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Horse Shopping In Wales

Had a lovely visit to Wales this week, it was lovely to catch up with Joy and Ken Lewis who own Token Bow Stud. I love it there loads of lovely horses with foals at foot and stunning mountain views. 

Ant and Joy drove up the mountain in an old 4 wheel drive while I enjoyed the walk taking in the amazing views, I had to walk fast so I could open all the gates for them, luckily they drove slowly as the terrain is pretty lumpy. When we eventually get to the top of Joys fields there are still huge mountain hillsides towering way above us. 

I bought a foal who is full brother to my nice 2 year old Diva. They are by Goosford Designer Genes who is by Goshka Ringo. We are really impressed by the temperament, movement and jump of the youngstock we have bought previously from this stallion.

Then in a moment of madness we also bought a 3 year old filly as a project as she is too small for me really, but a really nice type and is sister to my 2 year old Dippy being out of the same mare, she is also related to Rif Raf, an Auntie, as she is by Rif Rafs Grandad.

Homme House Eventing

Had a busy day at Homme House. Despite it being our local event we began with an early alarm call as  Rif Raf had 8.06 dressage. She did a fab test and then a clear SJ. Then she had a fun time XC apart from when I rode rubbish at the final element of the coffin, I was far too lapse, trusted her too much and I didn't sit up at all, we were on a long one and she decided "it's easier to go round the side of this one!!"

 She was really fun to ride though, she loves XC.

I had a 2 hour break until my next ride which was lucky as I was booked to walk the XC with Putley Pony Club. These were a group of lovely children who had been working hard as the official SJ arena party over the 2 days of Homme Horse Trials. They were all really enthusiastic about the course walk, asking lots of questions. 

Next I met up with Imran who was in charge of the children from St James City Farm in Gloucester. http://www.stjamescityfarm.co.uk/ 

They were guests of Homme Horse Trials and had come to learn more about the care of competition horses, two of the children want to go pony racing, so the care after XC was of particular interest to them. They watched me compete my 4 year old Massimo. They were really keen to learn, helping me wash him off afterwards and then holding the studs as I took each one out. 

 I had my own fan club as they all clapped as we jumped each XC fence clear. Massimo gave me a fab ride, really bold and confident, I was really pleased with him and am certain with this attitude he will go at least 2* in the future.

Fab photo taken by one of the children, thank you. 

Rider Who I coach wins Gold for Great Britain

Feeling such a proud coach today. 

Saffron Cresswell who I have coached and inspired to go Eventing since she was first put on a pony when she was about 4 years old has won Team Gold today at the Pony Europeans in Sweden.

Just such an amazing and outstanding result. 

Professor Sprout at His first Show

Sprout has been broken just 4 weeks and I decided he was ready for his first ever show outing. He was so good, he loaded perfectly, looking all grown up with tail brushed out smart and he was wearing travel boots for the first time.

He sweat a teeny bit on the half hour journey and once he was out of the lorry he was calm and confident taking in all the new sites and sounds of his first horse show. 

A new star in the making. 

Video of his clear round is here http://youtu.be/iJ1rhExCGMg

Belated Hen do with Alvescot Massimo at Gatcombe

CCHad a lovely time at Gatcombe today with Massimo in the BYEH 4 year old class. He was a bit nosey in his dressage about the other horse SJ in the arena next to him but performed a nice test. He then jumped a very bold confident & clear Show Jumping round. He scored really well in the conformation and type 9 and 7 a total of 16 out of 20, one of the highest marks. 

Although clear SJ his jumping technique wasn't mature enough yet to score highly. We knew this would be the case when we entered but felt it would be fab experience for him to compete at Gatcombe. See his SJ round on this link.

http://youtu.be/ejxcU9ukYlM

Emma and Nikki were my official grooms for the day as Ant stayed at home (he only likes coming when I have a chance of a place or if I am riding a tricky one and need his advice) we then met up with our friend Louise with her tiny baby Martha. Then with pram & 4 dogs in tow we all went shopping. :-)

This was my belated hen do!!!!  Nikki and Emma announced the hen day rule was we weren't allowed to buy anything to eat until we had each purchased something off our equine shopping list. Emma led the shopping by buying a lightweight jacket, then Nikki bought Rif Raf a new headcollar.

We were all about to faint as I only had 2 things on my shopping list and I was very slow at choosing the new chaps I needed. I eventually (only because I hadn't had breakfast, it was 1 pm & I was really truly going to faint with hunger) bought some lovely Ariat Chaps, but OMG they were £99.99. 

Then we had lunch, rustic chicken cooked on bricks with a lovely salad that had tasty sauces and goats cheese, peas and beans added to it, all washed down with a nice glass of fruit cordial.

Then it was a quick look at the XC and off home.

Eventing in the Rain & Married in the Sunshine

Massimo was once again a star when I took him to Allens Hill Eventer Training on a very wet Friday.

29 dressage and then jumped fab in the 90 with just one rail down in the XC section. Not sure where he finished but I am guessing somewhere between 2nd and 4th. I left before the results were out as I had an important day to organise, Ant and I were getting married the next day!

The sun shone all day. It was the perfect day we had hoped for, being both fun and relaxed, everyone seemed to be smiling and laughing all day. The Wedding began at 4 pm and we had the most amazing day with almost all of our friends and family with us. The tables were all named after horse colours, the theme was my XC colours, blue and pink, and we had horses and horse shoes on the cake. Well we had to really with Ant being a farrier!

Below pic, two of my best friends Nikki Cox and Emma Horton Smith who helped me with my hair, make up, and kept me supplied with sweets and my fav drink, diet Pepsi. Emma was also an expert on working the hotels room service ordering champagne flutes for our diet Pepsi to go in, and she knew where the hair dryer was for when my nails wouldn't dry. Although when nails still wouldn't dry, 20 mins before the ceremony Nikki turned into a hero dashing into Boots The Chemists for varnish remover and fast drying varnish.  On her return she made us laugh announcing she definitely didn't get any odd looks at shopping in Boots with a large feather on her head!!!!

Eventing guests included Louise Harwood and her mum Jackie Skelton, they drove from Aston Le Walls just to be with us on our special day and then, after dancing all night, drove the 2 hours back again as they had more horses competing the next day, they were also celebrating an Advanced win on Whitson. Also dancing almost all night were Badminton 4* rider Josephine Challens (who now has my retired advanced eventer Icon to hunt)  & GB pony team rider Saffron Cresswell. It was also great to have along 2* rider Tom Searle, European Gold Medalist Claire Oliver with her showman husband Robert Oliver and also Horse & Hound/Eventing Mag reporter Louise Calverley, who also caught the bouquet, although she didn't have much choice as I crept up behind her and threw it onto her lap!!!! 

We made everyone laugh by starting our first dance with one of our favourite songs Paul Macartneys "Yesterday" but the lyrics are totally unsuitable for a wedding, so I pretended to be very cross which every one chuckled at, and then the real song came on Elvis "I can't help falling in love with you" which appropriately starts with "Wise men say only fools rush in" Ant and I have been together 24 and a half years!!!! 

Our day was made extra special as once the evening had finished and we were on the way up to our room, we had a huge round of applause in the Hotel bar from The Proclaimers and their road crew who were relaxing after an evening playing in the nearby Malvern Winter gardens.

Here are some of the photos. 

P.S. I am now called Mrs Stella Bunn! 

Below a dance with my lovely Dad.

A huge thank you to Tomas our event supervisor from the Abbey Hotel who made our day completely perfect, nothing was too much trouble. 

And finally thank you to everyone who contributed to our day.

Stafford BE 90

We arrived with Massimo and Rif Raf all plaited and ready for dressage. But sadly when I walked the XC I decided the ground was a little bit too hard to run Massimo. They hadn't had the rain which we have had at home. So instead I tacked him up and rode him in the lorry park where the ground was a little bit better. All good experience for him just to be out and see new stuff even if he didn't get a proper run. 

Rif Raf put her best foot forward to do a super dressage test but her mark wasn't that good. She did a super SJ clear. We then withdrew her from XC due to the ground being a bit firm.

Massimo watching the show jumping and below Ant and Massimo both looking rather bored waiting to go home!!!! 

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner at Chepstow!!!!

'Rif Raf did a lovely dressage at Chepstow, one down SJ and then a super clear XC inside the time, she is so bold and clever XC putting in a huge jump at the trakener. Galloping down to it I could see no stride at all, she just felt like she said " it's Ok I have one" and flew it. She made the time easy which I was surprised about as its hilly round there, but she is now so confident it's easy to cut tight lines and jump fences on the angle.

Next the 4 year old qualifier with Massimo.

Massimo gave me a big loose trot in the dressage, courtesy of me dusting off my secret weapon, my Barrie Swain Semi Flex Saddle, horses move much bigger in them. This was the first competition I have ridden Massimo in a dressage saddle. I came out of the arena a bit frustrated as I felt while the saddle gave us a bigger trot, the small space of the arena meant we struggled to maintain a good enough overall picture to get a good mark. I needn't have worried as he went into the lead on a 29!!! 

He show jumped boldly but he lacked consistency in his rhythm and had two down and I thought oh well we can't win now.

He set off XC like a horse much older than his 4 years, but by the time we reached fence 6 a hail storm arrived. It was the most horrendous storm, hail with unbelievable high winds too. I approached fence 6 it was a dark imposing box jumped downhill, under an oak tree. The branches of the tree were bending in the wind, everything was blowing, Massimo spooked at the spectators who were running for cover, and I thought he's not going to jump this but he pricked his ears and off he went. 

By the time I got to 9 the hail stones were stinging so much I couldn't hardly see, my reins were slipping and I couldn't steer, we got through abc the roll top, step down to roll top all in trot. We were now riding directly into the storm, Massimo didn't like the hail stones battering against his face and nor did I!!   I wondered if I should pull up, I didn't want to put him off, it was his first ever BE90 but he just kept on jumping and went clear to win the class. Even the hail stones bouncing off the water making it look like it was alive didn't put him off.

When I came through the finish I found out the storm was so bad they had put the course on red/stop and everyone had ran to shelter. What a hero Massimo is! 

We didn't even know he had won, I only went to the scores to see where my livery Emma Horton-Smith had finished, she was 2nd, a fab day for her too, couldn't believe it when I noticed 1st in red by Massimo's name on the score board!!

Sapey unaffiliated

Friday I was feeling very excited to be preparing my two coloured horses ready for our local u affiliated event round the BE track at Sapey the next day.

Then an hour later after I had cleaned them I decided I need to sell one of them, cleaning two coloured horses is very time consuming!!! 

At the event itself however they both had lots of admirers, they do both look stunning with their white bits all poshed up! 

It was a shame the ground wasn't great, they had done lots to improve it, however the sand on landings and take offs that we had appreciated so much at West Wilts 10 days ago was absent, so I ran Rif Raf slowly XC but I decided to withdraw Massimo. He is still so young and not yet at all used to summer ground. They both did a good dressage and both clear SJ. Rif Raf finished in 10th, she was so much fun to ride and brilliant XC, she just jumps anything and try's so hard. Bless her.

Below 2 pics of Massimo and one of Rif Raf SJ.

Getting Married

Really sorry if you follow this blog for Eventing and horse news, so far this year has been a totally different year for me.

I have now sold most of my older horses to help pay for the renovations on our new house and our other huge news is that after 24 years of being together, Ant and I are getting married in 4 weeks time!

We decided in February, only we were both far too shy to announce it. So I made a plan, we were going out for a rare family meal which celebrated my niece Maise's 11th Birthday. 

At the very end of the evening I asked Maisie to stand at the head of the table and open an envelope I had given her and read out the below card!!!!   Maisie had no idea she was about to announce something so important, she did a fabulous job even tapping a wine glass to get everyone's attention. Maisie started to smile broadly as she read through the words, not quite believing what was written on the card.

There was a stunned silence for a few seconds as it sunk in, then everyone was crying and clapping and congratulating us. 

It was such a lovely happy and perfect way to announce our news. Slightly nerve wracking waiting for the right moment though!!!! 

Maisie blowing out her candles.

Massimo Dressage Allens Hill

I decided to go to Allens Hill to do dressage on Massimo today (Friday) so I can keep the weekend free for teaching and earning some money!

It was a brave choice as it was affiliated day at Allens Hill with all tests being judged by qualified judges and held in long arenas with all the posh equipment out, quite a big ask of a green 4 year old to cope with. Affiliated day is quite intimidating, as I warmed up large horse boxes were rolling in with DRESSAGE HORSES written imposingly on the front! Gleaming warmblood horses were unloaded with petite immaculate plaits. I looked down at Massimo's neatly pulled mane and felt rather underdressed.

However Massimo did a nice first test, he lacked suppleness and needed to be more forward but went great for such a green horse. We were doing prelim 15 and then prelim 17 and the two tests are very similar. I got the two tests muddled up at one point although I think I masked my late transition well!!!

Then he went better in P17 and was much more supple and more forward, with his ears pricked it was like he had enjoyed the first test so much he was pleased to be doing another one! Best of all he was totally non spooky and put his best foot forward throughout, I finished the tests feeling so lucky to have such a lovely young horse.

Massimo had a huge fistful of carrots as his reward (he doesn't like polos or sugar lumps) 

Then I was so surprised when I went to check the scores...... he had only gone and scored 68% and 72% winning both classes! 

West Wilts Schooling

This was a fair way to go just for schooling,as one of my friends pointed out. It was a 2 hour drive. But it was well worth it to jump round the BE track all flagged, dressed and the landings and take offs all sanded and beautifully prepared from the event that was held over the weekend.

I took Rif Raf just for a run run and 4 year old Massimo to do his first 90 cm track.

Both were just lovely, I went round as if it were a proper competition. Rif Raf was bold and confident and really easy to a fence. Massimo was green but bold, I came back thrilled to bits with them both and very excited about Massimo as he feels a future star in the making. 

Ant came with me and on the way home we stopped off at Beswick Stone to chose tiles for our new house. So I guess that's killing 2 birds with one Beswick Stone!!!!! 

Our new house is looking fab and our old one is on the market now and is causing quite a stir on the sales market with loads of viewings so far and several people say they are very interested. 

Below our new house before and after!!! 

Coaching News

Firstly Saffron Cresswell rider who I have coached since she was on the lead rein has been long listed for The Pony European Champs in Sweden this summer. Only ten riders in the whole of GB have been selected for the long list so it's a huge and very exciting achievement. She now has a long wait to see if she will be representing her country when the final team is announced later this summer.

Also I have had a fab few weeks training other Eventers.

The Ledbury Pony Club Event Team have began their campaign for the area team events, I had to do a short talk on team competitions last night at a Team Meeting in a local pub, that was pretty nerve wracking but I think I muddled through with out rambling on too much!  I can talk perfectly well about horses and competitions all day in the middle of a field or an indoor school but stick me in a pub and I am a fish out of water!

Also this week I have been coaching local riding clubs and have seen some fabulous horses and riders who all progressed really well. No fallers and all horses and riders were looking more confident and at the end of each session. 

Equestrian property with 3 bed House For Sale 8 Acres, 9 stables, 44x27m Manege.

On sale with Grant and Co of Ledbury, due to go live on their site in next few days.

http://www.grantco.co/ 

Courtyard/hardstanding at rear of house, with an original well still with water 30 foot down, carport and also 2 stables plus another carport which are out of shot on the right.

Patio is made from ancient flagstones rescued from a derelict barn from a nearby farm.

View from house to stables, Manege and top paddocks.

Lounge with views to both the stables, Manege and paddock and front view is to the Hills and Commonland. 

Main bedroom, two windows one overlooks the stables, paddocks and Manege and the other has stunning views over Castlemorton Common and of The Malvern Hills.

Kitchen - again with views to the stables, Manege and paddocks.

View of common and hills from our gate and front windows, you can ride over 2000 acres of common land and Hills direct from our front gate. You can walk or ride to the top of the Hills shown with only crossing over one main B road, it's stunning riding.