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.