& Meridian Sport Horses
We are excited to see MW Gangster's Game at 5* Kentucky Three Day Event after his perfect prep with a recent 4* win at Farhill International.
Homebred MW Gangster Game as a 4YO with us, fast forward seven years and he has just completed his first 5* at Kentucky Three Day Event!
Many congratulations to Daniel (Clasing Equestrian) and all their connections.
A mixed day yesterday at Calmsden Horse Trials. Molly had her 1st run of the season. She did a good test and clear show jumping to have her well placed going to the cross country. But unfortunately I had an unscheduled dismount in the warm up meant that we both set out on the course slightly unnerved so not are most smooth of rounds XC. She would have learnt from this experience that not everything goes to plan. Onwards and upwards
Great to be back out eventing at Larkhill to start our 2021 eventing season.
Milchem Sea Breeze felt spot on and finished 3rd in the BE100open.
KEC Delicate Girl came straight out at novice level and put in a great round cross country, we won’t mention her disliking to the cow audience in her dressage!
Finally Piccolo V was in flying form in the jumping phases after also landing on the naughty step in the dressage. We will be bringing out the flower pots at home this week so there is no excuse next time out!
Roll on the rest of the season
When setting our 2021 goals, we used EquiRatings methods to analyse how the horses had performed in 2020 and what they needed to be scoring to be competitive at their various levels. Set out below is a plan for each horse incorporating EquiRatings statistics.
The key for EquiRatings is as follows:
Average dressage score (6RA)
Average show jumping faults (SJ6)
Average cross-country jumping faults, from the last 10 events (XCJ10)
Average cross-country time faults (TSR)
Overall performance and placings (OBP6)
For the first four horses listed below, this is what the need to be achieving in order to win or be placed at novice level:
Hazard Z
Statistics:
Goals:
• Reduce dressage (6RA) by 2 marks to 28
• Improve SJ (SJ6) to < 1
• Keep TSR (XC time) at <1
Overall aim:
• CCI2*S/L
• Look to upgrade to Intermediate by the end of the year.
Piccolo V
Statistics:
Goals:
• Reduce dressage (6RA) by 2 marks to 28
• Improve SJ (SJ6) to < 1
• Keep TSR (XC time) at <1
Overall aim:
• Look to upgrade to Intermediate and CCI3*
Milchem Sea Breeze
Statistics:
Goals:
Overall aim:
• Consolidate at novice level and CCI2*S
KEC Delicate Girl
Statistics:
Goals:
Overall aim:
• Consolidate at novice level and CCI2*S
Don't Look Back
Statistics:
Overal aim:
Maintain performance in affiliated competition and upgrade to BE100.
Timpex Karizma
A new 5YO
Goals:
The start of the 2021 eventing season over in the USA, saw some brilliant results for Meridian Stud graduates.
MW Gangster’s Game and Daniel Clasing, started as they mean to go on with a win and Millfield Lancando (Booli Selmayr) followed up his 4th placing earlier in the month with a 6th in the AI at Pinetop. Also great to see Fernhill Freestyle stepping up effortlessly to Intermediate this spring under Zachary Brandt.
Picture below of MW Gangster's Game with Kate, early on in his competition career back in 2014.
Many riders want to know how to sit deep in canter, but I prefer to think of developing an independent seat, which allows the rider to mirror the movement of the horse’s back. The rider needs to use their core strength and seat bones to encourage the horse to come off the forehand and take the weight on to his hind leg to help develop self-carriage.
Check out the rest of my Sunday School feature here
It was a first and second today at Offbury Church with Emma Hazell’s Ultravox and Molly in the 90.
Huge thanks to Llyod and the Land's Eventing team for managing to run in the conditions. Great outing despite the weather!
