Wanadoo Too keeps up his record

Wally went to British Dressage on Friday (28th October) to do 2 novice tests. He has gradually been winding down from his hard season but I wanted to get him qualified for the Winter Regionals before he went out for his holiday. Wally performed 2 very nice tests scoring 70% and 69.6% winning both of the Open Novice sections. I am absolutely thrilled with him, he has now won 6 out of 6 novice tests and is qualified for next years regionals. He is now off for his holiday at Simon Hall's where he will be out in the field chilling out for a few weeks before he comes back for more dressage and winter showjumping over the winter months (weather depending)!

Autumn Hunting

I am a big believer in some event horses heading out on the hunting field (temperament depending!) over the winter months. I have taken Stan and Dougal out for a spot of cub hunting in the last week, with the Avon Vale which meets locally to me. It is great for installing manners, making them stand still, wait to jump, learning to gallop and have fun of course!! Both of these horses went very well and although the days I went were quiet they will have learned something. When I am back from my holiday I will be taking a few of them out for proper hunting. It's great catching up with old friends who I don't get to see much in the season-Harriet Sharman never ceases to entertain me, Stuart Radbourne (Master and Fieldmaster when I have been out) is patient with putting up with me on my precious eventers,and the quad bikes always give me stick for asking what they regard as silly questions-mainly asking about the ground conditions, profile of jumps and size of drops on landing!! (I need to know these things before I risk my boys and my life!!).

Plans for the Winter

It's getting to that time again....Most of the horses will be having some time off in various fields around Wiltshire for a few weeks. Some heading back to owners and others to go and remember they are horses in herds (with no shoes on). When they come back in they will be attending British Dressage and BSJA at the usual hunting grounds. A couple will have a few days out hunting but only in the fair weather!! Jimmy continues to make fantastic progress and is now back trotting. I am very excited about next year now it is in site again. Jimmy is still king of the yard and loves all the attention.
I head off to Mauritius with my Brother and Mother for a couple of relaxing weeks, diving, sunbathing and of course enjoying the odd cocktail here and there. Then it's back to reality and the hard winter grind. I am really looking forward to next season, I have some fantastic horses and a great team behind me so fingers crossed for another successful season.
Finally and most importantly I must thank my amazing owners, Mr and Mrs Wookey, Mr Simon Hall, Mr Gareth Powell, more recently Victoria Delville-Cutts and my Parents. They are all extremely supportive and without them I would be nowhere.
 I must also thank my sponsors who support me and the horses too; Kate Negus Saddlery for the most beautiful leatherwork in the whole world, Amtrust Equine Insurance for all the help and support, Global Herbs and Baileys Horse Feeds for keeping the horses looking the best on the circuit with their expertise and knowledge on the minor details that, without doubt, make all the difference, Prolite Products for supplying me with boots and pads which give me the peace of mind that the horses are protected to the maximum, The Horse Laundry for keeping my rugs looking professional, The Freeman Borthers for the amazing haylage, PAC Ltd for the support and finally newest sponsors Devoucoux for the beautiful saddles I am able to ride in and Soteria Consulting Ltd who are our newest additions and will be supporting Lucie McNichol Eventing.
Thank you very much to all and I will be keeping you updated with the winter excitement!!
Lucie

Get Well Soon Ingrid

Sadly my groom of 18 months has been a little under the weather. Hopefully she will be back to her normal self soon. We have been very fortunate to borrow Mandy Collins part-time groom Tasha Henley, at very short notice. Tash has been great, putting up with me and all the horses whilst keeping the yard clean, tidy and humourous. Big Thanks

Autumn Cubbing with the Avon Vale Hunt

Today I took out Kington and Victoria Delville-Cutts brought out her 4yo mare Moomin. The meet was just at the bottom of my lane so we were able to hack there. After a shaky start the two youngsters were brilliant. Neither have hunted before and both will have benefitted and come on from what they experienced. I am a big believer in hunting the young ones to give them a "fifth leg" for those sticky situations out cross country when they really do have to think for themselves, and to teach them to gallop with a forward thinking brain. Both of us enjoyed our morning and we will be out a bit more over the winter months.

New Arrival!!

Landmark Margarite (Moomin) has recently arrived at my yard. She is a 4yo owned by Victoria Delville-Cutts who has produced her superbly to where she is. Already she hacks out by herself, pops a fence and stays in an outline. All the hard work has been done so now she will stay with me to come on over the winter months ready for next season where I will be contesting some on the 5yo pn classes if all goes to plan. She is a lovely natured mare and has settled in well so fingers crossed for her future.

Larkhill and the end of the season :(

Saturday saw me take 3 horses to Larkhill for the last event of my season. It has been a season of ups and downs but that's horses and all in all it has been a successful one. Larkhill was no exception.
Pencarder Silver Storm, Wanadoo Too and Kington were all competing in the novice.
Rosie performed a very nice test to score 34.5 she then went on to jump fantastically finishing on this score and coming a credible 3rd. A brilliant end to her season as she was rather put on the back burner and has proved why I like her so much. Sadly she is for sale, although not advertised, if someone is looking for the most genuine, careful jumper, to have masses of fun on. I have no doubt she will go up the grades and prove to be a star but she is small and I am quite tall and squash her! If she isn't sold over the winter I will bring her out and take her 2 star in the spring. She is only 7yrs old and has a huge career ahead of her.

Wally was a little fresh in his dressage scoring 32, he then was a little keen showjumping just lowering one pole and was good xc for a steady clear. He has a huge gallop and masses of jump but he was rather enjoying himself a little too much, pulling my arms out so he was having a lesson in running at my speed! A great end to his season. We never thought he would actually come this far in the short space of time I have had him so to have done 2 novices successfully is a huge bonus.

Stan was rather cheeky in the dressage scoring 36, he also lowered one showjump and was clear xc. I pushed him a little bit more for the time than I have done and he will be easily able to make times when I open him out fully. He finished just outside the rosettes.

So all in all a very successful last event of the season.

British Dressage again!

Boston III was again competing at West Wilts. He did 2 prelims. The first test he was going well until he had a 5yo moment in his first canter and had a play, having persuaded him this was not the idea he continued and scored 63% which left him 3rd. The second test he was a lot more focused and decided he was grown up enough not to play at all scoring a credible 69.5% leaving him in 2nd place. He has come on a lot in the last few months and will now go home to his owners for the winter. It has been a pleasure riding and producing him and I hope he is successful as a dressage horse knowing I put the basics in.

Andy Austin Showjumping help

I was lucky enough to be able to go to Andy Austin to have a jump lesson with 3 horses. I took Dougal, Wally and Stanley. I have been having help with Richard Waygood for the last 4yrs now and he is fantastic. Wally's owner was keen for me to meet Andy as he used to train with him himself. I am always open to new ideas and views on how to improve as long as they don't completely conflict with what I know already works. Dougal was first on, this was a little bit of a step into the unknown as I have only jumped him twice so we are still getting to know each other. Dougal was very full of himself, but he had good reason to be-he was FAB. Andy really liked him and thinks he has a very trainable brain with a great attitude to his work, all reasons why we bought him at the sales last month.

Stan was up next, although not a typical event type he is a great jumper and Andy was able to help me with starting to train him into a more consistant canter which doesn't change just because a fence is involved. He also adjusted my position slightly to the way showjumpers sit, lower leg further forward and toes out so i can use the heel much more effectively. Stan jumped amazingly so I will definitely be keeping the position for him.

Wally was up last. He is German and has a habit of diving at the fence 2 strides out so Andy started to help me in trying to keep his stride even to the fence and not letting him panic and throw himself at it. There is no doubting this horse has some serious scope and talent but over the winter I will be focusing on keeping him even into a fence so he is able to push from his hocks more effectively than he is currently doing so.

Yard Visit from Global Herbs

The 5th of October saw a visit from Dana who works for Global Herbs, it was great to be finally able to put a name to a voice!! Dana looked at all the horses and advised me on what to add or remove to/from their feeds in order for them to continue looking fantastic. All the horses had their photo's taken some loved it (Stan and Dougal) some were more shy (Rosie and Wally). I then rode Wally for dana to get some action shots for the Global Herbs website, hopefully she was able to get some good shots.
 Dana was very popular as she brought some new treats that Global Herbs are bringing out soon. The horses love them and because they don't contain Alfalfa Stan can eat them!!
I strongly believe in the Global Herbs range and the horses really do gleam which must be a combination of Herbs and the main hardfeed from Baileys. They couldn't look any better and the results speak for themselves.

Dauntsey Park

As the event season begins to draw to a close, I headed off to my second last event of the year, although this is sad I am also excited as it means I am closer to next season and bringing Jimmy back out of hibernation to win some of the big classes! I took 4 horses to Dauntsey over the two days. First on was Major Burke (Pebbles) I have been helping Holly Armstrong with him for about 7 months now, mainly on the flat but recently he has been a little cheeky xc so I was asked to have a feel. Pebbles produced a sweet test with a couple of small errors scoring a creditable 33.5. He then jumped well for a clear showjumping although he was a bit cross about being told to wait for the fences instead of rushing. Cross country he was naughty and I now understand what Holly has been having an issue with. Sadly he picked up 2 refusals but he has hopefully learned an valuable lesson having returned with a stinging rear end! Wally and Stan were next comepting in the PNP. Both of the boys were a little cheeky in the dressage in the very hot weather Wally scoring 35 and Stan 42.5 (although I think the judge may need to go to specsavers as one movement reads "half 10-12m circle return to the track at B" the comment read- "overshot centre line on half circle" how does a 12m half circle fit without crossing the c-line?? Grrrrr) Stan showjumped well just knocking the second, somehow he picked up 3 time faults but nonetheless he jumped well. Wally was having a stress day and was very het up before the showjumping. He knocked 2 fences and wasn't his usual careful self so I chose to withdraw him before the xc. Stan flew round the xc like a real pro, showing that he really is ready for novice, as he wasn't going to be placed I didn't push him for the time.

Pencarder Silver Storm (Rosie) was on the next day. Thankfully the temperature had cooled a little and was more bearable than the previous day. She hadn't been out on a trip for ages as she had puss in the foot at Burnham Beeches and I missed the ballot for Gatcombe intermediate oops. She did a sweet test just not quite as calm as she can produce but scored 39.5, she showjumped very well and just tipped the planks with the sun reflecting on them. Cross country she really is a little machine. Having not run for a while I let her cruise round not really pushing her out of her natural rhythm so I was surprised to be one of the fastest of the day only picking up 2.8 time and leaving her in 6th place.

Courtesy of Ultimate Images

I really can't thanks Charlotte Perryman enough for all her help at this event, without her I wouldn't have coped. She is very patient and always has the horses looking fantastic for each of the phases.

British Stressage Outing Number 2

So feeling rather proud of ourselves from out debut at BD this year I headed off just down the road to West Wilts with Boston III and Wanadoo Too. Boston III was first to go producing 2 good tests again to come 2nd in both his Prelims. Wally was competing in the Novice classes and he performed some great work to win both of these. Both horses are class acts and will go a long way in this phase. Wally didn't score as highly as at Hunters but he was better than all the rest just the judges weren't so friendly!! I have now found out you can qualify for Regionals so this is our aim with Wally over the winter at both Novice and Elementary.