NEWS
Happy New Year
19 January 2012
I relegated my self to groom and lorry driver taking the youngsters to Onley for the clear round show jumping. So Georgia had a busy evening jumping Cruella, Kayson, Darcy and Flea. They have all grown up so much from their last outing.
18 January 2012
Aston le Walls dressage:
Despite the fact that I'm still feeling rough I'm keen to keep getting the ponies out as March is going to be upon us very soon. So Georgia rode Darcy and Cruella in the prelims while I rode Flea. It was Darcy and Cruella's first time in an arena but both proved themselves to be naturals with all 3 horses getting good %'s and top placings in both classes.
Having only ridden 2 tests I was feeling rough so last minute delegated Georgia to ride Herbie and Humpty in the first elementary class. Having them nicely warmed up for me I rode them both in the second class. Both boys were much better behaved than their last outing between the white markers. I experimented with Herbie riding him in a double bridle as when he gets cheeky in a test I have been struggling to contain him and he needs to learn that extra moves made up by him are not required!
12 January 2012
The New yard Mascot!
Poppy arrived today She is 3 and was looking for a new home. Pops has settled in really well and were hoping she'll enjoy many trips in the lorry.
9 January 2012
Addington clear round show jumping with the Babies.
Georgia rode as I'm still feeling well below par.
Darcy, Kayson, Cruella and Flea were all very grown up and all jumped really well. A great day out.
I hope everyone has had a better start to the New Year than me. I was properly hit with flu over Christmas. So Georgia and Charlotte have been stars keeping everything going, even Hamish has been spotted holding a muck fork.
5 January 2012
Cecily Parsley, a lovely mare that we ha in the Autumn, had her first run over fences at Ludlow today. She is trained by Hughie Morrison and it was decided as she had proved with us to be such a good jumper that she would run over fences not hurdles. She ran well and connections were pleased. Hopefully the next time she runs I might be able to go and watch.
December
Oops, I hadn't realised it had been quite so long since I last wrote on here! It has been suggested that I should simply have put 'GONE HUNTING'
Which actually is quite apt! we have had lots of youngsters to introduce to joys of hunting. So when most event yards are quiet we have been flat out with horses in to hunt, youngsters getting ready for their first season in 2012 and several racehorses to prep.
2/3-October
We had a great weekend at Little Downham horse trials.
On the sunday mother and daughter Pan and Feisty both competed in the BE100 classes. Feisty in the Pre Novice Plus did a respectable dressage for her first novice test and show jumped well. She still struggles with her concentration and had a rail down while watching the cross country and was unlucky to have the middle part of the treble down. She was great cross country but still drifts left. This unfortunately meant she drifted to the left of the white flag in the sunken road jumping the bigger step up!!
Her mother Pan enjoyed having an outing in the BE100 and went home with a first rosette. She scored her first sub 30 dressage putting 27 on the board and followed it through with a nice double clear.
Tiny had a good clear run around the novice cross country and is growing in confidence all the time. He was unlucky to have poles down in the show jumping as it was a much better round than last week.
Monday was the big boys turn. Herbie was cheeky in the dressage scoring 35.9. He then followed it through with a cracking double clear finishing 3rd.
Cuddly tried hard in the dressage in the advanced and I was pleased enough with his show jumping. It was interesting having Owen Moore watching and his comments - something I will be trying next time. The cross country was decent and causing plenty of problems. Cuddly absolutely flew around the first three quarters of the course and I was gutted that we had a really silly runout at the first part of an angled rail combination. It was most unlike him and such a shame as he had tackled all the technical fences so well and it was a shame to end a great weekend on that note.
25-September
I keep forgetting that South of England is a fair way from Banbury so we had a pretty early start. Cuddly and Herbie were both in the Intermediate.
Cuddly did a cracking dressage of 31. Unfortunately for him I followed this by trying to add far too many strides in the show jumping and despite his best efforts to jump we dislodged a few poles. He was however back to his usual self cross country, flying round and finishing 12th.
Herbie got a little distracted in the dressage finishing with 36. Having been backward on Cuddly we went slightly the other way with Herbie. He went a little green cross country having not run for a month. We took a couple of long routes but still came home with a nice clear.
23-September
B had her first BE100 run at Moreton Morrrell. I was really pleased with her. She had been to Aston the previous 2 days so I think she was a little tired in the show jumping as she jumped the softest, most rideable round yet and was unlucky to have some rails down. She was great around the cross country and very grown up through the combinations.
Tiny was a star in the Novice dressage coming home with the rosette for the best dressage in his section. He was unlucky in the show jumping having 2 down, he needs to spend some time this winter jumping some bigger tracks. He was good cross country, he picked up his first 20 penalties as we landed without an engine on a curving line to a skinny house and as it was part c we had no option other than to circle.
6-September
Today was Herbie's turn to represent Buckingham Riding Club this time in the teams at Blenheim. An early draw meant the ground for us was slippery and less than ideal but everyone produced a good result and we went into an early lead. Tho not big the course was very twisty and caused plenty of problems. As the day progressed so the ground improved we slowly got pushed down the leader board but it was a great experience for everyone.
5-September
New yard, new head girl, 1st days Autumn hunting - the start of a good week?
The ponies all seem really happy and settled in their new yard. Georgia Dagg has joined me from Aston and we are all feeling very excited about the future. All the young horses are going well and it is looking like there is going to be a strong team for next season.
Toby who has returned from playing at Pony Club through the summer had his first days Autumn hunting today and really enjoyed himself. He was nannied by Tiny ( I never thought Tiny would be grown up enough to be a nanny!!)
4-September
It wasn't the nicest of starts to the day weather wise but fortunately the rain disappeared just in time for Alex Hales' Open Day. The horses are looking really well and it was great to again be able to catch up with friends. Two naughty socialising days!!
1-September
I popped up to Burghley to catch up with friends and supporting companies. Its always good to see old faces and new products.
31-August
Congratulations to the guys we have been training for their Pony Club AH Test. 4 passes (put of 6) all first time is very good. The 2 that only just missed out were young and really making up numbers to gain experience. Well done.
On a sadder note Charlotte has gone home today. She has been brilliant helping out through the summer holidays and we'll be looking forward to her returning on the odd weekend and in the holidays.
29-August
Yesterday's flying nearly made up for the advanced at Highclere being abandoned today. Cuddly hasn't had a run since Aston in July so we were looking forward to having a run.
28-August
B had an early start in the BE90Open at Milton Keynes. I think it would be only fair to say that the judge had already decided she didn't like B when we had a little discussion about her not being very off the leg towards the end of the test. The score is best left unsaid...
She did redeem the day by jumping a very good double clear. The 90 courses are almost too small for her but she is still a bit spooky so leaving the fences a bit smaller is helping with her confidence. Having said that I think she will have a 100 run before the end of the season.
We hot footed from Milton Keynes to go to KT and Mark's wedding. Apart from it being a great afternoon and evening and a very different wedding it will be a day that I will never forget. I got to fly in a Yak 18 - a 1940's Russian training plane. It was the most amazing experience and I even got to do twists and loop the loop, fantastic. This could be the next adrenaline buzz...
25-August
We have been busy juggling the ponies with lots of A and B test training back in Cambridge. Alongside Tina Ure I have done several camps and trainings and the AH group take their test next week.
Meanwhile we are settling in to the new yard. It still needs little bits to be done but as Hamish has finished harvest early I have been able to sweet talk him into doing a few jobs, it is all starting to take shape.
16-August
B went back to Aston for the affiliated dressage and had a 3rd in the prelim 19. Chester also went for his first outing to see dressage boards and we were rather pleased with his attitude.
14-August
So Sunday was B's day in the Unaffiliated Intro. She also produced a more ridable test scoring 35. The judge commented on her paces and thought there was a lot of potential, when she really lets go and allows me to ride her....
She show jumped clear and again was more relaxed as she was cross country. She finished 4th. She will run in her first affiliated at Milton Keynes next weekend.
13-August
Saturday was Feisty's turn in the BE100. As she had a very early start Liz brought her up the day before and I rode her at Aston. I think this might have paid off as she did a very calm 32 dressage, she is relaxing more at each outing.
She also stayed more rideable in the show jumping to jump a nice clear round.
She was good cross country but just had a little hiccup at a brush to angled skinny where she ran past the second element but happily jumped it a second time. It has just reminded us that as she doesn't live with me but lives with her owner in Newmarket that she has missed out on some of the more technical jump schooling.
12-August
Herbie was 6th in his first intermediate run at Aston-le-Walls today. Even I will admit that I get a bit nervous when they first move up a level, I think it is quite a jump from novice to intermediate.
He started the day with a very respectable 30.5 dressage. I've been having some help from Ann Taylor with him and this was the first test in a different bit.
The show jumping was unfortunate to have 2 down, he only breathed on the 3rd and being distracted wondering why it fell I got a little too deep to the next. After that he made sure that he didn't go near anything else and jumped his socks off.
So the cross country.....instead of the nice first time intermediate course that we usually get at Aston, this course was rather beefy following the route of the CIC** the previous week. Herbs more than rose to the challenge, he was forward thinking straight and loved every minute of it. He gave me a cracking ride the only slight 'moment' was jumping into the dew pond when I wanted to go right to the next fence and Herby drifted left leaving me for a split second without a pony underneath me. We recovered jumped out neatly and finished the course with only 3 time penalties. To say I am very excited about how he went would be an understatement!
7 - August
Not the most flattering of photos as Tiny went a bit camera shy when receiving the prize for the highest placed horse bred by owner or rider at the Riding Club Horse Trials Championships at Aston-le-Walls this weekend.
Run as an old fashioned 3 Day event with roads, tracks and steeplechase around a strong (BE novice level) course it was certainly his biggest challenge yet and he relished the challenge.His 32 dressage was respectable and more expressive than his last outing, I think being fitter and being stabled has helped a lot.
He wasn't quite sure about hacking to warm up for the cross country and the steeplechase was a bit of a shock for him but he cruised round happily.
I always used to find that the roads and tracks somehow made the horse more focused and forward thinking for the cross and this was the case for Tiny too. The cross country was quite an ask for him. The course was a lot more technical than he is used to with questions coming at him a lot faster. He grew in confidence as he went round and gave me a terrific ride. (see pictures below.
He came out on the final day feeling well and happily cruised through the trot up. Again the show jumping was more technical than he is used to and was quite twisty. I was pleased with how he coped and felt that he was very unlucky to have the second rail down. In all he made a really good job of this jump up the levels and is making me think I need to be more ambitious with his Autumn campaign - watch this space!
Jamacain Me Crazy
31-July
Very exciting - the yard is nearly there. Plumbing and electrics still need finishing but the tack room etc are built. So Hamish and I took a trip around Homebase this afternoon to get some bits. He has then spent this afternoon putting saddle and bridle pegs up. It is all starting to take shape.....
30-July
Feisty's second run pre-novice and she goes home from Carlton with a 9th rosette. She still struggles to relax when going from the warm up field to where the arenas are, not helped by the stewards being a little slow to send us through so we barely had a lap round the arena before the bell rang. She still scored 36 so we are heading in the right direction. Annoyingly we had a rail down show jumping.
She was her usual bold self cross country but I had opted to take her in the hanging cheek snaffle which she is now wearing for dressage only to find that cross country it meant I had no steering! We will be experimenting with something different next time.
24-July
Cuddly reminded me why I love riding him by sailing around the advanced cross country at Aston. With our dressage and cross country there was no need to be over speedy but he was straight as a die and gave me a super round.
I was pleased with him in the dressage. He seems to have really benefitted from his last treatment with Ian Pringle and massage from Tori and is trying on the flat. He will never be able to live with the big boys but is starting to be able to lift a bit more.
The show jumping was not great, a list of little reasons and lessons learnt, the biggest being I had forgotten how long ago it was that poor Cuddly last jumped a big track.
Herbs was double clear in the novice. He jumped both phases in the Pelham, a new experiment, and I really liked the feel. As I had had to change sections he moved from the open novice to the novice so was competing HC.
17-July
Vale View Arena Eventing
We had a very good day at Vale View with all 5 horses jumping double clear and all being placed.
B kicked off with 8th place in her class. Again she started the round a little looky but grew in confidence as she went round, coping well with the skinnies and angles.
Feisty went early in the next class taking the lead with a very confident round. The skinny house was her first jump directly into water but she took it all in her stride. She was only moved down into 2nd place when Tiny flew round with some tighter lines showing his extra experience. They finished 2nd and 3rd overall both qualifying for the Championships.
That left Herbie and Cuddly to contest the open class. I took Herbs around first again he had a very polished round taking the lead. I was last in with Cuddly and with nothing to loose as Herbie still held the lead Cuddly took some even tighter lines to beat his stable mate. They finished 1st and 2nd and again have both qualified for the Championships in September. What a cracking day.
14-July
An early birthday present meant taking Herbie for a side saddle lesson. Not something either of us have done before. Herbie took to it rather well but it was a little strange trotting on the right rein with no inside leg.
It is incredibly elegant and I think it would be fun to hunt side saddle but that certainly will not be on Herbie!
Also Suds passed the vet today so is off to his new home. We wish him and Abbie every success for the future and hope they have great fun.
5-July
Having got up early to ride a few before catching the train, Jodie and I were off to London to watch the test event cross country at Greenwich Park. I will happily admit that I struggled to see the sense of running the eventing in the middle of London and still wonder how the traffic etc will cope. Having said that I was pleasantly surprised with the venue, they have some great terrain to work with to make a very interesting course and the back drop for some of the pictures will be amazing. The cross seemed to run very well and the course looked very rideable. The press seemed to give the organisers a very positive write up.
3-July
Solihull Riding Club Eventing Qualifier - A day for the younger ponies.
Suds competed in the Novice (intro equivalent) He showed some very smart moments in the dressage scoring a 35 and jumped a very nice clear round show jumping (photos coming soon courtesy of Jodie Cooling photography). He was a little green at the start of the cross but soon got in his rhythm. Unfortunately he had a look at the water and was slightly distracted by a horse coming the other way. He did nothing at all naughty but just wanted to know that I was really sure I wanted him to get his feet wet. Just as he was walking through the water the fence judge got excited and announced that it was 3 refusals (even though he didn't step backwards) and that I was to leave the course. I felt this was rather unfair on the poor boy but I still really rate him and think he is going to be a little star.
B ran in the intermediate )PN). She also scored 35 in the dressage and the moments when she started to relax felt fantastic. She also jumped clear in the show jumping which I was thrilled with. I've got to admit I walked the cross and thought that I was asking too much of her too soon as there were plenty of questions for her. She too was very green at the start (Solihull wouldn't be a good course for a nappy horse) but grew in confidence too as she went around. She did have a baby stop at a skinny box and with all the zig zagging towards it we ran out of petrol but again I was thrilled with her.
So that left Tiny in the open (novice). He had a 36 dressage, a pole in the show jumping and was again a star cross country. It was also a step up for him and he responded well to the challenge. He was in the qualifying team so goes to the Championships at Aston in August. He also finished 5th overall, which I believe was 2nd in the area competition.
25-June
Feisty's first Pre novice, Milton Keynes.
Having chatted with a few people about how stiff the Novice was for a first timer, I walked the BE100 to find it was equally stiff. As you are immediately running down hill it doesn't give young horse much of a chance to settle into a rhythm and from fence 4 onwards the questions came thick and fast.
On her 6th birthday Feisty really rose to the challenge.
Having more trot work together in the dressage allowed her to settle quicker and she did some good work. She just lost concentration in the first canter transition resulting in some tension in the canter work.
She rolled a pole show jumping again a little green off a corner but she rose to the challenge cross country. She produced a very grown up clear round. We are really pleased with her.
With the sun now shining I am very tempted to jump back in the truck and head back to Glastonbury unfortunately someone has got to do the yard in the morning.
24-June
After riding Pan and Feisty in Newmarket and then teaching for Huntingdon Riding Club in the evening I set off to a very soggy Glastonbury. As I only had Hamish's truck (which I am convinced does less miles to the gallon than the lorry!), I finally arrived the early hours of Friday morning.
Friday was soggy to say the least but it is such an amazing event no one minds. We wondered around all day watching different acts and sheltering from the rain. After watching U2 we found the Bourbon Bar and spent the rest of the evening chilling. It wasn't a late one as I had to be up early to get to Milton Keynes to compete.
19-June
Suds and B were both 4th at Vale View today. Suds added a very unlucky 4 faults to his good dressage of 35. Having a few days off while I was away has done him no harm at all. He feels ready to go and much stronger. I think he need lots of little parties now to prove to a potential owner that he is as exciting as we all say.
B did a reasonable dressage and jumping. Again she just need lots of little parties to get her to trust me and believe in both of us but she is certainly heading in the right direction.
18-June
Indie needs a sister............It is finally time that I find myself a new lurcher. If anyone knows of a bitch, must be broken or rough coated, the bigger the better preferably with some Deer hound then I am on the look. Either a puppy or I would consider re-homing something a little older.
17-June
The concrete went down today for my new yard, very exciting....although it is torture having the stables there flat packed. Hopefully there will be time to get them erected before harvest starts otherwise it will be a very long wait......
14-June
Back to reality with a thud we went show jumping at Addington. B (tho apparently she spells her name Beau) and Feisty both jumped the British Novice. Feisty jumped a great double clear, B was a little green in the first round but jumped a great double clear HC.
Pan was just out of the ribbons in the 1.05 and Herbie had the best time but a very unusual 4 faults.
12-June
Words can hardly describe what a fantastic time we had in France. The people we cycled with, the boys from Battle Back on their hand bikes, the countryside, the history lessons, the stories, the tears and the laughter, it was amazing.
We covered about 350 miles, the longest day on Wednesday being 84 miles. For all those that told me that area of France was flat look at these charts:
The Battle Back boys were a true inspiration and it was very humbling to be with them and what Help for Heroes has done for them is incredible. To cycle that distance on hand bikes with a smile on your face is quite something.
Without enthusing forever we made some great friends and had an experience that I will never forget. It all went to quickly and I'm almost sad to be home. Strangely I haven't fallen out of love with my bike, in fact quite the opposite so I might still be spotted peddling around the county.
It is not too late to donate and having been part of this ride it really is a very worthwhile charity.
The ride also got a fair but of media attention. We had a send off from the BBC on the day we left and an interview on Mondays breakfast show, watching our Peddling Padre and Frank Gardner being interviewed really made me wish we were still there. We also got coverage in the Sun, we had a page 3 girl cycling with us, strangely the lads loved it. The ride was also covered in the Daily Star and my claim to fame is that I took the picture (I think I should be on commission!)
I also must mention that I spotted this stud tap in the Museum on Montormel. It changed since WWII - one day I'm going to make my millions designing something better!!
5-June
All packed and ready to go.........
we are off to Portsmouth to start the Big Battlefields Bike Ride. Feeling quite excited as it was featured on the BBC news this morning. The down side is that I am currently drowning with a cold - lots of tissues packed.
Thanks to everyone who has sponsored me (if you haven't yet it is not too late) and to everyone looking after the ponies while I am away.
Hopefully I'll be able to put some updates on here.
Fingers crossed for fair weather and no wind!!
4-June
Herbs and Pan both ran in the Intermediate Novice at Lt Downham. Both did average dressage tests. Herbs was jumping very well when he very strangely put down at a vertical and accrued a lot of time penalties. Pan had the first down in style and disagreed with me at every other fence and somehow only managed to finish with 4. I was very disappointed with both of them show jumping but both pulled up a gear and gave me good rides around the cross country.
31-May
Tiny continued the yards good form by jumping a double clear at Shelford Manor in the BE100. He finished in 3rd place on his dressage score of 34. He romped around the cross country finishing easily and feeling very pleased with himself. The more he does the better he gets.
30-May
With the auction and the Pimms tent for Aston I have rediscovered cash & carry. The ponies have been the biggest beneficiaries as I got very excited when I found the bumper pack of polo's!
Well we needed some rain and I guess the best way to guarantee rain was organising a Pimms tent on a bank holiday monday at Aston-le-Walls horse trials. Not surprisingly the Pimms didn't sell well but again with the help of some amazing prizes the raffle went quite well. I still think the rain slightly dampened the generosity of some. Tori and I had a great support team selling tickets, so thank again to everyone.
Just to make sure the day didn't get boring I competed 2 and took Suds to ride round at the end. B started the day with a 35 dressage and good double clear to be just out of the ribbons with 11th. She just needs lots of little parties and to keep seeing things as she has all the jump in the world.
Milo then made his debut i the pre-intro. after the initial shock that someone had parked their car near where he was trying to work (the dressage arena) he settled to produce a good test scoring 39, which was very respectable in his section. He also jumped a very grown up double clear to finish 7th. His owner went home with 2 lovely pictures of him although I was pulling some strange faces! He is now having a well deserved holiday, as he keeps growing, and if all goes well he might do a few of the later 4 year old classes.
Suds had a quick whiz round at the end and also jumped a beautiful double clear.
27-May
What a successful evening. Firstly I must thank everyone that helped especially Jen & Jan and Fiona (from http://www.stylishpicnics.co.uk/) for providing the fantastic food. Hamish became our last minute auctioneer and did a great job raising just short of £2000. The support from companies and individuals has been amazing. Thank you
I've also been trying to do my final push on the cycling this week and far too many people have spotted me in my cycling gear peddling round the country lanes!
26-May
Its getting rather busy preparing for the Auction on Friday and Raffle and Pimms at Aston on Monday. Lots to do....please come and support. We have some fantastic auction prizes very generously donated so please support and bid. Anyone that is interested in lots but can't attend we are happy to do telephone bids....please please support.
22-May
Back to Brigstock for the final day with Pan. Sarah Green came to help us warm up for the dressage. We had a 34 dressage and clear show jumping. She was travelling clear around the cross country when jumping a parallel 5 from home she managed to pull a front shoe tripping herself up and skidding for several meters on her nose before I finally came out of the plate. As she was missing a front shoe I decided there was no need to continue. We both live to fight another day.....
In the afternoon we went to the Open Day of the Equine foaling and treatment centre at Mill Farm, Ashorne. The facilities there are certainly very impressive.
21-May
Cuddly got to do the fun bit today. Again he tried his heart out show jumping and just had the 1 down.
He was his usual fantastic self cross country, giving me a cracking ride. I didn't have my foot flat to the floor so we added 11 time. He is always a joy to ride.
20-May
Tiny gave us a little bit of a scare before Brigstock. He managed to escape from the little paddock I had put him in and jumped back into his old field to see his friends. We spent over an hour in the dark searching for him as I'd checked the outside of that field but had never thought that he would jump back in!
He didn't have too bad a run despite his overnight antics, show jumped clear but as he hasn't been out for quite a while was just a little green to start with.
Cuddly then did his dressage for the CIC**. He is not built to do dressage and is still quite weak from all his time off but I felt he really tried, his mark was rather disappointing.
14-May
The Grafton Hunt point to point. An afternoon off - ish! We cycled there and back (roughly 30 miles) - any chance to get some practise in.
12-May
Cuddly had a good run around the Intermediate at Aston-Le-Walls. His dressage of 38 is still work in progress, especially as I am still working at home bareback after all the issues with his Sue Carson saddle. He was unlucky to have the last fence down in the show jumping and flew around the cross with just 4 time penalties. A good warm up for Brigstock next week.
I spent most of the day before at Aston sitting on a tractor helping to water the course. We calculated that I put on about 96000 litres of water and I wasn't the only one sitting on a tanker. I do appreciate how much man power is needed to put on an event but was still surprised just how many people were there working. We expect good going but it was an insight to see just what you have to do in this dry weather to achieve that.
8-May
Feisty had a good run around the BE90 at Keysoe. By contrast to earlier in the week and helped with the rain the going was good. The dressage still remains to be work in progress but her jumping gets better and better. We are starting to plan her first 100 campaign.
7-May
B, Suds and Cuddly all had a fun outing catching at the Granta Harriers point to point at Higham. They all thoroughly enjoyed showing off to the crowds. Cuddly also took part in the man vs horse race and convincingly proved that horse power is quicker despite the course being 50 m round a cone and back again. In fact he was so nippy he would also turn his hoof to mounted games!
4 -May
I didn't run Tiny at Moreton Morrell today as I wasn't overly impressed with the going. He is a nice horse and wasn't desperate for a run so we'll save him for some rain. Surely it has got to rain soon?
28-April
WE WON!
Oscar gave me a great ride (actually he really didn't need me on board as he knew exactly what he was doing). It was all over far too quickly but great fun. A big thank you to everyone who helped, loaned gear etc and to Keeli who looks after the horse and looked after me too.
I must also say a big thank you to Ben Case, the trainer and Mr Allen for kindly letting me ride his horse.
27-April
Southwell races tomorrow. I'm riding a horse called HandthePrizeOver trained by Ben Case (www.bencaseracing.com). I've manged to borrow racing kit from some very generous people on the estate so it will be all the gear no idea!!
23-April
It was Feisty's mother Pan's turn at Broadway. She had a 35 dressage and also jumped double clear. It was a blistering hot day and she accumulated 4 time which just put her out of the ribbons.
22-April
Feisty came home with her first British Eventing rossette. She warmed up very nicely for the dressage but still got tense in the arena to score 37. She then pulled her first double clear out of the bag finishing 10th.
Broadway did a great job with the going and the courses were well presented. Its the first time I've competed there and I'll definately be going back.
21-April
I joined in with the course builders walk around both the grass routes and main course at Badminton. It was a fasinating day comparing what the course builders are trying to acheive and how they are in some cases trying to save the riders from themselves. We watched several riders in the grassroutres 100 jumping the 'brush ditch brush' it wasn't a pretty sight. From a trainers point of view it was scary how many riders approached in too high a gear and not in a 'coffin canter'.
Walking the main course always gives me a tingle and desire to be tackling it, one day.
The day provided much food for thought.
14-April
Herbie continued his good form at Weston Lawns with a 2nd in the Newcomers. Tiny had an unlucky 4 faults in the 1.05m and B jumped much more confidently in the 90.
10-April
The babies all went to the hunter trials at Swalcliffe. Toby got a last minute cal to give Suds a lead around the pairs, both boys were fab.
B then had a great round in the next class.
9-April
Only 19 days till my Charity race at Southwell Racecourse. I am riding 1 1/2 miles on the all-weather before the national hunt meeting. Its a countryside race evening so will be lots going on with Hound parades and Lurcher racing as well as the National hunt evening meeting. If anyone wants to come and support (or laugh at me) I can get reduced tickets £5 untill the18th April.
Also guess what I'm after sponsorship, its in aid of the Lincolnshire & Nottinghamshire Air Ambulance and Union of Countrysport Workers.
Hopefully Alex Hales is providing me with a winning horse but which one hasn't been decided yet.....
to sponsor me download this form:
7-April
Addington Arena eventing
About Time Too Jamacain Me Crazy
Tiny continued his good form by winning the Open class.
B also had a good run in the intro.
3-April
Tiny goes Team Chasing - Tiny got a very last minute call to go to the Fernie Championships to join an Intermediate team. It was a little bit of a shock to him to be jumping that quickly but he soon got into the swing of things and loved it......
26-March
I went up to Vale View to watch the Inter Hunt Gate jumping competition. What a fantastic idea. A great competition which attracted a good crowd. Only 4 riders cleared 5ft, the winner Joss Hanbury being the only one to clear 5'3". (Although in the lap of honour the gate was jumped at 5'6") There were some seriously smart horses taking part.
25-March
Finally I have a bike!! No excuses now for not training.....
24-March
Trish Bracegirdle brought her fantastic range of Childeric saddle for me to try on the boys (and girls).
Trish sold me my Devoucoux jumping saddles which I love but these are as comfortable if not more and offer a bigger range in fitting the horses.
She also has a very nice selection of dressage saddles and I felt that the horses were really comfortable and more willing to lift through their backs.
I am definitely saving up!!
visit her website:
23-March
BIG BATTLEFIELDS BIKE RIDE UPDATE
Thanks to Halfords I am still without a bike!!
Just a reminder to everyone that I am needing to get the first part of my sponsorship money in Before the end of this month. So if you would like to sponsor me please visit:
22-March
Next time I try to take 7 horses to Aston to do dressage I am hoping someone will remind me what hard work it was!! Despite Jodies help and her riding Toby.
Milo had his first ever look at dressage boards. Toby, Tiny, Suds, B, Herbie and Cuddly all attended and nothing disgraced themselves. (Except me forgetting that being pure dressage Herbie wasn't allowed his grackle bridle that he is allowed at horse trials - oops!)
20-March
A sort of day off!!!
Charlotte and Nicki came to see Milo jump and with help from Jen and Jan we managed to work/jump 8 horses before leaving at 11 to go to the Bicester Hunt Point to Point at Whitfield.
It was a lovely sunny day and great to catch up with friends. Hamish didn't do too badly at the bookies either.
17-March
B, Herbie and Tiny went to Onley BSJA. B went well in the British Novice. Tiny jumped double clear in the discovery and Herbie had a very uncharacteristic last fence down in the jump off of the Newcomers. He was a little blasé and I think he needs something bigger next time to think about.......
13-March
Despite the alarm clock going off at 2.20 Saturday morning Poplar Park was a very successful weekend.
Feisty started the day off with a reasonable dressage for her. She got distracted in the show jumping which caused her to take down both elements of the double. She was good but green Xc.
Herbs antics in the dressage were enough to get the judge to pop her head out of her car and announce that "this test might be fun!" the top of her comments said a horse with a sense of humour. He then redeemed himself by jumping a cracking double clear and was the fastest in his section xc. This pulled him back up to 3rd
Pan did a good, 34 dressage, had an uncharastic pole down and was clear xc to finish 4th
Tiny was unlucky to add a pole down show jumping to his 32 dressage, but was much more confident and produced a good cross country round to finish just outside the placings.
Cuddly was last to go. He added just one down showjumping and a cracking round xc to finish 6th.
All in all a rather good weekend
9-March
Toby, B and Suds had their first party at Addington Area Horse Trials.
Jodie had a great ride on Toby, did a good dressage and super cross country round.
Suds was so well behaved and also did a nice dressage. The jumping was bigger and bolder than I expected and quite an ask for him but he showed that he really will be an exciting project.
B also coped very well, did a good dressage scoring 35 and jumped very well. There was a lot for them to take in and both B and Suds will be sleeping well tonight.
8-March
After a fun day with the Grafton Clover set off to Dorset. He departs but Jimmy, a smart little thoroughbred arrives, to hunt and sell, so watch this space.
7-March
The babies and Cuddly went back to Aston cross country schooling. We had a really good morning.
6-March
Aston Le Walls - The first event of the season.
I spent the Friday dressage judging and thinking with so many fresh horses that I might be having fun with mine over the weekend.
Herbie lived up to this and to say he was electric warming up for the dressage would be an understatement. The super glue worked and he managed to just about contain himself in the arena. He jumped really well, considering the weather hasn't allowed the best of preparation.
Tiny, who I thought after some good days hunting would be very excited took the whole thing in his stride and finished on his dressage score to be 7th in the intro.
Feisty also started the season well to finish on her dressage score. So roll on Poplar next week.
26-February-2011
I have been accepted to take part in the Help For Heroes Big Battlefield Bike Ride. It is 5th - 11th of June, cycling an average of 70 miles a day around battlefields in France. I am doing it with Tori Graham (who does my ponies backs).My brother is currently serving in Afghanistan and he left this message on my sponsorship page:
"Well done sis, certainly a worthy cause. Unfortunately there are still casualties in Afghan on a regular basis and the support they get from HFH is first rate. Best of luck with the ride."
Please support me by visiting
There will be updates on here as to how the training is going, first step is to get a bike!!
25-February-2011
The babies all had a trip to Aston. Milo, the 4 yo had his first trip in the lorry, he was a star. Watch this space as I think he will be very exciting and will hopefully be aiming for 4yo classes this year.
Tiny has had a few days hunting now and is loving it. I'm really hoping it will make him a bit more worldly wise.
And please can someone turn the taps off. Everywhere is so wet but the eventing season is nearly upon us. I know we will all be complaining that the ground is too hard but I would love some sunshine!!
17-February-2011
Herbie was a star again show jumping at Onley grounds with a 2nd in both the 1.05 & the newcomers, he was also rather pleased with himself! Tiny was also good in the discovery.
When I got back Sara Green came to help me with B and Cuddly and both had a very good and productive dressage lesson.
16- February-2011
Suds and B went to Onley show jump schooling. B was just really pleased to be out again. They were both very well behaved and jumped nicely and are ready to start going to some shows.
6-February-2011
Feisty went to the JAS at Manor Farm this morning. As she has spent the winter at her home in Newmarket I haven't been able to do that much with her. Sara Green has been working her weekly and she has certainly got a lot stronger in her work. She has also grown up. I thought she would find the area spooky but she was great and jumped well. The plan is that she will come to me middle of Feb for a little sharpen up before the season starts.
4-February-2011
Charlotte and Nicky came to visit their rather stunning 4yo Milo. He has come to be re-started and then see where we go. He has great balanced paces and has so far been a dream to get going. He jumped his first few fences yesterday and will certainly be on be one to follow.
We also jumped B who Charlotte is keen to follow as she is the last by her stallion Statesman Magna. B is pretty smart over a fence too.
The last we jumped was Suds who is coming on in leaps and bounds. He really is an exciting project for someone and the way he is progressing I really wouldn't mind keeping the ride on him.
The plan is to get B and Suds to a clear round competition next week.
3-February-2011
The eventing season will soon be upon us, so Herbie, Cuddly and Tiny had their first outing show jumping at Onley. I felt like there were going to be a few cobwebs to blow away but the ponies were on really good form.
Tiny who hasn't even had a trip to Aston was a little surprised in the British Novice that there were no hounds. By the Discovery he had remembered what it was all about and jumped well in the discovery.
Herbie was also rather excited by an outing. He was 3rd in the 1.05m and then jumped a cracking double clear to win the newcomers.
Cuddly also thought being at a party was very exciting and jumped a great clear in the newcomers and just had the 1 down in the jump off.
It was great to be out again and after a long hard winter I'm now looking forward to the season starting.
January
Exciting arrival. Clover has come to us to sell. He has made a really good impression on the yard.
See the for sale page
Tiny has had 2 half days hunting. The first day he went out second horses with the Grafton and as normal for a first time was so in shock was almost too well behaved. His second time out was with the Bicester. He was good at the meet although he did wave a someone and bounced a bit to start with but did always stand which is a huge bonus. I think he will be a cracking hunter and he needs it to help in the growing up process!!!!
HAPPY NEW YEAR
December Roud Up
December started off steadily with the poor weather. Most of the month has been frozen making horses hard work. They have all been ticking along. Cuddly managed half a days hunting when we had a few days of thaw but apart from that the lorry hasn't been out.
Good news is that Sol and Khan have new homes although neither have managed to leave yet due to the weather!
Tina Ure and I ran a 2 day A test clinic nr Newmarket which apart from the snow stopping all outside activities went very well. I borrowed 2 heart rate monitors from Equine Fitness http://www.equinefitness.co.uk which would have been a fantastic teaching aid had we been able to use them.
Then the excitment started:
Thursday 23rd Hamish and I managed to escape into Banbury to start our Christmas shopping. We had purchased 1 present when Hamish got a call to say he had a barn on fire. The barn contained 800 heston bales of straw and 120 tons of fertiliser. My problem was this barn was very close and down wind of my stables. All the horses were immediately evacuated to the fields and later (and with many thanks to Nigel and Ann Taylor) I was able to move all of mine to Aston-Le-Walls which is where they have spent their Christmas. We were not allowed anywhere near the yard for the first 24hrs so all I had was the rugs they were wearing and 1 headcollar!! Again thanks to Aston for loaning of buckets, food etc.
We had 18 fire trucks attending including the US army, so that was worth watching!! Fortunately no one was hurt and all horses were fine. The fire trucks left late Christmas eve but are back checking it every few hours and it looks like it will continue to smoulder till the middle of next week.
When all the excitment died down we realised we hadn't got any presents or much food so its been a quiet Christmas.
3-December-2010
The weather has slightly stopped the parties and the hunting but I am very lucky to have the indoor school to play in.
Chester was Sold this week allowing me to bring Tiny back into work. He feels great, his holiday has allowed him time to grow and apart from feeling very cheeky he doesn't seem to have forgotten anything.
The youngsters have all started jumping and we are getting very excited about next season.
19-November-2010
Nutmeg - Ronnies Girl
Was put to sleep today at the age of 24.
She was my first horse and great jumper and hunter.
She produced 7 fantastic foals for us of which I still have Cuddly, B and Darcy.
Also, Tiny returned from his holidays today feeling a little too well and pleased with himself. I am thinking that getting back on him might be interesting....
14-November-2010
A hunting we will go. Cuddly is really enjoying letting his hair down and having some fun. I've also been 'borrowing' other ponies and travelling back to Cambridge for some great days with the Harriers. I've managed to have the odd day with the Grafton and Bicester. There is some more visiting planned before Christmas.
7-November-2010
We ran a very successful fun day at Edgcote. I ran flat work and jumping sessions and Chris Van Reem brought 2 beautifully well behaved boys to do taster driving sessions. Nicki provided some fantastic soup and cakes and Maria was available to talk to participants about any postural issues.
The feedback was very positive and we plan to run a similar day in the new year.
24-October-2010
Aldon - A Fantastic end to the season.
Cuddly started the weekend with a fantastic double clear finishing on his dressage score in 7th place.
Herbs was 1st in the dressage in the CCI*, not the best place to be. I was rather disappointed with his mark but pleased with his test despite getting fizzy in some of his canter. Pan had an early time the next morning and did a reasonable test for her.
It was a new experience for both of them to compete in 3 day format. Herb was very keen at the start of the course and as he turned and looked across the bowl he just dropped off me, having a silly green stop at quite an easy fence. He went to Aldon with only 1 novice run since being back in work so the cross was a reasonable ask for him. He then carried on to jump foot perfect around the rest of the course giving me a great ride.
Pan also had a good run around the cross country finishing with just 6 time penalties.
They were both in good form for the trot up the next morning and both jumped super clear rounds.
It was a great result for all 3, just a pity now Herb and Cuddly are back on form that the season has ended.
18-October-2010
Herbie has got his place from the wait list in the CCI* at Aldon so he joins Pan this weekend and Cuddly goes for the Intermediate.
Both the boys had a final treatment with Tori yesterday and are feeling well. They have a dressage session booked with Sara Green before we leave on Wednesday.
4-October-2010
Very mixed emotions today.
The puppy, now named Tiggy, shot into Cuddly's stable while he was eating last night and without too much detail it resulted in her having to be put down. I am devastated as she fitted in so well and was with me for such a short time. It was a horrible thing to witness, I don't know what else to say.
I didn't really feel much like competing, so I didn't help Cuddly's dressage score by trotting up the centre line and turning the wrong way. I'm not sure that the test got much more accurate.
He must have know that he needed to redeem himself as he jumped a cracking round only lowering a pole and was the fastest in his section cross country. We pulled up to finish 5th.
3-October-2010
Todays score board doesn't really reflect what the horses did.
I haven't competed Ronnie since his pre-novice at Purston in June and only sat on him again on Thursday. I was disappointed with his dressage mark as I was quiet pleased with his test. He felt awesome show jumping and only had a rail down but held it against me (as it was my fault) and pulled himself up after that (incurring the extra 4 plus 4 time) but quickly continued. Again he felt awesome cross country and gave me a cracking ride and it was my fault that we incurred penalties so close to home.
Then Pan who knows the course inside out decided at the double of corners two from home that she knew best, she grabbed the bridle and took off but not in the direction of the second corner! She had done a good test for her and show jumped clear so I wasn't best pleased.
Herbie cheered me up. He finished on his dressage of 34 in 3rd place. He felt really classy and bold especially pleasing as this was his first novice run since March.
2-October-2010
Feisty was fantastic for her first grown up party at Little Downham. She managed to keep her calm in the dressage posting a good score for her at the moment and she just lowered the 1 pole in the show jumping where she lost concentration. She came out the start box a different horse from her first run at Aston. She rolled up her sleeves and decided she is now an event horse. She was bold and really focused although she did start to tire coming out of the second water so we just cruised home with a few time penalties.She is now going on holiday but I am really excited about her for next year.
Khan was also a very good boy. He had an average dressage and again was unlucky to role a pole where he just caught site of a horse on the cross. He was his usual straight forward self cross country but he was a little confused by being held for a while and having to get the adrenaline pumping to re-start but jumped a good and steady clear.
1-October-2010
Tiny wont be running this weekend as his foot looks like if we put a shoe back on it will just end up with an abscess. So after discussions with his owner we have decided he gets to go on holiday a little earlier than planned.
So it just Herbie, Cuddly and Khan stabling at Little Downham this weekend.
27-September-2010
Poor little Tiny has a sore foot where he has been pricked by the farrier. With hind sight he did well to run at Moreton Morrell he felt sound but it makes sense as to why he was landing a bit steeply, I just though he had been worried by the horse that had walked in front of us in the warm up. He is being poulticed and I'm hoping he will still be able to run this weekend.
25-September-2010
A new arrival
DOB 16-August-2010
- will let you know when we come up with a name for her
24-September-2010
3 boys went to Moreton Morrell for the open pre-novice.
I was very disappointed with all their dressage marks. Tiny and Herbie were on 39. Khan warmed up a little too long but still didn't deserve the poor mark he got.
The show jumping was chaos. Having 3 in the same class I tried to be very organised and took them all down together so that I could get through them and not be in a mad rush against daylight on the cross country. Unfortunately the show jumping was running an hour late and they were strictly running to order, so trying to be organised backfired on me with the boys getting very fed up waiting. Also I left my whip on the floor where I was standing and someone swiped it!! Herbie jumped clear, Khan was very unlucky to have a pole. Tiny was upset in the warm up by someone walking on the landing of a fence and changed from being cocky to nervous in the arena.
Herbie and khan flew around the cross country but with Khan's poor dressage mark there was no need to fly around the cross so he accrued a few time. Tiny had a good run he still goes a little green at the start but again grew in confidence on the way round. I think he will benefit from a bit of hunting and he is soon due a holiday. I think he will come back a different horse next season.
19-September-2010
Pan did her first Intermediate this week and her daughter Feisty did her first intro. Feisty grows up every week. We were pleased that her test was recognisable and she stayed in the grass arena so to get a 35 and not a mention of tension was rather exciting. She lacked concentration in the show jumping having 2 rails but on the plus side after having a rail gave the next few plenty of air.
The cross country was allot to take in with jump judges, marquees, flags etc. It is so hard to give a youngster that experience without going to an affiliated competition. She was very green and wobbly over the first 4 fences then a log before the water proved a bit too much for her but she popped over it the next time. She grew in confidence as she went around the course and I think she is going to be a very exciting prospect for next year.
Khan also went to Aston-Le-Walls for the pre-novice. He was also a little star. A slight change to his routine seems to suit him and he felt great. He had a 34 dressage with a cracking double clear (he was jumping his socks off), finishing 2nd. He is going to make someone a very smart, fun horse and I'll be sorry when he is sold.
15-September-2010
An emergency vet visit first thing delayed getting to Purston but they very kindly managed to slot Tiny in a withdrawal's space, tho this only gave me about 20 minutes to get in the dressage arena. Fortunately Sarah Simmons had kindly offered to help for the day. Tiny produced a good test of 33 and was unlucky to have the last fence down show jumping. He was a little green again xc but had a good run despite a little look at the trakener.
Herbie was running HC but a confident run from him left him on his dressage score.
13-September-2010
Pontispool is a long way away! I realised this when we had been travelling several hours before the sun even thought of getting up!!!! Fortunately it was a successful day.
Cuddly was a star. I was pleased with his dressage mark as he is still so week on the flat. He started the show jumping almost a little green but grew in confidence as he went round. He was his usual self cross country.
Pan was there to do her first Intermediate. She aquited herself well in the dressage and had 8 penalties show jumping. She got herself a clear round the cross it was a little steady but she now has that illusive clear that Liz had been so hoping for - not bad for her first attempt.
12-September-2010
My first day without Izzy I took 3 ponies to Vale View for their arena cross country. I also met Feisty and Pan their. Feisty started the day and was a little star. She jumped her first step down into water and coped admirably with everything the course threw at her.
Khan and Tiny jumped the next class being placed 4th and 5th both jumped really well and had grown up a lot since their last visit there.
Herbie jumped the last class and jumped a great double clear to win the class. Pan also jumped to make up numbers and came second to Herbie.
Pan and Feisty then followed me home ready for our epic journey to somerset.
8-September-2010
I had a fantastic morning cross country schooling, the ponies were on fire. Unfortunately my mobile phone is somewhere on the course at Aston, so I'm out of communication for a few days.
4-September-2010
It was the day for the babies today. Feisty went to her first dressage competition accompanied by Izzie on her mare Chelsea. Both did the walk and trot test and a prelim.
I got a fair bit of ribbing for going wrong several times in the walk and trot, as Mary said at Burghley 'I was just so pleased with the way the horse was going!!!'
Both mares were very well behaved.
2-September-2010
I had a great morning at Burghley catching up with friends and companies that support me. Its good to catch up with Mountain Horse and Allen & Page and see whats new on their stand. I also took a friend to meet Intelligent Worming and was very interested to see what other products Equine Fitness have. I think I might have to test their heart rate monitor out.
Back at home I had 2 fantastic lessons with Sara Green on Cuddly and Herbie. Both had come on a lot since their first lesson and Herbie in particular was very exciting.
31-August-2010
Geena
24-12-1996 to 31-08-2010
Beanie finally lost the fight against her tumour today and was put to sleep this afternoon.
Beanie really missed her best friend Bonnie who we sadly lost earlier this month. Now the girls are back together. Its going to be very strange out in the lorry without either of them.
29-August-2010
It was a bit of a shock to the system to have 3 at Highclere today as it has been such a quiet season.
Tiny started the day with an 8am dressage which was a respectable 33. He then jumped his socks off in the show jumping by contrast he went very green cross country, having a silly baby stop early in the course but he did improve in confidence and jump the second half much better.
Herbie was next on. He was a very last minute substitution and as he wasn't planning on running (and he was HC - non competitive) we took it nice and steadily cross country. He jumped a fantastic double clear felt very happy and did a reasonable 35 dressage. I was just grateful for his first competition since April that he was ridable but he was very excited to be at a party.
Cuddly finished the day in the intermediate. His dressage mark was slightly disappointing but he is still weak in this phase from all his time off.
I was thrilled with his show jumping, he was jumping his socks off and trying his hardest. We were really trying to work on what we had learnt on Monday and I think it really helped. Unfortunately I got a little excited at how well he was jumping and let him drift around a corner having an upright down and we had the last down as I was a little quick jumping out of the double. But the feel he gave and the pictures the photographer took, I definitely think we have something positive to work on.
He was his usual cool pony cross country. It was quite a chunky track, he looked after me but even Cuddly couldn't help me out at the off set houses where my line wasn't very good combined with being on a bit of a half stride. I'm pretty cross at it was my error not his and a blot on his almost perfect cross country record with me.
Hopefully though all 3 have pulled up fine have had some good experiences and ready to fight another day.
28-August-2010
Feisty had her first party at Addington for their arena cross country. She was very well behaved and grown up, coping well with the flags and banners, a successful outing.
26-August-2010
Izzie will soon be leaving to go to college, so I will be looking for some part time help. Fairly flexible, some mornings and/or evenings. If interested please ring or email me.
25-August-2010
I had a good meeting with Intelligent Worming and have decided that they offer a very competitive package with lots of guidance and backing to form an individual worming programme. So all the horses are registered and it will be very interesting when the first set of results come back. For more information click on the link below.
23-August-2010
I had a fantastic day with Herbie and Cuddly as a guinea pig for the British Eventing's Instructors accreditation day. Herbie had a good show jumping lesson and Cuddly did the xc. Again with them both being out of work it is a while since I have had help with them, so I now have lots of ideas to play with.
Indie also had her first outing in the lorry and managed to not chew too much!
20-August-2010
We have just completed 3 long days of Pony Club camp at Ely Eventing Centre. I am teaching in Cambridge on my way home tomorrow.
16-August-2010
Herbie and Cuddly had a great flatwork lesson with Sara Green today. As both have been off work through injury it was great to get her to cast her eye over them. It has certainly given me plenty to work on.
15-August-2010
Back to Aston for a 4th and final day. This time there was no chance of getting wet as I was sat in the car dressage judging. All went well, I seemed to miss out on the very exciting horses trying to demolish the arenas!
14-August-2010
Back to Aston for a 3rd day and a 3rd day of getting soaked to the skin.
Tiny and Khan both did their first pre-novices (sorry BE100). Both Ponies jumped really well.
Khan jumped double clear with a few time penalties xc. Tiny just lowered a rail show jumping and was also clear cross country.
Both of them felt much stronger and more confident in both jumping phases so I was really pleased just a little soggy.
This afternoon we picked up a new arrival. It seems a little soon but the oppertunity was there so new to the team is Indie.
She is 9 weeks old.
13-August-2010
It may have been friday the 13th but that didn't stop Pan from jumping a double clear in the Intermediate Novice finishing a creditable 6th. Running less often seems to suit her much better and she was much keener and fresher.
We also took Feisty (Pan's daughter) for her first trot around a show. She took it all in her stride and was very well behaved. She will be seen out at some baby competitions soon.
12-August-2010
After a very sad start to the week it was fantastic to pilot Cuddly around the Intermediate at Aston. It is so nice to be jumping some big fences again and he gives you such a great feel across country.
I was pleased with his dressage as he still has a lot of building up to do after his time off and I am also dabbling about playing with bits for him in an effort to get him more level and secure to the contact.
The show jumping was causing plenty of problems and to be fair to Cuddly he was not over prepared for the phase as the only course I have jumped on him this year was the Novice at Aston last month. He also does not find the show jumping easy so I was quite happy that he jumped a confident round and lowered 2 rails.
The cross country, well that was just awesome!
10-August-2010
Today was a very sad day for us. We had to make the decision to have Hamish's adorable labrador, Bonnie, put down. She was only 8 and it was a shock as she became very ill very quickly.
She will be greatly missed as she loved hacking out around the estate with the horses and came to most competitions with me.
9-August-2010
Today was the last of 5 days training in Hampshire towards my BE accreditation and UKCC. It has been a fantastic course and really helped with ideas for my coaching. The August exam is full so hopefully I will be able to take it at the next day which will be March next year.
6-August-2010
Cuddly, Herbie and Khan had their first treatment with Tori Graham today. Since moving I haven't really found anyone to massage them and Cuddly really benefited from all Emma Thomson's help when she was treating him. Tori has also just qualified as a McTimony Chiropractor on top of her massage qualification. It was great to get the boys done. Cuddly was the same old problems. Interesting how much Herbie is still holding himself from his injury, so hopefully now he will start putting on some more top line. Khan as suspected was tight in front. All 3 boys certainly felt better the next day.
31-July-2010
Tiny and Khan went to Vale View for their Arena Cross country. It was a great experience for both horses having to jump in and out of the indoor school through water and up and down steps. Tiny who has been quite cocky around his last couple of intros didn't know what hit him with everything coming up thick and fast. I think it will have taught them both a lot and I am very keen to take them back to the next one.
30-July-2010
Hiawatha went to his new home today. We wish Michaela and him a very successful future.
25-July-2010
Tiny and Khan had another outing in the Open 90 at Aston. Both horses went really well but the results do not do them justice. The dressage judge was consistently marking 10 marks higher than most horses in the section normally score. They both show jumped very well. As far as I am concerned Khan was clear xc tho I didn't manage to get his stop removed. Tiny was just being a little cheeky and blasee. They will both run BE100 at their next outing.
Off to pony club camp for the week.
23-July-2010
I finally got back on my old pony at Aston to have a fun blast around the Open Novice. Cuddly was a dude and back on form jumping a great double clear. We'll gloss over the average dressage as it was great to be back on him eating up the cross country. The plan is to run him in the Intermediate at Aston next month.
I then skipped off to the Game Fair to see Hamish and celebrate getting another year older!
18-July-2010
We had the afternoon at Kirtlington Polo Ground watching Hamish's brother Sam and his team win their game, not bad as they were a 6 goal team playing a 9 goal team, and take the trophy.
15-July-2010
I have been showing my age by saying that the last time I went to Upton House Horse Trials we did the dressage on a stubble field but I enjoyed my return visit. Tiny and Khan (Lucky Shamrock) were both in the BE90open and both were placed. Tiny did a 27 dressage and Khan a 29. Tiny jumped a double clear finishing in 2nd place. His outing at Aston meant he was more settled in the dressage and jumped really well. He is now giving me the feeling that he is ready to move up a level.
Khan was also good in his test and show jumped well being unlucky to roll the last fence. He was gave me a great ride around the cross. He is very straight forward to ride and will make a good horse for the future. He is FOR SALE.
Both of them run at Aston BE90 next weekend and then will go up to 100 in August.
13-July-2010
As it has been a while since some of my ponies have been in a dressage arena we popped down to Aston for their affiliated dressage.
Izzy and Toby did a good prelim test. Khan was 3rd overall in the prelim with 65%. Tiny did a good test for his first novice scoring well over 60% but was feeling very cocky in his second test so we threw away quite a few marks having a chat about his manners.
Cuddly had a trot around the elementary as I haven't yet ridden a test on him this year. I have been playing about with bits for him and was pleased that he too scored over 60%.
4-July-2010
We had a good weekend at Purston Manor. The organisers did a great job with the going as I now can't remember when we last had some rain.
I rode Ronnie (Debbies Treasure) in the Open Pre-Novice. The idea of giving him a fun and easy run worked. He finished feeling full of confidence. He gave me a great ride xc and was very unlucky to have the planks down in the show jumping as he barely touched them. His dressage was a little of the mark as he arrived with not much time to warm up.
Izzy also rode Cuddly in the OPN. They had a great double clear and he looks really happy to be out competing again.
Pan competed in the Novice today and finished 10th. She had a reasonable dressage of 35.5 and jumped double clear. The show jumping was in usual 'Pan' style but she was pretty good xc. She struggled a bit with the ridge and furrow which I think accounted for her few time penalties.
30-June-2010
Chinnor Hillary and her little girl
Shinglehall Tandoori
Born 6th May 2010
She is by Shingle Hall Tzar who is by Big Time.
For more info:
27-June-2010
I know this weather isn't conducive for good ground eventing but I do love it when the sun shines. With not too many horses to compete at the moment I used the opportunity to have a few days away from the yard. A free ticket with hospitality pass, a bed with a roof and our own shower and toilet was a good enough excuse for me to find out what Glastonbury is all about.
Wow. Random, awesome and maybe a bit surreal. It was certainly an amazing experience. It is a see it to believe it, the shear size and diversity of the festival, we will be buzzing for the next week.
So batteries re-charged, sun tan topped up and back to the horses this week. I'm at Purston both days at the weekend and xc schooling Tuesday. Back to Cambridge Monday and Thursday teaching so its a busy week ahead.
And now I'm back from a normally muddy Glasto we all need to do a rain dance.
23-June-2010
For Loan: Hiawatha
Ex-racehorse 15'3" 11 yo bay gelding. Looking for a loving home to lightly compete, hack or hunt. Good home is a priority and will be vetted.
He is a lovely horse with a fantastic and trainable temperament and likes to please. Super to do in all ways.
19-June-2010
Wendy had a good day with Harry at Stratford Hills with an 8th in her section. Tiny didn't fare so well. Having warmed up well for the dressage he was messing about spooking at the boards going around the arena. He either tweaked something or jarred himself and was unlevel in his test, so we withdrew. I did mean that I had time to help some of my clients warming up.
Herbie has been feeling well and was rather lively hacking out with the dogs yesterday, I think he will be going on his own next time!
13-June-2010
Ronnie was a much better boy at Gt Tew than his results would indicate. We were pleased with how relaxed he was in the dressage and I thought his canter had really improved. The show jumping seemed to be causing some problems and we were happy with his performance. He flew around the cross country jumping all the straight routes. Unfortunately by the time we got to the water he had a bit of a moment, nothing to do with the fence, getting a stack of time penalties and a stop.
I think he over jumped a few of the fences and lacks a little confidence in himself so we are going to drop him down a level for his next run so he can have some fun.
I then flew home for a shower and off to the Cambridge with Enfield Chase Puppy show in the afternoon. Where the horses might have been lacking the two girls we walked last year made up for. Random was 2nd and Rattle 3rd in the bitches and showed themselves off really well. Meaning I came home with a collection of glassware; 2 highball glasses, what I called a water jug (but has already been deemed suitable for Pimms) and a clock. Go Girls!
11-June-2010
Great news! Herbie went for his scan today and got the all clear to start working. Climbing aboard tomorrow should be fun, think I might need some super glue.
05-June-2010
We had a rather exciting day today. Our times at Little Downham meant we had a very early start. All was going well until we came across a loose horse on the A428. So we stopped ,caught it and ended up helping the police who couldn't trace its owner. In the end we put the horse on the lorry and drove him to my yard at Caxton, which just happened to be the next village.The owner was eventually found and picked him up later in the day.
So off we trundled to Ely now running a bit late. Despite the lack of time Tiny was a little star, he shouldn't have rolled a pole show jumping but still finished 10th.
Cuddly also had an outing round the Intro with Izzy. He was a last minute substitution so it really was his first outing anywhere. He was very excited but gave Izzy a cracking ride. He was so happy to be out again. Fingers crossed he pulls out well tomorrow.
30-May-2010
Tiny performed well at Borde Hill today. He did a 33 dressage, popped around the show jumping with an unlucky pole down and was a little star cross country. I was really pleased with how his confidence is growing cross country helped by fantastic going and fair but educational course.
21-May-2010
Pan did an average dressage test for her at Mattingley in the Intermediate Novice. She show jumped well with an unlucky one pole down. She gave me a good ride cross country and we had our first hold out on course when a frangible pin had been broken. Unfortunately I wasn't stopped till the fence before which was the double of corners, She did manage to jump them well after being held but having jumped a lot of skinnies on her way around the course she was a little cheeky glancing off a triple brush two from home.
With the ground now getting hard we will make our plans for her day by day.
15-May-2010
Ronnie, Debbies Treasure, had a good run round the novice at Aston-Le-Walls. The dressage still needs a bit of work but he jumped two super rounds finishing 9th. He doesn't live with me so I don't get to sit on him very often but I was really pleased with his performance.
13-May-2010
Tiny got his name in print in Horse and Hound today. 3 paragraphs in the central dressage news section. Hopefully for him the first of many.
11-May-2010
A slight mix up on times meant we missed our first prelim test at Aston le Walls but they kindly found us spaces in the Novice class. So Tiny managed a very credible 63% in his first novice and Izzy and Toby had a 3rd for their first attempt.
08-May-2010
Chinnor Hillary is the proud mum of a filly. Pictures to follow.
07-May-2010
Hambledon was beautiful as ever with the bluebells out in the woods. Ronnie, Debbies Treasure did a lovely double clear.
05-May-2010
Tiny impressed at Moreton Morrell BE today narrowly missing the placings. he had a reasonable dressage but jumped a fantastic double clear feeling much more confident across the country. With every outing he has he feels stronger and more confident so we are really pleased with him today.
27-April-2010
Toby and Tiny popped down the road to the British Dressage at Aston-Le-Walls today and had a rather successful day. Tiny kept up to his form with 70% in his first test and 75% in the second winning by nearly 5%. Toby was hot on his heels in the second test with just over 69%, he and Izzy also took 3rd in the first class.
25-April-2010
Tiny had a good day at Solihull intro. A very respectable 32 dressage and good clear show jumping. He was a little green cross country but it was a very educational round.
Harry was competing with Wendy in a riding club event at South of England and the reports are that they had a fantastic day, well done.
24-April-2010
Pan went to Withington ON. She has been getting out of bed the wrong side this week and was not in a very co-operative mood in either the dressage or show jumping. However she more than redeemed herself her by flying around the cross country inside the time.
20-April-2010
Harry left us today to have the summer with Wendy. After a good performance at Aston she is going to have him on loan and hopefully will let me have him back for the winter to hunt. We wish Wendy and Harry a very successful and fun summer.
On a sadder not Herbie went to the vets for a scan today and has managed to separate his check ligament from his deep flexor tendon. So he is on the easy list for 6 weeks. Herbie thinks this will be a great opportunity to work on his tummy!
18-April-2010
Tiny has really grown up since his run at Gt Witchingham and was foot perfect round the cross country at Aston unaffiliated. He had a good dressage and jumped clear in the show jumping but unfortunately had a 'moment' going through the start and managed to get given a stop and 3 time which lost him his first eventing rosette.
I also had an outside ride in the intro, who hasn't been cross country for 4 years. He enjoyed himself and so did his owners.
Harry had a spin around the intro with his 'new' mum. He is going to Wendy on loan for the summer to have some fun before he comes home to do some serious hunting.
10-April-2010
Pan pleased her connections to finish 5th in the Novice at South of England. She struggled a bit in the dressage as the going was soft in places and her little feet means that she is like a girl on stilettoes! Her fitness work has really paid off as she flew (for Pan) around the Xc with her ears pricked and loving every moment.
Herbie however has been having a few confidence issues not helped as I now think he has banged his splint. Being a careful horse having him confident and happy is crucial so as he felt unhappy in the show jumping it was wiser to retire and save him for another day. He will probably have a few Pre-novice runs just so he can have some fun.
We were able to get to SoE in my lorry despite an interesting moment when picking it up from the garage to take it for its test. The power steering oil was leaking heavily and I now appreciate power steering! Fingers crossed that is enough lorry dramas for the time.
06-April-2010
Space available for competition/schooling livery
04/05-April-2010
Due to a slight glitch with the lorry still being at the garage I met Pan at the Northants area Show. She jumped a cracking jump off to win the Newcomers. Having enjoyed the show I set about borrowing a lorry for the Monday so that I could take my boys back.
Tiny has decided he has grown up (at the moment!) after his run at Gt Witchingham and jumped a super double clear in the British Novice and won his first affiliated prize money with a 3rd. He also jumped well in the Discovery and was unlucky to rub out a fence. I was thrilled with him.
Toby popped round the clear round with Izzy and jumped on a ticket in the British Novice he was also unlucky to tip the last in the jump off.
04-April-2010
Cross Country Clinics.
- Tuesday 6th April at Milton Keynes Eventing Centre
- Sunday 11th April at Carlton, Bedfordshire
contact me for more details
23-March-2010
The lorry had to have a visit to the doctors, so Herbie and Tiny had to hack to their dressage competition at Aston-Le-Walls. This didn't stop their good performances, both came home with a first and second. Tiny continues his good run as a dressage queen with 66% in both classes and Herbie managed to wow the judge in his first elementary with 69% - not bad as he was only doing the ele's as they were scheduled before the novices! Herbie had a quick getting his toes wet on the XC before they both very smugly hacked home.
20-March-2010
Harry was awsome.He lined up with nearly 50 horses at the start of the Harborough ride and loved every moment of it. We stayed a little wide at the first, then got caught in a bit of a snarl up at the 3rd but once past that chipped away at the field. 3 1/2 miles later he was still feeling well and jumping his socks off.
13-March-2010
Herbie and Pan headed off to the east cost today to Poplar Park BE. Herbie just managed to contain himself in the dressage to score 34 although he did finally explode and nearly dislodge me on the way back to the lorry. Poplar is always a good event if you want to see some exciting dressage tests, it is early in the season so fresh horses next to the cross country a great combination. I was a little disappointed with Pan's score of 39 but judges can either cope with her conformation or not! Pan then went on to jump a good double clear but we were not speedy cross country and Herbie had an uncharacteristic pole show jumping, a bit lazy, and a nice clear cross country. Herbie finished 6th and they both finished the day adding another point to their records.
09-March-2010
Herbie and Pan jumped really well at Addington. Both were placed in the 1.05 and Herbie was in the ribbons in the Newcomers, tho let down by his jockey who forgot about the last fence so wasted an awful lot of time. Pan also jumped a good double clear. Tiny was still in xc mode in the British novice but jumped really well in the discovery just dislodging the last part of the double in the jump off.
07-March-2010
Cross country clinic at Milton Keynes eventing centre on Friday 19th March. Contact me for more details, 07967 365062 or sarah@firsfarmequestrian.com
06-March-2010
Cobwebs were blown away at Aston-Le-Walls unaffiliated. A few electric ponies getting their feet on grass especially with the xc nearby but they all performed well enough, especially as with the weather they were all a bit short on the cross country schooling front.
03-March-2010
For Sale
Power to Burn. Thoroughbred by Super Power. 8 yo 15'2 bay gelding.
He is a lovely little horse who is easy to do and has great manners. He moves very correctly on the flat, he has 3 good paces and good hind leg. He has started competing at British Dressage.
Super technique over a fence. He was in qualifying team last winter at RC novice championships and jumped very well in summer qualifiers (with different jockeys).
Looking for a loving home for this super guy who will give someone allot of fun.
02-March-2010
We took 7 horses to the BD at Aston-Le-Walls. Emma back from her travels did some very good tests on her two and Izzy rode Toby leaving me only 8 tests to ride. All had settled down as they are now having more outings and everything came home with a rosette. Pan and Tiny managed 3 firsts between them and I thought Harry did rather well in the elementary's as he had been hunting 3 days ago.
23-February-2010
A rather chilly day Show Jumping at Addington, thankfully we were inside as yet again it snowed most of the day. Tiny jumped very well and grows up each outing he has. Flo was 2nd in the BN and Herbie 5th in the 1.05m. Pan also jumped 2 clears.
16-February-2010
6 very fresh horses went to Aston-Le-Walls BD. They hadn't been out for a while and were all fairly on their toes. Tiny was first in one of his classes tho a little fresh in the other. The rest managed some placings as some very good movements were mixed with some rather exuberant movements.
18-January-2010
It has been a slow start this year with the weather, especially the snow. We were able to blow a few cobwebs away by going to Addington BSJA.
Tiny and Harry both jumped well in their classes. Pan was 4th in the 1.05m and Herbie was the star of the day with a win in the 1.05 and Newcomers.
25-December-2009
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
13-December-2009
Aston-Le-Walls BD. Tiny and Nina again both competed in the prelim classes. Tiny was a little on the fresh side warming up but posted some good results and won a pound for his share of being 3rd = overall!!! Nina's first test didn't happen as the day was self stewarding and being first in I managed to go into the wrong arena thus riding the wrong test!! But she went well in the second class. Herbie was on form and more settled scoring mid 60's in both his novice tests with Pan close behind him on her first affiliated outing.
28-November-2009
All 4 horses had a trip to Vale View BD. Tiny was the star of the day this time with 2 firsts gaining 66.52% and 70.83%. Nina also continued to shine in the prelim with 69.17%, 2nd and 61.3% gaining a 3rd.
Nina Tiny
Herbie is still convinced that dressage is boring, not helped by a very quick turn around from the previous horse and a short warm up. He managed 2 rather exuberant tests scoring 63.21 and 62.96% but still receiving rosettes for minor placings. Harry had strong competition in his elementary tests gaining 63.57% and a second place and 60.31% in his second test. His reward of a days hunting with the Bicester in the week was not a classic warm up!
22-November-2009
We took 4 horses to Swallofield Equestrian to their affiliated dressage. With my first time at half 8 and last time just after 6 it made for a long day, not so bad when it is successful!
Nina (the mare for sale below) had her first party. She scored 70% in the first class and won her section being 2nd overall. For her second test a crowd had gathered in the gallery next to the judges box and she found C a little more spooky causing her second mark to drop to 62% but still gaining a second place. She got lots of 8's and some great comments from both judges.
Tiny managed a first and second with 64 and 65% and was on good form, hopefully this winter he will strengthen up, he is already starting to find the work easier.
Herbie was like a coiled spring warming up for his first class and eventually did blow! His test was marred by a horse calling from outside which was just too much of a distraction for him so he decided to show the judge what other exciting moves he had!!! He got my only under 60% score of the day but did get an 8 for his paces!! He was slightly more refrained in the second test gaining his first points and a 4th.
Despite having stood on the lorry all day before his turn Harry came out in fine form and was 3rd in the novice and 4th in the elementary. As his reward he gets a days hunting with the Bicester on Tuesday.
1-November-2009
24-October-2009
We had a good day at Aston-le-Walls even if we got a little soggy!! Tiny, who competed in the intro, was a little fresh in his dressage (his first time outside with his new hair cut) but jumped a good double clear. Harry also seemed to be back on form and enjoying himself with a good double clear in the novice. I also had 2 outside rides both with good dressages and show jumping clear with the PN horse finishing 3rd.
17-October-2009
Pan (Panache Du Chene) was 11th in the novice at Little Downham. It was her first run since the beginning of July and we just wanted to get a feel for next season. She did a reasonable dressage test for her, was a little rusty in the show jumping and tipped a pole but gave me a good ride across country. So all being well we are looking forward to 2010 with her.
OCTOBER 2009
We have moved
The horses have settled in to their new yard well and are very happy. They have started exploring the hacking and having moved from Cambridgeshire they are not sure about the hills!
Horses In Balance
