He's still got it - Aston Le Walls 1

We had very civilised times for our first outing of the season - last to go with a 3.30pm dressage meant that despite the 1.5 hour trip, I didn't even start bathing until 9.30am!

We arrived in good time and I set off to walk the course. There were a few questions - I was surprised to see a double of corners at 5 (and promptly saw someone get eliminated there), we also had a step up, step down to a skinny and a couple of angled combinations. I was very excited!

Squirrel warmed up nicely for the dressage although it was only after I dropped my whip that he started swinging from behind like he has been at home. Unfortunately we lost the connection a little in the test and were marked down for having a slightly unsteady contact, and we also struck off on the wrong leg for one canter. We scored 34.5 which left us midway in the section. I need to do some work on our dressage as we used to be very strong in this phase and seem to have slipped in the last year. Mind you, we are in open sections now so perhaps that makes the difference?

I was pleased to see the show jumping demanded riding with several dog legs and related distances opposed to the usual figure of 8! This kind of course suits Squirrel better as he's less inclined to get too onward bound. He was pinging in the warm up so I headed over a little early. We got a nice canter and popped fence one. We had fence 2 down which, for once, I'm going to say was his pole as  I placed him well and he had a good canter. Very rare for him to touch a fence without me messing up so I shan't complain! Popped fence 3, were onward bound into fence 4 which he tapped but it stayed. Came round the corner to the oxer at 5 and we were a long way off so I gave him a kick, he responded by lengthening then ballooning over it. Pro photographer got an extremely funny photo which in hindsight, I wish I bought...we ahem galloped at fence 6, I managed to get him back for the double and the last two fences so finished on 4 faults.

Then FINALLY, after what feels like a lifetime of waiting, it was cross country time! I was a little concerned how the sun would effect him, as it was very low and in some directions it was right in your line of sight and rather blinding.

He stormed out the start box and ate up the first 4 fences in quick succession. I shortened him before the double of corners, kept my outside rein and elbow close to my side and my shoulders back, I felt him lock on and he knew what to do. Next couple of fences were a simple chair and a brush fence, then it was the step combo. I shortened him and got him bouncy, he bounded up, I took a half halt, popped down the drop, channelled him for the skinny but he read it and popped through straight as a die. Next was a hay wagon type table which was fine, then the water.

Decent size brush, couple of strides to splash in then up a ramp over a log and down again. He can be a little looky at water but not today, stayed in canter through the water, then quickly settled back into his rhythm. We jumped the next few fences out of a gallop, then came round a corner to two angled pheasant feeders on two strides. Despite being blinded by the sun, he listened and popped through happy as larry. Then another table, and the next combination was a table, two strides to a brush on an angle. Again we couldn't see a thing but he popped through anyway. Galloped to the last and finished! What a ride!  I barely put my leg on, he understood every question and delivered.

We had..ahem....13 too fast penalties. We weren't the only ones; several went too fast, but to be honest, I don't care. We weren't in the running for a placing anyway, and the fact he felt so keen and happy to do his job means the world to me.

On the way home we had a disaster where the alternator on the lorry broke and we suddenly had no lights! We managed to pull into a layby and awaited rescue. After much debating with the recovery man, we managed to nurse the lorry to a nearby services to avoid having to shut the A34 whilst Squirrel was loaded onto the horse transport. My dad stayed with the lorry which went straight to the garage, and I finally picked him up at almost midnight! What a day!

Hopefully that will be fixed in time for Munstead at the end of March, and then I'm putting him into the Novice at Bovington! If he isn't happy this time trying to step up, he will stay at BE100. He's too special to push, but for now, whilst he feels better than ever, we will give it a go!

And it's happening!

The event season has started!

Off to Aston Le Walls today for the BE100 open on Squirrel. He is going better than ever, doesn't think he's a day over 8 and feels incredible.

I WILL post a big update from the last 18 months or so as soon as I find the time - I could seriously do with 32 hours in the day!