June's Diary

Week 1

This week has felt quite relaxed. With only Star going to Newmarket cantering. (For Bramham) and the horses that did Punchestown still on holiday.
Although, we have a few real 'babies' in for breaking and schooling at the moment.
We have had a chance to catch up on some of the chores at home.
It is not very often during the season we get the chance to cut the grass or do any of the jobs, which keep the yard looking nice. Which Toni & Rob do all summer.

Mark enjoyed 'playing' on the new sit on mower. Although I'm sure if he did more than a couple of hours the novelty would wear off!

Wednesday Goofy, our racehorse ran at Southwell. We managed to get the horses ridden early then did a mad dash up the A1 to watch.
Although I'm sure you see more on the telly!

It was good to see him in the parade ring he behaved just like an old pro. Teaching us how it should be done.

He ran well enough, finishing 7th.
He started very quickly then became a little boxed in on the corner, to finish running on well.
We are reliable informed that he will have improved 6-7 lengths 'for the run'

We are very new to the racing game so we are learning all the time.
We will have to wait and see how he goes next time.

Thursday we took Mark's mares along with some of the others showjump schooling.
The mares have not been out for a few weeks, so need to get back into the swing of things. After Bramham next week they have a busy schedule for a couple of months. (See Fixtures & Results.)
They jumped very well. Sometimes a break can do them a lot of good.

Sunday we were due to compete at Buckminster Horse Trials.
We all had early times so bright and early, well not to bright.
Lorry loaded, all the horses plaited, of we went. Only to be waved down 1 mile from the event, to be told that the event was cancelled.
Nothing to do but turn around and go home!!
One event cancelled is a bit of a novelty, but it is getting a little tedious now.

Mark was especially cross, as it was his birthday and he would have been able to have a lay in!!

Fingers crossed Bramham will be on next week.

Week 2

Tuesday we travelled to Bramham Horse Trials for Star to compete.
Mark was acting super groom for the week.
Mark has proved very good at this in the past. Even managing the other grooms so that they feed his horse in the morning leaving him to lay in!

We rang several times over the weekend expecting the event to be cancelled, with all the flooding reported on the news in Yorkshire.
When we arrived we were plesently surprised the worst of the weather must have missed Bramham, the going was only a little on the wet side.

Tuesday evening at a 3 day is always a good time to catch up on any gossip and have a few drinks with friends with only the trot up to worry about on the Wednesday.
So we had to participate. (It would be rude not to!)

Wednesday is very relaxed with only the horses to exercise, the briefing to attend, then the trot up.

Star at the Trot up

Brooke Stapples and Matt Ryan have time for a joke

Bramham is a super setting for an event a beautiful estate. Very well cared for.
There is always an excellent atmosphere. With a terrific turnout of spectators over the weekend.
The reception on Thursday evening is always very well attended and a good chance to have a bogie after!!

Star didn't have his dressage until Friday so he had plenty of time to settle in. and time for us to walk the course
Sue Benson was the course builder this year. She had made several changes to the course making it a little more technical than previous years.

Stars dressage was obedient and calm, probably the best he can do at this stage.
He didn't get the flying changes needed for the test but we didn't expect him to he is still learning them.
He finished 28th after the 2 days on a score of 65 the scores were all very close together,
so Saturdays XC was going to be influential.



Mark taking time out to watch Stars Dressage and to survey his turnout handywork.
Mark does a brilliant job, as groom for the week.

Star went very well on the steeplechase and tracks.

The new 10-minute halt on phase c is proving to be a useful addition.
The horses seem to be coming into the 10 minute box much fresher.

XC he went brilliantly and was very unlucky to pull a shoe off on the approach to the treble of corners,
causing him to break into trot.
He cleared the first corner nicely, slightly overjumping which made it very difficult to get the short 2 strides to the second corner,







He jumped the corner second time not wasting much time he went on to finish the course with 16 time penalties.
Finishing at the end of the day in 41st place.

Star trotted up on Sunday well only a little sore from losing his shoe.

The showjumping was a big course with a tight time, which seems to be the trend at three days this year.


Star jumped very well only having the first part of the combination down, and getting 2 time penalties.

The only benefit of not finishing in the top 20 is that you jump in the morning, so we were finished early and managed to get home before dark.

Although the result of the week was a little disappointing it is always a relief to come home with a fit and well horse.
Star is only 8 with him being so tall,and a little late growing to himself. It will be a while longer before he is truly competitive at 3 star level.

This coming week we will be busy with the Mares with 3 days jumping at the East OF England.
This is where Mark gets revenge on grooming for Tanya. As she has to groom for him!!
Also Goofy (Roffey Spinney) our racehorse should be running at Lingfield on Wednesday. So keep an eye on him.

Week 3

After clearing the lorry out, (this always seams to be big job after a 3 day) and spending 2 days getting all the washing done. It was back to work on the other horses that had just been ticking over while we were away.

Tuesday we took Marks jumping mares to Norton Heath, as a warm up for the weekend. As they had not been out since April. They went very well with Abalone winning a class. (See Fixtures & Results.)

The only down on the outing was the fact that Abalone was heavily in season, which meant she spent the entire trip kicking the lorry.

Wednesday evening we had the Littleport Pony Club here for training. This is the first time they have been hopefully they enjoyed themselves & found the evening useful. We will see how many come next time.!!

Thursday we took the ‘babies schooling at a friends yard. They have a super set of coloured fences in a lovely large all weather surface. Perfect to bring the horses on.

They went very well, some of the youngsters have been sent to us to sell so take a look at the (FOR SALE) page to see all the new pictures.

We were very pleased with the New Zealand horse we bought from the sales. He was a little keen but very brave & straight.

Finn a new ride for Mark (SEE OUR HORSES .)
was also very good.

Friday we left for the East Of England show at Peterborough Showground. We decided, as the traffic can be bad to get in & out, to stay on site for the 3 days.

Tanya thought she was in for quite a relaxing time as groom for the show!

Sarah a girl who has been at the yard for 2 weeks doing work experience came with us to help.on Friday. Which was very useful, as we also had Emily to look after, who came to the show for the day with Tricka who was entered in one of the coloured horse classes.

Tricka looked very smart maybe a little on the fit side compared to the others in show condition. They really are enormous. The judge obviously didn’t think very much of him and pulled him in last, although she did put him up one place after riding him!

Emily has decided that the experience has put her off, and this is the end of Tricka’s showing career

Both mares jumped very well over the weekend, getting placed in most of their classes.
(SEE RESULTS.)

The going in the arena was disappointing. They had watered the arena but not until the show so it was very hard with a greasy top. There was a lot of horse that nearly fell, including Marks over the 3 days.

But it was very well organized, with good classes.

The weather was very hot with a strong breeze on the Saturday. There were a lot of very red people at the end of the show.

The way the classes were arranged Mark had a horse in each class. The result wasn’t very much of a rest for Tanya!! She didn’t even get to look around the trade stands!

When we arrived home our new coats from Vander SEE SUPORTERS had arrived. Typical wait until the weather is scorching, to arrive! Never mind it was worth the wait they look great. We’re sure they will be well used.

Goofy (our racehorse) didn’t run this week, as planed. Is due to run this week so fingers crossed.

Week 4

Monday was a gloriously hot day again, so after spending the morning riding, Tanya wasn't too disappointed when after spending ½ hour in the office the computer decided to play up.
Such a shame, this meant Tanya got to spend a couple of hours in the sun!
Mark had to sort out the computer, well he broke it.

Tuesday morning Tanya managed to get bucked of a youngster in for schooling.
This left her too sore to ride for the rest of the week.
Typically the sun disappeared. So no chance of catching a tan during her enforced rest.

Wednesday we went to Purston Manor Horse Trials to compete with the novices.
This was there first run for a few weeks as the last 2 novices were cancelled. This was not the best way to go novice, they need to keep competing to stay in practise when they are green.

Marvel did a super double clear, with a good test. He finished just out of the places, as he went slowly XC.





MARVEL AT PURSTON MANOR

GHILLIE AT PURSTON MANOR

Ghillie did a good test one down showjumping, but had 2 run outs on the XC one at a tricky arrowhead the other at the water. He got more confident as he went round; with the long gap between events he had just lost some confidence.

ZOE AND RIA

Zoe one of our grooms took Ria (Paprika) this was also her first novice run. She went very well, only to have a silly fall at the water. They both came back happy so better luck next time.

Emily was due to compete on Tricka, but she was asked to sell him.
After considering the offer, he would have to be sold after her finals next year anyway. And this was a good home. Emily made the decision to let him go.

Thursday, Goofy (Roffey Spinney) ran at Southall. He didn't come out of the stalls well, and came in a very disappointing 13th. Toni (Tanya's sister) has decided to take out an amateur licence, so the next time he runs she should be riding him.

Friday we took Dawn & Carl to Arena UK showjumping.
They both went very well. Carl winning a class.
We stayed over to jump Dawn again on Saturday. The classes were on Saturday afternoon, which meant a very relaxing morning.
Dawn jumped very well. Winning one class and being placed in the other.
See Results

Winter seems to have returned, giving us a good chance to try out our new jackets.!!