Three 1st's in 2 days!

Take It 2 The Top won both his Novice tests yesterday, outdoors at Allens Hill. He was also 3rd at Hartpury today, although I was disappointed as he spooked, went tense, tucked his nose in tight and I couldn't get him to take the contact in the indoor arena.

Amazing Mika's winning ways continue when he won his test at Hartpury today, he went like a dream, he was also 2nd in the other test. He is a very exciting grassroots horse for next year and he is not even 5 yet.

Riders I coach also went well with Louise 2nd and Sarah 4th, a nice finish to the season before the Xmas break.

Fed up with the rain, but Ant re water proofed my boots last night, so I have lovely dry feet as I paddle around the fields!

Talland is Fantastic

Another Talland Lesson

I can't believe it Pammy Hutton was pleased with me and no crying this week. We also had a heart to heart chat and chuckle about my "Tears at Talland" blog.

At home after last weeks lesson I rode Take It 2 The Top for 2 days with no reins. I taught him to walk, trot, canter and halt and turn just by using the weight in my stirrups. He transformed into a relaxed horse with a more correct outline and when I eventually took the contact he remained relaxed.

My friend Bernice kindly videoed the lesson, which we have just watched back and Take It 2 The Top looks amazing. Pammy taught him her half pass for baby horses and also went over some exercises from the previous two weeks.

We are now (according to Pammy) ready for a BD Novice test. I have entered and I am to email Pammy the results.

Excellent Online Saddlery Company
This year I have bought some lovely equine items from www.equestrianclearance.com I have found their service really excellent and fast delivery. I am competing in Saddle Cloths and Mark Todd Breeches purchased from them. Also I bought a really nice bridle from them but sadly after a few months a tiny crack appeared in the leather, I returned it and today they have refunded in full with no fuss.

Tears at Talland with Pammy Hutton

Pammy made me cry today, I am far too sensitive.  I was frustrated in the lesson with Take It 2 The Top, I had worked really hard on last weeks exercises at home. Yet today in Tallands indoor school he began spooky and not taking the contact again. I was so looking forward to impressing Pammy with how hard I had worked, instead it took ages to get us working well into a good contact, even then I was using far too much hand. Eventually Pammy swapped my bit and even resorted to getting us to pop a jump.

She got an amazing canter out of us with her turn on the forehand, walk to canter exercise, although I was very slow understanding the exercise. Which meant I was confused and Pammy was exasperated!

At the end of the lesson Pammy said if I bring another horse on the lorry I can work it in Talland after my lesson and she will be able to keep a quiet eye on me while she is teaching someone else.... now thats a kind and fabulous offer.

She also told me a couple of home truths

1.  Take It 2 The Top is good enough to be a 4* horse.

2.  I had better stop being proud of doing so well with so few lessons and come more often.

It was the 2nd point that made me tearful, good job it was the end of the lesson as by the time I was in the lorry untacking I was sobbing my heart out, I cried all the way home, its hard driving a lorry and crying at the same time.

Not sure why this upset me, maybe because it was a miserable foggy day or more like it hit a nerve.
I felt like I had been told to stop being proud of my entire personality. I know Pammy didn't mean it quite like that, so I had better toughen up.

I am going back to Talland soon and I am determined Dressage God Pammy will be impressed with me one day.

Nightmares At Talland Turn Out Fabulous

I decided at long last to have some dressage lessons on my lovely 5 year old Take It 2 The Top.

I was looking forward to it until 2 days prior I dreamt I arrived at Talland and couldn't find my gloves, whip or spurs. In my nightmare the inside of my Lorry turned into a jumble sale pile and I was searching for said items under piles and piles of clothes. Eventually I was 20 minutes late for the lesson and woke up in a state of panic.
Then last night I dreamt I drove all the way to Talland, arrived, got out of vehicle and then realised to my horror I had driven down in my car and not in my Lorry and had no horse to ride!!!!

The real life lesson was fabulous, I went in early as everyone was at lunch and began working Monty in. As I quietly concentrated I heard a voice say loudly "that's a nice horse". I checked that (a) I was riding the only horse in the school and (b) it was Pammy Hutton's voice.  A huge compliment from a dressage God, I felt like I had won a gold medal. Pammy loved him and make big inroads into getting him to stop hiding behind the contact. Pammy is a genius. I have loads of homework to get him more off the leg and to work in a more correct outline.

Can't wait to ride him tomorrow to practise everything.

Other News
3 year old Twilight competed in his first ODE yesterday, finishing in 3rd place, he adored the XC.
4 year old Mika won the 90 cm class, both went like superstars. We had a fab day with lots of my pupils having a go at their 1st ODE, they all jumped really well with lots of clear rounds and not one refusal or elimination.

Also I have a new horse which is me being completely crazy as I have too many already. He is called William, is still very green, piebald (going grey and white so Skewbald really) , 16.1 hh, 4 years and will be evented at the lower levels next year. More about him in a later Blog.

Hartpury Twilight Wins and a Training Award

Stella Baylis Eventing - Training Award 2012

I am awarding one of my pupils a training award at the end of this year. The winner already knows who she is and is sworn to secrecy.
The award includes

Free lessons during 2013.
An embroidered rug.
Award Winners Jacket.
Riders BE membership paid for 2013.

I have chosen a rider that has had success at British Eventing Grassroots Level in 2012. She has successfully bought on a very young horse, despite being in in full time employment, has no training facilities and with no horse keen parents as back up.

I know how hard this is to do as I was once a rider like this. I am fortunate to now have my dream job, good facilities and super horses. There are almost no awards given to true grassroots riders like this and so I have decided to do something about it.

The Winner will be officially announced towards the end of 2012.

Hartpury Twilight Wins 1st Time Out (and a win for Amazing Mika)

Hartpury Twilights first competition was a combined training class at Allens Hill. He scored 71% in his dressage test and went clear SJ to win the class.

Amazing Mika jumped an easy peasy clear in the 90cm SJ and did a super dressage. I don't know his mark or place as the flood water around Pershore was rising fast and we had to come home before the results as the Police were closing all the roads. Impressive flood waters to view from the lorry but I was glad to get home safely.

Update- Just heard Mika won too.

Shadowing Coaches and Qatar

Its been a very busy week, I have taken some afternoons out to shadow senior coaches, Pammy Hutton, Caroline Moore and David Austin.

Pammy Hutton 

Watching at Talland is free and I am always amazed more riders and coaches don't make use of this. Today I sat with Pammy for 6 of her afternoon lessons, watching as horses and riders transformed in front of my eyes.
When I arrived Pammy was on her mobile.
"What do I have to do around here to get my 12.20 lesson to be in on time" she barked.
"Your next lesson is 12.40" 
" Well they are late. What time is it now?"
I didn't hear the reply but I looked at my watch it said 12.39.
Pammy switched off her mobile muttering it was the showing the wrong time.
I sat a bit tense in my seat hoping her mood would improve, she is a big softy really.
Qatar Event Team were at Talland for the afternoon to be trained by Pammy. As the first rider trotted round nervously her mood softened immediately. There were 4 riders who were each to have a private lesson on a Talland Schoolmaster. Joss Gray of www.jossgray.com has the task of producing an event team for the Asian Games in 2014. He explained all the riders were experienced show jumpers so that discipline is very good. Their dressage experience is down to about 15 tests ridden in their lives (the total between them!)
It was a fascinating afternoon, Pammy worked each team member in different movements, so one did half pass, another medium trot etc. Due to their SJ experience the flying changes were good. She worked on rider position too. This way they could also learn by watching each other.
We had a hilarious last session as the final rider spoke almost no English, Pammy had to get her daughter Pippa from her sick bed (she had a nasty cold) so he could learn from copying her, see photo. We all ended up being in stitches as Pippa seemed to understand him completely, even when his Qatar team members couldn't!

I learnt loads and think I will have to up my game next season as these guys will improve quickly with Joss and Pammy's help. I am looking forward to seeing them all out Eventing in March.

Caroline Moore

The British u18 Coach and she was amazing, I had an inspiring day. Caroline was coaching riders from Novice to Intermediate, she gave me lots of tips and good exercises to help me coach my riders up to the next level. I was up at 6 am next day putting out Caroline's course so I could practise my horses through the exercises as soon as it was light.

Just like to thank all three Coaches for making me feel very welcome and for allowing me to share their knowledge.

Nines Ways To Cure The No Eventing November Blues

Ok all the mega rich eventers are flying off to beautiful holidays around the world so here is a less expensive way of  keeping the Eventing flame going in No Eventing November!

1. Watch Downton on TV to try and spot the XC jumps from the defunct Highclere Horse Trials. So far I have spied the giant step down at the top of the hill.

2. Look at your horse and dream what he will look like in those posh stables at Badminton even though your not even qualified........yet!

3. Sell all your unwanted equine items on Ebay, bids on my unwanted BE prizes are up to £45. Thats half a BE entry fee, but sadly bidding on Ebay is almost as addictive as Eventing. So I better add to this point - ban yourself from bidding on Ebay!

4. Buy a 2013 diary and write all the BE 2013 dates in it, sooooooo exciting. Then tell all your family and friends you won't be able to make it to their Birthdays, Christenings, Weddings etc due to Eventing Commitments. Although Christmas Day is probably OK.

5. Go looking for bargain designer clothes in Oxfam that might get you in Eventing Mag for looking amazing at a trot up.

6. Pray for NO SNOW.

7. Dream of an amazing 2013 season, double clears, twenty something dressage, wonderful rides XC, winning everything and being interviewed by both Horse and Hound and Eventing.

8. While watching Downton (or Corrie) sit on a fitness ball, feet off floor, heels down and hands holding pretend reins, if you can stand the jelly legs afterwards your core stability is going to be the best there is by March.

9. Plan your countdown to your first event, lessons, training and competitions right up to that first BE event when your knees go weak with excitement as you drive into the lorry park onto real grass and see the dressage and the SJ and walk the XC course.....Eeeeeeeeek!

BT Are Rubbish and Hartpury Twilight In Work

I have not been able to update my BLOG for weeks as British Telecom have had a major cable breakdown and are unable to repair it until the 7th of November. How rubbish is that. I have had to walk to my Mums house to use her phone and Internet. When I ring BT to rant at them for not repairing it, I have been asked really stupid questions such as "Are you telephoning from the number that is broken?"

Anyway the big exciting news is that 3 year old Hartpury Twilight is broken and riding. He is young brother to my other two stars Top Gun and Take It 2 The Top. Hartpury Twilight has been to his first show and is the most amazing youngster I have had for a long time, very laid back like his Dad. He is hacking out alone and travelling in the lorry on his own and is so calm and easy at shows it is almost untrue. He moves like a warmblood yet is almost pure TB. Here he is at Hill View Arena schooling round some small show jumps. He is lovely to ride, it is like floating on air.
Video below is his first outing to a real show, Allens Hill near Pershore.

The Malvern Gazette

Its a very gloomy foggy day, at least it seemed like that until I opened my emails. I found an email from our local newspaper The Malvern Gazette asking for some pictures and info on my horses as they had noticed how well they had gone this season. I think it is mainly Top Guns runner up spot in the points rankings they are referring to, although Take It 2 The Top has finished in the top 20 also and I am in the top 20 riders.
That feels a bit weird, there I am sandwiched between all the top names, in fact I am just about the only name on there that Mr Average Horse Person hasn't heard of......

Here is the star of the show having fun in Longleats water jump last year.

A Fall at Hartpury and Awesone at Oasby!

I decided to take Icon British Showjumping to Hartpury a week ago. But it was a disaster. In the 1.10 he got a pole caught between his legs and I got flung off, landed on my feet but still meant Elimination. Then in the 1.15 Icon ground to a halt in front of the same fence. Got a tap on his bottom and then jumped it caustiously. Poor Icon.

With an Intermediate run at Oasby the following week and 1.25 Show Jumping I was in a "I must withdraw" flap. Instead I spent the week getting him a little more off my leg using pole work. I had got complacent with brave and reliable Icon and found I let his canter and pole work slip below standard.

At Oasby he was back on form. Just one down SJ and a 33 dressage left us in a good position. XC Icon flew, very strong, due to a shower of rain I had reins like two slippy snakes. This gave me some unwanted time faults, only 6 but enough to drop him to 12th.

Brilliant end to the season. Plus the 3 riders who I went to coach at Broadway on Saturday all went double clear.....foundation points all round.

Broadway Withdrawn It Feels Rubbish

Top Gun is withdrawn from Broadway and it feels rubbish.

He has a small annoying stud wound on his leg that is just not going to be healed in time and a run at Norton Disney also looks unlikey. This means he has lost any chance of being the best BE100 horse in the country. Coming 2nd to a 4* rider still feels good especially as I am the highest placed owner/rider. Telling you this to try cheer myself up! What else ummmm.....highest placed gelding, highest placed 6 year old, highest placed person called Stella....I can think of loads!!!!!

Take It 2 The Top is now on his winter holiday, Mika is also on holiday, although the fields are so wet they are both inside at the moment. Icon hopefully has one last Intermediate run still to go. Also I will be attending Broadway to support the riders I coach, so the season is not quite over yet.

Right time to dig out my very long, very thick winter socks.

Calmsden BE100

After two nights of torrential rain, the sun shone for Calmsden. It was take It 2 The Tops last run of the year, and after a very laid back dressage test and one down SJ I decided to withdraw him. He feels flat and in need of a holiday after a long and successful season.

Top Gun did a good dressage and then clipped 2 rails SJ, unlike him and its for the 2nd week running! I ran him XC and he was very quick and bold, but too quick when almost home he spooked at a fence judge and missed a skinny. Think I am getting far too confident on him XC. He also managed to stud himself and has a small cut on his hind leg, have poulticed it as soon as I got home and he will need a few days off to see how it progresses.

Dauntsey BE100 and Ledbury PC ODE

Dauntsey once again did an amazing job to run, they had to alter the course in the last few days as the River Avon was too high to use as the water jump.
The lorries squidged onto the lorry park, the ground was perfect for eventing apart from one very wet patch in front of the water jump. Both brothers did a super dressage, Take It 2 The Top on a 24 dressage scoring several 9's and a double clear to finish 2nd. Top Gun was in 4th after dressage but arggghhhh got strong sj and had two down. He was quick and clear XC and finished 10th.
 
I took Amazing Mika to our local ODE run by the Ledbury Pony Club. I know this course well as have taught zillions of Pony Club members round it. I set off to walk the course expecting the same old fences and was amazed at how stunning it all looked dressed up to BE standard, with flowers and trees. By the time I got half way round I was really looking forward to jumping round. Mika zoomed round to finish 4th, hes so bold, quick and brave, although I should sell him I think he can stay until next spring.....at least!

Fantastic Day - Moreton Morrell

As we left Moreton Morrell Horse Trials we turned on Absolute Radios Absolute 80's programme. They were playing Fantastic Day one of my favourite 80s songs and it totally summed up our days Eventing......
Hartpury Take It 2 The Top was doing his 2nd Novice. When I walked the XC I decided it was far too technical for him. A hanging log in the water with angled houses on the way out. Also earlier on the course a bank with a bounce on top to a palisade followed two strides later by a skinny house. However when he went clear SJ we decided to run XC. He flew round inside the time, he just loves to gallop and jump, I couldn't believe how easy it felt, Dan Jocelyn was parked next to us and asked if he was for sale and another lady who has bought horses off me before offered me an enormous amount. I said no to both. He finished in 7th place winning his first BE point and is now grade 3. Could he be a 3/4 star horse of the future, well without a doubt hes the best young horse I have ridden.

Hartpury Top Gun also did not let the side down winning his section. I didn't ride the star dressage test of last week and was 12th after dressage, however the SJ and XC caused chaos. It began to rain as the first BE100 horse went XC making the thick grass cover slippy, the XC time became almost impossible. We put enormous studs in and he galloped round bang on the optimum time. I was amazed when I went to the score board to see if we had managed to scrape a top ten place to find he had won!

Brothers Lead after Dressage

My alarm went off at 4.30 am on the morning of the lovely Monmouth Horse Trials, I was awake already, courtesy of 3 kittens, who had been having a rave in the spare bedroom since 3 am. (Cute and looking for good homes) I put my lucky pink horse socks on inside out by accident and left them like that, done by mistake its good luck.

The luck worked, both boys led after dressage on a 21 and a 24, I couldn't believe it. Top Gun finished on his dressage winning his section and Take It 2 The Top had 2 show jumps down to still come 3rd. I have had one dressage lesson with my new instructor Charlotte and miracles have happened, five 9's including one for my riding, I now need to pass this improvement on to the riders I coach.

The dressage miracle even helped stiff old Icon who had an 8 for his shoulder in at Pontispool Intermediate last Monday, thats never happened before, he finished 7th. The course was tricky and I never want to jump the double of Elephant Feet logs again, no ground line and loads of horses left legs, horrid to watch and horrid to jump even though Icon popped them well.

The next brother Hartpury Twilight has gone off to be broken, hes an exciting horse for next years 4 year old classes.

West Wilts Fab Days Eventing

A super day at West Wilts. I had nervously entered Take It 2 The Top in his first Novice. I felt worried, nervous and excited for 48 hours leading up to the event, stepping my lovely youngster up to the next level gave me wobbly knees and shaky hands, all those pre event nerves returned that I don't seem to get any more. I have had him since he was 2 and hes so very special. I need not have worried he rose to the occasion like the future star he is going to be. A super dressage test put him into 3rd after the first phase. He then rolled just one pole SJ and went clear XC with only 8 time faults to finish the day in 10th place. I never expected a top ten place so am thrilled to bits with him. His brother Top Gun was also a superstar finishing on his dressage in the 100 giving him a 3rd place.

Got myself into a spot of bother when I saw a professional rider beating his horse near its head with his whip over arm warming up for show jumping, I was so cross I put my best pony club instructors voice on and told at him to stop, he shouted at me to mind my own business and was really rude and had a pretty scary temper. I heard afterwards that this hadn't gone unnoticed and the stewards reprimanded him later. Meanwhile I hid in my lorry and only ventured back to the score board under cover of my baseball hat and I changed my T shirt in case he hunted me down for another rant at me! Anthony chuckled at my predicament and said "you can take the Instructor out of The Pony Club but you can't take the Pony Club out of the Instructor"

Take It to 3rd at Llanymynech!!!

Take It 2 The Top had another fab placing 3rd in Wales at Llanymynech this weekend. Love this event, really challenging courses round a galloping track. Take It 2 The Top was fab, double clear and flew round inside the time XC taking all the direct routes, he loves to gallop. Both waters were tricky with fences to be jumped right in front of them, The house in front of the 2nd water had lots of hoof marks on its roof where horses had refused and scrabbled on top of it. Monty was very bold, his only green wobble was at the easy first fence! His next outing is his first Novice, he is still a bit lollopy showjumping but feels ready to do an easy Novice or two.
Dressage Help
I have booked myself in for some dressage lessons. I need help now to improve the brothers dressage further. Take It 2 The Top is all my own work so far and some outside help is now needed. Top Gun had 2 lessons over a year ago so also some much needed guidence required.

Top Gun Is Back

Top Gun is fit and full of fun after his injury in June. He ran today at Aston le Walls and came 6th in a 90 open, double clear and almost too quick XC. Three horses including him finished in joint 4th on a score of 32, this means it then goes to the horses who are closest to the optimum time of 4.48, as I was the quickest round 4.11 I was then placed below them on the score board, moving Top Gun to 6th. He is now fit and ready for a BE100 when he goes out next week.
Stud Nightmare
I had to put Top Guns studs into his shoes at the event today. Ant usually does them but he was away at a chicken show, showing his prize winning birds.
First I break the stud tap off so it is completely stuck in Top Guns foot. Next I hurt my back. Then I cut my hand taking studs out (lots of blood) and to finish off I cant get one of the studs out.
Then I texted Ant to tell him I was missing him loads!!!

Allens Hill Eventing

Sapey horse trials cancelled so its all sad faces yet again, must be awful for poor Audrey who runs this friendly event. Lets hope next year is perfect.

I had 2 horses entered so I quickly rerouted to Allens Hill Eventers Class. Top Gun had a 3rd with a double clear and Amazing Mika came 5th with just one down SJ. Both boys did good dressage tests, very pleased with Top Gun as this was his first outing since winning at Stonar over 2 months ago. After Stonar he was off for weeks with a puffy hind joint, but is all better now and raring to go. Despite all the time off he is in 3rd place in the UK FP rankings, he was in 1st so he now has some serious catching up to do.

Photo is Icon at Hartpury (kindly taken by Maria Norrell) I love the reflection.

Solihull BE100 and BE90

Nothing very exciting happened, easy courses, perfect ground, both boys went well with Amazing Mika finishing 11th in his first BE90 event (a 28 dressage) and Take It 2 The Top 4th in a BE100. My last XC round was at 3.30 and we had to wait until 7 pm for prize giving, I got so bored waiting I went and helped put Show Jumps up. My prize was a generous £30, sounding ungrateful I did think I could have gone home 4 hours earlier to earn double that teaching for 2 hours and still had 2 hours spare. It seems more and more prizes are not picked up at prize givings, leaving awkward gaps and those of us in attendance applauding Mr Gonehome! I can quite understand why, with riders having long journeys to make home, people paying for child care, horse care and having to pay travelling grooms extra while you wait 4 hours to collect a prize, it also seems mean to keep your lovely horse having performed so well hanging round at the event for 4 hours more than needed, especially on a warm day.
We were invited out that evening and that had to be sacrificed as we rolled back in the yard at 9pm still with jobs to do, evening stables, chickens etc etc
I am not sure what the answer is, either prize givings are abandoned and prizes are sent on, or if events want to hold prize givings perhaps riders not wanting to stay should become HC and prizes pass down the line if they are not prepared to wait! Now that would make for a full attendance!!!

Amazing Mika at Hartpury International

Pictures my friend Louise took at Hartpury of Amazing Mika in the 4 year old Burghley Young Event Horse Class at Hartpury last week.

Hartpury International Three day Event

Just got home and want to sleep but will do my Blog first..........
Weds
9am - We arrive at Hartpury International 3DE with Icon for the 3DE, Amazing Mika BYEH and Take It 2 The Top BYEH. My friends Louise and Amy came along to help plait etc which was a good job as I was in a busy flap at times!
10 am - Amazing Mika went beautifully in the BYEH I was so thrilled with him, he was totally dwarfed by the real event types but what a little star he was. The BYEH was held in the main arena with everything set up for the 3DE, a big ask for a young horse.
12 am - We stable Icon and settle him in after he is checked over by the vets.
1 pm - I school Icon in one of the many superb indoor arenas.
2 pm - Take It 2 The Top performs outstandingly in the BYEH to finish 11th in a very high class field.
3 pm - We plait and prepare Icon for the official vet inspection and trot up.
4 pm - Icon trots up, but disaster he does not pass and is sent to the holding box, we all gain a few grey hairs from stress!
4.15 - Icon passes the trot up. Phew that was scary.
5 pm - I take the young horses home, ride Top Gun and return to Hartpury to look after Icon.
Thursday
Icons dressage is Friday, I have sold one of my youngsters so I had to return home to have him vetted and to load him off to his new home in Wales, then I ride Top Gun and then back to Hartpury to look after Icon, I ride him for 2 hours in despair as he refuses to relax and just gets covered in white frothy sweat, while all the other horses look amazing. Grrrrrr!
Friday
Icon relaxes and does the best test of his life to score a disappointing 67, I was gutted and got ready to withdraw him and go home. Then we hear it was a mistake adding up and he had a 57, so its game on again!!
Saturday
XC Icon flies round clear but I get held at fence 3 as a rider has had a fall on course and I have to wait for them to be sorted. This completely messes up my stopwatch, I complete clear with no idea if Icon has got inside the time or not. Later on we find out he had easily. I don't have a paid groom so thanks loads to all my friends who came to cheer us on and then helped wash off and do all the other stuff at the finish.
Sunday
5 am - Up early to exercise Icon and loosen him up.
8.30 am - Icon passes the trot up easily. Phew.
11am - Icon Show Jumps with 2 down, he was far too jolly but it was good to complete a 3 day event and especially at a local venue and to compete in the same class as our newly crowned Olympic Silver Medallists Tina Cooke and Nicky Wilson who were next dashing back to London for tonights closing ceremony.
OK Blog done' now I can sleep.

Herefordshire Country Fair 2012

This is a proper old fashioned grass show held in stunning parkland. Take It 2 The Top and Icon jumped in the 1.05 and both went double clear and both made the lower placings. I was especially pleased with Take It 2 the Top who coped well with the busiest ring he had ever been in. Trade stands round all 4 sides of the arena, archery, terrier racing, hound parades, balloons etc etc and as it rained lots - about a thousand umbrellas being held by a large but damp crowd. Amazing Mika came along for the experience. I rode him around the show ground taking in all the sights and sounds of a busy county show, he behaved perfectly even when we met the Knights of The Dammed - see photo!

Amazing Mika

Took my 4 year old to Leyland Court (Nr Bristol) XC schooling today. It was a fab course for technical fences and most importantly had a dew pond, so often found at BE events but not many schooling places have them. And a super owl hole which he flew, but then he flew everything.

There were also a variety of good and different ditches, shallow, some deep, some had water in, others in hedgelines and several coffins. Mika was fabulous, loving every minute he was almost too bold at times. I am looking forward to his first BE event in a couple of weeks. He is also entered for a BYEH class although at 15.2 he is probably a bit small to shine at these.

Carlton BE100

Our first ever visit to this event. They had made a great effort for spectators with lots of village fete type trade stands. Delicious cakes, have a go at Archery and a Guinnea Pig show!
The course was old fashioned with plenty of hedges, ditches and drops, following the headland round the edge of cornfields. The big steps at 5 resulted in several Eliminations. Take It 2 The Top hopped down them happily. Despite all the recent rain the ground was hard and rough in places so with two SJs down I cantered round slowly, also slowing me down were the 3 circles I had to do in front of the skinny corner trakener waiting for a large group of course walkers to move off the jump!

Hillview Dressage and Top Boys Update

Took 3 to Hillview Arena dressage today. Amazing Mika is back with me as the lady who bought him at Malvern wanted a confidence giver and then found he was too green and she couldn't ride him......of course 4 year old sports horses make perfect confidence givers!!!

At Hillview Amazing Mika won his class on 72% he even beat Hartpury Take It 2 The Top, my dressage superstar. Icon then ran through his CCI test that he is due to perform in a few weeks, he did not get uptight so fingers crossed he can hold his excitement on the big day. Here is the photo of Top Gear when he first arrived and his latest photo taken this week. The best news is that Top Gun is now well and will be back eventing in September. He is still leading the UK foundation points.

Eliminated at Dauntsey BE100

http://www.ultimate-images.co.uk/photocart/index.php?do=photocart&viewGallery=14815#image=514708
Click on link above for him being perfect at the turning fences, can't believe how good he looks but then I am a tiny bit biased!
I was the first rider to win a BE100 on a youngster by Take It 2 The Limit and now I am the first one to be eliminated too. How rubbish is that?
Hartpury Take It 2 The Top was 2nd after dressage and despite one down, went into the lead after SJ as the dressage leader withdrew.
He was green XC and we were lucky not to get a 20 pens at a couple of fences for spooky run outs. He jumped the two big tables (4 strides on a 90 degree turn) foot perfect and boldly cantered the water. He also wobbled in the 3 strides off the big step to the parallel brush skinny. We went clear with only 2.8 time faults. He loved the mud, but then hes a class horse. The rider on the other hand needs to walk the course better I jumped the wrong fence two from home.
There were some fab photos of him taken by Ultimate Images I will link to them when they have put them on their web site.
The ground was sticky mud but felt good although lots withdrew, my boy sailed through it but then we have ridden and jumped in the mud many times on Castlemorton Common. Maybe those who withdrew were not used to riding in mud. Well done Dauntsey, my horse learnt loads from your educational course and I am now eyeing up some Novices before the end of the season.
Also these pictures over the hedge. http://www.ultimate-images.co.uk/photocart/index.php?do=photocart&viewGallery=14814#image=514648

Bad News and Good News

Good news first. Well done to Megan of Malvern Pony Club who qualified for the pony club Eventing Championships today. Megan is a lovely rider and has done wonders improving her little mare, a fabulous achievement. Here she is just after prize giving.
Now the Rubbish news. Top Gun has cut his back joint and needs a few weeks rest, just a small cut but its quite swollen and does need resting. Poor Top Gun is looking all fit and bright in his box.
He has been withdrawn from his next 3 events, it is annoying no one will fill my place, despite there being people who want to, so I will get no £ back for withdrawing, adds up to over £200.
In the meantime his much younger brother, 3 yrs old, Hartpury Twilight is in and ready to go to be broken later this week, I was keen and up long reining him at 6 am this morning, he trots like a king. The plan will be to sell him later on next year as I just have too many.

Photo Of Hartpury Take It 2 The Top - BYEH

http://www.ultimate-images.co.uk/photocart/index.php?do=photocart&viewGallery=14644#image=496001

Wow I cant believe how big he jumps, Advanced fences are going to look small on him, I hope!

Top Gun Leads The UK Rankings

Hartpury Top Gun is now once again leading the UK foundation points rankings, I am feeling very proud of him.

Cancelled Cancelled Cancelled

Well it is still raining and my fields are very wet indeed. I was out cutting docks down today when I discovered that for the first time ever, I could pull them up roots and all, just like carrots.

This week I have had Eland Lodge cancelled and Nutwell Court cancelled which was then relocated to Bicton which in turn was then cancelled also. What a nightmare for the organisers.

I am now waiting to hear about Glanusk this weekend, and am not holding my breath as half of the course runs alongside a very wide shallow Welsh river.....the sort that likes to easily burst its banks.

The grass on Castlemorton Common is causing horses to spook more than normal as it has grown so long with all the rain, lots of wildlife hiding in it and horse riders keep falling off. We seem to spend at least one day a week catching a loose horse and then searching for its rider. At least the ground is boggy and soft! Photo is one poor rider getting a lift to Hospital, she is home and well now, but gave us all a fright at the time.

I am Grumpy at Barbury BYEH

Hartpury Take It 2 The Top competed in the 5 year old class here. He finished 12th out of 56, a good result with a 3rd place in the conformation /type and a high jumping score 33, I was disapointed with his dressage mark, he did one of his best tests and as he has been in the 20s at his last few BE100 events we were expecting a good score. It was also a shame the commentary was not more informative, we sat and watched for quite a while, with no information being given out about the horses and riders other than their names, it was a boring class to observe. We have been spoilt by doing Gatcombe BYEH last year.
In addition my score was initially added up wrong, so we thought we were qualified for the final only for my score to be scribbled out and be replaced with a lower score just ten mins before the final began.
I went home in a grumpy mood!

Top Gun Wins at Stonar

We were very lucky to have a run at Stonar today. They had to shorten the course, as the wet weather had played havoc with preparations for the XC. Top Gun did his dressage right in the worst 6 minute downpour ever. Water was running off my hat and I could wring out water from my Jacket. He scored 25.5, the judge wound down her car window at the end and said what an incredible horse he was to do such a stunning test in such appalling weather.
A double clear secured him 1st place 7 marks ahead of 2nd, clever boy.
Take It 2 The Top tensed in the dressage 28 and got 6 time faults XC, I had him over anchored as he was very fresh and spooking today, must give him more working in next time.
I spent last weekend training XC, taught Ledbury Pony club at Deerpark, very disappointing the grass was too long to jump some of the jumps, there were several promising horse and rider combinations in my group. Then on Sunday I shadowed Paul Tapner while he coached one of my pupils, very useful and it was kind of him to let me listen in.

Competing with a sick bug - bad idea.

Tried to comepte at Nunney today recovering from a horid vile sickness bug that everyone seems to be catching round here. Hadn't kept food down for 3 days and felt weak and wobbley. I was sick all over Top Guns feet when I was plaiting him up. He did a stunning dressage 25 and clear SJ so I had to run XC, but I rode like a lemon (or a person with a sick bug) and let him have 20 pens, very annoying. I withdrew Take It 2 The Top after 2 down SJ, he stuggled to balance in the SJ, more practise on a grass needed as the arena was slightly sloping.
My helpers for the day were my freind Bernice and Ewa. Ewa used to come to help me at all the events when I had Mutiny Bay in the early 90s, it was great to have her along. She was just the same as 20 years ago, her horse handling skills were a bit rusty but she was soon busy helping, she couldn't believe how the XC had become so difficult, and what are all those narrow fences!

Saturday
Have just jumped Icon at home ready for Nunney tomorrow, but I am still too weak and I can't ride him properly, he is a big horse and I need to be very fit and well to ride him, so I have just rang Nunney to withdraw from the intermediate.

Summerhouse BSJA

Full brothers Take It 2 The Top and Top Gun both jumped super BSJA today (now called BS). It was really busy with over 50 in each class. Jumping slow, careful clears I came home with £45 prize money. 5 year old Take It 2 The Top coped beautifully in the 1.05 a double clear and winning prize money for 9th place. His older brother Top Gun won £30 in his 2 classes 6th and 10th.
It rained and I came home cold and wet, but good for the horses to learn to cope with jumping in the rain.

Top Gear Turned Out

Having being taught to load and tie up, Top Gear (Jeremy) is now turned out in a 40 acre field with Rif Raf. They are very happy and relaxed together in grass up to their knees. This weekend has been a laid back one, I just took the brothers to local dressage and jumping shows, it was nice to compete them with no pressure. They came home with several 1sts and were not out of the top 3 in everything they entered. Back to serious competitions next week.

I also have some good news about horses changing homes, which I will report about later this week.

We Take it 2 The Top at Berriewood!

Take It 2 The Top won a BE100 at Berriewood, he is only just coming 5, a very exciting day, I have had him since he was 2 yrs old so it was an extra special result. He was one of only 8 clears in the SJ, it caused havoc, I think the course builder had built to exact BE standards, which per the rule book meant the spreads were 10cm wider than BSJA courses.

Top Gun had 2 down SJ, one was knocked down by my bad ankle hitting a wing, this made me wince in pain for a while after.

Both boys were in the 20's dressage and were clear inside the time XC. The event was lovely, low key and very friendly organisers. they had made a super effort in the SJ and XC, flowers on the SJs, spiked and watered ground. Up to fence 9 on the XC I thought it was a bit like a hunter trial but then came a super test of a decent corner (lots of flowers) and then a step up to an old brick WWII fort which was wonderfully decorated with Jubilee flags and cut out silver crowns, the water was stunning, a house then a step in and out, all dressed with loads more flowers and a little boat complete with a 1960s type picnic ready for a family day out, there were alternatives at all the tough fences including the huge trakener at 17, everyone had a chance of getting round. Well done Berriewood.

Pontispool Intermediate

Icon was fab, managed a super test to score 30....yes 30, I couldn't believe it either, for once he settled and took bigger strides to gains several 8's. Then I let him have the last 2 SJs down...arghhh, just got the canter a bit flat and clunk, clunk. XC he was fast and quick, the course suits him here, lots of bold questions nothing trappy and he loves the gallopy stretches, he was one of the quickest round and finished 9th. He now has 50 BE points, 10 more and he is advanced!!!
The Bees have mostly gone, that night there were still hundreds walking on the carpet and crawling up the curtains and lots more had gone to sleep in the folds of the duvets. Creepy crawlies that also fly and sting and I discovered they don't always buzz when flying so I didn't hear the one above me until it got in my hair, eeeeek! Next day the ones outside were very angry when they realised the swarm had been taken along with their queen, they dive bombed us every time we went down the garden......so I had to beeeee quick!

The Bees Swarmed and Took Over Our Bedroom

A swarm of Bees made home in our chimney. I heard and saw them swarming and lit a fire to move them out. It worked, but later on I was upstairs and realised they had moved to a disused chimney in the bedroom. There was a drone of the sound of many bees when I listened by the old fireplace. Yikes. I rang my dads old school friend, Bee expert Richard Drinkwater who said I really needed to move them if possible as the honey dripping can cause damage to the structure of the house.

So I decided to light a fire in the fireplace. Not a good idea, the fireplace had been blocked up. The flames licked fiercely up the mantel piece and the room filled with thick grey smoke, some of it did get up the chimney, as the odd Bee fell down on to the carpet I niftily squashed it. Easy!

Until the entire swarm fell down in a massive angry ball and smashed on the hearth. I screamed and ran.

I ran to our neighbours house in a complete panic, I wasn't sure if the bedroom was on fire and the Bees were very angry. Luckily our neighbour Nigel was at home, he also keeps Bees and he was a complete hero and came to help me. I was so relieved, he put on his Bee keeping stuff and bravely ventured into Bee territory to open the bedroom windows, then Richard also arrived to help and they moved most of the Bees outside.

There are a few hundred sleepy ones left behind, I plan to sleep in the lorry tonight! The Bees are now in a big ball in a bush in the garden and Richard is going to collect them later.

Mount Ballan Horse Trials

Love this event, one of the few Welsh events, it is tucked behind Chepstow on a compact site that is home to The David Broome Event centre.
Lots of riders had travelled from the depths of Wales but also there were a shed load of top names there, which meant prize givings were more like a Badminton or Burghley results list.
Both my boys went double clear with good dressage scores. Take It 2 The Top invented a succession of 3 bucks during a canter transition but still scored a 31.
It was a technical BE100 course almost the same as previous years, the house fence before the slope into the water seemed bigger and more fences were shared with the Novice. It is always an educational track, including a tricky sunken road that has an imposing house in and a narrower house as the "c" element, a double of forgiving brush skinnys positioned on sloping ground, then the penultimate fence is a coffin on a turn with the third element being a corner.
Top Gun came 5th and Take It 2 The Top 8th in the very hotly contested 5 year old section. Riders I coach also did well, Sue Peckham 11th and Tracey Jenkins 8th double clear.

Top Gear Arrives

I seem to have bought a yearling Giraffe. Luckily Twilight (see previous BLOG) looked just like this when I bought him. The brothers are late improver's!
Ugly Ducklings to Stunning Swans.
You can all laugh at him now but wait until I appear at Gatcombe BYEH in 3 years time and beat some of the best!!

He has settled in well, walked boldly into the yard and is very calm, very little seems to spook him, I am more than a little impressed with his attitude already.


Hartpury Top Gear meets his eldest brother 6 year old Hartpury Top Gun.

Top Gun is telling Top Gear to behave himself or "She" will call you Top Git.

Top Gun is speaking from experience!

Icon ran at Aston Le Walls, fab to be out eventing, it was a small but technical course, a glance off a skinny put us out of the prizes today.

And a wow as this BLOG reached over 20,000 views late last night.

New Horse - Its Another Brother.....

I have bought a yearling from Hartpury Stud. Hartpury Top Gear, baby brother to my dark bay super stars. Top Gun better set a good example now he is the eldest of 4 brothers.

Here is one brother Take It 2 The Top bonding with an umbrella, kindly held by Teddy. This is following the rain at Hambledon ODE when almost every horse warming up had a meltdown as the stewards popped up their umbrellas during a hail storm.




Paint It 2 The Limit, 3 years to be broken in very soon....

One of the brothers Hartpury Twilight and unrelated Crunchie, 3 year olds who will be broken in late Summer.

Hartpury Twilight, Paint It 2 The Limit and Credit Crunch Christmas. All 3 years old 2012.

Chatsworth Off and It Rains More

It has rained and rained, Castlemorton Common is now the soggy boggy common that we used to ride on when we were young children. I can't remember when it was as wet as this in recent years. The ponds are full to the brim and are great fun for water schooling and washing the horses legs off, although my tack needs oiling after getting so wet so often. Photo is Tracey enjoying the floods on her eventer in training - Fine Girl.

Icon was due to run at Chatsworth advanced on Sunday and that is off as is almost every other event in the country. BE have compared it to foot and mouth year 2001. Its not as bad as that, at least we can hack out and go to show jumping and dressage competitions. The only trouble is not knowing, I keep getting horses trained and in top gear to do an event and then its off. But its worse for those who have spent 12 months organising these events. So disappointing for them.

Wet Weather sends us British Showjumping

Hartpury was a busy show filled to the brim with bored eventers on fresh event horses. I left at 5.30 pm and they still had 2 and a half classes to jump.
The brothers jumped well, Take It 2 The Top jumped lovely, he feels so smooth, it was his first time affiliated SJ. Top Gun won £15 in the Discovery and Icon had a fence down in the Newcomers. I had a shock warming up for the 1.10m Newcomers on Icon, I asked my helper for the day, Dan, to put the practise fence up 4 holes. As I turned to jump, the fence looked huge, nearly at the top of the wings, Icon cleared it. "that's more than 4 holes Dan" I squealed. "Oh" came the reply "I thought you said 1.40m!" This gave everyone in the practise ring a good chuckle!

Top Gun still Top!!

Despite his last 2 events being cancelled Top Gun still leads the Foundation points for 2012. Only because everything is cancelled and Keyso has gone today. At this rate he will win - if the whole of 2012 is a washout!!!!

Following my accident this week my foot is a fat funny shape, its lost all its normal lumps and curves and resembles a foot made by a 6 year old out of modelling clay!!!

Thank goodness for vet wrap, paracetamol and a good pair of boots. Still sore but well strapped up I am sound, just. It hurts to put weight in a stirrup so I only rode Icon yesterday (without stirrups) even running through his advanced dressage test including the flying changes. Today I can put weight in a stirrup but am not yet 100% secure so I rode all 4 horses in the school. The only near miss was a spook from Take It 2 The Top!

Tonight I should be cleaning tack for the now cancelled Badminton Horse Trials, very sad, but even worse for Jeni Clements and her horse Mowgli who should be in the grassroots tomorrow. She has taken her horse up to Championship level from an unbroken 3 old, with help from Ledbury Pony Club rallies and clinics. I remember Jeni bringing a young unruly Mowgli to winter lessons, having to lunge him before getting on, now he is the star of the Ledbury Pony Club. Lets hope they can qualify for 2013.

I am Injured and Badminton Cancelled

Take It 2 The Top and Amazing Mika were due to compete at Badminton on Thursday in the Burghley Young Event Horse class. But sadly due to flooding of the parkland the entire event has been cancelled. I had thought that if I did the BYEH class at Badminton it may quench my thirst for competing at the worlds greatest 3 day event, but now it seems Take It 2 The Top will have to try and get to the real thing instead!!!
This afternoon I had a freak accident and am a bit lame with a quickly swelling ankle. I was untacking Top Gun when he stepped sideways a bit quickly and his saddle fell off. It was still attached to the martingale via the girth. As he spooked at the falling saddle the whole lot followed him. Poor lad shot backwards very fast to be followed by the saddle dragging along the concrete yard, with me holding on asking him to whoa. I was caught between him and the saddle which had become a deadly weapon, the faster he ran back the more the saddle flew about. Luckily after about 30 yards the saddle came loose and Top Gun stopped. I was left still holding on to him but felt sick and wobbly, my ankle felt very sore. Top Gun is a lovely kind horse and gently nuzzled me as if to say "I am sorry are you OK"
I am now sitting with my ankle well strapped up in vet wrap, pain free, drinking a glass of Bucks Fizz with paracetamol, hoping I can ride tomorrow.

Rain and Events Cancelled!

Photo Hambledon 2012 after the storm.

Almost everything this weekend is cancelled. Riders on route to Withington are tweeting not happy at the mid morning decision, many of them had already set off for Friday dressage. We live about 25 miles from Withington and its been raining non stop since I woke up at 6 am, its now 10 am.

We were due to run at Bradwall with the 2 brothers on Saturday and thats off too.

My gripe about weather conditions is the SJ and XC. At Hambledon last week it was numbers on the board for SJ, riders publicised times were ignored. This meant if you were on the ball you could get your number down and SJ/XC early before the ground deteriorated further. We realised what was happening and got our numbers down but it meant many very annoyed riders (mainly one horse riders) arrived for SJ on time and had over an hour to wait, and then jumped nearer the end in the very worst ground, despite being drawn half way through the section. I felt so sorry for the steward who was getting lots of abuse.

I have no idea why BE and or Events choose to ignore allocated times. It certainly suits us to go early, better ground, cooler conditions on a hot day, home earlier and to show jump all our horses before XC is easier as saves outfit changes and its easier to keep you eye in for a better SJ round and a faster XC time. Also you can then run the horses XC in any order that you prefer. So maybe the one on the best score last as you always ride quicker 2nd time round as you get the feel of the course.

Hartpury Top Gun Leads 2012 F.Points.

British Eventing have today put the list up for the 2012 foundation points rankings.

Top Gun is currently leading by 6 marks. I have never been even in the rankings before on anything, I couldn't be more excited if I had won the lottery.

Fab news for the stud at Hartpury and for all the students who have looked after him as he was growing up. I have just texted them, mum Top Totty and dad Take It 2 The Limit will be pleased too I expect!!

He still needs a few more runs BE100 before he will be ready for Novice so he may even stay leading a bit longer!

To see the ranking lists go to www.britisheventing.com click on About Us and then Top Foundation Points.

Scared to Death at Kelsall

You can walk the course on Jess Williams BLOG at www.equine-planet.co.uk.
Icon went bananas in the dressage, he is so intelligent he remembered that last time he was here the XC ran within yards of his arena.! We expected a 47 and got a 36. Weird!
I then walked the XC to find to my horror it was not the easy run I was hoping for. Its an Intermediate bigger than some Advanced I have done. I arrived back at the lorry to announce to Ant that we will SJ and go home!
Then Icon SJ with only one down and felt amazing. I nervously went and walked a few of the XC fences again, they looked more jumpable this time. the Burghley Leaf Pit replica still scared me to death. There were about a dozen massive tables/spreads and I hated those too, having ended our XC last weekend by us both sliding sideways across a table.
But feeling nervous I decided to go XC. It was one of those fabulous rides, Icon just said "I AM NOT TOUCHING A XC FENCE EVER AGAIN" and almost jumped me off about ten times. We jumped the wrong side of a flag (20 pens) at the triple brush after the leaf pit (photo) but who cares when he is such an amazingly brave horse.

Hail Hambledon Horse Trials !!!

Hambledon Horse Trials today with the two brothers. A long way when this weekend Solihull is on our doorstep. Both boys have done Solihull a few times, we felt they would learn more at Hambledon with the buzz of an International event. Sure enough every show jump was decked with flowers and there were numerous trade stands and flags. They both dressaged and show jumped well, young Take It 2 The Top coping well with the atmosphere. Top Gun went clear xc to finish 8th. Take It 2 The Top spooked sideways approaching fence 1 then went clear, although he wobbled into the water. He is still very green but is brave, has masses of scope and is a lovely horse to ride.
After we finished the hail storms arrived and we have just heard they have had to sadly cancel the next two days of competition.

Symm International Horse Trials

I have just applied for a £750 training bursary that is on offer to a few riders competing at the Symm International Horse Trials. Symm is a building company, working on stunning buildings such as Blenheim Palace, one of their joinery workshops is in Pershore, not far from my yard.
The bursary would mean I could have some help with my training of the lovely young Hartpury Horses. So far I have had only one lesson on Top Gun and none at all on Take It 2 The Top. Just shows how good the horses are. Maybe I would have won the young horse champs last year with a few lessons, I only needed 2 more marks in the dressage!

Fingers crossed that I am selected.

Oh No...Bang Goes My Air Jacket.....

Weston park Intermediate today, Icon got a competitive dressage of 35 but clunked a few SJs down. Then XC he set off full of enthusiasm and felt really bold, he was pinging and it felt very easy until........

.......... at the wide angled table we had a fab stride, but suddenly Icon seemed to misread the fence and went to put down on the top, as he did his hooves skidded on the wooden surface and we were sliding sideways instead of flying over clear. I landed on my feet with a loud bang of my air jacket going off, a split second later Icon also landed on his feet next to me, he stood on my foot.....Ow!

We decided to retire as he has another run very soon. First time I have set my air jacket off. Anthony made us laugh, he claimed the Army Cadets helping at Weston all ducked when it went bang....he said they thought they had been shot at.....!!!!!

After looking after Icon and working out how to load a new air jacket cannister, we had a lovely afternoon watching the advanced horses SJ and XC. A big crowd turned out as many Badminton and Olympic horses were running, amazing to be able to watch them close up.

Eventing Mag get it wrong!

I have had numerous texts from people telling me Eventing Magazine have me down in their results at Stafford as riding the stallion Take It 2 The Limit into 3rd place in the BE90 open instead of his 5 year old son Hartpury Take It 2 The Top. How on earth could that happen, very annoying both for me and for the stud, especially when the full brothers both did so well that day.

Louise Harwood (Skelton) texted me to say "you seem to be riding the whole family now!"

Next month maybe Eventing will accidentally have me down as winning Badminton!!!

The Brothers are Stars

Oh my goodness what a fab day, took my 2 full brothers to Sapey, Take It 2 The Top attempting his first BE100. They did not let me down and both finished on their fab dressage scores of 31 and 30 in 2nd and 4th place.
The ground and courses at Sapey were superb . Both boys gave me a super ride, Top Gun the XC tiger nipped round easy peasy and Take 2 Top felt like he just floated round. I was thrilled when he bravely jumped into the water the direct route which was a small log drop.
They both had time to text their breeder - stud manager Lotta at Hartpury College, hoof prints on my phone now!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Hartpury-Home-Farm-Stud/73225432691

Link is to Hartpury facebook report.

No photos of my boys but below is Louise taking 5 year old Charlie clear XC at his first BE90. I have trained Louise for several years. In the last couple of weeks riders that I coach have had some fab results, around 9 double clears and several placings. Well done to Sarah clear again today, Sue clear XC at Sapey at her horses 1st 100 and Becky 9th and double clear in a 90 also at Sapey.

Horse and Hound - BE100 dressage test 106

Horse and Hound rang me today asking for my view on BE test 106. This is the dressage test ridden at 100 level that requires you to canter round and round on a 20 metre circle until you are dizzy......well maybe I am exaggerating slightly!

I have ridden it at every BE100 event I have competed at so far this year. Top Gun knows it so well he is going to do it without me next time!

We call it the roundabout test as the canter work feels like you are stuck on a roundabout and can't find the exit!! Event rider Tom Searle made me laugh, he has been practising 106 and says he now knows what it must feel like to be on a horse walker in canter!

Photos from Gatcombe

http://www.stephensparkes.co.uk/GATSPRING12.aspx

Click the link to see photos from Gatcombe spring event 2012, including Icon jumping those corners!!!!

Ledbury Pony Club Easter Egg Hunt

This is day that I help organise. I write out clues and hide them under Easter theme props - a toy bunny, yellow flowers, basket of eggs etc etc.
Then fellow instructor Jeni and I laid a trail round the pony club fields at Gadbury. The children rode their ponies following the hidden clues collecting ribbons on the way.
At the end of the hunt the children exchanged their ribbons for yummy chocolate Easter eggs.
Normally a fun day with lots of smiley faces.......... except today it was freezing cold, they did get their eggs but also got very very cold!!!!
We finished the day with the children practising bandaging ponies legs.
When I got home frozen, I made hot for hot soup and cheese sandwiches and eventually I warmed up....brrrrrrrr.

Double Clears Stafford and Howick

Top Gun and Take It 2 The Top both finished on their dressage at Stafford in 2nd and 3rd place. TTT was doing his 1st grown up BE event a "BE90 Open" he was the youngest horse in the class so finishing 3rd was amazing.
Stafford is the most wonderful event, perfect in everyway. Top Gun and TTT between them managed to text their breeders at Hartpury to keep them updated of their good day.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Hartpury-Home-Farm-Stud/73225432691

Thought they were very quiet for a while on the lorry. Took them ages as mobile phones and hooves don't work very well together!!!!

Sunday I went to support riders that I coach at Howick. Emma and Sarah both came home pleased with double clears and top ten placings, at their 1st BE event. We celebrated with the most delicious Aberdeen Angus burgers that were more like a joint of beef.

Talking of beef our new Bull at the farm is an Aberdeen Angus called Eric. He will be out on Castlemorton Common with his ladies in the next few weeks.

Gatcombe a Whoops at The Corner Double

Icon jumping the problematic water clear at Gatcombe today. We changed Icons bit for the 1st time in 6 years for the SJ to a waterford. This meant I was very anxious waiting to go in. However I need not have worried as although we had 3 down I could hold him and there was no repeat of Lincoln of jumping over the wings, he stayed very straight.
The XC had a tough double of corners at fence 7, they caused numerous run outs including me, the distance was on 7 yards and I felt Icon just went yikes that's tight for all 16.3 hh of me. I then jumped the alternative and got another 40 pens for crossing my tracks, that's the whoops! The way it was flagged would have meant taking his back teeth out to not x my tracks. (photo kindly taken by Lizzie my young groom for the day)

Amazing Mika and Take It 2 The Top

Unaffiliated ODE at Offchurch today, what a wonderful venue, it was like Badminton Park with the SJ held in front of a beautiful manor house. Super XC and acres of flat parkland for the dressage.

Rising 4 years Mika (photo) went double clear in the 80 with a 32 dressage.

Take It 2 The Top came 2nd in the 90 out of a huge class of over 50, he is without doubt the most exciting young horse I have ever sat on.......the 4* dream lives on.......

6 riders I coach took part and all had a fab day especially LPC member Jess at her very 1st ODE. Judging by the very smiley face at the end of the XC we have a budding event rider in the making.

Hartpury Top Gun is Top at Draycot BE100

He won, such a good boy, one of the fastest XC rounds of the day and finished on his dressage.
Lazy monkey though I gave him a slap on the neck to gallop over a big field and he responded with a corkscrew buck, he is such a character!!
Anna who competed Top Guns mum Top Totty told me she was awesome XC, just point and go, Top Gun is following her way of going and it feels amazingly easy.
Milo was 6th in the same section, also inside the time XC.
Course was a little twisty at the start then quite gallopy, there were 2 waters the 2nd had a statue in the middle, there was a beautifully built wall jump and steps up and down and some big skinny logs put in interesting places which required positive accurate riding. Fab catering at Draycot, I had a delicious homemade lasagne with salad while we waited for prize giving.

Lincoln Intermediate and Swalcliffe Eventing

At Swalcliffe Top Gun came 5th in a BE100, he is almost ready for Novice but despite being a tiger XC he still goes shy at one fence somewhere in the SJ so a few more BE100 before we upgrade I think.
Icon was a star at Lincoln despite demolishing 4 of the first 5 show jumps. At the fifth he jumped right handed in the double and jumped over the wings taking the lot with him, I lost a stirrup and wasted time getting it back. Funnily enough he then went clear! He had warmed up so well I think I was riding a bit too quietly.

XC he was fab, Lincoln is regarded as one of the biggest XCs in the country and they had beefed it up again with an old fashioned coffin near the end. I hacked him round slowly taking all the direct routes, lots of skinnies off banks, drops and angles. A good 1st outing apart from the SJ!

I had a new helper for the day Megan from Malvern PC, it was her first experience of a BE event and she was able to enjoy watching many Olympic horses and riders in action including the awesome and very beautiful Lenamore.

Photos are of brave Icon jumping the "B" element of fence 4, it caused lots of run outs and brush palisade half way round the course, it had a ditch in front big enough to park a small car in!

Funny things that happen training

Taught a little boy on his pony recently. I was thirsty so asked him to walk round the school while I ran to the house to grab a cold drink. To my amusement he got off his pony and walked round on his feet!!!
I must make myself more clear in future.

Pic is of my web designer Louise and I schooling at Tack Farm last weekend, we used the SJ and the XC jumps and had a fab time. I rode Take It 2 The Top and Mika, also our friend Sue joined us with her lovely youngster Gangster.

Somerford Park Eventing BE100

What a super event, felt like a mini top class 3 day event. Superb going, beautiful courses and lots of smiley people having a lovely time competing their horses. Top Gun came 6th very bold XC with a smart dressage, Man Friday also gave me a fab XC ride, it was a big galloping course.
Both boys were inside the time XC, there were only a few inside the time all day.

Nothing quite like going British Eventing - happy days!

We Go Eventing...and again

Aston Le Walls unaffiliated - our first run of 2012. Took Icon and Top Gun. Icon leapt about more than was required in the dressage but jumped double clear in the novice. Top Gun scored a pleasing 33 dressage and also went double clear finishing in 8th. Very pleased for a first run I need to kick on XC I am still trying to SJ the fences a bit too much and so both boys got a few time faults, it always takes me a couple of runs to shake the rust off!!! Lost a bit of time on Top Gun as the rider in front of me had a horse fall, both OK but there was a bit of chaos as I jumped fence 8. Glad my boys had a safe fun outing.
Then ALW eventing day 2 - This Time Take It 2 The Top and Man Friday, both boys went clear XC and both had a SJ down, Man Fridays was my fault and Take It 2 The Top had a SJ (wings and all) come crashing loudly down beside him in the wind which made him spook, I was pleased he reacted so mildly, but he did knock the fence he was jumping.

4 Year Old Mika Goes XC Schooling

Amazing Mika was amazing XC schooling, it was a lovely sunny day, perfect ground and we had a fab time. Mika was really bold and loved it, a perfect XC horse in the making. A group of us met at Lincombe, our horses went so well we were all buzzing when we finished.

We drove home eating chocolate picnic bars, dreaming of going eventing!

pics courtesy of web design company www.fromthesticks.co.uk