July's Diary

Week 1

This week was quite relaxed, with no competition planned for the weekend it gave us the chance to concentrate on the novice horses.
Tuesday we filled the lorry with the babies and went show jump schooling. They all went well having improved from their last outing.

The littleport pony club were due on Tuesday evening for lessons. We decided that we could do with some more jumps. This sounds easy- our wings are made up of old car wheels with a fixing to take the upright wing section. We had some spare wheels, which were only missing the upright. Simple!!



The two of us must have looked like Laurel & Hardy trying to do a job, the wood we had ordered fitted the bases but not the cups, the drill went blunt, the belt flew of the electric sander, Tanya using the electric plane went through the flex. We thought the job would take an hour 4 hours later we finished as the pony club were pulling in!! By the time we had taught 12 P.C. children we were shattered. Marks mother came to stay on Thursday for the weekend. Leaving beautiful weather in Ireland to arrive here without enough jumpers!

Saturday we went to the army officer-training centre, Sandhurst. Mark's brother, who is at Glasgow University. Is in the Territorial Army was Passing Out after an intense 3 week training at Sandhurst. Looking a lot fitter than when we had seen him last.

Along with the other successful candidates they paraded, then we all had a super lunch. It was a shame the sun was absent from the day, sat watching in smart clothes we would have been more suitable attired in our wet weather gear.

Sunday we had a very relaxing day after doing a few chores, a few friends came round for a barbeque.

Followed by a very amusing game of rounders, the fielding was "helped" by the dogs disappearing with the ball!

A very nice weekend, very different from our usual competing.







PS. Tanya got bucked off one of the youngsters in the week AGAIN!! Could she stay on a bike at the moment!

Week 2

Another week at home, well nearly.

Anyone would think we had retired!

We’ve even been in the garden. Tanya frantically planting & Mark digging holes while the ground is still soft (yes it has rained here all week again)

Now we know what normal people do.

We had entered Lumulhen 3 day event this week as a back up for Punchestown & Bramham, We ran at both so withdrew from Lumulhen
Double entering events is very common during the season when we need to guarantee so many runs & wish to choose the best going which we don’t know until the last minute. This works very well but unfortunately works out very expensive for our owners.

It was a good chance to do a bit more with the babies. Thursday we went show jump schooling again. We are very lucky to have such a good arena & set of jumps, which we can use at Carol Mailors yard very close to us. The horses all went well & are improving all the time.

Sunday we took the novices to Burnham Market show jumping (unfortunately we have no pictures as we forgot the video)So here are some from Punchestown which arrived this week.




This was the first party for Sox, Kiwi & Finn – all very scary We started with the clear round jumping all 3 jumping very well for their first time in an arena with Sox having one down & the other two jumping clear. So all the schooling is paying off

They then all jumped in the novice all having one down, still we were very pleased with them.

Zoe (our groom) took Ria her novice to jump also, she did very well winning the discovery & coming 3rd in the small open- very impressive

Muffin is back with us to do some more horse trials. He is a little fat & unfit at the moment. He jumped well with 1 down in both the novice & discovery

Ghillie is really starting to enjoy the job now jumping clear & 1 down in the discovery & the first fence down in the small open.

The main reason for going to Burnham Market was that they also have a super x country course there also which we arranged to use after we finished jumping.

Kiwi was a star popping straight around the pre novice course; he is still a bit on the speedy side but is improving all the time.
Ghillie & Muffin also had a quick refresher round to get them back into x c mode.

Zoe came back to earth with a thump when schooling Ria into the water where she can be a bit sticky promptly fell off.

We at least it makes a change that it wasn’t Tanya this week.

Week 3

I hate to go on about the weather, but it really is getting beyond a joke when we are wearing our winter coats in July, and still feeling the cold!! One of the best comments we heard this week was; "It will be good when the winter season starts and we can start jumping inside again"

We have had a busy week, with several people coming to the yard to try the horses we have in the yard to sell.



Also we have had a couple of girls come for interviews. This is a job we generally dislike. It always amazes us how often we make appointments to see girls arrange our day accordingly, and then they don't bother to turn up. So if anyone is; conscientious, enjoys working with horses, and is looking for a job. PLEASE CALL.

The Littleport Pony Club came for their regular training session. It's nice to see them improving all the time.

Another pupil of Tanya's- Bridget, finished 6th in a pre novice at the weekend. We don't teach a huge number of pupils so it stays very personal, with us being just as pleased as they are when they do well.

Friday we left home at a ridiculously early time to go to Church Farm Arena jumping. Situated the other side of Birmingham to us we felt it necessary to leave early as to miss the traffic around Birmingham. We jumped in the first class which started, at 8.30am the class actually continued until 1.30. We could have left home at 9am and still made the class!!

This was our first visit to Church Farm. Only 10 minutes from the motorway it has a super big arena with banks and ditches. Well worth the visit. We took Carl, Star & Dawn. Dawn was to jump in the Newcomer regional Final. Very clever course building ensured the course caused plenty of problems.

The arena a little over awed Dawn, who had an unfortunate stop at a parallel situated after the water. Never mind she still has another chance in a week. Car & Star jumped very well. A little keen after their break.


After leaving Church Farm we drove straight to Arena UK to jump Saturday and Sunday. Carl & Star jumped very well gaining a few places. (SEE RESULTS)

Mark took Dawn back down a level and spending time to regain her confidence.



We were early back on Sunday just in time to watch the Grand Prix, then to get organized for next week.

With 2 days eventing and 3 days jumping along with a press conference it will take some organizing!

Week 4

As this week finished we both drew a deep breath. It certainly seemed like a very long week.
Monday was our quietest day. We rode all the youngsters, then headed off to Newmarket to canter Carl & Star.
On our return Dawn was ready loaded in our little lorry to go show jump schooling. Mark wanted to keep her 'eye in' to ensure she had regained her confidence after last week.
So much for a quiet day!
Tuesday & Wednesday we competed at Gt Missenden Horse Trials.
Tuesday it was the Novice & Young Event Horse classes.

Mark rode Sox & Finn in the 4-year-old section. Both went very well, Sox coming 9th & Finn 10th. This only being their second 'party' we were very pleased.

Muffin competed in the 5year old section. He obviously knew he was to be out again on Wednesday in the Pre Novice and decided to conserve energy.
Despite his lack lustre approach he still finished 7th.

 Marvin & Ghillie both went well in the Novice sections. Marvin doing a super dressage, one down jumping and a steady clear XC.


Ghillie did a better dressage; he is improving all the time. Clear jumping and 20 penalties on the XC at the first jump into the woods.



Gt Missenden is a lovely event. Very relaxed and friendly.
The XC causes a fair amount of problems with many fences into & out of the woods. On a bright sunny day as Tuesday & Wednesday were, it can catch many inexperienced horses out. But they do learn, as Ghillie did. After the one stop he then jumped confidently into the other wooded areas.

Unfortunately Zoe (our groom) fell foul to fence 4 the first such 'terror.' Spooking as she jumped into the wood Ria left a leg depositing Zoe on the floor. Poor Zoe this is the 3rd time in as many weeks that she has fallen off.
(Maybe it's a curse moving round the yard) After doing a 23 dressage and good show jumping she was understandably cross.


Home via a convenient McDonalds! For a few hours sleep before we returned to Gt. Misenden on Wednesday.

Tanya had Kiwi & Muffin in the Pre Novice.

Muffin with more enthusiasm jumped a double clear inside the time. With a good dressage score of 24 & finished 4th on the same score as 2nd & 3rd
Don't you just hate that!!

We were extremely pleased with Kiwi doing a good dressage and a double clear with 5 time penalties. He finished 8th
It is easy to forget he only came out of racing 1 month ago. At that stage he was so bad in his mouth you couldn't take a contact.
We think he is defiantly one to watch.
Home, again via McDonalds!!



Thursday, yet another day out. We spent the day at Grange Farm, to help with the press launce of JUMPCROSS (click on their logo to take a look at their web site) this is an exciting new competition.

Along with other invited riders we 'tried out' the concept earlier in the year. All tackling the course gave it a big thumbs up.
The first competition is to be held over the weekend of 6th & 7th October with a full series running next year. It should appeal to a novice and advanced riders alike with classes for everyone.
Well worth taking part in.

On the way home we stopped to give Dawn, who had waited patiently in the lorry all day another show jump school.
She seemed to be much more relaxed about the jumping again now.
We then had to rush home for Tanya to do 2 hours teaching, before collapsing into bed!

Friday, another early start. to get to the much publicised Horse Show at Gt Leigh's. We were to declare at 7.30am (yuck!)
This was our first visit to the Essex Showground. The layout of rings and condition of the ground, which had obviously had a huge amount of watering, was excellent.
On the downside the there was a distinct lack of directional signs to the ground, and the hour queue to collect numbers was a little tedious.

Mark withdrew Dawn from the Newcomer Regional not wanting to scare her again. (Although the course did not cause as many problems as at Church Farm) instead he jumped her in the 120m. And 125m classes. She jumped well although still not at her best. This may be due to the fact she had a sore mouth after all the work she has done.

Saturday we were due to compete again at the Horse Show. As Abalone was still lame and Dawn only had one class we decided against the trip.

Ahh, an easy day, No chance, we both had 5 horses to ride, we backed a lovely new youngster Mac see him on the FOR SALE page.
Then lots of office work to do. Mark redid Our Horses page putting lots more pictures in place.

Sunday we were at our local Newmarket show very much a small county show there is always lots to see and it is a great chance to see friends.

We managed to fit 7 in our lorry again arriving at 7.30 to declare!

We took the horses doing the Young Event Horse classes along with Dawn Kiwi & Ghillie to jump they all went well, although the only rosettes we managed to win were Muffin in the 5-year-old class came 8th, and Zoe & Ria came 5th in the discovery. (Sometimes you have days like that!)

Mum did a lovely picnic lunch, which was lovely to sit and chat over. Even if we did only have half an hour between classes.

It must have been an exhausting week we were in bed by 8.30 and asleep by 9pm!
We are not sure next week will be any better, of to Hicksted on Monday

Week 5

Well it's the end of another busy week. To be honest we are absolutely shattered!
So much for being fit! Fit to drop is more like it.

We eventually left for Hicksted on Monday evening after what felt like a day running round in circles.
We took Carl & Star cantering in Newmarket.
And spent the rest of the day catching up on paperwork, and getting all our washing done. (It's amazing how many pairs of breeches we need when the 2 of us are due to jump all week!)

Doing entries takes an enourmous amount of time. The events which allow entries on line are so much easier to enter.
Hopefully we are not far from a time when all events will be computerized.

Arriving at Hicksted you are greeted by a field full to bursting with horse boxes, in all shapes and sizes. Along with (so we were told) nearly 1100 stables! It really is an amazing sight.

We started jumping on Tuesday morning. The classes started everyday at 8am. It was soon apparent why - nearly every class had over 100 entries! Quite amazing.

Marks dad Johnny, and the owner of his jumping mares, Charlie flew over from Ireland to be at the show all week.

Johnny bought a big bag of Irish Steak so we all ate very well for two nights, in the lorry.
Another night we went to dinner at Lucinda's (who owns Lilly) and had a lovely meal.

Tanya managed to buy a foal from Roy (our Physio) that was in Lucinda's field! We don't know what she was drinking! To buy a tiny Welsh foal!

Mark had decided to jump Dawn HC (Hors Concors - Uncompetitive) in some of the smaller classes, as there was a big jump to the classes she would have to have jump in competitively. As the week progressed she gained in confidence. On Saturday she jumped well in a 130m. Class so she is now back on track.

Unfortunately Abalone who had knocked herself at The Horse Show, last week did not jump at Hicksted. We took her with us in the hope that it would settle down during the week, but it there was still some tenderness so better to be safe than sorry.
She had the week off.
A bit of a disappointing week for Mark, but that's horses.

On the other hand Tanya, had a fantastic week.
Carl and Star where on flying form SEE RESULTS with 5 wins 2 seconds 2 thirds and a few other places!



Star looking bored collecting another 1st prize!

With this much luck Tanya was keen to buy a lottery ticket!

Star cutting corners to win

Saturday was the Eventing Grand Prix class.
This is a class, taking place in the main arena.


Starting of over a show jumping track you then leave the arena to jump round a course of XC jumps, mainly with knock down rustic poles.

Then back into the arena to complete the course over some of the derby course fences.
Including the Hicksted Bank (not the steep side!) the Irish Bank and the Devils Dyke.

View from the famous bank

This class is to be a challenge between the jumpers & the eventers. Limited to 30 places, it is very difficult to get a place. Especially this year with the first prize of a Lotus car to tempt competitors.

Tanya having competed in the class 2 years ago was on the wait list. Managing to secure a place on Friday night.
5 minutes before the course walk there was another withdrawal so Mark was asked to compete.
Unfortunately with Abalone not jumping he only had Star to ride (this was the first time Mark had ridden Star in an arena) slightly thrown in at the deep end!

Tanya was 14th to go. Carl having lulled Tanya into a false sense of security all week by being so well behaved. Took one look at the start box and proceeded to gallop round the course completely ignoring Tanya's attempts to slow him down.
Although not very comfortable to ride, Carl certainly thrilled the crowds.
(Next time if we are ever brave enough he will be in his XC bit)

Anyway they set a fast time only to be beaten by the last two competitors, Pippa Funnel on her 1998 winner and Michael Whiticker the only show jumper to complete the course.
Star was slightly overawed by the arena, didn't settle well. So Mark sensibly retired.

Although an excellent idea there will have to be a few changes to the course to make it a little more ride able allowing more horses to complete. With 18 failing to do so this year it will not encourage the show jumpers to compete next year although there will always be eventers keen!

We had another bit of excitement on Friday Goofy(Roofey Spinney)our racehorse ran at Newmarket evening meeting.
As we were at Hicksted there was no chance of getting to Newmarket to watch the race.
Instead we persuaded the gentleman at Hicksteds betting stand to stay open long enough to wawatch the race.
There was much joking about his chances, or lack of them after his last two bad runs.
We did not even take a bet at the starting price of 50 to 1
Anyway he ran a fantastic race, only to be betten by a short neck at the post.

Sunday morning we were up very early to travel down to Lulworth Horse Trials.
Set in the lovely estate of Lulworth Castle it is a super event well worth the trip down to.
Unfortunately, Tanya's winning streak came to an end!

Star did an excellent dressage, and then had one fence down show jumping. (Rider error!)
On the X country he started well but made an uncharacteristic error jumping out of the sunken road at fence 5. Tanya fell off, but they were quickly back on their way to complete the rest of the course without any mishaps.

Carl did an average dressage; still not his best phase then went on to jump a good double clear, not to fast, as this is his first run since Punchestown.

Tanya tried to buy a lottery ticket but didn't find a shop in time on Saturday, so no surprise windfalls!

Never mind back to work, Smiths Lawn HT with the novices this week and Gatcombe with the older horses.