Oh No...Bang Goes My Air Jacket.....

Weston park Intermediate today, Icon got a competitive dressage of 35 but clunked a few SJs down. Then XC he set off full of enthusiasm and felt really bold, he was pinging and it felt very easy until........

.......... at the wide angled table we had a fab stride, but suddenly Icon seemed to misread the fence and went to put down on the top, as he did his hooves skidded on the wooden surface and we were sliding sideways instead of flying over clear. I landed on my feet with a loud bang of my air jacket going off, a split second later Icon also landed on his feet next to me, he stood on my foot.....Ow!

We decided to retire as he has another run very soon. First time I have set my air jacket off. Anthony made us laugh, he claimed the Army Cadets helping at Weston all ducked when it went bang....he said they thought they had been shot at.....!!!!!

After looking after Icon and working out how to load a new air jacket cannister, we had a lovely afternoon watching the advanced horses SJ and XC. A big crowd turned out as many Badminton and Olympic horses were running, amazing to be able to watch them close up.

Eventing Mag get it wrong!

I have had numerous texts from people telling me Eventing Magazine have me down in their results at Stafford as riding the stallion Take It 2 The Limit into 3rd place in the BE90 open instead of his 5 year old son Hartpury Take It 2 The Top. How on earth could that happen, very annoying both for me and for the stud, especially when the full brothers both did so well that day.

Louise Harwood (Skelton) texted me to say "you seem to be riding the whole family now!"

Next month maybe Eventing will accidentally have me down as winning Badminton!!!

The Brothers are Stars

Oh my goodness what a fab day, took my 2 full brothers to Sapey, Take It 2 The Top attempting his first BE100. They did not let me down and both finished on their fab dressage scores of 31 and 30 in 2nd and 4th place.
The ground and courses at Sapey were superb . Both boys gave me a super ride, Top Gun the XC tiger nipped round easy peasy and Take 2 Top felt like he just floated round. I was thrilled when he bravely jumped into the water the direct route which was a small log drop.
They both had time to text their breeder - stud manager Lotta at Hartpury College, hoof prints on my phone now!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Hartpury-Home-Farm-Stud/73225432691

Link is to Hartpury facebook report.

No photos of my boys but below is Louise taking 5 year old Charlie clear XC at his first BE90. I have trained Louise for several years. In the last couple of weeks riders that I coach have had some fab results, around 9 double clears and several placings. Well done to Sarah clear again today, Sue clear XC at Sapey at her horses 1st 100 and Becky 9th and double clear in a 90 also at Sapey.

Horse and Hound - BE100 dressage test 106

Horse and Hound rang me today asking for my view on BE test 106. This is the dressage test ridden at 100 level that requires you to canter round and round on a 20 metre circle until you are dizzy......well maybe I am exaggerating slightly!

I have ridden it at every BE100 event I have competed at so far this year. Top Gun knows it so well he is going to do it without me next time!

We call it the roundabout test as the canter work feels like you are stuck on a roundabout and can't find the exit!! Event rider Tom Searle made me laugh, he has been practising 106 and says he now knows what it must feel like to be on a horse walker in canter!

Photos from Gatcombe

http://www.stephensparkes.co.uk/GATSPRING12.aspx

Click the link to see photos from Gatcombe spring event 2012, including Icon jumping those corners!!!!

Ledbury Pony Club Easter Egg Hunt

This is day that I help organise. I write out clues and hide them under Easter theme props - a toy bunny, yellow flowers, basket of eggs etc etc.
Then fellow instructor Jeni and I laid a trail round the pony club fields at Gadbury. The children rode their ponies following the hidden clues collecting ribbons on the way.
At the end of the hunt the children exchanged their ribbons for yummy chocolate Easter eggs.
Normally a fun day with lots of smiley faces.......... except today it was freezing cold, they did get their eggs but also got very very cold!!!!
We finished the day with the children practising bandaging ponies legs.
When I got home frozen, I made hot for hot soup and cheese sandwiches and eventually I warmed up....brrrrrrrr.

Double Clears Stafford and Howick

Top Gun and Take It 2 The Top both finished on their dressage at Stafford in 2nd and 3rd place. TTT was doing his 1st grown up BE event a "BE90 Open" he was the youngest horse in the class so finishing 3rd was amazing.
Stafford is the most wonderful event, perfect in everyway. Top Gun and TTT between them managed to text their breeders at Hartpury to keep them updated of their good day.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Hartpury-Home-Farm-Stud/73225432691

Thought they were very quiet for a while on the lorry. Took them ages as mobile phones and hooves don't work very well together!!!!

Sunday I went to support riders that I coach at Howick. Emma and Sarah both came home pleased with double clears and top ten placings, at their 1st BE event. We celebrated with the most delicious Aberdeen Angus burgers that were more like a joint of beef.

Talking of beef our new Bull at the farm is an Aberdeen Angus called Eric. He will be out on Castlemorton Common with his ladies in the next few weeks.