Winter updates-Hartpury JAS

We have been busy getting the horses back fit in preparation for the coming season which is only 3 weeks away!!! Errigal Hill Boy (Dougal) and Kington (Stanley) are ahead of the others in terms of fitness and have been out to unaffiliated jumping competitions with many wins and placings. Stanley qualified for the JAS BE100 final on his first attempt with a 3rd placing at Hartpury at the end of January, and Dougal had just one pole in both the BE 90 and 100, pretty impressive for his first attempt at anything like this.

Today we returned to Hartpury to take part in the second JAS competition there, Dougal did the BE90 again and scored an impressive 8 for style with just one time fault, sadly I have to compete in 90 HC as I have ridden at Advanced level so I was unable to claim my win but he would have won by 3 marks. In the BE100 again he jumped fantasically this time going inside the time and claiming the win, a brilliant achievement for a horse who has not been in work all that long and has certainly never done anything like this before. He is definitely an eye catcher and well loved by us and his owner Simon Hall. Kington just had one pole down in the BE100 leaving him just out of the top 10. I decided to withdraw him from the Novice as I am struggling with brakes since his winter hunting!!

Thanks to Baileys for their support of the JAS series, very useful as we already feed all of the horses their feeds and they definitely make all the difference.

Other very exciting news....Jimmy (Zeus of Rushall) has just started cantering in the school- a massive thrill for me having gone through 9 months of him testing my patience, he feels fabulous and I can't wait to get him out eventing again later in the season.

Happy New Year

Happy New Year to you all. All the horses are now back in work. Rosie came back in from her break looking like a hairy pony, but now she is all clipped and looking back to the classy horse we know she is! Jimmy continues to make progress and I am very excited that he will be eventing this season. Stanley and Dougal are fit and entered for their first JAS competitions at Hartpury next weekend, Dougal will do the Intro HC as he has never seen anything like that and Stan in doing the PN and Novice classes. They have both been hunting, massively enjoying themselves and learning a bit along the way too. I will be out and about with them all showjumping and Wally has his Dressage Regional final to take part in next month. So it's all go go go from now until the season, and I can't wait, I have made my proposed eventing plan for the first half of the season and if all goes to plan it should mean I have 3 going to Houghton Three day event in May. More on this nearer the time.....

Christmas holidays over for me and the boys

Well time is flying and I can't believe it is Christmas next week! I had a very nice break in Mauritius for 2 weeks in November and the horses were all turned out in various fields across Wiltshire except Dougal and Jimmy. Jimmy went to stay with my good friend Kate Honey to continue with his gradual build up of work in preparation for next season. Dougal went to his owner Simon Hall who hunted him with the Tedworth and kept him working.
All of the horses are now back and working except Rosie who will come in after Christmas. Dougal and Stanley are going to be hitting the hunting field with the Avon Vale and the others are all going to be dressaging and showjumping over the next couple of months to get them in tune for the coming season. I can't believe how quick time is going by...not long till the early, dark starts to go out eventing again-YIPPEE.
Other news
Sadly Ingrid Smyth, my groom for the last couple of years has had to give up her job, she has been an essential part of the team and will be sadly missed. Tasha Henley has accepted the job and has already settled in well, keeping the horses, and more importantly me, in check!!
I have joined the local gym and am going every other day in order to get fit and keep those pesky Christmas pounds piling on, so far it is going well-long may my keen streak continue!!
I still have a couple of spare stables which would love to be filled so if anyone has a project out there or a 4* super star that needs a rider please consider me!!
Have a lovely Christmas and New Year everyone. Bring on 2012-the London Olympic year-lets hope it's a good one!!

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