Well 2016 has kicked off very well with all the horses feeling good.
All the horses were feeling fresh and well at Gatcombe horse trials! BILLY BALL and DIAMOND COVE were both pleased to be out, jumping easy clears to finish in the top 20.
CAPTAIN FUTURE showed what a bright future he has, with a super test to score 29.3 and he went on to jump a lovely double clear with 1 time faults to win the intermediate. He felt so established at this level and has come out a different horse after a break and a winters jumping and dressage. Next these 3 horses head to Burnham Market for the CIC**
The following day we were back with FRIDAY KNIGHT. His second run of the year aswell. We nada few excitements in the dressage warm up, as a young girl was bucked off and her horse went galloping around the dressage arenas, waking a lot of people up!! But I think it worked to FRIDAY KNIGHT’s benefit as he went in a did a lovely test to score 27.5, and only added 5.2 time faults XC after a super double clear…..And he too WON.
What a way to start 2016 with 2 wins at one of the most prestigious events of the year!!!
A very long drive up to Burnham Market with 3 horses in the CIC**
All 3 horses had day before dressage. DIAMOND COVE was trying a double bridle for the first time and although he warmed in beautifully, sadly he got a bit tense in the arena and came to up and back in the neck, although he didn’t make any mistakes, sadly we didn’t get the mark we hoped for. BILLY BALL was super, he coped well with the wind and stayed calm and consistent to score 52.6. And CAPTAIN FUTURE nada few green moments, and areas to improve and scored a respectable 50.8.
The following day was the SJ and all 3 boys had a good night sleep and came out feeling great. The course was a nice inviting course but the distances were coming up a bit short and people were having time faults. But looking a few areas to cut corners, I am delighted that all 3 SJ clear inside the time. BILLY BALL was effortless as always.
Next the XC. BILLY BALL was my first horse out and took a dislike to an influential double of corners, and after 2 run outs I decided to retire. Next was DIAMOND COVE, who as expected popped round very easily. He is a fantastic XC horse who seems to look for the flags and wants to jump between them. He lovely to ride XC as he always tries for you. And last but by no means least CAPTAIN FUTURE who also went on to jump a clear. Both horses picked up time faults, but I wasn’t really pushing for the time as the ground conditions had deteriorated through the day.
We have had the young horses out the last couple of weeks.
It was my first event on HIGHBULLEN FLIP FLOP and her first ever BE. She was competing in the BE90 open. With a resectable test of 32.5 and a pole rolled but clear XC she finished in 10th place. A great result and I am delighted for her Owners Sue and Mimi.
Next was CALVIN and LSS LANZAROTE. It was my first ever event on CALVIN. He performed a perfect test and clearly wowed the judge who gave him an 18.3, with a double clear inside the time, we were all confident he couldn’t be heaten, but sadly the final results showed us in 2nd by 0.3!! LSS LANZAROTE was also a super star. 27.5 dressage and a very easy double clear inside the time to finish in 4th place!!
FRIDAY KNIGHT was competing in the Novice. He test wasn’t as good as it can be and we were all a little disappointment, but he made up for it jumping double clear with just an handful of time faults.
We then headed to Larkhill just a few days later. We were there with CALVIN again, who produced yet another perfect test to lead the dressage on 24 and with a more confident double clear and again inside the time, he secured out first BE win together finishing on an amazing 24. LSS LANZAROTE however was not outshone. A few wobbles in his test scoring 34.8 and he too popped round an easy double clear, sadly a little too easy as we picked up 0.4 for going to fast which sadly pushed us just outside the top 10!
I am so lucky to have such fantastic young horses coming through and can’t wait to see how they grow!!!
A nice local event for owner, Lucy Fleming as we heading to Hambledon with the two young horses, LSS LANZAROTE and CALVIN II.
LANZAROTE was very distracted in his test by some walkers by, and scored 36.3. He however went on to show what a good jumper he is, by again jumping double clear, easily in, what proved to be a difficult time XC. He is nearly full TB and it really shows when you are on XC as he can just cruise round!!
CALVIN however showed some in TB. His test was as usual, pretty perfect and he lead the dressage again on a 25.0. And also went on to jump a super double clear. I had told his owners, Lucy and Molly that I probably wouldn't push for the time, as the weather has caused the ground to get quite cut up and I didn't feel I needed to push him. But he powered out of the start box, and just with a little encouragement towards the end, he finished on the optimum time to win again!!
He is a real star of the future. Well….They both are!
