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.
Fingers crossed here, too. I know you can rely on Janet (Plant) to offer the best possible going, but in the absence of rain even she can't work miracles! Should your fan club try synchronised rain dancing??
ReplyDeleteLater ...... sorry to hear you had to W/d but pleased to know you are saving a special horse for another day. The Hartpury organisers must be so disappointed, too, after all their efforts to provide better ground conditions.
ReplyDeleteSuch a shame about so many withdrawing but sounds like you definitely did the right thing!! Plus, walking the course with Kristina Cook? Can't get much better than that! See you later =)
ReplyDelete