I cannot quite believe that I have reached the end of yet another Eventing Season, as well as the wind down from the Area Festival Dressage Finals… but I am getting ahead of myself as so much has happened in the last two months!
RANSOM:
We had continued in our training regime in order to be at our very best for the Petplan Area Festival Regional Finals at the beginning of October. This has included regular visits to my trainer Robbie Carpenter; who has worked wonders to improve our performance in the arena.
We had one more outing left before the Finals at Brendon Pyecombe. I rode in the Advanced Medium, and PSG classes. The AM test was a new one to both of us; and although a slightly bizarre test to ride we still came second. This was followed by a personal best in the PSG for first place. We had been working hard on the accuracy and straightness of the tempi changes which achieved high marks. A great preparation for the finals!
I was excited to find out that Ransom and I were Reserve Champion in the Affiliated Dressage league that Brendon Pyecombe hold throughout the year; which reminded me of what a successful season we have had.
We headed to Oldencraig Equestrian Centre, on what was a lovely sunny day. Ransom was feeling well and warmed up beautifully for the Advanced Medium test. He didn’t put a foot wrong, and as I came down the centre line for the final halt I was beaming from ear to ear. He gave 110% a produced a test I was extremely proud of. Although just outside the placings I knew I couldn’t have done anymore.
Robbie kindly came to warm me up for the PSG which helped tremendously; and yet again my smile was evident of how pleased I was with the test. The walk pirouettes didn’t quite come together (as this is a movement Ransom really struggles on), and lost us significant marks but we still managed a 6th place in a strong class. To even compete at this level is a dream let alone be placed in the final!
Ransom has had a few weeks relaxing since the finals but will be out competing again soon.
FINLEY:
I managed to come off the wait list for Goring Horse Trials which meant I had my first run in the 100open in order to regain some of Finley’s lost confidence since Gatcombe and Firle. He produced yet another consistent dressage test which put us in a good position heading into the showjumping.
My aim was for Finley to remain calm and confident – and although this started well; he was uncertain going through the first combination and became a little tense. This meant we finished on 12 faults…BUT we completed and were allowed to go cross-country. Finley put on his happy face and skipped round with ease inside the time to finish in the top half of the class. I was relieved for the completion and already looking forward to our next event.
We headed into the depths of Dorset to Bricky Horse Trials in the pouring rain; which was a very long but worthwhile journey.
Bricky was a new venue to us both and one I would highly recommend; and will be visiting again. The cross-country course was long, undulating, and the perfect test with lots of questions. (Finley’s favourite!) The dressage test used was the long arena championship test which suited Finley and he strutted his stuff to the top of the leader board and a PB for the year! This was followed by an improved showjumping round for 8 faults. This was good going considering the slippy ground conditions; which was an increasing concern on the cross country course.
The time on the course was proving difficult to achieve due to the ground conditions; and Finley needed time over the first few fences to adjust and find his feet. After this he flew round the course clear inside the time for fourth place! A well deserved placing with his fantastic dressage score. We received some wonderful prizes including local produce which was well needed sustenance after a cold/wet day and a long drive home!
We continued to work on our showjumping combination confidence before heading to Tweseldown for their last event of the season. Finley had been feeling incredibly well (a little too well!) and decided that dressage was far too boring and added in a few moves of his own! Surprisingly the judge didn’t appreciate this; and gave him a fair but substandard mark compared to how he has gone all season!
Luckily; he managed to redeem himself with a fantastically confident double clear to finish outside the top ten. Although this was somewhat annoying; I was pleased with the confidence that had returned with one event left for the season!
Horseheath was our final event of the season where I chose to step back up to the 105. This would give me an idea of how to plan my winter training and the 2019 Eventing season. Although the result wasn’t perfect there were so many positives to take away
- A fantastic dressage score
- Jumping through both showjumping combinations
However I knew he wasn’t quite on form and a day later I discovered an issue with his foot. He is now on some well deserved time off before our winter training commences!
NELSON:
I took the old man to Tweseldown’s unaffiliated horse trials at the beginning of September to compete in the 70cm class. He was feeling on top form with a brilliant dressage for 23 – A PB for me in eventing. It made me chuckle that Nelson’s age was greater than his dressage score!
This was followed by yet another double clear with a few time penalties XC; dropping us to fifth place due to me taking a long route at one combination. Nelson has had a successful year eventing being placed at every event. Pretty incredibly for 27 years old!!
Using Nelson’s age was crucial at our next competition; as we took to the show ring for the Mature Veteran Championships at Hickstead as part of the Sunshine Tour. We are complete novices when it comes to showing; and in a twenty strong class I had minimal expectations. To my complete surprise we were called in first making Nelson Champion! This was followed by third place in the Supreme Champion class; narrowly missing out on the Supreme of Supremes. We had a lovely day; and hope to be back again next year.
Nelson has also been enjoying a little rest; but will be competing in some arena eventing through the winter months to keep him ticking over.
TRAVIS:
This pony has been going from strength to strength the last few months!
After my unplanned departure at Borde Hill I have been working hard on Travis’s technique in the showjumping; as well as keeping him calm in the dressage.
He too competed at the unaffiliated horse trials at Tweseldown in September and excelled all day with a good dressage, one pole showjumping, and a clear cross-country for fourth place.
This was then followed by his first British Event at Munstead one week later; and yet another brilliant performance. De ja vu of the previous weekend but this time an eighth place rosette.
Travis’ last event of the season was at Tweseldown BE in yet more rain and mud! I was unsure of how he would cope with the tricky ground and testing cross-country but he did not disappoint. We had a PB dressage of 30! This was followed by 8 faults in the SJ, as he had never jumped out of mud before, and another clean sheet cross-country for sixth place.
This pocket rocket has been a joy to compete this year, and will continue his training though the winter with both myself, and his owner Helena. Looking forward to what next year will bring!
SMARTIE:
I was approached by Katie to take on Smartie ‘A Rainbow of Smarties’ for the end of the season as they had a loss of confidence as a combination.
Smartie is a 10-year-old coloured mare who has very low mileage and not much experience. I also took her for her first event at Tweseldown’s unaffiliated horse trials.
Our dressage showed promise. Some lovely moments in the trot but improvement needed in the canter. I had never showjumped Smartie before so did not know what to expect. We had an unlucky 4 faults at the bogey fence, which was then followed by a fantastic clear cross-country. This landed ourselves with eighth place which exceeding my expectations.
We then headed to our first BE together at Munstead horse trials the following weekend. Smartie excelled in every phase showing vast improvement with a PB dressage of 30; and two fantastic jumping rounds to finish in third place. This was the perfect run before stepping up a level at our next event.
Back to Tweseldown for their BE, and a step up for Smartie. She was a little too opinionated in the dressage which effected our score; but was fair for the work she produced. The then flew round the showjumping with the greatest of confidence for a round I was proud of. The cross-country was a huge test for her. I did wonder whether it was too much for her; but she exceeding my expectations. We had a green moment at a skinny arrowhead after she jumped too boldly over the first part of the combination; but other than that she flew round in the time.
A great end to her season; and yet another joy to ride. I have been incredibly lucky this year!
I could not have had a better end to the season as both Finely and I had managed to win the Exracehorse League as part of the SOUTH EAST EVENTERS LEAGUE. Not only this….we also came 6th in the Novice League.
The celebrations were held at the High Rocks Inn in Tunbridge Wells; which i attended with my most loyal supporter and groom. (Mummy Gordon!) This was a fantastic venue, and the most amazing evening. My prizes were incredibly generous and I was completely overwhelmed by their generosity.
I am now even more determined to continue our success next year; and am looking forward to getting into full winter competition mode after a mini break to Disneyland Paris with a good friend!
LG Eventing and Dressage 