Challenging conditions on and off the course at Badminton Grassroots

May 2015

Well another month has flown by but any hint of summer weather seems to have vanished!

At the beginning of May we headed off with Herbie (Coniston Nadal) to the Badminton Grassroots Championships. The week started off with gale force winds and heavy rain which unfortunately stuck around for the entirety of the competition. On dressage day the winds were blowing but Herbie was really mature and managed to perform a beautiful dressage test and go into the lead. We led overnight which meant the pressure was on. That, combined with heavy wind and rain meant I didn’t get the best night’s sleep! The second day saw us tackle the showjumping and cross country elements of the competition. I have put a lot of work into Herbie’s showjumping and had managed to jump two double clears so far this season so I was hopeful he would go well but unfortunately the weather got to him and he just wouldn't concentrate meaning we had 3 down and added 12 faults to our dressage score - this was really disappointing but you have to pick yourself back up and crack on! The cross country was causing a lot of problems with eventually less than half of the field managing a clear round. I was therefore really pleased that we were one of them. I took him fairly steadily as by the time we set off the weather conditions had deteriorated further and we had to deal with driving rain and poor visibility! The course was challenging with lots of technical questions and the need for accuracy as well plenty of stamina.

Overall it is disappointing after such a strong position after dressage to move down the leader board due to poles down in the showjumping and cross country time faults but overall I’m pleased with Herbie as he did a lovely dressage test and a clear round a challenging cross country course. That said it did take me a couple of days to forgive him!

Mum and I stayed down at Badminton for the rest of the week and enjoyed some fantastic eventing (and also the opportunity to exercise Herbie in front of Badminton House each morning!). It was also a good opportunity to see the ups and downs of the sport at top level and to realise we all have our own areas to work, whatever level you’re competing at.

Herbie is entered in his first novice this weekend at Bishop Burton so I’m looking forward to seeing how he handles the step up in class.

  Our beautiful foal, Ginny Rumba, is not so little anymore and has developed some real attitude! As I write our broodmare is being scanned to see whether she is in foal to Up With The Lark so fingers crossed Ginny will have a little brother or sister on the way!

Here’s hoping the weather improves and we can all get the sunglasses and shorts out soon!

Best wishes,

Lucie 

A win for Eventers International in Ireland

Sneezy

April has been a very busy month what with horses changing stables and others going out show jumping and xc schooling.

In The Zone (Ronan) is now with my sister in law Annabelle to carry on competing and getting Annabelle back into the swing of things.

Bay Gabrielle (Tractor) is now going to be ridden by Will Furlong who needs little introduction.   Eventers International is very excited about this as we have produced him up to this point.   Firstly by the late Tom Gadsby and latterly James Avery, both did a great job.   I have little doubt that Will can further his career with the professionalism that we have become accustomed to at Eventers International.   Here is a picture of Will and Tractor in their first training session together.

I am also glad to report that attached to Eventers International and going well with a notable win from Meghan Healy and Treliver Desdemona in Ireland Last week and Greta Mason having her first trip round novice at Weston with one little blip across country, but to come out last weekend to be second in an unaffiliated novice.   Keep up the good work girls.

First Date (Daley) Mr Sneezy and Fire Power continue their education with a few outings at all three disciplines and continue to improve, so now they will put all three phases together and do an unaffiliated one day event, more of that next month.   I hope everyone is enjoying the better weather and we wish Fulmart rider Lucie and Herbie all the best for Badminton Grassroots next week.

Tiny

Askham Bryan College Grooms Academy Update

Since January, the Askham Bryan College Grooms Academy and the Development Academy have been working hard preparing for competitions whilst keeping on top of the all the assignments and college work.

  

We have been to Port Royal a couple of times, which has been largely successful, winning rosettes in both dressage and show jumping.  

Our 2 main academy horses chosen by riders are 6 years old, Jester who's 13.2hh ridden by Niamh Bocock and Bertha 16.2hh ridden by Hazel McArthur. We have been having lessons with show jump trainer Tracy Newman, which has given both riders, horses and grooms a new experience resulting in huge improvements at shows.

Now we look forward to putting all the practise into action by tackling more shows in the near future.

Amy

  

Grooms Academy; Amy Clarke,  Emma Metha, Chloe Booth and Development riders; Hazel McArthur and Niamh Bocock.

Amy