2019…A BIG UPDATE

Time really does fly when you are having fun and keeping busy!

I hadn’t realised how long ago my last update was, but that certainly doesn’t mean the boys and I have been resting!

With the winter being dryer than the average it has meant that the boys remained pretty fit through the darker times raring to go at the start of 2019. I was also very lucky to have by sponsorship and support from Petplan Equine continued for the third year running – for which I am extremely grateful in what I will hope will be a successful year.

Ransom started his dressage campaign in February at Step Aside Dressage. The aim of this year is to:

• Qualify for Summer Regionals at Advanced Medium
• Debut at Inter I
• Qualify at PSG and Inter I for Petplan Regional Finals

We had a great start coming 1st in the Advanced 105 and PSG classes with a couple of errors. His next two outings were at Brendon Pyecombe where we competed in both the Advanced Medium and PSG classes. With each outing he improved showing some fantastic work and getting his qualifying scored for Petplan. He came away with two firsts and two seconds.

Our next outing will see our debut at Inter I at the end of May.

Click on the link to view our recent PSG performance https://youtu.be/PfzfrqIjF9M

Nelson has also had the most fantastic beginning of the year. Throughout the winter he had been competing in the Arena Eventing at Pyecombe; qualifying for the championships which were held at the beginning of March.

Despite not being the quickest pony due to his age; he jumped a fabulous clear round coming 7th in a large class.

Typically…he headed to his first horse trials on what was the hottest Easter weekend in 70 years! I knew I had to look after him in the heat and that the ground would mean we would need to take it steady.

I needn’t have worried about him too much as he pulled out a very active and accurate test for an incredible 21.8!! This was followed by a double clear to win the class. An amazing result for a pony who turned 28 only a few days earlier!

 

My old man

His amazing test!

Nelson will be aiming for some veteran classes again later on in the year; hoping to qualify for the sunshine tour again.

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We also turned our hand to Arena Eventing at both 1m and 1.10m to have some fun….turns out he’s pretty good at it! We competed in a speed class at Coombelands Equestrian where we finished sixth; and WON the 1.10m Championship class at Pyecombe Equestrian the same weekend Nelson went to the Champs. I felt incredibly positive for our first event at Tweseldown after the winter training we had.

Our winning round in the 1.10m championship

The beginning of March saw us head to our first event at Tweseldown to compete in the 100open. Finley was super all day – and I feel we had peaked at our first event. We completed on a 24 dressage with a double clear in the time to give us 5th place in a incredibly competitive section.

Sadly my gut instinct was correct about peaking to soon as Finley was hopping lame the next day. I gave him time to come right; but unfortunately needed to get the vet involved. There was a chance that Finley had torn his check ligament. Completely devastating news at the beginning of the season. But on the advise of an amazing vet from the team at Liphook Equine Hospital we started box rest, Bute, icing and cold hosing.

After a long ten days; I got the leg scanned…GOOD NEWS! His tendons and ligaments looked perfect and the swelling was probably a haematoma after a knock at Tweseldown. I got the all clear to start a rehab program to get Finley ready for his next event which would be the 100 open at Chilham.

The morning of driving to Chilham; Finley decided that he did not want to be caught! After 30 minutes of charging round his field Finley pulled up on three legs (My worst nightmare!) Luckily he has just had a small cut where he had caught his hind leg throwing some shapes! This would not stop us eventing!

We drove down the day before to stay with a lovely lady whom we had stayed with prior to Chilham last July. Lisa was extremely accommodating and Finley quickly settled into his stable for the night.

The ground was perfect and suited Finley well. He produced a sweet test for a 28 which I was happy with. I was aware that the atmosphere at Chilham has proven tough for Finley in the past; but he was incredibly confident and a little onward bound for one fence down. He then stormed round the cross country to go clear within the time for yet another top ten placing!

Our next event saw us head to Firle. This has never really been our event particularly as this is where our downfall was last season with having to completely rebuild Finn’s confidence in the showjumping arena. Plus I also had a mishap with a tree taking me out in previous years!

Today….Finley seemed to know best! The dressage was beautiful until he through a tantrum at the end, where I just about managed to keep him in the arena and halt at X. This significantly affected our marks and left us with a mid 30 dressage. Not something I have been used to for a while. The showjumping technique itself was brilliant despite the fact he used his own lines not wanting to listen to my contact at all. I had to tactfully ride him and just ‘point and shoot’. I then knew that I needed to be careful when warming up for the cross country; where the kind steward and starter allowed  me a running start from the warm up arena. He flew round oozing confidence and jumped our best round for a while clear inside the time leaving us just outside the top ten.

With only a week until our next event; I need to find away to control my incredibly fit and opinionated event horse without losing his enthusiasm and confidence…before we step back up to Novice!

No rest for the wicked!