WE ARE OFF TO THE NATIONAL AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIPS!!

Today I achieved an ambition by qualifying for the Amateur Championships at Aintree in November.

We went to Maelor to jump our 2nd round today. Pete and I were last to go, and I must admit this is not one of my favourite venues as it is quite a narrow arena and I find it difficult to get into a nice rythmn round the course.

The first round was a tricky course with unusual turns, set at 1.05m. Pete tried hard in the first round and went clear to join 15 others. This meant that with 12 to qualify for the final, 4 horses would miss out. Fortunately we were last to go in the jump off so I had chance to see how the others were going.

There was not too many clears so I decided to gamble on a steady clear as I knew this would be enough for us to take a qualifying place. Luckily, Pete tried hard again and left all the fences up. We finished 6th to easily go through to the final. I was over the moon with him!!

As an added bonus we won 2 lovely rossetes and £15 prize money. The most important thing is the ticket to the final which is held at the end of November at one of my favourite venues, Aintree Equestrian Centre. This gives us a real focus with points to work on before the final. I'm hoping to afford some lessons to improve our jump off turns in the next few weeks as the Finals get very competitive! This means we do not need to attend the other second round qualifier at Bold Heath at the end of October.

Next week we look forward to our next Event together at Kelsall Hill BE 90, so this week its back to focusing on dressage to improve his scores!

MIDWEEK SHOW AT AINTREE

This week I have a weeks holiday from work, so I decided to make the most of it and go to Aintree to jump the Newcomers on Wednesday.

It was a lot busier than I expected, and there was 60+ in the class. The majority of the riders were professionals bringing out their young horses. I really appreciate the opportunities to ride against these people as I learn a lot from watching them and competing against them.

Pete was fabulous and jumped a clear in the first round to join 17 others into the jump off. After a long wait Pete and I went into the ring to face the 1.20m course. Pete jumped fantastically for just 4 faults at the water tray. I was thrilled with him over one of the biggest courses we have done to date.

Pete will now have a 3 week rest before tackling his 1m Amateur second rounds.

OUR FIRST EVENT!

BOLD HEATH BE 90

Today Pete and I completed our first BE 90 together at Bold Heath.

Dressage

Pete warmed up well for the dressage, but unfortunately as I went in to do my test he went lazy on me and he performed a lacklustre test. I was a little disappointed but not surprised to hear we scored 39.5. I know Pete can do much, much better than this and next time I will wear a pair of spurs to back up my leg when he goes lazy. I have to be careful not to use too much leg as he has a tendency to put in a cheeky buck as he doesnt like to be rushed!

Show Jumping

For some reason, I felt very nervous for the jumping, especially considering at 90cm, it was actually a step down in level for us. Pete unfortunately had fence 2 down, which to be fair was my fault as I added a stride and he got a little deep into it. He jumped the rest well though to finish on 4 faults.

Cross Country

Pete set off well on the cross country but was quite spooky and unsure so I took the long route at fence 4, the corner. He hesitated at the 1st water jump but went in and jumped out well over the pallisade. We came to the next fence, a wall with a small drop behind and unfortunately he spooked at the wall and ran past it, incurring 20 penalties. He jumped fairly well round the rest of the course but was a little bit spooky and still unsure so more practice is required for our Kelsall event! All in all this was not too bad for a debut.

A Personal Goal Achieved!!

Cheshire County Show 2011

When I first got Pete on loan, I had secretly hoped to aim him at the Newcomers at this years Cheshire Show. Because we have been jumping 1.10m courses much sooner than I had expected, I decided to enter him this year. I booked the day off work and we headed to Tabley where the show is held, which is luckily only a 20 minute journey for us.

We arrived to find grey skies and drizzle, and with it being the second day of the show, they going was quite muddy in places. I was quite glad about this, as I will not jump Pete on hard ground, his legs are too precious.

I walked the course and as I expected, it was big and bold with a full 12 fences. It was quite a spooky arena, with trade stands on one side and a ferris wheel on the other. I didn't think this would bother Pete too much, as he quite experienced. It was however, fun watching horses scuttling everywhere in the warm up when the ferris wheel was turned on!!

I decided to warm Pete up in a quiet area of the car park rather than in the boggy warm up arena to give him the best of the going. I only went into the warm up at the last minute to jump a couple of fences. I was pleased with how he coped with the ground as I was expecting him to be a wimp having to jump out of mud!!

It was soon our turn to jump, and I got quite nervous as a crowd had started to gather at the ringside. I started off determined and really rode him forward all the way round.

He had a spook and a wobble to fence 4 by the crowd so I gave him a quick reminder with my whip on his shoulder and he picked up and jumped it. Unfortunately he had fence 6, an upright, down for no real reason, and then also hit the last fence, the oxer over the water tray. So we finished on 8 faults, which on paper isn't great but I was really pleased with him, and also with myself for riding positively and really regaining my confidence at this height again.

MY FAVOURITE SHOW OF THE YEAR!!

BOLESWORTH 2011!!

Well we are back from Bolesworth after having without doubt the best weekend of my life. I enjoyed every single moment of this weekend it was absolutely fantastic.

We set off on the Thursday evening after packing everything but the kitchen sink into Sue's lorry (MASSIVE thanks to Sue for very kindly letting us borrow it or else Mum and I would have ended up in a tent!).

We arrived on sight at around 7pm and the showground was still buzzing with people as the jumping was still going on. We found our stable. I was so pleased to see it was outward facing towards the lorries so I could see Pete from where we were parked. He settled in great. Dad went home and Mum and I went to explore the surroundings. Pete got his hay and tea and looked happy as larry in his temporary home. We went to bed but unfortunately my nerves had well and truly kicked in. I hardly got a wink of sleep!!



Friday

Friday morning dawned: we fed Pete and got him mucked out. I was jumping the Newcomers as the final class of the day in the second ring so Mum rode Pete around the fields to stretch his legs. We spent the morning shopping, tasting cheeses and watching the jumping....heaven! Dad arrived and at around 6pm it was time for my class. We got Pete studded up and ready to go, there was 80 odd horses in the class so I declared before going to walk the course.

Well, it was massive, the biggest newcomers I'd ever seen, which didn't help with the nerves. Also, it was my first time jumping Pete on grass so I wasnt sure how he'd take to it. Anyway he warmed up great and soon it was my turn. My legs turned to jelly so I told myself to buck up and ride forwards. Pete was on springs and was jumping a great round until he unfortunately hit fence 7, for 4 faults. I didn't care about that though, I was thrilled with him!! Even my dad was proud, which virtually never happens!! Pete got extra carrots in his tea that night! Mum and I went to the riders party for a drink which was good before bedtime. I slept much better that night!

Saturday

Saturday came and I had entered in two classes, the Scope 1.05m qualifier in the 3rd ring at 8.30am and the Newcomers in the second ring in the evening.

Pete was a little clumsy in the 1.05m, and had 2 down, for no reason really. The fences looked tiny compared to yesterday though! We spend the rest of the day relaxing by the lorry with sausage butties and watching the jumping. I watched the big class the 1.40 which was really exciting! I also bought some new show socks as mine have holes in! Later in the afternoon,my boyfriend Andy, some friends Gill, Nigel, Sue and Ed arrived to watch and they all had some beers (I refrained as I was jumping in the evening).

It was eventually time for me to jump. I was nervous as today I had an audience! I was relieved to see the course was a little smaller than yesterday, however it was a lot more technical with the fences coming up much quicker. Pete was a bit stressed in the warm up today so I only got to jump a couple of fences with him as he was getting a bit upset. I had no idea what he was upset about but this is Pete all over he's a sensitive soul! He redeemed himself in the ring and was pinging again (I think he must like outdoor rings!). Unfortunately I got him a bit deep to the penultimate oxer and he had it down. I was really pleased with our performance. Once Pete was settled back in his stable we all went to the main arena to watch the Mini Major relay. We had some tea and then everyone else went home.

Sunday

The last day, Sunday, arrived far too quickly! I was just in the 1.05m Open in Ring 3 today and Nan and Grandad were coming over to watch. Unfortunately, the weather was shocking and it hammered it down so much I even purchased a waterproof over coat!! I was debating whether to withdraw but I knew that Nan and Grandad had travelled to see me. I decided if Pete was not confident to jump in the conditions I would pull up. The rain had caused the warm up to be a bog, so Pete only got to jump the cross pole from a trot twice as his warm up!!

He went in the ring and suprised me by jumping clear in the first round! It wasn't pretty and he was slipping a little. I felt like I was nursing him round. We got through to the jump off but I just went steady because of the conditions, he just hit one fence for 4 faults. I was so pleased with him for jumping in the mud as I know what a wimp he can be!!

Unfortunately the rain would not let up so we packed up and went home after the class.

I am absolutely over the moon with Pete this weekend he has been fantastic and exceeded all my expectations. I loved everything about the show and hope I am fortunate enough to be able to come again next year.

Scope Qualifier at Southview

Yesterday we took Pete to Southview on a lovely sunny morning to jump the Adventurer Qualifier. It was very busy with around 70 people in the class. It was a 2 phase class being 1.05 in the first phase and 1.15 in the second phase. Pete jumped amazingly round the first section, was really keen and didn't bat an eyelid at the wavy planks or water tray. The jump off section was quite big, but Pete jumped his socks off for a lovely double clear to go into 5th at that stage. We watched the rest of the class and Pete and I got pushed down to 7th place, just one place off qualifying for Scope. I wasnt disappointed, however, as I was not intending on jumping at Scope anyway. I was very pleased with 7th place, and £15 prize money.

First show and 2 days at Southview

Well a few weeks back we took Pete to his first show at Bold Heath. I did the 95cm A4 speed class, which was one round against the clock. Pete jumped a lovely clear to win the class and pocket £40 prize money. What a fantastic result for our first outing!

Since I got Pete, I've had the Amateur 3 day show at Southview in my sights. I had planned to do the 90cm on the friday and the 90cm grand prix on the Sunday. As it happened, I decided to jump both the 90cm and 1m classes as I felt ready for doing the slightly bigger class.

On the friday, it was very busy and Pete jumped well but unfortunately hit a pole in each class for 4 faults. Saturday was rest day and we went back on the Sunday for the Grands Prix. After Friday, I had decided to skip the 90cm and jump in the deep end and jump the 1m and also the Ladies 1.10m, which was to be our biggest test to date.

First up was the 1m, Pete jumped a fantastic clear over a technical track to make it to the jump off. We were drawn 2nd to go in the jump off and I decided to gamble on a clear as I wasnt sure how he would go against the clock. Unfortunately, we hit the upright going into the double for 4 faults anto finish 12th, just out of the placings.

I walked the course for the 1.10 Ladies, and it was huge, I had not jumped 1.10 since I had Jess about 6 years ago. I was nervous but I decided to go in and give it my best shot. Pete jumped the first half of the course fantastically, making light work of the big combination. As we came to the double unfortunately shot forward and hit the fence going in then unsettled himself and argued with me to the next fence, so I circled him to regain our composure and finshed the course really well. I was very pleased with our first attempt at 1.10m there are things to work on but its still very early days.

Exciting News!!

Me trying Peter out at Aintree

I have been on the lookout for another loan horse as Lucy is going back to her owner in January. After a very short search, I came across Peter. He belongs to a lady called Sue and we heard about him through a friend. Peter is a 16.1, 15 year old Westphalian gelding with excellent breeding. He is by International show jumping stallion Lord Caletto, and his breeding includes Lord, Ladykiller and Cor De La Bryer lines.

Pedigree chart

LORD CALETTO GZ	LORD	LADYKILLER	SAILING LIGHT
			LONE BEECH
		VIOLA	COTTAGE SON
			RICARDA
	TERMITE	CALETTO I	COR DE LA BRYERE
			DEKA
		NORDEN	WILDFEUER
			V.77

From the moment I saw Peter, I fell in love with him. He is stunning to look at and has fantastic movement. He is a very sensitive horse but has a big springy jump, and makes everything feel easy.

I cannot describe how lucky I have been to find him as he is the horse of my dreams! I have hopes of jumping Newcomers with Peter as he has jumped these classes previously. My aim is to be jumping Newcomers classes by the summer, as this gives us time to get to know each other.

Peter came to us in November, and just had a month or so to settle in because we had constant ice and snow. This gave him chance to settle in, and in January we said goodbye to Lucy as she returned home to start her new adventure and become a Mum.

CHESTER BRITISH MASTERS 2010

Last weekend I took Lucy to Chester Racecourse for the British Masters show. This show is one of my favourites as it is an International show that attracts some of the countrys top riders. This year I booked the day off work on the Friday to go and jump the British Novice. I decided to do the one class as Lucy and I were off to Riding Club camp on the Saturday and i didnt want to over do it with her. We arrived at Chester Friday morning and the ground was fantastic considering how little rain we have had. I walked the course and it was two phase. It was a lovely large ring and a nice flowing track. I worked Lucy in and soon it was my turn to go. She jumped very well just getting a little strong and flattening in places, resulting in her having a pole down. I find outdoors she is more forward going and sometimes she runs on and gets a little long and flat, I really need to work on maintaining a shorter, bouncier canter and get her to get her hocks underneath to produce a more powerful jump. I was pleased with how she went at such a large show with an electric atmosphere. We then went straight to Kelsall for camp, we had a thoroughly enjoyable weekend and had lots of fun.

SOUTHVIEW BSJA - Sunday 9th May

Today we had a slight change of plan, as we were supposed to be going to Bold Heath to jump the British Novice and Discovery. For one reason or another, we re-routed to our local venue, South View, to jump the Discovery.

We arrived at 8.45am, to find we were the only ones there! Mum panicked and thought it had been cancelled!! I told her not to worry as Showjumpers are normally late! We soon realised it was still on and I went to walk the course, which was a Two Phase. It was quite a technical course having lots of related distances, tight lines and a treble combination. I thought it may be quite challenging for us as I havent jumped a Discovery for a while.

We went to get Lucy, as I warmed her up it began to get busier. I didn't need to warm her up for long as she was listening from the word go today, yesterdays lesson must have done her some good. I did a bit of trot work before moving to canter, getting her going off my leg and lengthening and shortening her stride. I then jumped the small cross pole a couple of times, an upright and a couple of oxers, finishing with a bigger, square oxer. She was jumping well, listening to me and going nice and forward so I decided to go in.

Fences 1 - 8 was the first phase, with the fences at 1m. She jumped the first section brilliantly, especially through the combination which I was very pleased about. We were clear in the first phase so moved straight onto the jump off, which was fences 9 - 14 with the fences at 1.10m.

She had fence 9 down, which I blame myself for as I let her run on a little so she got a bit long and flat, and I think it took her by surprise that the fence was bigger. Onto 10 and 11, too airy uprights on a three stride line on an angle, I felt her slightly hesitate at ten so I rode her strongly, and she hit fence 11, for another fence down. Then round to a big double, quite tight off the corner, which she jumped beautifully. I got her a bit deep to fence 13 but she really tried for me, and onto the final fence, I couldn't see a stride (which would of panicked me in the past and I am working hard to not worry and fiddle and to just keep riding forwards and positively), but I kept my leg on, and thought Lucy would add an extra stride, but she didn't, she took off a bit early, but jumped it clear.

She is getting much better at not relying on me and I know now as long as I sit quiet but keep my leg on she can jump from a deep stride or from a bit far off the fence. I am so pleased with the way she jumped today as it was a technical course and I realise 8 faults may not be a great result on paper, but Lucy jumped the best she has ever gone and I really feel we are now understanding each other and becoming a partnership.

Next weekend Mum and I are going to Chatsworth to watch the Pro's at work and to see what I can learn from them! Lucy will have a rest on Saturday, and on Sunday we are taking her to an 'Eventers Challenge' which involves jumping a course of show jumps followed by cross country fences, which should be fun!

COMBINED TRAINING QUALIFIER, South View EC, Wettenhall

Saturday 1st May 2010

On Saturday we took Lucy to our local venue, South View, to do the 90cm Combined Training Qualifier. I wasn't expecting too much as the dressage test was Novice 27, which was quite complicated with some tricky movements in it.

I had a very reasonable time of 13.07, so we got up with plenty of time to give Lucy a clean and do her plaits. We got to South View with lots of time to work her in, this was because I had ridden her on Thursday and she was in season (and with that being a bit cheeky and difficult!). I expected her to be the same so I gave us a good hour and a quarter to get settled onto the job. As it happened, she was a lot quieter and I got some lovely work from her in the warm up which was encouraging. I was a bit worried about remembering the test as I only had 3 days to learn it and I hadn't really managed to have a run through on Lucy before the day.

Lucy was lovely, really relaxed and listening to me, but when it was our turn to go into the arena she had a naughty little spook and spun around. She refused to go into the arena without a telling off from me, which wasn't a good start as it meant she went tense. I managed to get her settled a bit before we began the test, but the first half wasnt as fluent as I hoped.

She began to relax for the second half, and just as I started to think 'great, this is going well' I had a horrible blank moment in my mind, and realised I had gone wrong! The judge kindly re-directed me and I finished the test but knew I would get 2 penalties for my error.

Turns out I was right to be worried about forgetting the test, that teaches me a lesson for next time, 3 days is not long enough for me to learn a test 100%! I came out a bit upset as I thought I had messed it up for the horse, as she did try for me.

I went onto the showjumping and was determined to enjoy it as I thought I'd blown all chances of a placing. We went in and Lucy jumped well, a little hesitation at the second fence when she took her eye off it, but jumped a clear. She is getting extremely consistent at 90cms which is brilliant news.

We untacked her, gave her some hay, and went to look at the score board. I couldn't believe my eyes that I was in the top 6 after the dressage even with my error - what a great surprise! I was also shocked to see from 18 competitors that there was only 4 show jumping clears.

Lucy and I finished a brilliant 5th, with a couple of Pro riders ahead of us. The top 6 qualify for the Championships, so me and Lucy are off to the Final in September!

This horse is being amazing at the moment!!

Next Sunday we are off to Bold Heath BSJA to do the British Novice and the Scope Festival Novice qualifier as a bit of jumping practice and to jump a bit bigger as we havent jumped all that much since our break over winter.