We didn't have the best start to May at Aston Le Walls! Rosie jumped far too boldly into the first water and ended up catapulting me out of the saddle leaving me very wet and dirty!! I remounted and finished rather soggy. Blackie didn't feel himself xc resulting in me retiring.
Next stop was Ascott Under Wychwood where ESCADA II (5yo) was making her debut. She is a lovely new ride for me belonging to Andy Austin. I have had some fantastic rounds showjumping on her at BS winning money on most occasions including finishing 4th in a recent Newcomers. She has been with us a month and eventing is a very new concept. She produced a reasonable test but was a little wobbly in areas, scoring 35.5, she was unlucky to have the first fence down due to the minute size of it compared with what she has been jumping. Xc she was an absolute machine, sadly we exited the track into the ploughed field miles from the fence but the fence judge got over excited and gave me a refusal! I was thrilled with her first event and am seriously excited about her future.
Blackie then went to Farley Hall which is a fantastic new event in Berkshire. He was rather fresh in the dressage possibly due to a lack of warm up (jockey error) he then showjumped trying his heart out in the very holding ground and had 2 down. He absolutely flew round the huge, up to height xc course proving what a machine he is.
We popped to Croften Manor BSJA with Blackie, Rosie and Ethel on the 4th June. Ethel was unlucky to have 4 faults in the discovery and jumped fantastic in the Newcomers for 8 faults in the first half. This went up to 1m20 and she was seriously impressive for her age and experience. Blackie jumped a classy double clear in the Newcomers just missing out on the placings. Rosie had an annoying pole in the Newcomers and had a couple down in a massive foxhunter class. A very good educational day at the office.
We then headed to Summerhouse where Blackie had 4 faults in the newcomers, Ethel was 6th in the 1.05m open and 4th in the Newcomers and Orla was 5th in the Discovery and 4th in the 1.05m open.
Rosie was next at Nunney. This was a very sad event with the loss of Jordon MacDonald the day before. Thoughts with all his family and friends and also Benjamin Winter's following a tragic fall in Germany. Rosie i thought did a much improved test but the judge was less impressed!! She then lost all concentration showjumping and so I decided not to run her xc. I have now chosen to put Rosie in foal to a very handsome stallion. Mum and I have always wanted a foal from her and now seems like a great time with eventing being so expensive. We are chosing a stallion with longer legs and a better attitude to dressage!!
West Wilts was our next stop with no less that 5 horses leaving the yard. Thankfully Anya Thursby returned for the day to drive one of the two lorries and also to groom alongside Jess and show her the ropes.
ESCADA II was first of my string to go in her first BE100 she produced a much better test to score 33.5. She has heaps of ability and this is merely scratching the surface of the scores she is capable of. She then went on to jump a very classy double clear picking up a handful of time faults due to me not pushing her as she hasn't really got any experience of xc!! She was an absolute dream xc taking it all in her stride.
NASEBY performed one of his better tests to score 32.5 he then jumped a fab double clear in the time to finish on his dressage score and pick up a 5th placing. Sadly he is for sale purely because he belongs to me.
SPRINGTIME ORLA has returned after 4yrs away from my yard. She is sadly for sale and has come back due to some issues showjumping. She has so far jumped 3 double clears at BSJA being in the money every time and then at West Wilts performed a workmanlike test, (that the judge didn't approve of) had a very unlucky pole sj and I had an incredible ride xc having not xc schooled her beforehand. She is one of the best i've sat on xc, taking on all her fences and staying dead straight at skinnies. She goes in all three phases in a snaffle and is very straight forward. If anyone is looking please don't hesitate in contacting me.
BLACK EYED PEA II did an average test and had a silly 4 faults sj. Xc he was giving me a great ride xc until the second last where he lost concentration and picked up a silly 20 penalties. I was cross with myself as much as him! His next event is Barbury where I will continue to ride to the finish line!
Frankie Swallow took her new horse to West Wilts too. Her test was marred by lacking concentration but jumped a good double clear to finish on it.
We returned to Summerhouse for some more BSJA. Orla jumped brilliantly for a 3rd placing in the 1.05m open she then had a pole in the jump off of the Newcomers (completely rider error). Ethel was not keen on the new bit I tried on her so the 1.05m open is best forgotten. However, back in her normal bit she jumped brilliantly in the Newcomers annoyingly having the same pole in the Newcomers as Orla (also rider error). She is super scopey and I love competing her. Blackie jumped a lovely double clear in the 1.05m open just missing a placing, he then took a couple of rails in the Newcomers.
With June over we now look forward to Barbury with Orla and Blackie followed by Upton House with Ethel and Jerry. I will of course be fitting in some showjumping in between to keep them on their toes.
