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.