DAUNTSEY PARK

PENCARDER SILVER STORM was competing here, in the intermediate, as her last event of the season. She performed her best test to date scoring 37.7. She was jumping a good round sj until the treble where she seemed to get stuck in the mud which was quite tacky. Sadly she had 2 parts of the treble down which she didn't really deserve. XC she was absolutely flying and was feeling rather full of herself taking the odd stride out which at an intermediate sized fence is quite scary! However she is more than capable.

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We came to the double of corners which had caused problems all day, I was going the straight route...she jumped in over the first one bold...

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Maybe a touch too bold... then she made up too much ground between the two corners and left her off fore leg on the fence...

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Twisted...

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and went splat...

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Luckily she is very careful and managed not to go right over me, just led on my left leg. Luckily both of us are absolutely fine and I think she may be a little less cocky next time out!! She will now have a good winter rest and we will try and improve her dressage over the winter months.

BLACK EYED PEA II was doing the open BE100. He got stung just before his test and went mad. Luckily I just about got his brain back on the job before we went in. He did a nice test scoring 29. He then jumped a very confident double clear picking up just 3.6 time which left us in 7th position.

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NASEBY was doing the BE100. he did a good test scoring 31.5, I saw a bad shot to one fence sj resulting in him having a pole down. Xc he was giving me a fantastic ride until 2 from home where he couldn't take his eyes off all the people on the bank opposite, sadly this resulted in him not going any further, which doesn't reflect how good he had been.

HARTPURY NSEA

Huge congratulations to Sylvia Rutherford who won the 80cm class at the schools Jumping and Style competition on Saturday at Hartpury, she represented St Mary's, Calne. Sylvia jumped a classy clear on her super pony "Hot Toddy" resulting in her winning the class which had 131 competitors in it. She also jumped clear in the 90cm narrowly missing out on a placing. Well done Sylvia and Toddy.

Photo Courtesy Heather Rutherford

NEW FACES ON THE YARD

BALLYBEG PLEASURE
I have been bought "Ed" by Barbara Whale and Gareth Powell. He is a 4yo Irish Sports Horse and is bred to event. He has lots of presence and elevated natural paces. He is also proving to be bold and scopey. As with most youngsters he also has some natural flare (not all of it welcomed) but I am very excited about his future.

 

HIO LUCKSWELL
I bought a 4yo project that caught my eye whilst out horse shopping. "Marmite" is a 15.3hh, coloured Irish Sports Horse gelding. He is an absolute poppet and has taken everything is his stride. He has been xc schooled, is jumping fillers etc show jumping and works in a natural outline. He really is too good to be true. We have taken him cubbing with a 50+ field out with the Beaufort and he was admired by all for his striking looks and his immaculate behaviour. Sadly as a project Marmite is for sale. Please give me a call if you want to know more 07941 865688

  

STONAR ISODE

The St Mary's girls from Bosmere did fantastically well at the recent Stonar ISODE. Sylvia Rutherford riding Hot Toddy was in the 80cm, she performed a good dressage scoring 36, she then went on to perform a double clear and finished inside the time.Sylvia ended up in a credible 8th position. Her team also did well to finish in 3rd position.

The following day Frankie Swallow riding Voyagers Sovereign performed a very good test scoring 28, she also went on to jump a double clear and finished inside the time. Frankie was individually 3rd and her team also finished 3rd.

Flora Guy riding Ballymore Charles did a credible dressage scoring a personal best of 37. Flora also jumped a double clear and collected a few time faults. This was a great result for Flora who is relatively new to competing at this level.

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GATCOMBE

PENCARDER SILVER STORM took part in her first CIC** at local event Gatcombe. We went with realistic goals with the first being a qualifying score in the dressage (75). Rosie managed to hold it together for the trot work scoring 7's, however, we then had to walk...Rosie didn't!! Sadly this marred our mark as there was a fair amount of walk in the test. Luckily the canter work was ok and we managed to score 70.8 which left us in 90th out of 100 (yes there were 10 combinations worse than us!!) Anyway mission accomplished we had a qualifying mark...

Next stop the xc. Having walked the course, I realised that 2 stars are actually quite a lot more demanding than your average intermediate track. Luckily I knew I was sat on a jumper and she has always been bold so I was hopeful she would step up to the mark.
We had done our dressage test on the Friday so Rosie hacked Saturday before returning to Gatcombe on the Sunday for the jumping. I walked the course again on the Sunday morning whilst the first few ran...it was not filling me with confidence as none of the first few finished clear and it became obvious very early that this was no dressage competition.
We set off on xc late due to a few holds on the course. Rosie was full of arrogance over the first few and hit the third hard. Luckily this made her respect me rather than scaring herself. She gave me an incredible ride round the whole course. Through the corner complex where so many combinations came apart she cruised through like a pro. She felt tired towards the end but kept jumping. I couldn't have been happier with her. We finished with just 14.8 time which catapulted us up the order with only 37% of the field going clear across country.

Photos Courtesy of Katy Vincent

 After the xc had finished we had to trot up. Rosie flew through this and surprised me with how much energy she still had. The show jumping was in reverse order so we had a few to watch before we were on. Considering she was still in xc mode I was thrilled with just 2 poles being knocked. One was her and one was me just coming a little too forward into the final treble. We ended up in 30th position moving up an incredible 60 places from day 1. I am excited about her future she continues to impress over a fence I just hope this winter we can find some miracle to sort her dressage....Any ideas anyone??!!

PURSTON

NASEBY went to do the BE100 at the beautiful setting of Purston Manor. He performed a good test scoring 34.5. He sadly lost his concentration show jumping resulting in some rails hitting the deck. I withdrew him from the xc as he was out of a competitive position.

BLACK EYED PEA II was in the BE100 Open. He did what I thought was his best test to date, he was very settled and flashy. I predicted a 29 so you can only imagine my confusion when I found a 38 on the board!! Blackie made one minor mistake in the showjumping taking just one rail. He flew round the xc and finished up 11th (just one place ahead of recently sold Kington).

BLENHEIM PONY CLUB ARENA EVENTING

Frankie Swallow took part at Blenheim in the arena eventing on Voyagers Sovereign. This was a course of sj, then moved onto a course of xc fences and then back to a very up to height upright sj to finish. Frankie rode a very professional round and jumped a beautiful clear. Not many clears were seen on the day. Sadly it was a team competition and one of Frankie's fellow team members horses' was not playing ball and collected a number of penalties.

Photo courtesy E.S Photography

BLENHEIM

ZEUS OF RUSHALL competed at Blenheim in the CCI3*. He has been here a few times but even still as you drive up through the gates I get that excited tingly feeling. Jimmy has been on tremendous form this year and the build up to this event could not have been better. With 98 FEI points in the bank for next spring anything we collected here was a bonus.
Lizzie Clough was grooming for me who I haven't had with me since Badminton 2011 so I was feeling very privileged.

Trot up went with Jimmy being very keen to show how well he was feeling. He looked immaculate and I was excited for the rest of it.

Photo Courtesy of Robert Pullen

Dressage was on the Friday morning. Pammy Hutton had very kindly come up to help me warm up. Jimmy felt on great form and was really settled. He performed a very nice test with one mistake in the first change but overall I was very pleased. I was disappointed with my score of 49.6 but one of the judges had marked him a lot less than the other two.

Photo Courtesy of Tim Wilkinson

Cross country day was upon us and I went for a final walk whilst the early few were running. The course was not riding well at all with problems spread out all over the place. I was beginning to feel very nervous and couldn't wait to get started. Jimmy left the start box and really took me. He was locking on and jumping out of his skin. The corners at 5 we sailed through where so many had had problems. All around the course I had to work hard but I kept asking and Jimmy kept giving. Although we took a few flags out on the way I never felt like he was going to run out or be cheeky. He did feel a little tired coming out of the main arena so I let the accelerator off a little but he kept galloping and jumping. We went straight everywhere and finished with just 8 time faults leaving us in a very exciting 8th position overnight.

Photos Courtesy Tim Wilkinson

Sadly it was not meant to be and Jimmy felt a little sore on the Sunday morning. He means such a lot to me and we have been through so much I kept the bigger picture in mind and withdrew him from the show jumping. Having come back from Badminton 2011 with a leg injury we have managed to get some fantastic placings this year and get enough points for Badminton again lets just hope we will get back there together...we have unfinished business.

WELLINGTON

We took 4 horses from the yard to Wellington which is becoming one of my favourite events.

BLACK EYED PEA II was in the Open BE100 to gain some of the basics necessary for an event horse. He was very fresh in the dressage and even with a couple of bucks he scored a 32.5. He showjumped very well and I am thrilled with the marked improvement he has made in this phase. Xc he was a machine and we finished on our dressage to collect 9th place.

NASEBY was in the BE100 and i was happy with his test however, the judge was less than kind and scored him 39.5!! Sadly the atmosphere was a little too much for Jerry in the sj and he lowered 3 rails. He has huge potential but requires a winter spent doing sj practise. He was classy xc and went clear, obviously I didn't push for time.

PENCARDER SILVER STORM was very naughty in her test and scored 42.3 however, she jumped her socks off and finished double clear with just 2 time faults and a 10th placing. If only I could improve her on the flat but I think she just imagines the xc the whole way through!!

Photos Courtesy of James Pyne Photography

HARTPURY

ZEUS OF RUSHALL was competing in the CIC3* here.

He felt a little flat the night before his test and in the warm up prior to going in but he performed an ok test just lacking some sparkle. He scored a 47.1 which left him in a competitive position overnight, with heaps of potential to get better marks.

The Saturday morning we show jumped and Jimmy jumped out of his skin nearly jumping me off over the second last. He moved up a few places with his clear sj and left all to play for xc.

Photo Courtesy John Britter

Xc went very well with Jimmy collecting just 8 time faults round a tough course, leaving us in a credible 9th position and giving us a few more of the sacred FEI points necessary to get into Badminton!

Photos Courtesy John Britter

KINGTON

We made the sad decision to sell Kington. He is a double clear machine and I wish him every success with his new owner and jockey Kimberley. xxx

 

WILTON

I took 4 horses to Wilton over the 2 days.

BLACK EYED PEA II in the novice. He performed a much more settled test than at his last outing scoring a very pleasing 26. He has grown up so much show jumping already and is much more confident. He jumped huge into the treble and just took the middle element. I didn't run him xc with the ground being so hard.

KINGTON was also in the novice. He scored a 35 on the flat and show jumped very well for a clear. I didn't run him xc as the ground was too firm.

We returned the next day following a night of heavy rain (thankfully).

PENCARDER SILVER STORM was in the intermediate. She was particularly naughty on the flat doing anything but what she was meant to be doing and was very lucky to only get 43.6, she had an unlucky pole show jumping. Xc the ground had improved dramatically so I decided to run Rosie. As I set out on the course the heavens opened and I was running in torrential rain. I could hardly see the fences in the top field but Rosie was fantastic and battled through. She finished clear picking up 16.4 time but collected 9th place. The course caused havoc and the only rain Wilton had that day was as I was going xc!! She really is the best horse xc, such fun and really loves her job (all is forgiven in the dressage AGAIN)!!

ZEUS OF RUSHALL was having his prep run before Hartpury. He was lovely in his test just making a couple of mistakes but was lying 2nd in a competitve field. He was jumping well sj until he put his tongue over the bit and did a very nice balanced 10m circle and carried on! He collected 4 faults and 9 time. He was never running xc anyway so we withdrew him ready for his next big one.

WEST BUCKLAND

We had a busy day at West Buckland with 3 on the lorry.
KINGTON was in the novice. He produced a reasonable test scoring 35. Annoyingly I rode him badly to the first show jump and he had no option but to take the rail, other than that he jumped fab. Sadly the ground was rather hard and I decided not to run him xc.

Photo Courtesy of Spidge Photography

BLACK EYED PEA II was also in the novice. He was quite excited in his test and never really settled so sadly scored a 42.5, He had the last down sj but jumped a fabulous round. He felt quite green xc over a fairly testing track so I pulled him up and will now give him a couple of easy runs to establish him with the basics. He is a horse for the future so I have no need to rush him.

 NASEBY was in the BE100, he performed a test that we all knew he was capable and I was pleased with a score of 29.5, I had the first sj down again!! Other than that he jumped well. XC he was a machine and flew round collecting a couple of time where I hadn't gone for the time because of the ground. He finished up 11th.

Photos Courtesy of Spidge Photography

UPTON HOUSE

I took BLACK EYED PEA II to Upton in the Novice. He did a more settled test scoring 33, he jumped the first 4 fences sj very well and I turned a corner and found myself on the floor! Blackie had slipped and my stirrups fell off leaving me upside down! I remounted and finished having jumped all the fences clear but sadly i was a second over the time so found I was eliminated. Thankfully they kindly let me go xc and he was clear giving me a lovely ride.

Photo Courtesy of 1st Class Images

STONAR

PENCARDER SILVER STORM was taking part in the novice here. Sadly our dressage judge turned up 40mins late and Rosie was well and truly irritated with life considering her normal warm up is 10mins. Sadly the judge was not lenient at all and Rosie scored a 41. She jumped a classy double clear to finish 11th. Her next run will be back at Intermediate level.

BLACK EYED PEA II contested the novice as well. He is a new ride for me, having been recently bought by Julie Wookey. He did a good test which sadly the judge was in disagreement about, scoring a 37. He then had an educational round sj. I am very excited about this horse he will be one for next year when we have spent the winter ironing out a few creases. I didn't run him xc as the ground was rather on the firm side and I want to save him for the future. Rosie loves the firm hence why I ran her.

NUNNEY INTERNATIONAL

PENCARDER SILVER STORM took part in the novice as she has had some time off following her tweeking her back in the lorry at Belton. She was pretty excited to be at a competition and managed to just about contain herself in the dressage scoring 40. She then show jumped well for a clear, over a very testing track that claimed its fair few victims. Cross country she couldn't wait to get started and absolutely munched up the course making it feel so easy. She never broke her rhythm and finished 9 seconds inside the time. This left her in a credible 6th place.

KINGTON was also in the novice. He did what I thought was quite a nice test but the judge disagreed and he scored 37. He also jumped a fantastic clear show jumping showing how classy he is. He then popped brilliantly round the xc adding just 6 time faults where I had had to be cautious where the ground had become slippery with the huge showers we kept having.

Photo Courtesy James Pyne

BRAMHAM

ZEUS OF RUSHALL took part in the CCI3* section. Bramham is where Jimmy and I took part in our first CCI3* together back in 2010 so I knew how hilly it was and how huge Ian Stark always builds his tracks. This year was no different...

TROT UP. Jimmy flew through the first trot up. He always grows about 2 hands when he knows he is on show and he didn't disappoint, he stormed down the run way.

DRESSAGE. Jimmy did what I thought was a good test with just one mistake in his first change. I was disappointed with his mark of 53 but it left us in 13th place and having walked the xc this was going to be no dressage competition!!

Photo courtesy ES Photography

CROSS COUNTRY. There was a lot of talk in the stables about how huge the xc was and the distances that the combinations were built on. I for one was very nervous to see the first 3 horses out all incur problems at various points around the course. Roo Fox did a fantastic job bringing her horse home with the first clear of the day, collecting a small handful of time faults. Warming Jimmy, up he felt great so setting out the start box I was able to ride positively and really attack the course. He took on all the fences the whole way round. At 5mins I found myself 30secs up on my clock. The ground was particularly fast and Jimmy being very fit and well was eating up the track. He jumped huge into the second water and I found myself having to take the long route for part 'c' this left us with just 0.8 of a time fault and moved me up into 6th position over night.

Photo Courtesy E S Photography

Photo Courtesy Tim Wilkinson

TROT UP

Jimmy felt fantastic after the xc and trotted up very well showing no signs of tiredness. He flew through this stage of the competition.

Photo Courtesy Tim Wilkinson

SHOW JUMPING The show jumping was causing problems both with poles and time faults. I walked the course and decided that I was going to take the slightly longer route into the treble at fence 10 going around the outside of an upright. Having watched the U25 section I knew this was going to make the time hard to get but knowing Jimmy so well I thought it was doable. Sadly I doubted my own judgement and with many of the other riders and trainers informing me that I shouldn't go round I decided they were probably right...Jimmy was jumping his socks off all the way round, I cut inside the upright as advised, killed my canter and ended up having the last two parts of the treble down, to make it worse I finished 6 secs inside the allowed time thus I am still kicking myself for doubting my own judgement. Had I gone round who knows what might have been!!

Photo Courtesy Tim Wilkinson

We finished in 9th place which is very credible and hopefully we will now have enough points to get into Badminton 2014!! To top off  great weekend Dani Evans, who was 2nd in the U25 section narrowly beaten by Tom McEwan, and I won the Pro-Am pairs competition where they combine the two scores and the lowest score wins. We won a lovely trophy and lots of lovely goodies from Horse Health.

Photo Courtesy Tim Wilkinson

Jimmy and his Trophy back at home!!

Huge thanks to Katy Cooper who groomed for me up at Bramham, Anya Thursby and Michael Smyth who kept the yard running at home. My fantastic sponsors for supporting me and my Mother for all her help and cooking skills! Finally my fantastic owners who have allowed me to ride this incredible horse for the last 7yrs. I can't do it without you guys!

ASCOTT UNDER WYCHWOOD

NASEBY was competing in the RoR BE100. I have never competed at this event before and it is certainly one i would return to. His dressage was very settled and he showed some  glimpses of really smart work. He scored 32. The show jumping was proving to be fairly testing with it being on the hill, Jerry jumped a really nice round for a clear. Xc he was really good jumping a clear. He is really growing up and is enjoying his new life as an event horse.

Photo Courtesy Anya Thursby

HOUGHTON

ZEUS OF RUSHALL was taking part in the Nations Cup CIC3* at this beautiful venue in Norfolk. He did a smart test in a pretty cut up arena where the mud was drying so had a similar consistency to glue! He scored 49.9 which left him 17/72. The following day we show jumped in the morning. Again the ground was drying from the huge amounts of rain but this left it very tacky and was causing many to have rails down. Jimmy  jumped a fantastic clear and really showed his scope and ability. That afternoon we went xc. The track was fairly straight forward but again the ground made it testing. Jimmy made it feel like a BE100 and finished full of running collecting just 2 time faults leaving him in 7th position (3rd best Brit).

Photo Courtesy Tim Wilkinson

Photo Courtesy Lazy Photography

ASTON LE WALLS

ZEUS OF RUSHALL had another easy run round the OI, he did a slightly unsettled test scoring 32.7 he then jumped another fantastic double clear finishing inside the time and collecting 4th place is this hotly contested section. A perfect pre run before Houghton CIC3*.

Photo courtesy Matt Nuttall

KINGTON was competing in the novice. He did a 36 test which I thought was harshly marked. He then went on to do a confident double clear taking everything in his stride. I didn't push for tie being that he wasn't competitive enough after dressage so we collected 6 time faults.

Photo Courtesy Matt Nuttall

NASEBY took part in the BE100. He did a 33 dressage, he really is improving in this phase. He then was unlucky to have one rail down. Xc he was flying and I perhaps got a little complacent, he was cheeky and had a glance off at the second last-naughty boy!! He is definitely one to watch for the future .