BE90 Horse Trials – Stafford

Dressage Test BE91 (2009) XC Jump Pens: 0 Total Penalties:

37

Judge: TBC XC Time Pens: 0
Dressage Mark: 37 XC Distance: 2497
SJ Jump Pens: 0 XC Optimum: 5:10 Placing:

11th

SJ Time Pens: 0 XC Time Actual: 5:01

An early start this morning, although my dressage was at 11.30, Ibby and I traveled together – and as Ibby had an 8.30 dressage we left the yard at 5am!

We got to Stafford County Showground at just after 7am: plenty of time to check in and get Doris tacked up for his dressage.  The ground was very heavy and holding at 8am – so I wasn’t looking forward to my dressage test at 11.30 after dozens of horses had churned it up!  Ibby and Doris had a very nice dressage and clear SJ – we popped him back on the lorry and went to walk the XC course.  There were a few questions and Ibby pointed out the traps – very helpful!

Doris finished his XC clear but with time pens because of a nap between fences 3 and 4 (finishing 2nd).

So, focus on Finn!!  Ibby helped me warm up for the dressage – it started raining and was getting quite windy.  We had a little drama when I reported to the dressage steward as my hat tag had fallen off and I was sent back to get re tagged. I rode back to the lorry and used Ibby’s hat instead!! It was a shocking arena and I probably could/should have ridden more positively – if I’d had bigger studs!! Anyway, I was pleased with our performance and got the thumbs up from Ibby after the test.

Stafford 28Mar15Straight onto SJ; I got Finn tacked up – I put her front brushing boots on and Ibby took them straight back off again and replaced them with her PE SJ boots (with open fronts).  I was a bit worried as the last time I show jumbed on grass in similar conditions we had that crashing horse fall….  Ibby worked us in for the SJ and was insistent that I rode forward ans attached the fences – rather than mincing about!  We went in and I was positive – Finn jumped brilliantly for a lovely clear round.

FullSizeRender (10)I felt confident going into the XC, I rode really positively out of the start box and was respectful of the second fence  – a white house on a turn where a few people had some issues.  The going was pretty heavy but Finn just ate it up, giving me an extra gear up the hill through the wood before fence 7.  Fence 8 was the trakehner – I gave her some extra encouragement between 7 and 8 and rode it like any other fence – she responded brilliantly and took it completely in her stride.  I had been walking around the XC warm up with Becky Hooley on Anna – we came up with the mantra “it’s just a log” and it worked!

Finn felt absolutely awesome XC today, we’re definitely ready for the BE100 at Norton Disney is a couple of weeks’ time.  Bring it on!

We were just out of the placings today, finishing 11th – earning a foundation point for the double clear.StaffordCourseWalk