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.

Bold Heath twice in March!!

We took Pete to Bold twice this month, we finished 2nd with a double clear in the 1m amateur first round to qualify us for the other rounds later in the year. We went back a fortnight later and finished 3rd the same class, so Pete has won £90 in two shows, good boy!

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.

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.