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.