I think it's time for a little catch up again.
Things have got really crazy now at sjhorsesandponies,
I've got so much to tell you all.
After my last blog we headed to Epworth to start our 2017
BE season. What a fabulous event it was, with both horses placed what more
could I ask. Dayton made it all feel easy and then my new ride for this season, Inola Smith's Upsalls Lorna, started our season together with a fabulous
confidence giving run scoring a 29 dressage and double clear. I have to admit
to going a touch fast cross country so getting reverse time penalties, she is
just so quick and clever that I didn't even feel like we were galloping! Oops.
Lincoln was next... after Scylla D'Ouilleys (Ruby) car
accident none of us envisaged her even competing this season but after the go
ahead from the vet we brought her back into work and she felt as good as ever
so I managed to get her a last minute entry. The event was brilliant but the
weather was freezing. Ruby was superb, considering she hadn't even been to a show she did a good dressage
to score 30 and the flew round double clear. She is such an awesome mare and
I'm hoping I can steal her from owner Rachael a little more this season. Dayton was on fire
in the dressage scoring 25 but he was a touch to hot jumping as he had been on
the gallops that week to get his fitness up for Badminton. I think he
thought he was in the national! So we finished just outside the prizes and
with a bit of homework to do.
Next stop was Breckenbrough with my own and Neil's Fleur T
(Blondie). This was her debut and she was just fabulous. I have to admit to having a
huge soft spot for this pony and she confirmed how easy and talented she is by
finishing 8th in her section. She scored 29 dressage and had a very
unlucky/green showjumping down. She flew the cross country so she will have a
quieter month now before running more in the summer period. Upsalls Lorna did
another strong performance despite me making alterations to the dressage test. She finished 7th with another double clear which was a relief as we had taken
the decision to step her up a level the following week. The laugh of the event
came at my expense... I forgot to unclip the air jacket, all I can say is I'm
so glad Blondie is bombproof, quite literally!
I was disappointed not to get in off the waitlist with
Carlensky, especially as I have entered my first Novice on her so feel I
could use the run. Dayton put in a brilliant performance at Norton Disney to
finish 3rd on his dressage score of 16, I'm sure I will never get to finish on
a score of 16 and double clear and not be in with a chance of winning as the
leader has already finished on a score of 11 - it was definitely a strong
section! It was also a great day for a few of my clients, Kate Musgrave was
first to get in touch to tell me she had won her first ticket to RIHS on her
pony Charlie. Kate is one of my regulars at Thornthorpe and after watching her
in competition the previous week and feeling she should have won then I was
thrilled with the news. Less than an hour later Carrie Pilliow informed us that she
had picked up her ticket to the trailblazers finals. It gives me as much
pleasure knowing I've helped these guys achieve their goals as it does when I
achieve my own.
We decided to take Carlensky mid week showjumping to Sykehouse as she hasn't been out in a while but she showed us she doesn't need
the practise by winning the Newcomers with a lovely round. Kroon Freddie jumped
his biggest ever track to finish in 2nd behind her.
Next week I head to Northallerton BE, we then plan some
British Dressage and Showjumping outings before hitting the road to Badminton,
I'm also taking Joanne Pullan's Kroon Freddie with us to compete in the BYEH
class before he heads to Chatsworth the following week, as usual it's all
stations go but that's how we like it!
That's it for now. I will write again in June.
Sam x
