West Buckland

We set off with great excitement to this Somerset event, always extra exciting going to an event I have not been to before. Top Gun has improved on the flat since his last event and I was dreaming of a low 20s dressage, couldn't dream the clear SJ though, he will just have the odd one behind now and then.

However the 20s dressage remained in my dreams. As I walked the XC my heart sank. The ground was just not suitable to run him, they had done lots of work to help conditions and the majority of riders were happy to run, the few I spoke to said they just went round slowly. I didn't feel Top Gun needed that sort of a run, he needs to practice to go XC for Novice speed and so I withdrew.

A huge thank you to the owners of Equine Centre Leyland Court nr Bristol who allowed me to school round their XC on our way home, obviously here the ground was still firm but more suitable. Top Gun jumped the Intermediate way in to the water with great enthusiasm several times and seems to be ready for his 1st Novice run in a few weeks.

Dauntsey Eventing

The XC looked fab, they had watered the course and it was a challenging BE90.
William was a little green in places in his dressage test but he is always loved by the judges with his X factor looks and so he still scored a good 34.

Show Jumping I am not sure what happened he warmed up lovely he was pinging the practice fences. When he went into the SJ arena his eyes were on stalks which is unlike him but that's baby horses for you. He spooked and ran past fence one and did similar at the double just not focused at all, maybe I have not given him enough work this week, he's normally so laid back and reliable but I need to remember he is still a green baby, so a few extra SJ events I think are needed between eventing, I haven't done any as its just been so hot, poor excuse!

The good news is Sue whom I coach, went fab, a good dressage 37 despite an error of test and just one rail SJ, she went clear XC, such a star.

Upton House Eventing

I have to admit I have only been to this event once before and didn't like the XC at all, the ride I had felt rubbish (may have been the horse though)

What a transformation this year, It was a top class course, inviting well built fences well positioned  so the hills were still a feature but in a way horses remained confident and balanced, it rode superb and I can't wait to go back next year. It's now one of my favorite events!

Bill Levett rode Hartpury Take It 2 The Top into 11th place in the novice, he had a 28 dressage, one rail SJ and a few time XC as I asked Bill to not hurry and look after him as I didn't want too many more points on him until next year.

I rode Hartpury Top Gun into 2nd place in the 100, he led after dressage but I let him have the last SJ down nooooooo and so got beat into 2nd by Pippa Funnell. he was a little tiger XC he is loving being back Eventing and it made me feel guilty not getting him back in work sooner. His face was a picture of sheer delight as I led him back to the lorry afterwards. I am supposed to be selling him but as we are having fun I think that can wait a bit longer.

Hartpury Top Gear Growing Up

Hartpury Top Gear is now 2 years old and about 16hh, he is out of Top Totty II by Ragazzo. The below photos show him as he is today, when we bought him as a weak yearling and at Hartpury College Stud as a day old foal. This week he has been learning to long rein and jump on the lunge. Just like his brothers he has thrown some interesting moments at me long reining which included lying down when asked to go in a pond..... the exact same pond his elder brother Top Gun lay down at! He does seem much more chilled than the other three so I can only put that down to him having a different Dad.

Tribute to Trefeinon Icon

On Friday I was up early very excited to be running Icon at the prestigious Barbury Horse Trials. By 6 am he was gleaming, plaited and looking very bright as he knew what was coming.

When I led him out of his box he was stiffer than normal behind, he is always stiff and a bit shuffley as he has poorly hocks, which have been getting worse over the last few years. This Summer we have had his hocks medicated, there had been an amazing improvement. The day before Barbury he had pinged round 1.35 m, he just loves to jump.

I called Ant to come and see if he was sound, he suggested I rode him to see what he was like. When I got on Icon had an excited spring in his step, but when I worked him he was definitely too lame behind to consider taking him to the Event. I jumped off and took off his saddle and made the decision to retire him from Eventing. Making this decision in the glorious early morning sunshine, on the morning of Barbury, with Icon stood there looking amazing felt very emotional. I burst into tears I had to text my withdrawal I couldn't even ring them.

Icon is an amazingly, intelligent, brave and forgiving horse, he always try's his very best and even a bit harder than that. If I make a mistake XC he just says "dont worry I got it". He has never stopped, his only XC errors have been unseating me jumping too big or the odd run out when he's misunderstood the question or my rubbish riding, he's never fallen and went clear XC in his 3 advanced runs, he was 15th at Little Downham Advanced. He took me round the Advanced track in the Intermdiate Champs at Gatcombe in front of huge crowds, that day he gave me the greatest XC ride I have had in my life, it was extra special as my whole family and many of my friends came to watch.

He is so wonderful at home that I can ride and jump him bareback. Although when I first tried he walked very carefully as if carrying a china doll, peering round at me like he was Mr Health and Safety! He is also brilliant baby sitting all the babies, looking after them out hacking and in the field, firmly but kindly correcting them if they get out of hand. Just a lovely lovely boy, my horse of a lifetime.

 Icon flying at Weston and Pontispool.

Amazing Mika in Road Accident

Amazing Mika who I sold 2 months ago has been going brilliantly. Here he is with his new owner/rider flying a huge hedge round Stonar BE100 course.

But look at what happened on the way home from Stonar. Cars were overtaking the trailer and crashed into it flipping it into the ditch. Luckily Mikas family of humans, including his 14 year old rider Poppy, walked away from it sore but alive and he too survived with some cuts and also lost a shoe.

I think the families 4WD saved their life and the solidly built trailer probably saved Mika's life.

CHEPSTOW BE90 2013 Sweet William XC

Chepstow a Super Event

I have been round Chepstow many times over the years and had forgotten what a super course it is there. The last event there was in 2008 and for this new event they have done lots of improvements to the XC, including a very inviting dew pond water and a water splash hazard (unflaged) under some trees. Sweet William was doing his 1st BE90 and really locked on to the fences and gave me a super feel to jump round clear. Top Gun was absolute perfection, he hasn't had a run since October, he is real class and put his best foot forward in all 3 phases to finish 2nd on his 27 dressage.

Both these horses are for sale and are fit and entered up for more events.

This week we have been to Token Bow Stud in Wales and bought 2 foals. They are both by the stallion Gooseford Designer Genes. The colt is Piebald and beautifully marked although out of a small mare by Appaloosa stallion Live The Dream, it's  fingers crossed he will grow big enough. The filly is Skewbald out of a Capital Luke mare she looks really sporty and very elegant and should easily grow tall enough. They will be weaned in the Autumn when we will be collecting them. Both foals grandmother is Harvey's Gazelle who has had a foal by Moorlands Tortilas.

I have just put his post on the BE forum please add your support.

DEC and DEM messy and madness on BE results pages!!!!!!

Why couldn't these be incorporated into the dressage marks as it was before?
A small * by the dressage mark would have been perfectly acceptable to identify DEC or DEM rather than the new columns taking up so much space.

If there is room for more columns to be added to the results pages members (ask them) would much prefer a clearer jumping error score.
For example TE for missing out a SJ or for jumping wrong XC fence.

In the past BE stated TE was taken away as riders were jumping the wrong fence on purpose after refusals as TE looks better on record in order to sell the horse. Now when the horse starts refusing they just retire for an R and say they had lost a shoe or tack broke.
If an R is preceded by other faults it would be fairer and more correct to show it (20R) and if the rider makes an error TE but if this is preceded by other pens show it on the record as a 20TE.