BLENHEIM

Well the moment a lot have been waiting for...
ZEUS OF RUSHALL'S return to international competition!!! Driving into Blenheim with my groom for the week Kirsty Boriello, was a very exciting moment. Jimmy was making his comeback with only 2 runs under his belt since jumping clear around Badminton 4* 2011. He settled into his stable well on the Tuesday afternoon enjoying his new bed of shavings!!
Wednesday was spent hacking Jimmy so he was familiar with his surroundings and then preparing him for the trot-up at 4pm. He looked fantastic and many heads were turned to watch him strut down the straight for the ground jury, he loves a crowd and certainly played up to them at Blenheim. Following the trot up I was straight down to have a lesson with dressage guru Pammy Hutton in preparation for my test.

Photo Courtesy Uptown Eventing

Thurday afternoon was my dressage, Jimmy warmed up very well under Pammy's watchful eye and I hoped he would keep his lid on when in the main arena, thankfully he did. He performed a lovely test with one error and perhaps his outline a little long so I was thrilled with 48.6. There is loads of improvement still to come in the phase and with time to prepare over the winter Badminton 2013 will be even better.

Photo Courtesy John Britter Photography

Friday was a day off from the competition for Jimmy and I so we went for a quiet hack and then I had a jump with Richard Waygood in the afternoon. Richard also walked the course with me a couple of times for which I am hugely grateful.
Saturday I was nervous, there is no doubt about that!! I headed out on course with a banana and a bottle of lucozade to watch the first 10 tackle the some what meaty beefed up Blenheim course. Well I didn't come back feeling much better having seen several problems dotted all around the course...not what I'd wanted to see when I was heading out on a horse which could be a little rusty at this level!!

Yes this ridiculous sized ditch and hedge was 3 fences from home and Lance and I are not migets!!

Thankfully having been a spooky monster in the warm-up Jimmy was on his game as soon as he stepped foot out of the start box. Other than a slight spook at the ditch and hedge at fence 5 he gave me a fantastic round, I took him slightly steady (collecting 14.8 time faults) as there had been so many problems and I wanted him to be full of running at the end of the course where some of the questions lay. He really felt like he has never been away from running. I can't thank his owners Mr and Mrs Wookey enough for being so patient and allowing me to ride such a talented horse. It was lovely to have their daughter Caroline (over from USA specially) and their daughter-in-law Julie, supporting me at Blenheim too.

Photo Courtesy Tim Wilkinson

Photo courtesy John Britter

A huge relief when Jimmy seemed none the worse for wear following the xc test. A huge thanks must go to Simon Hall for sorting the cool down team on this scorching day, my brother Adam, groom Kirsty, Kate Honey, Elodie Frost, Mark Swan, Charlotte Perryman and Rhiannon Sheehan for all their efforts in getting Jimmy's temperature down and ice on in a remarkably efficient manner following his run.
Sunday morning is always a worry but not for me this time, Jimmy looked fresh as a daisy ready for this 7am trot up. Kirsty had him beautifully tunred out and thankfully he flew through the jog with the ground jury laughing at his enthusiasm!


Photo Courtesy Uptown Eventing

Photo Courtesy Lucy Hall Photography



Photo Courtesy Lucy Hall Photography

As i was lying in 24th place I had to wait until the afternoon session to showjump. I watched during the morning and time faults were an issue so knowing Jimmy is careful I knew I could save time by keeping the speed up. Jimmy was second into the arena and having warmed up well with Richard Waygood helping I was feeling positive. He jumped an immaculate round never even coming close to touching a pole and he was well inside the time. An amazing result for Zeus of Rushall and what a comeback!!!

Photo courtesy John Britter

Photo courtesy John Britter
 

I am so grateful for all the support I have received and for those that ever doubted the horse or me I hope you are eating your words!!

Many thanks
To my owners: Mr and Mrs Wookey
To all my sponsors: Kate Negus Saddlery, AMtrust Equine Insurance, Global Herbs, Prolite Products, Devoucoux, ARC Equine, The Horse Laundry, PAC Ltd, Soteria Consulting Ltd, Gatehouse.
My amazing grooms behind the scenes without who the whole operation can't run: Claudia Smith, Rhiannon Sheehan, Charlotte Perryman and those that pop in to help out Alex Hamilton-White, Josh Thompson and Katy Cooper.
My very supportive parents and brother and my super cute dogs Rolo, Twiglet, Mollie and Ben.
And to everyone else who i've missed off no offence meant.