Since our last update lots has happened!
We’ve been to 6 more events and had some great results.
Swalcliffe was a highlight with all four horses finishing in the top 10 in various sections of the BE100. It was a great day for the whole team – see them in action here: https://youtu.be/4ETB7HzImW8
We then headed up to Belton with the main man Hugo for a spin round the OI – he felt class and jumped a super double clear to finish just outside of the top 10. The weather at Belton was stunning and with the event setting, it had a great feel.
The day after we were back out with the younger horses down the road at Goring. It was the first event for our new 5YO Milchem Sea Breeze and wow she was super cool taking it all in her stride with an easy double clear. MW Congo Diva (Panda), had some young horse moments, but also glimpses of brilliance!
In an action packed weekend, I then headed off for my third outing, the last days dragging with the legendary Chippy at Rockley Manor. I have had an awesome season with the Berks & Bucks pack, doing some field mastering and whipping in (on one occasion Chippy and had a 37km day!) a great alternative to eventing throughout the off season!
We then headed to Larkhill with Piccolo V (Pickle), Lecarrow Watermill (Belle) and Cochise (Cheese) owned by Eleanor Hubbard. Cheese was the star of the day picking up a placing. Pickle found the dressage very exciting and I had a slight sat nav failure on Belle in the dressage, but both their jumping efforts were fab with great double clears.
Then came a few lows. The first one, was a huge blow when we recently had to withdraw lovely Hugo from Badminton. He has picked up a small injury which has ruled him out for this years event. We are all absolutely gutted not to be heading back, but our awesome vets and physios are confident that they will get him back up and running for the end of the season.
To top off an already challenging week, Meridianway Grafs Pride (Oli) then decided to have a totally naughty day at South of England and bronc his way out of his own dressage arena into the next one and I got my first Elimination from dressage! After he had started so well at Tweseldown too!
However, luckily all the younger horses cheered me back up at Calmsden UA this weekend just gone and we had 4/5 double clears, with a 3rd for Hazard Z in the 90cm and an 8th for the Ashfield family’s Dernahatten Oak in the 100cm. Milchem Sea Breeze put in another great performance, feeling a lot more confident as did MW Congo Diva who was a lot more settled in the dressage.
It has also been a great month to welcome new supporters to the team. First up is FMBs, who I was really pleased to make the shortlist for their sponsored rider search, which involved having to put a video together with lots of talking to camera, which was a first! Huge thank you to everyone who liked and shared my video, I was overwhelmed by your support and a big well done to the eventual winners Kimberley and Craig. Off the back of this FMBS have kindly offered me a free upgrade on their brilliant Activo-Med rug, which I can’t wait to start using.
In other sponsors news, I am delighted to be working with Premier Equine who have given me lots of sets of brilliant Carbon Tech Air Cooled eventing boots. Ginger & Jardine are a new up and coming clothing brand with a emphasis on sustainability, and have kindly sent Mum and I with some great items including roll necks which have been perfect for the unpredictable spring weather. Last but by no means least, I am really excited to have Event Equestrian Clothing on board looking after me on the riding clothing side of things.
So, overall a busy month, not one we predicted, but that is the life of an eventer – onwards and upwards.