Everyone has a favourite event and our rider/blogger Angel writes about hers; Hartpury International

Well everyone it is a hot one this month! The grass continues to grow and the events continue to flow… The ground is perfect for those of you competing out on the fields this month, not too soft to slip and not too hard on the ground, perfect for clear rounds, I’m not even trying to rhyme anything either!

Summer here at last!

So what has been happening this month for us? Well, Tom Tom has been enjoying the grass very much, however he wasn’t very conditioned, and I decided to put him on the conditioning cubes, they worked a treat and he was strengthened, tones and conditioned in no time, no doubt he also had endless amounts of energy but isn’t too hot and fizzy!

No doubt everyone has a particular event they are excited to see, mine is definitely Hartpury International! How can you not like it? Every large event has an atmosphere that just makes you feel like you are at home and that is where you are meant to be. I remember going to Chatsworth international and watching as the crowd’s heads moved with the horse over every jump, I loved to watch all the dogs getting to know one and other and going on an adventure to each of the different stalls filled with my horses favourite treats… what we don’t always admit to ourselves is that no matter if you promise yourself that you won’t buy a single thing, you end up going past he perfect bridle, saddle cloth, boots, cross country colours, next thing you know you have 5 new matching outfits for you and your horse… oops how did that happen?

Loving my new Fulmart Feeds cap

Every event has its ups and it’s down, but one thing going to an event does do is inspire you to be the better you! I remember watching Charlotte at London 2012 winning the gold, that summer I spent 6 solid week doing dressage pretty much every day with no stirrups, thinking one day I could be just as good, and although I’m not quite up to that level just yet I did become a better rider for it and that summer taught me a lot. One thing everyone should do is find something that gives you that drive to want to improve and do it! You don’t have to be the best rider in the world to improve, but it’s those of you, who might not be the best, but put the best effort in, and that will eventually pay off and you will come out on top. My top tip for this summer is to make sure that every time you get on your horse, no matter how big your aim is or how small, you give you self an achievable goal and work to achieve it, the difference might start off small but soon you will see the huge difference it is making.

Angel

Ellen prepares for Frickley representing the North at the National U18 Championships

Another busy month has gone by as I have been intertwining my A level exams with the management of the two boys: Kidogo King and Fernhill Finnegan.

The main event of the month was the selection process for the National U18 Championships, where the different regions across the UK compete in both a team and an individual event held at CCIJ* level. (CCI meaning that it is held as a three day event, and 1* meaning over show jumps 1.15-1.20m and xc 1.15m). Each region chooses the best 10 combinations at Novice U18 level, with the best four scores at the end of the event counting towards a final score.

At the end of my last blog I mentioned that Kidogo and I had been long listed for this team. The long listed attended a two-day training camp at Northallerton Equestrian.  Our weekend started with a run through of the test we would complete at Frickley.  This was marked by a judge and we were given feedback to work on. Those who know Kidogo will back me in saying that he far from enjoys his flatwork and lets me know it every time we school, however, he can complete an accurate and competitive test when I ride him properly. In the sweltering heat it became very clear that my decision to avoid sun cream was a very poor one, as I still carry ex-burn marks with me now! The heat made our show jumping session in the afternoon a short one, and after popping two good rounds, we decided it was time to wash down and get out of hats and jodhpurs. During the day I showed the selectors and team coaches my plan up to Frickley, including 3x7 minute canters for Kidogo every 5 days give or take, as the course at CCI can be up to 9 minutes long!

The following day saw an escape from the sun as I had a flatwork session in the indoor school with one of the team coaches, working to improve my ability to optimise every mark -  my favourite bit of advice being, “make your first stride your best stride”. We also had the opportunity to work with the sports psychologist from Northumbria University, and talk through how to maximise performance on and off the horse.

After anxiously waiting a week I received the news that Kidogo and I had successfully been selected to represent the North at Frickley at the end of July!

My AS exams drew to a close on the 26^th June, and just 5 days later we headed to Aske Horse Trials. Both boys had rusty runs on the Novice and Open Novice. Kidogo pulled out a solid performance and although I didn't give him the best run, he still managed to finish 8^th in the Open section. 

Finnegan did a green test on the flat with some mistakes as he started to expect rein back and walk to canter, however his most mature show jumping round annoyingly did score him a pole. A gap in his training was highlighted on the cross country when we came to the last combination; a double of angled corners.  He just didn’t quite understand it and had a disappointing run out at each. I bet you can guess what we worked on in my next two jump lessons! I do think that he has now got the hang of them as he posted a double clear with his best dressage test to date in the BE105 at Northallerton this weekend, with his highest placing finishing 2nd. Only 0.1 behind the leader.  If I had been one second quicker on the cross country, and we hadn’t decided to grind to a halt when spooking at a fence judge at the last fence, then we would have had the win but unexpected spooking is a very Finnegan thing to do! 

Northallerton was Kidogo’s last run before Frickley where he did a solid double clear but had to go HC as he is now a Grade 1 horse having accumulated too many points over his 10 seasons of eventing. He did think it was intermediate when we jumped the entirety of the stream instead of cantering through it.

Next time I hope to round up on Kidogo and my experiences at Frickley and see how Finnegan performs as he goes to his PC Area eventing at Open level (BE novice) in a bid to qualify for the PC Championships.

Ellen

Ellen heads to Brand Hall International for the National Junior Championships

My name is Ellen Hobson, I am a 17 year old event rider based in York competing up to Intermediate and CCI* on my two horses Kidogo King and Fernhill Finnegan.

Coming from a non-horsey background I have built a strong team around me since I started eventing back in 2013. In 2015 I was lucky enough to find Kidogo, a 15.3hh, 15 year old, chestnut roan gelding, who is incredibly trying, cheeky and a little demanding (when it comes to food). Having moved up to novice last spring and completing my exams, I travelled over to Ireland for a few days to find young horse to ride alongside Kidogo and move up the ranks with. After trying 9 horses on one day, we brought home Finnegan, a 16hh, 8 year old, dark bay gelding, who is a very ‘quirky’ (a nice word for spooky, opinionated and an overgrown baby), bold and talented – when I got Finnegan last year he had done bits and bobs but nothing properly, and his progress over the last year is incredible.

As the BE calendar was published over Christmas, I cautiously highlighted Brand Hall International, with the hope of qualifying and competing in the National Junior Championships.  With the goal in mind I set out to achieve my qualifying Intermediate run, where I travelled from my by base in York to the Central Scotland horse trials in Edinburgh. The event started with dressage on the riverbank at the base of almost a castle on a hill. Kidogo took me around all three phases like the complete legend that he is to finish 9^th, in a section that included Ben Hobday on his Badminton ride Mulry’s Error!

Wednesday saw a full on day of packing the trailer with all our tack, the boys Equilage bales, Alfalfa and stable equipment, before we set off for the 130 mile trip to Brand Hall Thursday morning. On arrival we unloaded the boys, they had their passport inspection and then settled into their stables to munch down the grass floors. Meanwhile I took Kidogo off for a quick loosening up session before his trot up in the afternoon. I glammed up Kidogo, and changed into my trot up outfit, and trotted up Kidogo in front of the Brand Hall House. The evening saw us taking look at the one star course and giving Finnegan a cheeky peak at the arena walk around the international arenas.

Friday lunchtime saw my dressage test, excited to my tails for the second time, and to be able to do my double salute the two judges to conclude my test. Kidogo did a good test for 53.7 FEI. After his test I went for the a second walk around the one star course with Helen and then ANOTHER walk around the xc course this time around the novice.

Saturday was set to be the biggest day of them all, with the one star course to do on Kidogo in the morning and all three phases of the novice to do on Finnegan. An extended warm up for the cross country on Kidogo as unlike the usual one days, I had not jumped any show jumps prior to this. Knowing all seven of my minute markers and course in full we left the start box at pace with all to play for in the next 7 minutes and 25 seconds. Kidogo pinged around the course, eating up the ground; this horse is an xc machine looking for part D before I even turned to A.  As I came across the finish line we went into full speed ahead of wash down, studs out, cool boots on and vets on heart rate check. After about 10 minutes of cool down the vets gave the all clear for us to take Kidogo back to the stables, and have an unofficial trot up in a few hours. No rest for the wicked though as I was soon off to do Finnegan’s dressage test, where he came out little quick but settled nicely to do an improving test for 34. The showjumping followed where he completed a green but increasing confident round to jump clear. The weather started to turn from clear skies to grey as I set off across the country, but nothing was stopping Finnegan and I as we attempted the most technical course he has done. I pushed him for the time, opening up his huge stride and was to the minute until the last combination when I came with a bit too much speed and he completely ran past an incredibly skinny corner, when I represented he popped it nicely. Rather frustrating as he would have placed 3^rd otherwise, but we are better for it and will make sure I test the brakes next time!

Sunday morning started very early as I was up to give Kidogo a pre- trot-up loosening ride. After trotting up soundly we then jumped in reverse order. Having walked the course I knew the distances were long and being on a short striding 15.3 anyway I knew we would have to jump in with fight to get out on the set striding. Kidogo did not show any signs of having been cross-country the day before and jump very well, however I came in a little too strong onto the treble and double to take out the front rails.

We have had an amazing week to finish 14^th in the National Junior Championships, having learnt so much and gained championship experience.

Coming up Kidogo and I have a two day camp next weekend for the long list to be on the Northern team for then Novice U18 Championship held in July.

I'll be writing my Fulmart Blog every month so keep your eyes on the July blog for an update!

Ellen

A busy couple of months is overshadowed by the loss of a stable favourite.

I have just sat and read through my last blog and I have to say that since I last wrote I have experienced some great high's but also one of my worst low's. Things were looking fabulous the last time we caught up with Dayton on good form ahead of Badminton and the young ones seemed to be gaining form just at the right time as planned. I had a bunch of great shows on the calendar and it was full steam ahead....

Disaster struck on the morning of the BE at Northallerton.  After a successful day at Port Royal with Gea winning both her tests, we returned home to prepare three  for the event the following day. Everything was normal until the morning of the event when I reached the yard to find one of the horses seemingly with colic.  A quick call to the vet and I presumed the day would continue as planned but when I found one of the other horses off colour in the field my worst nightmare began...  as I explained to the vet when she arrived, something suspicious was going on and we both knew it wasn't going to be a quick job.  After and hour making the poorly horses comfortable and the vet doing tests while at the same time watching them deteriorate rapidly, we reached the conclusion that they had the dreaded Atypical Myopathy. We didn't have time to think about getting upset we knew we had to get them to the nearest Equine Hospital as fast as possible.  The rest of the day and pretty much the following week is still a blur; within hours the first horse had been cruelly taken from us, but we feel exceptionally lucky that the second horse survived.  We are still in the early stages of his rehab 6 weeks on from that dreadful day and at this stage we are unsure how the disease will have affected him for the future as it is such an unknown in the veterinary world - not many horses are lucky enough to survive.  When we collected him from the vets after his three week stay the vet that discharged him said he was the first she had seen in her career survive.  The statistics are scary but I would advise everyone to read up on the disease and be as prepared as possible.  It happened so fast and turned our world upside down in 12 hours. Had I known what I know now I feel I could have done more in the beginning and I will always regret only bringing one horse home, the experience will haunt me forever.

Getting positive again was really hard, all the horses that live with me are like my family and I became really paranoid about everything that was remotely 'out of character'  but I knew that life had to go on.  We had training planned and Badminton was only a week away. Even with my mind off the job Dayton put a smile on my face in our last training session at Vale View.  Our last outing at Manor Grange for BD went as planned with him gaining qualifying scores and wins in his Elementary tests.  Gea and Charlie Harper also put in great performances to win and finish second in their tests.  Everyone finished the day with a +70% score and they put a smile back on my face. So that was it we were off.....

Badminton was a pleasure, we finished 22nd. I felt I rode the dressage badly, I needed to be braver. D was a little hot in the warm up so I opted for safe and looking back I could kick myself,.  A championship is the time to ride for your life, not play it safe! He did give me a fabulous showjump and cross country ride which really pulled us up the final result.  If i'm lucky enough to get another chance I'm hoping it will be third time lucky.  

Joanne Pullan's Grafiba made his BYEH debut at Badminton.  Jasmine Watson took the reins for me only a couple of days before as my times for the Cup and the BYEH classes clashed.  She did a brilliant job to finish 3rd.  Graffi is a huge horse standing at 17hh at only 4y/o so as you can imagine being weak and gangling as well as a giant, it doesn't always make him the easiest but he tried his heart out and I could not have been prouder of them.

With my BE Novice debut at Richmond cancelled the focus was on Graffi for Chatsworth.  After missing his ticket by one place I was determined to give it my all.  As he was my only ride at Chatsworth it meant I could focus 100% in him and it paid off as we won! He gave me a super ride and really showed himself off, he is for sale as he is a little big for me to event so whether we make Burghley together we will have to wait and see.  With that out of the way there was only one place to head to... the airport.  After the events of the month I have to admit to not being sad at leaving everyone behind and heading for some sunshine with the family.  The horses had all been amazing at their respective events and they were ready for a quieter couple of weeks as well.

Feeling refreshed and with my mind back on the future I was straight back to a competition at Bishop Burton with Inola Smith's Upsalls Lorna.  The dressage was rather interesting which really disappointed me as she jumped a fabulous double clear. Nolly put it down to me not having seen her for a month and she had been enjoying lots of jumping competitions.  She has now had to knuckle back down to her training in the white boards ahead of her next run at Skipton. The following day saw Fleur T improve on her last outing to finish 6th in her Section at Shelford with a 25 dressage.  Charlie Harper made his BE debut also finishing 6th in his section.  The following day we waved off the super consistent cool dude Kelly's Star to his new home; he has been a real pleasure to produce and compete and I hope to see him out with his new owner very soon.

I have a few new rides for the next couple of months to get excited about including Bramham.  I'm hoping that everything is now back on track and even minus one of my all time favourites we can still enjoy the rest of the season and have a bit of success with the talented babies I have in the stables.

Sam 

Angel Gillott writes her first blog for Team Fulmart

So where do I begin guys… well  firstly my name is Angel and I’m now a Fulmart Feeds blogger.  Each blog will follow my personal journey through the horsey world, I will be talking about seasons, events, wins, thrills and spills, anything that will grab your attention!

Firstly, everyone knows the summer grass is coming through and we are getting to that stage now where the horses are slowing turning into large balloons as the summer grass hits, well this is what I thought would happen to Tom Tom (my horse) but turns out that’s not the case! Now most of you sitting here will think I’m the luckiest person alive to have a horse that you don’t have to worry about getting fat at this time of the year, well let me tell you now that is not the case… bearing in mind Tom Tom is 17hh TB x Irish draught and any work he does he puts on muscle and strips back the little fat he has, I thought this would be great seen as I was used to having an event pony that could live on fresh air but in actual fact it is more work than anything! You constantly end up worrying about keeping them at a nice weight and you don’t want to have to constantly bucket feed them with loads of feed and loads of grass because grass just means that when he comes in after hours and hours, his huge lips dangle from his chin and he stares at me with those sleepy eyes as if to say “mum I’m really tired and I’m going to bed, don’t even bother trying to ride me”, well this isn’t what I was expecting having a slimmer horse would be like let me tell you!

So after receiving the ‘Conditioning cubes’ and ‘Original Ryegrass’ everything changed, By using only 1 cup full of the conditioning cubs in breakfast and tea, not only has Toms coat become extremely shiny, he has conditioned his body fully and it still keeps improving, don’t tell anyone but it is a nice feeling when people ask you if you have used show sheen on his body but in actual fact it’s just the feed!  In terms of the Ryegrass, well his energy levels have improved massive amounts and I really mean it! I took him to Epworth for a nice training round ready for the BE season, dressage was fluent and calm, popped a couple gently in the showjumping warm up.  I got in the ring, the bell rang and he was so enthusiastic, clearing the jumps at 1.50m for a fast, clear round.  Soon as we hit the cross country he was cool as a cucumber and when we arrived back he had enough energy to go another two rounds.

Speetley BE100 open is next Saturday and we are so very excited, we would love to know what everyone is doing this up and coming month with their horses and if the summer grass has created and balloon pony’s around your ends!

 So until the next blog and adventure have a great month everyone and keep at it.

Angel

Dayton's preparation for Badminton Horse Trials shows early promise.

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.

Eland lodge was my last run with Dayton before Badminton and he felt brilliant, albeit we added a few moves in the form of walk to canters and a change in the dressage but he jumped his best ever double clear so with a few more training days planned we are feeling almost ready for the big day. Upsalls Lorna stepped up a level with ease, she scored her best ever dressage score of 24 and jumped a beautiful double clear round a very bold course, I really feel she is starting to trust me now and enjoy her job. After the 3am alarm and the fact that it was my first ever event self transporting the results were a bonus, driving and riding is daunting when you haven't had to do both before!!

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

A gentle hack out almost ends in fatalities

It's been a couple of months since my last blog and much has happened in those few weeks. We had some great family time, it was Charlie's first Christmas when he understood what Christmas is and he got very excited about opening his presents.  He's grown and changed so much recently and is a proper little man now.  He helps me everyday and I can't actually imagine life without him.

After our break I was refreshed and ready for a show fix. All the horses were feeling and looking super. We did a few local stops at Arena UK, Vale View and Bishop Burton and with some pleasing results decided some dressage was also in order.  Epworth and Manor Grange made perfect venues.   I made the big step up (for me) to elementary on Dayton and true to his style he smashed it.  I feel we are established at that level and even in just a few shows I'm much more comfortable and already thinking that Medium isn't to far away now.  I do credit this to the hours of training and the correct method my amazing instructor has educated me to use, patience, practice and understanding is absolutely everything.

I've also enjoyed a few sessions with some new coaches; Caroline Moore really upped my game in my cross country training techniques and I'm now itching to try them out in competition; and Noah Brook also gave me quite a firm lesson on a training day at Somerford.  He really made me realise that I can do it when I trust what I'm sat on. I felt I jumped some real tough fences that day and actually did it technically correct rather than as a showjumper.

I have to admit to being a touch sad waving Ebolensky off for Spain where she is competing on the Sunshine tour with Matt Sampson.  We have had the best four years together and I'm pretty sure I'll never get a horse quite like her again.  She was an absolute princess but the time in her career had come for her to step up and she deserved the chance with the big boys and I know she will do me proud.

I have had one disastrous moment that I feel very thankful to have survived and fortunate that the horse involved is on the mend.  Scylla D'Ouilly (Ruby) and I were out enjoying a hack when we were approached by reckless drivers, paying little attention to the conditions, resulting in Ruby landing on top of one of their cars.  It was extremely upsetting for everyone involved; seeing your horse gallop off down the road bleeding is not something I ever want to witness again.  As she made off down the road I was relieved that she had all her limbs and they were working, but terrified at the same time as I had no idea where she was going or what damage she had sustained.  The car was written off and Ruby is still on box rest with stitches, cuts and bruises.  I feel thankful that she is still with us but I'm so angry with the drivers involved and their lack of respect for other road users, which caused an accident that was totally preventable. Ruby is a very experienced horse who is not easily upset or spooked!

As I write we are heading off to Helen Bell's for some cross country schooling.  I have lots of exciting and challenging ventures coming up this year and I look forwards to sharing all my experiences with you. The BE season kicks off in just two weeks time - it's scary how fast this has come around, it will be Badminton and the BYEH season on no time at all.

I'll be writing again in April, until then, that's it for now.

Sam