Tweseldown again

Tweseldown dawned along with 'Storm Brian'.

I had been watching the forecast on tenterhooks all week, hoping it would improve. It did slightly so a brand newly clipped pony was duly washed and plaited.

Lexi warmed up tensely for the dressage and spooked like a five year old at the judge's car but oddly seemed to relax as we entered the arena. We did a nice test, my only complaints were a naff halt and a free walk without much stretch but I was pleased.

We were awarded with a 28.8 which turned out to be second in the section.

The showjumping was wet but didn't look too big following our bsja debut a few weeks ago. Someone returning from it commented she hadn't seen a clear and everyone was getting time faults. Lexi hasn't touched a pole since May so I felt if we were to break that streak today it could be forgiven. She warmed up well enough and didn't seem too bothered about the ground.

In the arena she set off well but became a little hesitant over 3, 4 and 5. Her confidence grew despite the ground and she jumped well to bag herself another clear!

I was nervous about the step back up to 90. Lots of airy fences, the fence before the water was bright, there was a tricky line with a fence on top of a mound followed by an angled double which had a decent fence coming out with the brush on top.

Lexi definitely knew what was coming and shot out the start box but had her usual bit of a look at the first couple of fences. We then got into more of a rhythm over a related distance of birch log oxers (very gappy!) and flew the log pile.

She had a good look at the fence before the water but duly jumped it, followed by a big leap into the water and jumped the house out out of trot. We then had a good gallop along the old racetrack popping a wagon in our stride.

Next was the mound combination - mindful we had a stop at something similar last time I kept my leg on. She looked then popped it. I aimed left at the first part of the combination. The distance felt long and I stupidly took a check only for her to run out at the second fence. Disappointed, the next attempt I rode for the three long strides and Lexi showed me why she ran out - apparently brush is not to be touched! So she went clean over the top which was around 1.10m. I have ordered a beautiful photo!

After that she really settled. We jumped a decent size house, flew the coffin and another table. Finally we faced our nemesis - the dragon. A little look, a bit of leg and a growl and we bounced over, finishing exactly on the optimum time even with the stop! Oops.