May started with our annual mother/daughter trip to Badminton Horse Trials. We had a great time, and I was lucky enough to be spoilt with two new jackets… Including a tailcoat! Really pleased I hadn’t hurried into buying one as this one was perfect and worth the wait in finding. I am so excited to take it for its first outing.
With some inspiration from Badminton we attended a cross country clinic at Tweseldown with Caroline Jeanne. As always; Finley was on form jumping some rather huge and technical combinations including some intermediate fences. I still need to trust him more but as long as I kick on I know he will always deliver.
Our next event happened to be at Tweseldown in the Novice, and this was definately not our day. Our dressage and showjumping had improved – but with more work could be even better. We were flying round the huge cross country track until the last fence. It was a huge upright box brush and sadly Finley hit it with his knees meaning I was sent into orbit.
This left me with some pretty severe bruising, strains, sprains and a twisted pelvis. However I lived to fight another day; but decided to drop back down to the 100 at Borde Hill in order to give us a confident run.
Since my injury I have been recieving some intense Chiropractic treatment for the most recent fall; but also for my ongoing back and neck issues. There is a lot of work to be done but I am already seeing the rewards and feel much straighter.
Borde Hill was a week post inury and I was still not up to scratch with my riding; so I was just after calm confident run. He produced a lovely dressage test, and fantastic showjumping round with just the last fence down; and then stormed round the cross country in the time for SEVENTH PLACE. I was over the moon with this after the previous week, and knew that we couldn’t have done any better.
Video of Finley at Borde Hill on route to 7th place
This put us in the best frame of mind for our next Novice run at BCA, as well as a intense showjumping session with Caroline Jeanne which had us jumping 1.30m. A new PB for me!!
I had been debating whether or not to run in the Novice at BCA; but I put on my brave pants as we headed to a new venue for both me and Finley. He was yet again on form. His dressage is constantly improving but on this occasion the judge didn’t agree with me – but thats just opinion!
Our showjumping round was fantastic. Finley jumped a beautiful clear which I was thrilled with; followed by a steady clear cross country round picking up just a few time penalties… but I didnt care! We had achieved our first double clear at Novice level picking up our first points. To add the icing on top of what was already a huge cake we ended up coming tenth! Yet another rosette bagged for the fantastic Finley.
He then had some down time before his next event at the beginning of July.
Not to be out done Ransom and I finally got to compete in our first PSG at Brendon Pyecombe Equestrian on the 20th May.
This horse continues to completely amaze me, and this occasion was no different. He blew me away and reduced me to tears of joy during our test and he gave 110%. There were a few errors to our test but we managed to get through performing every movement. Not only did we win our first PSG by 9%…we ended up winning the whole FEI class!
Video clip of Ransom in his first PSG
He was out again one week later. This time after my Tweseldown fall which meant our preparation was sub optimal.
We were competing at Step Aside Dressage in the Advanced Medium, and PSG. Despite my weakness we ended up winning the AM, and improving on our previous PSG score coming second.
This meant we had obtained our Petplan Area Festival Qualification, and would be heading to Crofton Manor for PSG.
Before then; we had our Area Festival at Pachesham Equestrian in the Advanced Medium class. The judging was quite tough; but Ransom behaved and ended up coming joint 1st (second on one collective) to obtain our qualification for the final in September.
We have lots to work on but he is going so well.
June was also the month for birthdays. Finley turned nine at the beginning of June, and Ransom twenty at the end of the month. I have had so much fun and joy seeing these boys grow over the years; and hope we can continue to make many more memories.
LG Eventing and Dressage 