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Broadway Withdrawn It Feels Rubbish

Top Gun is withdrawn from Broadway and it feels rubbish.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.