the decision not to change canter lead as he does not yet do flying changes. The result - he tried to change, went disunited and threw his head in the air and caught a back pole. Drat, drat and double drat!!!
Still came 6th, Good Boy. I used the day to push him faster XC and discovered he is very unbalanced when I do. As we have at last had some rain, I can play on the common over gorse bushes to teach him how to move forward more to his XC fences and still be safely in balance.
I am thrilled I have a Hit Air Vest. At yesterdays European Eventing Championships when Karen Donkers fell in the water, it was noticeable how she was able to get back up on her feet immediately. This allowed her to catch and comfort her shaken up horse. Glad I chose Hit Air as I am not one for lying on the floor waiting to be trodden on.
My website has had some updates on the "My Horses" page. Looks fab http://www.stellabayliseventing.co.uk/
Sunday 28 August 2011
Sunday 21 August 2011
Icons Fabulous Day
Somerford Park Intermediate.
35 dressage, putting him about half way, then one down SJ and clear XC. Luckily Ant noticed I was in with a shout on the score board if I was fast XC and told me I was to wing it the whole way round! The ground was perfect so I kicked on and Icon flew. The course caused a bit of trouble, mainly I think at the double of skinnies, they both had a big ditch in front and Icon spooked making the 2 stride distance a bit long. The rest of the course was fun and easy.
We came home buzzing with our 3rd rosette and a handful of prizes that included £110 and a leather headcollar.
Icon now has 46 points, only 14 more to go before he is officially Advanced, don't want that yet as costs more to register an advanced horse every year!!!!
35 dressage, putting him about half way, then one down SJ and clear XC. Luckily Ant noticed I was in with a shout on the score board if I was fast XC and told me I was to wing it the whole way round! The ground was perfect so I kicked on and Icon flew. The course caused a bit of trouble, mainly I think at the double of skinnies, they both had a big ditch in front and Icon spooked making the 2 stride distance a bit long. The rest of the course was fun and easy.
We came home buzzing with our 3rd rosette and a handful of prizes that included £110 and a leather headcollar.
Icon now has 46 points, only 14 more to go before he is officially Advanced, don't want that yet as costs more to register an advanced horse every year!!!!
Saturday 20 August 2011
Solihull Horse Trials
Milo was as consistent as ever today, 31 dressage, double clear XC, 1.6 time faults as I thought I had gone fast enough so steadied up through the wood where the going was a bit firm. The rest of the course was fab, they had spiked, watered and sanded all the landings. Why can they not do that at other events, it makes a huge difference which is a good thing when Milo jumps so big over everything.
I had a bit of coaching to do while I was there, Tracey Jenkins she came 4th in only her 2nd BE90. Well done Tracey and Cassie.
Photos to follow and news on my new air jacket.
I had a bit of coaching to do while I was there, Tracey Jenkins she came 4th in only her 2nd BE90. Well done Tracey and Cassie.
Photos to follow and news on my new air jacket.
Saturday 13 August 2011
Hartpury Horse Trials cic***
photo kindly taken by Kat Jones.
Sat Evening
Icon put his best foot forward in the dressage to score his usual of low 60s. The SJ was indoors where I knew he would struggle to keep enough spring off the tight corners compared to the huge outdoor arena. Icon tried so hard to clear as many as possible and I had to kick loads to keep his hind legs coming through out of the corners, he had 4 down which was a relief as it is still a qualifying result towards Blenheim. Sadly though we are unlikely to run XC due to the ground being so hard. Hartpury are working on it non stop. For Icon its unlikely to be consistent or good enough to risk him. If he was a tough wiry TB we would probably run but too much Irish draught makes him feel the ground more than most. We will make a decision in the morning once we have walked it a final time, hopefully all the watering will have made it perfect but I won't hold my breath!
Update Sunday Evening
We withdrew, they put loads of water on we watched them last night and this morning the water in the main lake was at least a foot less. But the thirsty ground had drank it all up, where it was good the earlier horses made a hoof print but the warm day meant these prints dried to hard knobbles. Around half the section did not run, mass withdrawals, Fox-Pitt, Pip Funnell and Kristina Cook all withdrew everything. Kristina Cook is lovely and kindly walked the course with me yesterday and was very helpful, so it was by no means a wasted event for me.
Icon put his best foot forward in the dressage to score his usual of low 60s. The SJ was indoors where I knew he would struggle to keep enough spring off the tight corners compared to the huge outdoor arena. Icon tried so hard to clear as many as possible and I had to kick loads to keep his hind legs coming through out of the corners, he had 4 down which was a relief as it is still a qualifying result towards Blenheim. Sadly though we are unlikely to run XC due to the ground being so hard. Hartpury are working on it non stop. For Icon its unlikely to be consistent or good enough to risk him. If he was a tough wiry TB we would probably run but too much Irish draught makes him feel the ground more than most. We will make a decision in the morning once we have walked it a final time, hopefully all the watering will have made it perfect but I won't hold my breath!
Update Sunday Evening
We withdrew, they put loads of water on we watched them last night and this morning the water in the main lake was at least a foot less. But the thirsty ground had drank it all up, where it was good the earlier horses made a hoof print but the warm day meant these prints dried to hard knobbles. Around half the section did not run, mass withdrawals, Fox-Pitt, Pip Funnell and Kristina Cook all withdrew everything. Kristina Cook is lovely and kindly walked the course with me yesterday and was very helpful, so it was by no means a wasted event for me.
Friday 5 August 2011
Gatcombe BYEH
Wow! What an amazing day. Monty (Hartpury Take It 2 The Top -pictured) came 7th, he was just on Top Form! Then Top Gun came 5th in the 5 year olds.Both finals were in front of a big crowd in the main arena, what an atmosphere for baby horses to cope with and they were wonderful. Monty got pulled in 3rd and we were stood in line next to Mark Todd. He asked about Monty and I said he was 2nd at Homme on Weds, Mr Todd said he was entered for that but withdrew as he hadn't realised the 4 year olds had to go XC!
The judge advised Top Gun showed the best gallop and the BE facebook page reported I was placed on both my horses sandwiched in between the big names!!
The commentary gave their sire "Take It 2 The Limit" loads of publicity and the boys did a great job showing the large crowd how good his progeny are going to be.
Thursday 4 August 2011
Monty Qualifies for Young Horse Champs
Montys 2nd place at Homme qualified him for the British Eventing Young Horse Championships 2011, here are a few pictures taken by my friend Bernice of his day. Also pics from BYEH fieldhouse 2011 on http://www.joannaprestwich.co.uk/ gallery, he is on page 61 and Top Gun is page 41-42.
Wednesday 3 August 2011
Happy Days at Homme House
I bravely entered 3 horses for our local BE event and prayed I did not fall off 3x in front of all the people who knew me! Luckily it was my lucky day. All 3 horses went clear xc and got good dressage marks, both Top Gun and Milo (Man Friday) hit the 2o's and Take It 2 The Top (Monty) got a 31. Monty went double clear to finish 2nd in the 4 year class, a class won by Paul Tapner. Milo came 11th (slow XC!) and Top Gun flew xc to come 6th in the BE100.
Lots of lovely prizes, a lovely event, lots of friendly faces, lovely course, everyone I know had a really good day, especially Ledbury Pony Club member Claire Mealing who won a 3rd prize in an intro on her lovely pony My Charming Charlie, she got a huge cheer at prize giving.
Taking 3 horses was a tall order for us, but luckily I had lots of help Dan and William Norrell, Louise Calverley, Bernice White and Janet Hughes (Ants sister)all helped lead horses about, wash off, tack up etc etc. Thankyou everyone, although they teased me all day as I won the best old persons award in two of the sections, apparently I now need a walking stick and a hearing aid.... thanks guys!!!!
Lots of lovely prizes, a lovely event, lots of friendly faces, lovely course, everyone I know had a really good day, especially Ledbury Pony Club member Claire Mealing who won a 3rd prize in an intro on her lovely pony My Charming Charlie, she got a huge cheer at prize giving.
Taking 3 horses was a tall order for us, but luckily I had lots of help Dan and William Norrell, Louise Calverley, Bernice White and Janet Hughes (Ants sister)all helped lead horses about, wash off, tack up etc etc. Thankyou everyone, although they teased me all day as I won the best old persons award in two of the sections, apparently I now need a walking stick and a hearing aid.... thanks guys!!!!
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