Winter SJ Begins....

I have registered Milo (Man Friday) and Top Gun with the BSJA (now called the BS- British Showjumping) and took them both to Gracelands a local indoor jumping centre.

As I drove along the motorway I had positive vibes and decided I would probably win 3 classes and then be interviewed by Horse and Hound and come home in £ profit, I mean how difficult can it be clearing a few 90 cm show jumps, when both horses have been eventing at 105 cm all season.

Top Gun went first...... 3 down WHAT! And I nearly forgot the last fence and got another 4 faults for that. I came out in a grumpy mood £12 poorer, the winter SJ circuit suddenly looked long, bleak and tedious.

Things improved when Milo went clear in the next class and he had a word with Top Gun who then also did a super clear. Suddenly I was in a panic, 2 horses in the jump off and I was there on my own. Luckily I had plenty of time between them, they both jumped well Top Gun came 3rd (won £18) and Milo 6th both qualifying for a regional final. The secretary at Gracelands came over to say what a super round Top Gun had jumped which cheered me up more than winning prizes. Grumpy mood well and truly over although Horse and Hound won't be phoning this week!!!

A Little Bit Sad

Lots of things to make me sad this week, firstly the end of the season has happened and its pretty rubbish trying to get excited about Show Jumping and Dressage with no XC added on afterwards.

The main thing that is very sad is my lovely old dog "Trevor" had to be put to sleep this week. He had severe arthritis in his back legs and I have been escorting him about for the last few weeks, every now and then his legs give way and I have to help him back up. Over the last 3 days he deteriorated so quickly it was that awful time to put him put to sleep. All done at home and he is buried with my other favourites in the garden. I have been teaching in a base ball cap all week to try and hide that I have been crying.

Trevor started out as my sister Annas dog but as a border collie he wasn't suitable for a family town dog and used to nip the children and so he was given to me, I had always adored him and he loved it here, he had complete freedom to roam about and used to love "helping" get the horses in! He was a highly intelligent dog and has left quite an empty space in many ways.

Here he is with my sisters children Maisie, Monique and their dad Kenny.

Below utube link is a fun film I made for our family Christmas entertainment a few years ago. You won't really get it unless you are familiar with the film "The Sound Of Music"

Its quite mad and hopefully it will make you chuckle. Trevor is then a young star playing Captain Von Yapp!

http://www.youtube.com/embed/KYwC64QRP8M"

Confusion at Norton Disney last Event of 2011.

This was a lovely Lincolnshire event, beautifully presented courses and quite technical in places causing a few odd run outs for some.
Our friends Joy and Graham live near so they came to watch.
Milo was a teeny bit tense in the dressage but still scored 36. He was jolly SJ and pinged round clear. XC he was also fab and zipped round.

I was a bit disappointed when I saw he had 15.6 time faults. We all felt a bit sad as he would have been 3rd and has been so quick XC at other events, I just couldn't work out where I had lost time, lots of people had faults for going too fast. Oh well another double clear is still fab and so we fed Milo his polos and packed up to go home.

Then a friend of mine who went before me XC pointed out when I came through the finish she had only just got off and as she was inside the time it was impossible for Milo to have faults.

So I got on Ants bicycle and pedaled off super fast to query it. They had just started prize giving, the secretary was lovely, she nipped off to check for me and then came rushing back to halt prize giving mid flow! Next a couple of super efficient stewards appeared with white stickers and pens to alter the scores. Then suddenly the prize giving was going again and as I peered over the top of everyones heads I could see Milo was now 3rd. I had to collect my prize in scruffy old jeans and my "Riders Excuse Shirt" which is a saggy 24 years old! Just realised one of the excuses on the shirt is "They must have added wrong!!!!"

Milo has finished the season with 45 foundation points, he only started BE in July. My back from the brink miracle horse, I am so proud of him. photos on link below http://www.saundersphotography.co.uk/photo13353364.html

BE100 Broadway

Man Friday (Milo) is turning out to be a very reliable BE100 horse, finishing on his dressage again in 5th place. He was foot perfect all the way round and will definatley go Novice next year. Pictures are good of Milo but I obviously trust him far too much as my lower leg is flying about much more than it does on the other horses!!!
The time was tight and he was one of the faster ones, it all felt very easy. The best ride I have had round this course.
Our freinds Joy and Graham have gone home having stayed with us after being stable managers at Weston Park last week. Their batteries recharged they drove back home to Lincolnshire today. They had lots of gossip from Weston 3DE, the best one was one of the winning riders left his saddle behind and it was found on a stable door the following day!!!! It was great to see them. Oh drat, I can't believe the season is nearly over and winter is on its way.

More news from http://www.payrollsuk.com/
My sponsors son Dan competed in his first ever XC event yesterday, we had to walk the course almost in the dark, Friday night as I was busy at Broadway all weekend.
On their big day Lottie the lovely mare he was riding got very jolly warming up, she adores the XC. Dans poor mum Maria was in a right state of nerves! Dan stayed cool and calm to do a lovely clear in 3rd place, amazing. Next time I have advised he locks his Mum in the car until its all over!!!!

Regional Final - Broadway

Two event riders that I coach competed at the prestigious Badminton Qualifier, grass roots regional final at Broadway today. Trainee vet nurse Becky Amos and Camilla Esling (Mil is PA to TV Celebrity Auctioneer - Philip Serrell) Both girls have had some bad luck up to the event, Becky's horse has been off top form with a virus and Camillas has a tiny bit of a sore mouth, where a bit pinched him. Camilla's has been in a hackamore all week, which made that final flat work tweaking difficult. However both horses performed well in the dressage they looked fab and were very accurate, but tiny loses of suppleness dropped the odd good mark.

Both girls were cheered in the Show Jumping after riding a perfect clear, making all their supporters very proud, and this followed with both of them jumping clear XC too. Camilla finished 7th just 1 place from a Badminton qualification. A really good end to the season for both girls.

Calmsden BE100

This is a lovely event. The dressage, SJ, XC and lorry park are all within a 2 minute walk and it is set in rolling Cotswold countryside. They balloted lots so that speaks for itself.
Milo was a little sharp in the dressage and I was not able to press him for those extra marks. He pinged clear round the SJ. The XC was quite a big step up for him. It was in places more like a small novice. Quite a number of fences were inter space leaps, it was a fabulous educating course and really flowed well. I was worried about the Ski Jump, the double of skinnies into a sunken gully, a large brush before a step down, the tyres into dark with a ditch beyond and the water - A large brush to a small log into the water and a wide house out. What a lot of technical questions for my Novice boy. He coped really well and despite the steep hills went clear inside the time. Our only wobble was the tyres when he hestitated after drifting right and so it seemed we were jumping right into a tree. He came 8th only 1 mark away from 3rd!

Top Of British 4 Year Olds....almost!

Here we all are on our happy day out at Osberton with our supprt team courtesy of Hartpury College. Monty is now having a short holiday. He had all of August off after he qualified, so won't need too long off now.

Monty (Hartpury Take It 2 The Top) gets a mention in Horse and Hound 6th October page 36 last paragraph.

His older brother Top Gun is now back in work today, he was as good as gold, I have never seen a horses eyes light up so much at the sight of his saddle and bridle. He has been "box walking" his field for the last ten days trying to say "I am bored"