I really must sound like a stuck record but things have yet again been pretty darn busy! Straight after Bramham we were almost immediately back out in the lorry, this time with Maisie and Gladys in the BE100 at Great Tew. Gladys was competing HC in a confidence giving run as she has had a little set back with her show jumping, and Maisie was just in the normal class. They were both fab on the flat, Gladys being the only horse in the 20’s with a 28, and Maisie on a 30. Gladys jumped a fantastic double clear and would have won by over 6 marks. Maisie also jumped really well, just rolling a pole and jumping a super and very speedy clear on the cross country. She finished equal 9th.
Next stop Longleat, with three on board. Boy was in the Intermediate, he was a total star all weekend and finished 3rd with an awesome double clear. He is feeling better and better and I can’t wait to see how much more he has to give. Gladys was in the Novice, she scored 30 to lie 2nd after dressage, the judge even called me over to say how smart she was which is pretty encouraging! Unfortunately it was not to be and after jumping the first half of the show jumping beautifully, she frightened herself slightly by having a rail and then just got a little tense. I decided to withdraw her cross country as she didn’t really need the run unless she was going to win, and I have decided just to take her show jumping for a while. Maisie was in the BE100 - another really lovely test followed by a much softer show jumping and a clear cross country left us just outside the ribbons.
Boy’s next run was Salperton. My farrier Nick Deacon and his wife very kindly came to groom for me, and they were certainly useful as I managed to arrive about an hour late! Once again he was a really good pony and barring a massive rider error in the show jumping we had another successful day finishing 6th in the Intermediate.
A few weeks ago I was invited to compete in the Express Eventing competition up at Stoneleigh in Warwickshire. It comprises of a self written dressage test to music, a simulated arena cross country test and then a round of show jumps. (With a twist apparently but I’m not quite sure what it is yet, oh and Horse Hero will be there filming!) As I have never done dressage to music before, and my musical skills resemble something of a sloth with a violin, Jon Pitts came to the rescue once again and introduced me to fellow Horse Hero blogger and top international dressage rider Anna Ross Davies. Anna very kindly offered to help me out, so I made the long trip over to Slapton to get cracking.
Anna is a fantastic trainer as well as a world class competitor so I was quite nervous. I took Bobs who I’m riding at Express Eventing and also Gladys... I thought with Bobs’ slightly cob like movement Gladys with her flash trot might redeem me slightly. I had what can only be described as a serious grilling and after riding two I felt as thought I had ridden 20. I don’t think I overly impressed but I was left with my mind buzzing and totally inspired as to how to improve and what I had to work on... there was a very long list!! From Anna’s I went straight up to Richard Davison’s yard near Nottingham for an official "Express Eventing training and PR day". Again this was a really useful session and Richard very kindly put us up in his beautiful yard for the night. His indoor school is to die for and looks like something out of a health spa with all white walls and flowers... no wonder all the horses go so well!
Back to Somerset and yet another quick change of horses and I was off to a BSJA show in Wiltshire. Gladys and Maisie just need a little more ring time so that they are less spooky and although I nearly melted on what was the hottest day of the year so far, they both went really well being placed first and second in the Newcomers and just having a pole in the 1.15.
The next week I was lucky enough to be able to go back to Anna’s, this time to write the floor plan for the test and get some music sorted. I was a bit worried about remembering everything from the last lessons I had, but I think it went really well and Anna just whipped up a whole test and music in about five minutes! It’s really awesome and I would never have been able to come up with anything so sophisticated. Aside from writing the test, we worked hard on my position as although I think that I have the strength to sit and hold myself correctly, I haven’t necessarily been implementing it all the time on the horses. We also worked on Gladys’s collection and lateral suppleness. Anna gave me some really useful exercises that have helped me get her around my inside leg without reverting to the rein all the time.
I’ve now got a cd of my music that I’ll be using up at Stoneleigh. It’s important to know the music really really well so I can ride to the phrasing and also know your cues for each of the transitions, so I’ve been listening to it endlessly... I think the sheep of Somerset will start dancing soon the amount of times I’ve had it on repeat!