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.