I had Hartpury Take It 2 The Top going amazing outside in the warm up, we trotted off towards our arena hoping the judge was prepared to get ready with her 8s and 9s. That was until we entered and halted and Monty decided it was then he would like to show the judge his excellent rein back, "NO Monty" I gave him a kick forward he shot into canter and the rest of the test went downhill from there!!!! He was still half way after dressage though. The show Jumping was more like an Intermediate track, lots of related distances on curving lines, a treble and a double and a huge triple bar right off the corner on a curving line to the last upright. Monty jumped well but had both fences down right where the arena party were sat, he spooked at them both times.
Xc was not really challenging enough for him, or maybe I have ridden this track too many times, it felt like an intro, the only real challenge being the water which was fun to ride with a carved skinny fish to jump in the middle of it.
I used my stop watch on him for the first time today and he made the time easily. The outing gave our confidence a good boost to have another clear before he goes Eventing Internationally, and a reminder to practise my test on grass before his next outing.
Friday, 27 September 2013
Wednesday, 25 September 2013
Tuesday, 24 September 2013
A super photo from Monmouth
Hartpury Take It 2 The Top finishing in 6th place at Monmouth Novice, double clear. I am still buzzing with the ride he gave me can't wait until his next run. Photo by kind permission of www.agcphotography.com Saturday, 21 September 2013
Hartpury Take It 2 The Top - happy days
Monty went fabulous at Monmouth today (love this event it's so friendly and a super challenging course) he scored 25 in the dressage and clear SJ. He gave me one of the best rides XC I probably have ever had, he is so easy to a fence, the jumping stride is just right there whether I am galloping or in a slower gear. Came home smiling lots. I think he finished in the top ten but we had to leave to be home to shut Ants chickens in before it got dark enough for the fox to eat them. Top Gun nipped round the 100 to finish 10th, sadly Top Gun is due to be sold soon, he is entered up for the rest of the season but should appear on horsequest later this week if I can get some photos and videos organised.
Tuesday, 17 September 2013
Crunchie sold - Malvern Horse Sales - prices were good
My homebred 4 year old Crunchie behaved perfectly at the busy sale, I rode him through the crowds of people like he was an old police horse. I had booked Shaun to ride him early in the jumping ring so I could talk to any interested customers and show them his pictures etc.
Shaun had several to ride for other people so Crunchie next had a rest and spent some time in the stable, customers often like to see them nice and quiet in the stable as well as ridden so I always try and make time to show them ridden and stabled. Crunchie behaved like he had been stabled at a busy show all his life, bless him it was his only second time at a show.
Then I tacked him up and this time I rode him. I schooled him showing off his lovely paces and jumped some fences and then stood him about chatting to people while he nodded off.
The sale itself went well, we had several people interested in him so the bidding was pretty fast at first, we were pleased with the price he made of £1,900 which was slightly above the £1,500 we had expected from the recent sale prices. He has also gone to some lovely people on a farm where the long term aim will be to compete him in county workers. I stayed to help load him as they had a trailer, he's only ever been in my lorry, he loaded first time without question, what a good boy, I left him happily munching his haynet. It will be fab to see how he progresses. Pictures below from when he was a few hours (umbilical cord to prove it) and a few weeks old.
Shaun had several to ride for other people so Crunchie next had a rest and spent some time in the stable, customers often like to see them nice and quiet in the stable as well as ridden so I always try and make time to show them ridden and stabled. Crunchie behaved like he had been stabled at a busy show all his life, bless him it was his only second time at a show.
Then I tacked him up and this time I rode him. I schooled him showing off his lovely paces and jumped some fences and then stood him about chatting to people while he nodded off.
The sale itself went well, we had several people interested in him so the bidding was pretty fast at first, we were pleased with the price he made of £1,900 which was slightly above the £1,500 we had expected from the recent sale prices. He has also gone to some lovely people on a farm where the long term aim will be to compete him in county workers. I stayed to help load him as they had a trailer, he's only ever been in my lorry, he loaded first time without question, what a good boy, I left him happily munching his haynet. It will be fab to see how he progresses. Pictures below from when he was a few hours (umbilical cord to prove it) and a few weeks old.
Saturday, 14 September 2013
Rif Raf at her first show.
She was so good, clever lady, not phased by the warm up or the spooky advert banners, sj jumped really well with just one pole down. Anthony came to video as proof and made annoying jokes like "You must have got up really early to get her that clean AND deliver the milk" huh what a cheek!
She is by the same stallion as Icon and also 4 * horse Mr Potts and she has his look in her ears and eyes and she, just like Icon, loves to jump.She is out of my good event/show jumping mare Butterfly who also bred Mister Bojangles and Amazing Mika. Exciting.
She is by the same stallion as Icon and also 4 * horse Mr Potts and she has his look in her ears and eyes and she, just like Icon, loves to jump.She is out of my good event/show jumping mare Butterfly who also bred Mister Bojangles and Amazing Mika. Exciting.
Monday, 9 September 2013
Crunchie for sale utube movie
Here is my home bred 4 year old Credit Crunch Christmas jumping at home, there is also a video on utube of him on the flat too. He is entered for The Malvern Festival of The Horse sales tomorrow. He moves really well and could make a very good dressage horse or perhaps a hunter. He is 4 in December so is obviously still fairly green but he did come 4th at his first combined training event. He is too chunky for me to go top level eventing on but should make a nice all rounder one day.
He was an unexpected foal as our colt got into the field with his mum! Further down the blog there are photos of him and if you go right back you will find photos of him as a foal with his mum.
His breeding is as follow
Dam Josie Jump who currently hunts with the Ledbury. Josie Jump is by Token of Honour out of a Romany Rye mare.
Sire - he is believed to be Man Friday xi great grand sire is Miley.
Man Friday xi is a very successful grassroots eventer who we sold last year.
He was an unexpected foal as our colt got into the field with his mum! Further down the blog there are photos of him and if you go right back you will find photos of him as a foal with his mum.
His breeding is as follow
Dam Josie Jump who currently hunts with the Ledbury. Josie Jump is by Token of Honour out of a Romany Rye mare.
Sire - he is believed to be Man Friday xi great grand sire is Miley.
Man Friday xi is a very successful grassroots eventer who we sold last year.
Sunday, 8 September 2013
Burghley at its Best
I was up at 5 am Saturday to help load around 50 chickens into crates for Anthony to take to a Chicken Show at Moreton In The Marsh. Once I had mucked the horses out I set off to Burghley it was XC day and I was supporting Louise Harwood, they had sent me a stable pass in case extra help was needed on their big day. Her 4* horse Mr Potts is homebred and by the same stallion as Icon and also my 3 year old Rif Raf .
I arrived at their lorry in glorious sunshine and a fabulous day out began right there. Jackie and Louise allocated me the job of extra groom for the day and I was given the appropriate arm band so I could help with Potts etc. He was due a morning hack so once we had tacked him up and Louise was on board, I had some spare time so went off to walk the course. It looked huge, the undulations making it tougher still. I returned to the lorry stating it looked fine and Potts would do it easy, he's an amazing and experienced jumper and Louise is a very bold XC rider.
We went off to the riders TV tent to watch the first hour of XC. Right next to XC start, 8 huge TVs in a slightly stuffy tent, it was filled to the brim with the worlds top event riders. The atmosphere was tense and electric as we watched how the course was riding. As the first rider made her way round the course the riders clapped as she cleared each fence, a huge cheer went up as she jumped the last. A clear round was achievable and she had made it look easy. The more we watched the more rideable it looked although the Discovery Valley was causing some mishaps and a few uncomfortable moments even for some of those jumping it clear.
Next it was time to get Potts ready...
Once he was tacked up Louise headed off to one of the several warm up areas. Jackie along with Louise's husband Greg took everything we needed up to XC start, while I helped Louise with the practice fences. Potts was awesome and looking incredible in the warm up, very accurate,bold and neat.
Once Louise had set off XC we dived into the riders TV tent to watch her ride a fabulous clear round. There were some nail biting moments, Potts chipped in a stride at the Discovery Valley (as had many others) and he got a little spooked under the lion bridge. Poor Jackie was having kittens, she was shouting come on Potts all the way through, by the time he got to the lion bridge and he decided it was better negotiated from trot the whole tent joined in and were shouting "Go on Potts"
As she came to the last we ran out to meet her, it was fantastic to see her smiling face elated from a super round. We speedily began to wash Potts off and untack him, we were helped by Australian team vet Graham Potts whom Potts is named after as he had been the vet who dragged the reluctant Mr Potts out of his mother all those years ago. Graham had said he was an ugly foal and Jackie replied we will name him after you then!! I had the treat of being allowed to lead superstar Mr Potts back to the stables, he didn't take long to cool off and stop blowing, he still had a lot of spring in his step too, all the riders warming up were asking me how he had gone. Photos below are of Jackie giving her star horse a treat after his XC round and of Louise being dragged back to the stable after grazing him. He's still looking keen even after XC!
A fabulous day, fingers crossed for SJ.
I arrived at their lorry in glorious sunshine and a fabulous day out began right there. Jackie and Louise allocated me the job of extra groom for the day and I was given the appropriate arm band so I could help with Potts etc. He was due a morning hack so once we had tacked him up and Louise was on board, I had some spare time so went off to walk the course. It looked huge, the undulations making it tougher still. I returned to the lorry stating it looked fine and Potts would do it easy, he's an amazing and experienced jumper and Louise is a very bold XC rider.
We went off to the riders TV tent to watch the first hour of XC. Right next to XC start, 8 huge TVs in a slightly stuffy tent, it was filled to the brim with the worlds top event riders. The atmosphere was tense and electric as we watched how the course was riding. As the first rider made her way round the course the riders clapped as she cleared each fence, a huge cheer went up as she jumped the last. A clear round was achievable and she had made it look easy. The more we watched the more rideable it looked although the Discovery Valley was causing some mishaps and a few uncomfortable moments even for some of those jumping it clear.
Next it was time to get Potts ready...
Once Louise had set off XC we dived into the riders TV tent to watch her ride a fabulous clear round. There were some nail biting moments, Potts chipped in a stride at the Discovery Valley (as had many others) and he got a little spooked under the lion bridge. Poor Jackie was having kittens, she was shouting come on Potts all the way through, by the time he got to the lion bridge and he decided it was better negotiated from trot the whole tent joined in and were shouting "Go on Potts"
As she came to the last we ran out to meet her, it was fantastic to see her smiling face elated from a super round. We speedily began to wash Potts off and untack him, we were helped by Australian team vet Graham Potts whom Potts is named after as he had been the vet who dragged the reluctant Mr Potts out of his mother all those years ago. Graham had said he was an ugly foal and Jackie replied we will name him after you then!! I had the treat of being allowed to lead superstar Mr Potts back to the stables, he didn't take long to cool off and stop blowing, he still had a lot of spring in his step too, all the riders warming up were asking me how he had gone. Photos below are of Jackie giving her star horse a treat after his XC round and of Louise being dragged back to the stable after grazing him. He's still looking keen even after XC!
A fabulous day, fingers crossed for SJ.
Monday, 2 September 2013
Crunchie 4 Sale and other news
Top Gun finished in 6th place at Llanymynech Eventing this weekend. His consistent 20's dressage put him in a good spot and despite tipping fence 1 down in the SJ he was still able to produce a very fast XC to be joint 4th, this week his very fast time then relegated him to the lower place. The XC at Llanymynech is a big track with lots of big square stuff to jump, Top Gun loved it and it all felt too easy.
The best news ever is I have Monty (Hartpury Take It 2 The Top) back home from Bill Levett. I have missed him terribly and haven't stopped smiling since Bill dropped him off on Saturday. He jumped clear at another Intermediate on Friday with Bill who has done a super job with him. I am now determined to be firmer with him, Louise Harwood told me to get my brave breeches on for when he naps, so I have been looking on eBay for some but they only seem to do them in HER size!
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