We’ve just landed back from a few days away at Somerford
Park so I’m catching up on Bake Off and reflecting on a pleasing week!
Since my last blog Herbie has been joining the dancing
horses with mum as they prepared for their dressage regional final earlier this
month. They put a lot of work in and ended up a very creditable 8th
out of 40. The marks were incredibly tight across the top 10 so she did a great
job and continues to improve.
After a bit of a rest for Herbie it was back to his eventing
(where I could take advantage of mum’s hard work on the flat!) as we prepared
for our trip to Somerford Park. I am keen to tackle our first 1* later in the
season so had chosen to take him to Somerford Park as I knew the novice there would
be at the top end in terms of height and technicality…..I was not disappointed!
As we were staying there for 2 nights I had the opportunity to walk the course
twice which was really useful as I had found it quite daunting on my first
walk. It’s a beautiful course which is very well built but provided question
after question with every fence full up to height.
On the day, Herbie produced a really nice dressage test (27.5),
a much improved round of showjumping in terms of general way of going but
unfortunately still rolled 3 poles (it was a big atmosphere with a technical up
to height course so I wasn’t too disappointed) and then flew round the cross
country. After jumping the first few fences I realised I’d been worrying for
nothing and he just ate up every fence on the course. I’m very lucky to have a
horse that seems to be taking these bigger courses in his stride and in turn is
offering me such great experience and confidence. We now head off to Richmond
and then Allerton Park so fingers crossed we continue in the same vein.
Mum and I also took our foal Ginny Rumber to the Futurity
grading at Richmond Equestrian Centre, it’s our first attempt at anything like
that and we had a fab day! Little Ginny was a really good girl and scored a
very creditable First Premium. It’s the first foal we’ve bred so we were
chuffed to bits. It was great experience for Ginny and we continue to learn a
lot about this ‘breeding lark’ !!
I’m now up to date with Bake Off so am heading out with a
flask of tea for my husband who is busy combining…..long may this sunshine
continue!!
Lucie
