Hungerford, England
May 19, 2015
The event season is well underway and my horses are going well.
Diabella Urgenta (Henny) and Lady Valtas (Rascal) both had a great first run at Swalcliffe, Pre-Novice (that’s Training level in USA) in March. Rascal produced a, hugely improved from last season, 27 dressage, one down in the show jumping and easy clear cross country. Henny did a nice test, had a couple of rails in show jumping out of greenness, and jumped clear cross country. This was Henny’s first event with me and first Pre Novice, so I was pleased, and although she has some homework to do, she gave me a very nice feel cross country.
First lady (Dilly) went to Aston Intro as her first ever outing. She is wise beyond her years and confidently did a 29 dressage, double clear to win the section. She is an amazing young horse who is completely unfazed by anything, and I am looking forward to taking her out again.
Henny, Rascal, and Lively debate (Joey) who I am competing for a student from Stonar School, were all good at Ascott-Under-Wcyhwood in the Pre Novice. Henny had come on greatly since Swalcliffe to do a 34 dressage and double clear. Joey did a nice test (30) had a couple of unfortunate rails and then cruised around the cross country. Rascal did another beautifully focused and classy test and then jumped clear in the show jumping, but I withdrew her before cross country because the ground was getting too hard by the time it came to running her.
My new ride, Tarentino FLZ (Skippy) went to Bicton to do the CIC2*. He was a true star there and finished in 10th place. Skippy has had a very steep learning curve since coming to me in March and has stepped up to the task like a true soldier. Although everything is new and difficult for him, he tries his heart out so he’s come on amazingly fast. He did the best test he possibly could have done for where he is in his education and we were incredibly proud of him. He then jumped an easy clear around a tough show jumping track and went round the cross country like it was nothing to him. Skippy tried so hard all weekend, his owner and I were both in tears at the finish. What a dude! My next step with him is a CCI2* near the end of the year with a few more Intermediate runs in between.
Ringwood Magister (Finn) has now started his regular gallop work, which he loves. My aim with him is to do his first event sometime this summer and do a CCI in the autumn. Of course we all know with horses that this may change depending on fitness, ground conditions, etc. I have to admit, when I was watching Badminton this year I wished we were there again because he feels amazing at the moment but we felt it was best to sit that one out and give him ample time before making his comeback.
Although I didn’t get to do big Badminton this year, I did still get to go with Cavalier Crystal (CC) in the 5 year old Burghley Young Event Horse Class. She is a new ride for me and one that is very exciting for the future. Considering we had heavy rain and gale force winds, CC was incredibly well behaved and showed herself off beautifully. After her dressage, show jumping and conformation was judged she was tied for 2nd out of nearly 60 horses. The top 10 horses went back in the ring to be judged by a new judge on their gallop and “star quality” and then the marks were combined together. When it was all said and done, CC ended up 9th. There really wasn’t much to separate the top 10 horses and it was all down to the stamp of horse that the particular judge wanted to see. We couldn’t have been more pleased with her for our first outing together, and our next event is Tweseldown, Pre-Novice this Sunday, so fingers crossed.
Sambuca is up to full dressage and it won’t be long until she can start gallop work. She’s settling nicely now that she’s doing more work and she feels better than ever so fingers crossed she can be out at the end of the summer. Like Finn, we are in no rush, and we’ll give her as much time as she needs to have a successful return to competition.
I am happy and sad to say that Rascal has been sold and left for her new home this morning after her lovely owner (Jim Patton) came to the difficult decision to sell her. She came to me straight out of racing a year and a half ago and has been a lovely, trainable, talented, and at times rather fiery mare. I very much enjoyed having her in the yard. Jim gave the horse a second opportunity in life and now she can go on and be successful in any discipline. I would like to thank Mr and Mrs Patton for sending Rascal to me and for their continued support throughout. Good luck to Rascal and her new owner.
Thank you all for taking the time to read this and thank you to my sponsors, Mountain Horse USA , One K Helmets, APF, RevitaVet, Veredus, Treehouse, PerfectProducts and Ovation for their continued support.