Kelsall Hill BE90

We set off for Kelsall Hill for the second time this season, after finishing 11th at the April event. I was hopeful to improve on that position, having worked hard on our flatwork.

We arrived on a lovely bright day and went to work in for the dressage. I gave Lucy her usual 50 mins to get settled and start working properly. Lucy went in and did a nice test and I was hopeful for a low 30 score. Onto the show jumping and Lucy jumped clear which was a relief. I had heard that our dressage was 34, which was our second best score of the season and I was very pleased with this.

I went to the cross country realising that a good round here could put us within grasp of a placing. It was nerve wracking to be in this position but exciting to think all our hard work could pay off. Lucy flew round the course, really taking it on to finish clear within the time. We cooled her off and put her away before waiting for the results.

I was over the moon to see we finished 5th! A huge high to the end of the season, but unfortunately the result was tinged with sadness as I knew this was our last event together . The decision has been made for Lucy to go back to her owner to be put in foal next spring, which is sad news for me bit also exciting at the prospect of becoming 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.

Riding Club National Champs Qualifier

Lucy and I have been selected to be on the team for Delamere Forest
Riding Club in the show jumping team qualifier for the Riding Club National Championships. We are making up the trio to jump the 1m section. We travelled to a local venue in Middlewich on Sunday 20th June on a beautiful sunny morning. We met up with my 2 team members, Jo and Alison, and walked the course for the qualifier. It was supposed to be 1m but it was quite small in my opinion, so i was confident that Lucy would jump clear. We were drawn 2nd for the team and Lucy duly jumped a lovely clear in the first round, as did Jo and Alison to put us in a strong position. We had to jump off with 8 other teams to decide which team would make it through to the final. Jo went first and jumped a lovely 3rd clear. Lucy and I followed and i went as quickly as i could without risking having a fence down. Lucy jumped another lovely clear which just left Alison to jump. Unfortunately her mare had a very unlucky pole down to leave us in 6th place. I was extremely pleased with Lucy today she jumped fanastically.

BRAND HALL BE90 - 5th June

Today Mum, Lucy and I travelled to Brand Hall to do our 2nd BE90. As horses usually prove, anything can happen and the day showed a mixed bag of fortune. In the Dressage, all was going well until something caught Lucy's eye and we ended up cantering sideways during our change of rein in trot! Despite this, we scored 36.5, which i thought was fair. Onto the show jumping, it was spooky and bright but not overly big, Lucy jumped clear this phase so I went onto the cross country hoping to improve on our dressage placing.

The course was beautifully built but fairly straightforward except for fence 3 which was through a small gap in the hedgeline onto an angled table, which was my only worry. Lucy set of positively and jumped the tricky angle perfectly. We continued to boldly gallop until we reached the water which was down a slope, I tried to steady Lucy in time but unfortunately I could not slow her in time, we reached the edge of the water a little too fast and she slammed the breaks on , and I duly tipped over her head! I was so cross with myself for such an amatuer mistake, but got on and finished the course well. The fall left us right at the bottom of the leaderboard. We went home happy to be safe and having learnt some vital lessons from the day.

BOLESWORTH CLASSIC

After a couple of weekends off, Lucy and I went to my absolute favourite show of the year the Bolesworth Classic, held in the grounds of the beautiful Bolesworth Castle in Tattenhall. This year we went on the Friday as they were holding the Scope Novice qualifier on that day. Lucy was keen from the off I think in hindsight her little break may not have been the best idea! First up was the British Novice, held in the Lake Arena. It was very spooky and Lucy got a bit flat again and very uncharacteristically had 3 fences down. I put it down to being a bit fresh and put her back in the trailer to wait for the Scope Novice to start. In between classes the heavens opened and we got soaked so we took shelter in the Joules stand and looked at all the lovely clothes! I walked the course for the Novice which was quite a meaty 1m. I worked Lucy in really concentrating on getting her to listen and she felt much better. I took her in the ring and she was rather keen and strong and just hit fence 2 for 4 faults. I was pleased with her as it was an improvement over quite a big track. I bought 2 lovely photographs from Blue Print studio to give to Lucys owner.



Our next outing is Bold Heath BE 90.

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!

FLATWORK LESSON - Saturday 8th May

This morning we took Lucy up to Forest Gate Farm in Norley to have a flatwork lesson with my instructor, Jane Carruthers. I have been having lessons from Jane since I got Lucy and she has improved our flatwork no end over the last few months. Jane is a fantastic teacher as she is very patient and encouraging. I have a lot to thank her for, as she has built my confidence and helped me to believe in myself and my ability to get the best from Lucy.

Lucy worked brilliantly today in the lesson, we worked on getting her to listen to me by doing lots of transitions, walk to canter, canter to halt etc, this was to get her to react to my aids immediately. We also worked on some circles as I have a habit of doing my circles too square in dressage tests, so Jane really got me to do a correct circle and get Lucy bending the right way. We worked for an hour and 20 minutes today, I was quite tired at the end (must get fitter!) Lucy, however, was absolutely fine!

She did some lovely work today and I am very pleased with her, we just need to brush up on a few things and hopefully we will begin to get better marks in our Dressage.

We have our next lesson booked on Sunday 30th May, just a week before our next BE event at Brand Hall, to practice the Dressage test for the Event.