NEWS - 11/03/08
The new eventing season has started and it was great to get the young horses out competing. They have been increasingly keen to get going and jumpy out hacking as they have gained fitness, and were as excited as I was to get into the start box.
The winter seems to have been busier than ever, with a lot of activity organised by British Eventing for the World Class squads, including senior team training a couple of weeks ago. We went back to basics with straightness, balance and discipline, which is often missing at this time of year. We also looked at rider positions, which often lapse during the winter.
I have just completed a marathon weekend at Tweseldown with 12 horses competing over three days.
Intermediate day - overall I was very happy with how things went. The weather was pretty grim sadly which was a shame. I was on a general go slow and got too many time faults to be competitive.
Navigator did a very pleasing test to get 31 and jumped a double clear.
Cool Mountain did a 30 also jumped a double clear. Although he ran at Stilemans it was his first decent run since the Novice Championships I was very pleased with him.
Bee Animas was very over excited but settled just in time to get a well deserved 23 but his 17 time faults cost him a win but he jumped as well as I could have hoped.
Macchiato was also on his toes as usual at this stage of the season but he went very well.
I was having my first outing on Waterbeck which did not quite go to plan. His dressage was pretty good but I found him very green in the show jumping and decided not to go cross country.
Novice day – Neuf des Coeurs was having his last ON run before going to the intermediate at Somerley. He put in another good all round performance with a 30 dressage and double clear
Bay Tokay has settled a bit since last weekend although he took a fair bit of working in. His dressage of 26 was much better, had one fence down and went well XC.
Oslo put in his third novice double clear out of 3 and I was pleased with his dressage of 31.
Wait a Minute went really well and gave me an excellent ride XC, but had one pole down.
Corofin Flyer found himself in the deep end this week having missed the pre novice at Stilemans. He did his first novice and scored 28 in the dressage, one down and although he was green xc went as well as I could have hoped. I am particularity pleased he seemed very relaxed at a competition.
Lizzie Murray is visiting the yard to give me some lessons on the advanced horses.
Next weekend is another manic weekend with two days at Aldon before heading north to Lincoln.
