With
the beginning of March we always have a little panic that we may not
have done enough with the horses and that they are not ready to start
the season. This is not actually the case. I think it is only start of
the season nerves. This week we were preparing for Isleham. Isleham is
usually our first event of the season and only half an hour from home -
very handy! We didn't have any novice horses ready but Emily and Phoebe
were doing their first pre-novice.
Wednesday we went x-country schooling with the 'babies' to Ely Event Centre. I don't know how we manage to pick the windiest days to go there - it was blowing a gale again!
Phoebe and Emily were both on at Isleham on Saturday morning and both had a successful day. Phoebe was placed (see results) and Emily did a very good dressage and showjumping but had a stop at the coffin - this proving to be a real bogie fence on the day!
Sunday we went to Arena UK. Mark took his two mares who jumped very well; being placed in both classes (see results).
Jester is looking superb, better than last year but he seems
to be feeling his age and not jumping as well as he did.With a lot of
thought Mark and Ann (Jestors owner) have decided that the time is right
to retire him.
Tanya took Star and Carl who both jumped well, also being
placed.
Monday
morning we were shattered as we didn't get home until 11pm from jumping.
Still short-staffed, we had to be up bright and early. At least the
horses out at the weekend could have a day off.
Wednesday,
we went x-country schooling at Great Witchingham where the event is
held. We took Chad and Ghillie along with the older
horses. It was great to have them out again. They know the course very
well, having been schooled there since they were babies. David Sayer has
built some new fences so their eyes were on stalks at these.
Friday,
Saxham was collected. A gentleman called Mike Elvin had tried him
on Tuesday and had him vetted on Thursday, so it all happened very
quickly. Mike is very tall so, for a change, Saxham doesn't look
so huge with him on board.
Saturday
Mark had Murphy at Poplar in the Open Novice. Being just
intermediate, Mark wanted to give him an easy 1st run which he did,
doing a nice steady clear with a reasonable dressage and an unfortunate
rail down in the showjumping.
Phoebe
did her first novice on Benji doing a super, steady double clear.
Sunday was Tanya's turn with Mark acting as "Super Groom". Star
and Carl, in the Open Intermediate, did lovely slow clears, which
for Carl is almost unheard of. Smudge, in the
Intermediate, was a little cheeky glancing off a narrow tire fence at
the end of the course. Serves me right for expecting him to jump it! The
weather at Poplar was beautiful making it an excellent start to our
season. Home via Burger King!!!!
This week started OK. We went cross country schooling at GT. Whitchingham with Chad & Ghillie. The weather for a change was dry with no wind! The horses went very well, and may be ready to compete at the Horse Trials at Whitchingham in a few weeks. All Ghillie has to do is learn how to canter a 20 metre circle!!
Friday we went to Arena UK showjumping. Mark took the 2 mares and Tanya took Carl. All was going well, Carl jumped a double clear in the Foxhunter, as did Dawn except Mark was going for a nice steady and managed to get ¼ time penalty so that the 2 rounds don't count toward his Foxhunter qualification. Carl won the class and was awarded his rosettes, only for Tanya to be called to the judge's 10 minutes later. Apparently she had jumped a wrong fence in the jump off, which the judges, Tanya, & fence stewards hadn't noticed. But then someone complained. Oh well easy come, easy go!
This made Dawn move up a place winning £18. Which Mark didn't want her to win or she will jump herself out of Foxhunters before she qualifies.
Abalone jumped well having a pole down. So, all in all, not a very successful outing. Which was a shame because the horses all jumped very well.
Tanya's bad luck continued at Lincoln Horse Trials on Sunday. The weather was absolutely beautiful. Very unlike Lincoln weekends!
Tanya's
horses all did reasonable test, all in different sections. The marks
were very consistent, all on 36! The showjumping didn't go well for Carl
& Smudge, both having 3 down. Very unlike, them especially Star
who only had 2 fences down all last year. Thankfully Carl did his
usual enthusiastic clear, but he wasn't going cross country anyway, as
he doesn't need the practice. As with Star, who we will have to
get checked on Monday, bloods, physio, etc. just to check there is no
problems. Smudge did a steady cross country, somewhat keen but
good enough to redeem himself from his SJ
Murphy had a better day, doing a good test and getting a 34. He is beginning to be able to maintain his work in the arena. He was unlucky in the showjumping, having the last 2 fences down. And went on to do a lovely clear cross country.
Phoebe & Benji had a very successful day at Gravely Horse Trials, doing a 25 dressage and double clear with only 6 time penalties (see results), getting his first points at only his 2nd novice.
Let's hope next week is more successful. Tanya has 2 days team training, so it's going to be busy again.
This week we really thought spring was here, warm sunny days. A real pleasure to be outside.
Monday
Star had the 'works': bloodtests and the Physio, to see if there
was any reason why he had 3 fences down at the weekend.
The bloods turned out to be perfect. But Roy Cole, our Physio, found a sore spot on his back. Roy treated him by using the acupuncture pressure points, Star certainly moved better when Roy had finished.
Tuesday
evening we drove to Somerford Park in Cheshire where Tanya was to
participate in the English team training.
This was our first visit to Somerford. We were very impressed. It is a huge livery yard with 2 enormous, all weather arenas as well as a small indoor. Unfortunately we only took the two horses needed for training as it would have been ideal to take some of the babies to play with, as there is a lovely schooling XC course.
Training went very well, Christopher Bartle and Yogi Brisener were instructing. It was nice to have some very helpful advice and gave us lots to go away and practice. The good news also was that Star only had 1 fence down over the 2 days, so is hopefully back to normal. (Thanks Roy)
Saturday
we were at Gt. Witchingham always a nice event to go to. The Sayers who
run it make it a real rider friendly event.
We took Chad & Ghillie for their 1st 'party.' Chad's dressage training with Mark's Mother last year had set him up very well. He got a 25 in the dressage. Jumping started very well until he jumped huge in the double, frightened himself and had the last 3 fences down! X country, he went beautifully with a steady clear, so not a bad 1st attempt (more jumping practise before next time)
Ghillie
only having been out of racing for 7 weeks thought the day was great
fun! He hasn't learnt to canter a circle yet so we were very pleased to
stay in the arena for the dressage, scoring a 31, so quite respectable.
The showjumping was his first ever course so we were very pleased with
only 5 penalties at the last. X country he was super, only picking up 20
penalties at the Hayrack when Tanya circled him, as he wasn't paying
attention, but looking at the spectators! So we're very hopeful for the
future with him.
Emily was in disgrace managing to forget her dressage test 3 times! Luckily she redeemed herself by jumping nice showjumping & X country rounds. Which was lucky or we were going to disown her and she would have been hacking home.
Monday we spent the day driving around the country looking at horses. Why are they never in the same area? Anyway it was quite nice to be in a car as the weather was terrible again. We didn't think spring would last for long! Roll on summer.
We were very busy in the yard all week. Still short-staffed Tanya interviewed a boy called Mark, who then went on to start on Sunday. We also had a girl called Lucia start on Thursday. This isn’t the end of our problems though, a girl who has been working with us since Christmas, Tanya (just to confuse things) has now got to have a month off due to a bad wrist!!! Never mind we are getting there.
Mark’s mum who stayed with us over the weekend flew home to Ireland. She probably needed a rest when she got home, she didn’t get much of one here. We had her out plaiting and working!
At the weekend we trekked all the way up to Witton castle for the Horse Trials. It takes us nearly 5 hours to get to Witton, which is in Co. Durham, but it is worth the trip. It is a super galloping XC course.
Time for Liquid Refreshment in the Sun at Witton
Tanya had 2 Dressage tests on Saturday; the rest were on Sunday. When we arrived the weather was beautiful, despite the weather warning of snow. Unfortunately the weather tried its worst on Sunday. It was very cold and raining.
Star on the XC in the Beautiful Setting of Witton Castle
Carl and Star went very well in the Advanced. Both doing good Dressage tests, and Showjumping clear. XC they went super, Tanya didn’t go to fast. Carl doesn’t need to go quickly and it was Stars 1st Advanced run. Carl getting a place and Star just outside. (see results)
Carl relaxing after his dressage
Smudge was very good in the Dressage finishing 2nd. Unfortunately he let himself down again in the Showjumping having 3 down. In his defence it had got very muddy by the time he went. But actually he has got far too confident and thinks he doesn’t need to listen anymore. He still is only young and they all go through different stages. XC he went very well jumping a good steady clear.
Murphy went very well doing a nice test then Showjumping well
in very muddy conditions; he only had 1 down. XC he did a good confident
clear finishing in the prizes.(see
results)
Mark doing his super groom impression at Witton on his bike