Borde Hill Novice 27/05/2013

So by the skin of our teeth we made it to Borde Hill yesterday. I'd pretty much aimed my whole season towards it as I saw the course photos and decided I could jump it. So decided to make it my return debute at Novice. And what a return it was!

 We drove up on Sunday night as my mum struggles to drive the lorry for too long in 1 day so made a bit of a camping trip out of it. We popped to the event first to walk the course. Hmm! It was rather large, especially a big brush fence with a drop on the other side at 11.

Here's a photo. I'm stood on landing side and I'm 5 foot 8!


It didn't seem very technical which I was relieved with, so trying hard to ignore the sheer size of the fences, I repeated my mantra "I can do this" and set off to our stabling. We went on to have a few drinks and played monoply until very late which kept my mind off things.

In the morning, we arrived with plenty of time, and walked the course again. Fence 11 had evidently grown inside my head so I was quite relieved when I saw it! At this point the course actually looked jumpable and I was very excited!

So I warmed up for my dressage and he was going beautifully. I kept having to remind myself that the fellow competitors warming up were not all far better than me and that I DID deserve to be here. Luckily they were running early..think I need to start warming up for 20 minutes as the last 3 outings I've been ready before my time.

Looking very smart warming up!


So went to trot around the outside of the ring and Squirrel pointed his toys and grew a hand.


and in we went!

I felt I had to work quite hard to keep my trot bouncy and didn't really feel I achieved the impulsion and movement he can do, but I thought it was a fair test. My 15m circles were accurate, he was AMAZING in the leg yields, my medium trot left a bit to be desired as I asked and had no reaction so booted him so he did lengthen but unbalanced in the process I was pleased he came back nicely after medium canter as he does have a tendency to get keen and tank off a little. My canter across the diagonal with a simple change was a bit...pokey I felt, which was a shame as he did it beautifully warming up. I completly overshot my centre line in canter and almost forgot to trot at x then landed in a heap at G

So I was pleased as he did lots nicely and I hadn't felt the movements all came up very quickly like I did this time last year. I felt we deserved around 37, although my mum and Jason (OH) were looking extremely pleased and after watching the video I grudgingly brought my estimate down to 35 as he did look very yummy!

Photos shocked me - he amazes me how much he has improved in this phase. I used to look at photos and be very down hearted as he was so on the forehand the whole picture was flat and he hardly looked round. Now look!






Now the show jumping! This was causing carnage. Very few clears, I saw plenty of 12s, plenty of 16s and even higher! The time also seemed rather tight as lots were getting TP. The distances walked a bit funny and it was quite undulating. He warmed up nicely although I limited it as it was pretty hard, and kept him on his toes afterwards with lots of walk to trot transitions. May of worked a bit too well as when I popped a fence just before going in I almost got tanked off with

I got a great shot to number 1


had 2 down..I've looked at the video and not really sure why, I might let myself off that one although it was going uphill so perhaps I should of kept the impulsion better. I came round the corner to 3 and heard them announce my dressage score of 29.5!!!!! Never in my wildest dreams did I think we would maintain the scores we've been getting at novice! So I promplty buried him into number 3, had to give him a slap on the shoulder and he cleared it for me.

I then practically galloped him at number 4 and got way ahead of him so he had to put a tiny one in and went through it.

I then gave myself a shake - I had said I would be happy with 8 but no more [although that was before I knew how much trouble it was causing] and rode the rest very nicely if I may say so myself. And he delivered and jumped the rest beautifully.

Big smile in this one - I had a good shot in at the treble and knew it ahaha!

I did have 1 time fault though.

I felt much more confident about the XC at this point, although I knew how badly I wanted a clear round...I wasn't planning on going for time too much, although I did intend to ride it just as forwards as I do at BE100 because when we went novice last time, I decided we were just having a hack round and he was backing off the fences because of that.

My concerns regarding lack of XC lately were pointless, he knew what to do. Luckily, fairly quickly, we were in the start box and away! He jumped the first 3 fences beautifully out of his stride.


Fence 4 was a big double of tables, the first scared me as it was very gappy but apparantly I forgot I was on super horse! He jumped in fab, I sat and panicked and tried to hold him for an extra stride but luckily he took charge, told me where to go and jumped it FAB!

Next was a roll top going downhill to a step up, bounce over a little log. I wasn't worried about it as we'd jumped a far nastier step up, bounce to fence at Larkhill which he made feel easy.


And he did again, he popped down the roll top, up the step and pinged over the log.


Next was a big meaty table which didn't feel as big riding into it now I remembered I was sat on Super Horse and he took it in his stride.


Next was a big spread with a brush at the back, 2 strides off a turn. I said to myself when I walked it, as soon as I turn, I need to ride forwards. Which I did and he jumped it beautifully. Next was a trakhner although the ditch wasn't anything to write home about. Oddly enough this was where he had a bit of a spook so he had a growl and jumped it well in the end.

Then down a hill and round a corner to a double - a rail then a corner. I steadied him for it, looked for my line, found it and rode it like I planned ( ) and he locked on and knew what to do.

Then it was a double of houses, 4 strides on a turn, which he did beautifully. Then number 11, the dreaded huge brush fence! Well. It was amazing. The landing took forever but it was sweet and lovely.

Then it was a tiny carrot oxer as a let up, before 2 wide houses which you had to jump at an angle on 2 short strides. I had considered turning a circle in between and accepting the 20 penalities if I didn't think we could do it, but he jumped it superbly.

Next was a skinny corner of a hedge which he did perfectly. Then the water, first it was a rail to be jumped on an angle then a couple of strides before cantering through a bit, then a turn to a drop with a little log on top into the water, and 3 strides to a little fence in the water.

He backed off the first rail so had a smack, and I had to work hard to keep him going forwards but he bounded off the drop and over the fence in the water. It was just 2 simple but big fences to finish which felt easy at this stage!

And we did it! We went clear and it felt EASY!!

After lots of cuddles and getting him sorted, I checked the scores. People were getting a fair few time faults, so was curious about mine as I had felt fast but I didn't push it as we weren't there to win today, and I was a little concerned about fitness.

We had 4.8 time faults in the end which was fine with me. It also earned us 8th place and our first BE point!!

I am so so proud of this horse. He is a fantastic creature and I adore him.

Terrible Tweseldown report and spanner in the works

Sorry for  the delay in this report - I've had a manic week with several 4am starts, only getting home until almost 9!

So to Tweseldown. I was feeling confident in the morning, and really looking forward to Borde Hill novice on the 27th. I felt we had done our homework and a nice, confidence giving run at Tweseldown would set us up beautifully. Sadly, it was not to be.

I had late times; a dressage of 12.30 then not jumping until 5pm! So I was able to bath and plait in the morning, with a bit of a lie in thrown in too (well 7am is a lie in when you usually get up at 5am...)

He warmed up nicely, although a little unsteady in the head which unfortunately he has been since his week away. I'm sure that'll sort itself out quickly though. Much more off the leg than previously. We checked in with our steward, who casually asked me if I were intending on fastening my chin strap on my hat before I went into the ring - oops! Everyone warming up must of thought I was an idiot - I have to admit, I do when I see people with their chin strap undone. At least my new hat is nice and snug as I didn't notice a thing haha.

We went in and did our test. I was very happy with it when I am out. He was a little unsteady in 1 of the 10m loops and I thought I was a bit quick in my trot-walk-trot but he did nice transitions and was lovely and forwards. He was also a little wobbly in my canter with his bum swinging in and to be honest I didn't do a lot to correct it.

I felt it was one of our nicest tests of the year so was pretty disappointed when I saw our dressage was 34 - our worst score by 4 marks this year. None the less, it would of been a good score a year ago so I was still a bit pleased so we're obviously improving a lot in this phase. However as the day went on, it became clear our judge was quite harsh with only 1 mark in the 20s. I was in equal 8th after dressage so couldn't complain with a rather full section, especially as when I looked back at the test on video I saw a few places I threw marks away. (Over confident after a 29 and a 28 on the trot perhaps??)

Anyway. I strolled around the XC. Its the first time I've seen the new cross country at tweseldown and it seems to have stepped up difficulty wise. There were several questions - a roll top with 4 curving strides to a hedge corner, a corner which came out of no where that had a lot of run outs, a log with a bit drop on the other side, and a palisade with 3 strides downhill to a skinny triple brush. However he is spot on  with corners, I've done my homework on my skinnies and drops are just my own demon (first time I xc schooled him I fell off down a drop into water as he was very wobbly coming down it).

So I was a little apprehensive but still fairly happy. I then legged it round the SJ coursework (why schedule in a course walk if you don't allow time for ANYONE to walk all of it?? And I am Queen of power walking!)

Eventually it was time to tack up for the Show jumping. I pulled him off the lorry, where he had been fast asleep. I grabbed his boots, then saw he had a fat knee. Disaster! It was very warm with a lot of fluid around the joint. I trotted him up and he was 100% sound. I spoke to my mum who had been with him the whole time and he hadn't banged about, and to be fair he is very very quiet in the lorry. He hadn't tripped or stumbled warming up for dressage and the ground was good so I was at a loss.

I was 99% certain I would withdraw but decided to get the vet to check him out. She said if I really wanted to, I could continue although she advised not to. She didn't think it would cause any problems, but there was a much more increased risk that if he hit a fence cross country or stumbled ect he could do more damage. I would also never forgive myself if I ran and he went lame, so we withdrew.

Not quite what I needed a week before our first novice! On Monday he had physio with our fantastic sponsor, Ruth Mawer, and the knee was the same. He had slight soreness in his sacroilliac but nothing major and the tension released instantly. She advised that re. the back he only needed 1 day off then ideally lunged in the pessoa for the sacroilliac but given the knee, a quiet hack might be better.

Tuesday the knee was the same, as was it on wednesday, although the heat had gone by then. He was being cold hosed for 20min twice a day and arnica gel applied.

On Wednesday morning, I decided I really needed to make a decision re. Borde Hill so called my vet out. She examined him very thoroughly and really couldn't find anything wrong. There were no marks on him apart from what looked to be a tiny old scab, he had usual range of movement and was completly sound.

She said to give him 2 days of quiet hacking then crack on. If the knee had gone down by the weekend she said we were fine to take him. She also said even if it were still up, she was happy for us to take him as it wasn't bothering him, but obviously an increased risk going cross country. She said unless he went lame or the swelling increased, or was still there in a few weeks, there was absolutely no point in scanning it at this stage.

So I took him for a hack that evening, and the swelling had gone down a lot by the time we got home. Today it is very very very minimal, only a tiny tiny lump left - we're thinking it might of been an allergic reaction to a fly bite given it was never sore and he didn't seem to knock himself.

I schooled him yesterday and he was lovely, and I'm jumping him this afternoon. If all is well, we will be going to Borde Hill.

However it has meant I had to cancel a lesson and decided not to go show jumping today as planned as I need to work on things at home that I couldn't do during the week. So feeling a mix of excitement along with apprehension as this was exactly what I DIDN'T need the week before our novice. He hasn't been xc in 6 weeks.

But I am more confident than last time. I know I can jump the height, and he jumped the novice track at Larkhill (albiet schooling and some of the jumps were removed, but nothing influential).

I'm looking forward to a more testing dressage. I have a different plan for show jumping and cross country. The mantra will be We can do this. And I will not repeat my mistake at Somerely Novice where I went cross country with the attitude of we will take our time and pootle along. Although yes, making the time is certainly NOT my concern, I need to attack the course more to establish a forward going rhythm, although I will not hestitate to circle even if it incurs 20 penalties at a combination if I feel I need to.

My plans afterwards include Nunney international (where the novice is big but not technical) then on to Milton Keynes. Never been there before but BE website says the course looks strong but rides well and suitable for first timers. I can't remember my plans for after that but I do know I have the CIC1* at Firle Place on the 1st September in the back of my thoughts and perhaps even the CCI* at Aldon at the end of the season. But this is planning far to far in advance so lets see how Borde Hill goes first :D

Holidays and lessons and changes!

Sorry for things being quiet lately.

I've been on holiday in Spain! My first time away for 2 years and first proper holiday in at least 5!

My childhood holidays consisted of camping. Often France and once we toured round Italy for a month (this was pre-horses!). Later, when my dad moved to work abroad, we visited him. The three weeks in Australia were much loved, but the week in Egypt was more..well it was nice but the blatant poverty wasn't my cup of tea.

So we went to an all inclusive hotel in Palma Nova (neighbours with Magaluf!) which was great fun. We spent a fair bit of time lying on the beach and also visited a water park, watched a show called Pirates which involved some of the world's best gymnasts, went horse riding/line dancing (rather amusing) and a few other bits and bobs. Would like to say I came home feeling refreshed but I hate flying so got home in a bit of a bad mood and rather stressed as we had a lot of turbulence!

Squirrel went to the yard I used to work at in Salisbury. I had a jumping lesson when I dropped him off, which was super. We briefly did some work on his lengthenings and then some polework, as he tends to change onto his right canter lead, even over a pole. I had to work very hard to keep him straight and on the correct leg!

Afterwards we jumped and Gubby seemed quite pleased at my new ability to almost always get a shot. The main comment was I need to be more disciplined on my turns and to ride straight after a fence rather than letting Squirrel drift.

I had a flat lesson when we came back. I was very impressed with the lovely, forwards horse I got on! We did more work with poles and  I managed to keep him on the correct lead this time, as well as the canter. Gubby said he likes to trail his outside leg somewhat in canter so when I ask for the strike off, I need to imagine I'm pushing his outside hind leg underneath him, and also to ask that every few strides in order to maintain it. Besides that, he was picking up on the points Warren has been saying to me, so its good to know we're on the right track.

In other news, Lacey has been getting on very well with her new sharer - I think I mentioned her? And she is proving to be very capable and helpful which is fantastic.

My project, Nikki Drake's Hedgie who is a 4 year old Thoroughbred is coming along nicely. Despite serious lack of facilities and some inconsistent training with me being out and about, he is starting to work nicely and I convinced him to go over his first pole yesterday. He was convinced it would bite but after an initial hesitation he was happy to walk and trot over it several times. I don't think it'll be more than a couple of weeks before he's up for sale.

My work is changing a lot now and it might be time to get some new clients, although word of mouth is working nicely and I have a potential client to plait for which I love, and someone who is directly next to my yard needs a pony exercised.

I am sad to say, come Autumn, I may be leaving the yard in Upton. I really enjoy it there, but sadly the young eventer has been diagnosed with kissing spines and arthritus. They are looking at a long term plan to get him back into full work, but meanwhile will be buying another horse. This means they will need more work, which is fine for now as a few horses I ride are off the agenda with their owner's returning from university, but in winter it just won't happen. I don't want to give up the riding jobs for it so I may be looking to leave and hopefully get some more work riding. We'll see.

I'm still toying with the idea of buying a young horse but I do love just pouring my time into Squirrel. I need to have a think and a ponder about what I want from life and horses.

Tomorrow we're off to Tweseldown, then next Saturday some BS, then the following Monday is our novice debute at Borde Hill!

The Horse, and Lacey.

Yesterday I had a lot of horses to hack out. I was pondering a lot during this time, about horses. About how much we often take for granted. Especially after a bad day when you're eliminated at a competition or your horse just won't bend nicely or move off your leg.

When that happens, we need to take a step back and look at the bigger picture. Its incredible really, how these massive animals bend to our requests so willingly. Animals which were designed to look at us as predators. Years of captivity have taught them that we are not fearful, but pleasurable to be around. We do so much for our horses; work long hours to afford them, sacrifice a social life and holidays, spend our days picking up poo, getting wet and covered in mud.

But think about what they do for us. They let us sit on them, dictate their movements and speed. They willingly gallop for us around a cross country course, jumping big fences and complex combinations which they havn't seen before. Just because we ask. There's no force in the world which would make them do this if they didn't want to. No amount of hitting or kicking.

They want to do it because of the inate sense which makes them want to please. Often they find they enjoy it but they do it to please us. Such beautiful, noble creatures who have worked our land and carried us into war without complaint. Who fill our hearts and souls with love, and contribute so much to our very existence.

I for one, would be a very different person without the horse.


In other, less deep news. I have found a sharer for Lacey! I'm so pleased. I've lost a lot of motivation to work with her as unfortunately, she'll never really go anywhere anymore. She loves to hack (a little too much!) and finds a lot of schooling and jumping stressful. It's taken a long time (I advertised her in January!) but at last I've found a lovely girl who will be riding her between 3-5 times a week. She rode her beautifully and a fizzy fast pony is just what she wants!

I'm off on holiday on Tuesday!! First proper one in about 5 years, if not longer!! I'm very excited. Squirrel is off to Salisbury, to spend the week with my old boss getting some intensive schooling. I'm looking forward to having a nose around and seeing whats changed around there.

I'm also off to Badminton tomorrow. On top of my to buy list is a new hat, possibly a bridle and I'm sure I'll find some other bits and bobs!

Cricklands Winter League Championships April 26th-28th

I was really looking forward to this weekend in Wales. I've been going to this show for years but always on my brat ponies where I spent more time getting eliminated or on the floor than I did actually jumping, so it was quite a relief to be setting off with a horse I felt confident would at least complete all the rounds if nothing else! It was good to get to somewhere that wasn't so serious to me and was also looking forward to spending time with pony and OH!

I took him once before in 2011 but it was when I was still getting to grips with him and had a weekend of fourfaultitis, so now we're very consistent at this level I felt quite excited for a good weekend!

We arrived Thursday afternoon and Squirrel quickly settled in. He is so relaxed, he just settles anywhere which is always a relief. In fact I seemed to have spent a lot of time trying to get him to stop lying down opposed to anything else this weekend!

Friday morning dawned nice and early, I woke up way before my alarm at 6am (its sad when that becomes a lie in!) so got up, fed, mucked out and grazed Squirrel for a while. He was like a kid in a sweetshop - a lot more grass there than at home!

As I was in the 3 foot 3 I had quite a wait til my first warm up class (1 round against the clock) so took the oppertunity to relax and get stuck into the sweet shop.

I walked my course and picked my lines. I had already decided it was a "do or die" weekend - I had nothing to lose, I didn't want to go for steady clears and get a 5th, I wanted to push the boat out and go for a win, and if we had a pole, then nevermind.

about to go in


first fence


turning in the air



unfortunately had the back part of this double down which put us out the placings in that first class

taking a flier anyway


and over the last


We had a bit of a break then it was time for the teams! I have some good friends who I meet there time and time again and we formed a team. We were doing the 2 foot 6 as 1 of them rides a 27 year old pony who is a little cracker but generally taking things a bit easier. Behind my back they managed to come up with the team name "Polka Dot Polka Dot Afro Circus" which did give me a giggle when I heard!

I was jumping last - they decided I got to be the William Fox-Pitt "Mr Cool" of the team - not in my nature!

My friend and her OH managed to jump lovely clears, although her OH was a bit heart in mouth as he rides an enormous horse who just lollops over the fences and looks like he'll have each one down but they stayed! Our third member rode a super round but unfortunately had a fence down so it was down to us to get a clear to put us into the jump off.

I rode out to screams and shouts (which was hilarous) and Squirrel popped round sweetly without breathing on a fence. I'm not going to lie, I was a little worried he wouldn't respect them but he was a star.



I was nominated for the jump off along with another person from our team. Unfortunately my team member had a horse fall at the second fence. No real reason, he landed fine then rolled over! Luckily both were okay and went on to have a good weekend but it was a heart stopping moment! So me and Squirrel just hacked round as with an elimination we were last from the J/O teams. But we still scraped a 5th which was nice.

Suddenly I heard an announcement for an impromtu chase me charlie! Well, I thought why not?

17 were entered and it started at 2 foot 3.
Gradually got a bit bigger and Squirrel got rather excited! For some reason this was very exciting and he got very bouncy and even doing some of those "leaps" before the fence which made it tricky to ride him as he is normally very laid back.




I thought I was quite clever and got him nice and deep to the practise fence each time which he kept having down (it was very gappy too) which helped him pick up for the actual competition jump unfortunately this failed when it got to 4 foot 6 and he cleared the practise fence. I held him a stride too long and he clipped it behind, but came a respectable third, with the two riders who cleared it deciding to call it a draw.

Also a token picture of my friend's 14hh 27 year old popping 4 foot


What a star!

Anyway we finished the day off with high spirits, looking forward to the rest of the weekend.

Saturday was STRESSFULL. They had changed the format of the warm up classes and champ classes (i.e. the warm ups and champ classes used to run in the same ring for each height but they had changed it) so my classes were heading for a head on collision course.

I managed to jump first inmy warm up and really went for a fast, tight round which Squirrel pulled out the bag.




I then ran down to walk my championship course (which was tricky and demanded respect on the corners!) then ran back to found we had won!


it was marred a bit that there weren't a huge amount of entries (not sure, more than 10 though as all the placings were taken) and with moving the format about, there was zero atmoshpere there..but he was fantastic.

We had just enough time to get him down to the championship class, where he jumped beautifully.




and went clear!

We were quite early in the jump off (5th I think) and 3 before us had gone clear and fast so I knew what we had to do.


our time was on par with the winner (I can't remember the .00s) but unfortunately we had 2 down which was rare for him. I just let him get too fast through the double (which was short) and then flat into the next fence but nevermind! He jumped his heart out.

 Saturday night involved drinking and piggy back "Grand Nationals" which was great fun although I have bruises to show for it after a nasty "horse fall". Pleased to report my mount was a little stiff but sound in the morning and passed the trot up

Luckily my mum got up and fed Squirrel breakfast so I had a bit of a lie in. 2 mushroom and bacon burgers later I felt better although it was a long wait until my warm up class.

I was first in again as worried about classes clashing (although I had hours to spare this time) and it was a wiggley course. I decided to concentrate on turns - there were plenty to do! - and forget about letting him go fast as I didn't want any poles..

He was SUPERB. He jumped lines the ponies in the 2 foot 3 class struggled with, all with 1 eye and didn't bat an eyelid. He knew what I wanted and he delivered. I finished with a grin on my face, knowing the time would be hard to beat.







We held on to it and won the class! This actually felt like a win with lots of entries so I was thrilled.


Then we had a looooong wait until our championship class which wasn't until around 4pm. Knowing we still had to thoroughly clean out his stable and a 2 hour drive home (and a 5am start the next day) I was getting very tired.

Finally it was our turn. I was 17th to jump and there were only 4 clears so far. The two doubles were proving troublesome as it walked very short, so I knew I had to keep him short for these.

He jumped a super round again, really listened. Unfortunately at the last I relaxed thinking I was done and had it down! But he was super and I couldn't ask more of him.





All in all, it was a super weekend - best by far I've had there. I messed up the championship rounds but I can't complain. We'll just have to come back in August to crack it!

Excuse my face in this, Squirrel was not feeling co-operative and kept knocking his rosettes off instead of posing. And I have the make up on from the night before.