THE HIGHS AND LOWS OF EVENTING

24 September 2013

Harvest is over, the heating is on and there’s less than 100 days until Christmas.....this must mean that the Eventing Season is drawing to a close for another year! We have just two more events (Bishop Burton and Askham Bryan) before ‘The Boys’ get a well earned rest.

 

We have not had a bad season by any stretch but it has been one of a few ups and downs, Richmond Horse Trials (at the end of August) was no exception. Herbie was doing his first BE100 and Alfie was stepping up to Novice for the second time. Herbie’s strongest phase is usually the dressage but on this occasion he was thoroughly distracted throughout his entire test by a very naughty Alfie whinnying from the lorry! He then had 2 show jumps down and a run out cross country at an offset double of skinnies (he’s a big horse with a big stride and ended up running past the second part) – all in all not Herbie’s day!

Alfie on the other hand did a beautiful dressage to leave him 3^rd going in to the show jumping, he then jumped a beautiful clear round so I went in to the cross country phase with it all to play for. Fence 6 was a ditch combination and from nowhere he put in a really cheeky stop, he came back round and jumped it fine the second time but this left us with 20 penalties so well out of contention. Whilst I was really disappointed, Alfie is a super horse and all horses have blips and do things to test us so I knew it was just a case of going home, digging a couple of ditches and restoring his confidence which I believe we have done now.

Events like Richmond are frustrating but they give you a lot to work on and make you even more determined next time out...so Allerton Park couldn’t come soon enough. It’s a beautiful event with classes right up to advanced so the level of competition is often high but both boys really did rise to the occasion. Alfie reminded me why I love him so much, posting a foot perfect double clear to end up 4^th and Herbie really shone and showed that all the hard work was worth it by posting a double clear to end up 3^rd. It was a great weekend and Mum and I came away feeling very lucky to have the horses we have and with the confirmation that hard work and attention to detail is what is needed.

Unfortunately it turns out that due to the BE point we got for our 6^th place in the Novice at Draycott earlier in the year, Alfie is now ineligible for the Badminton Grassroots Championships Regional Finals. Whilst this is disappointing, we had a wonderful time there this year and it means we can push on and hopefully consolidate at Novice level before considering a 1* competition next year. Herbie has also qualified for the regional finals next year so the picture is looking rosey!

For now my priority is Bishop Burton in 2 weeks time where Herbie will contest his third BE100 and Alfie his third Novice......watch this space!

Best wishes,

 ‘Team Cawood’