BEAUTIFUL BLENHEIM
What an AMAZING week! CHARLES RR (Charlie) and I just completed our first CCI*** … Wahhhooo!
Charlie stayed so relaxed during his dressage test in a big atmosphere, which at this stage was the main goal. He got some lovely comments from the judges and good marks; unfortunately we decided he wasn’t ready to attempt flying changes so the final score didn’t reflect some of the great work he produced. A winter of changes should hopefully create a big increase in dressage marks next year!
Saturday was cross country day (Charlie’s favourite!) the course was big, bold and very long… Oh and the weather was wet, very wet, but, Charlie was BRILLIANT! He is so bold, agile and straight making everything feel so easy, and finished full of running. Crossing the finish line with a clear round made the hours of hard work totally worth it! I also rode round in my AMAZING new Sue Carson saddle (the Olympic Special), I cannot thank Sue enough, I felt so secure and balanced in it.
Sunday morning he flew through trot up and show jumped in the afternoon full of energy. Unfortunately Charlie went a little green in the big arena atmosphere and over jumped some fences… However when both of us gain some more experience at this level he is more than capable of jumping clear rounds…. He certainly has plenty of scope! I have to remind myself it was just over two years ago that he did his first CIC* at Rockingham… And now he’s popping round Blenheim!
I am so happy and proud of my lovely 9 year old, he has come such a long way from his first BE90 at Moreton Morrell just 4 years ago… The future is VERY exciting, he really is a ‘World Class’ horse!
A HUGE thank you to the countless people involved in getting us to this stage … In particular my Mum, Dad, Grampy Bob (who owns Charlie) and my mentor Rhian Jones. Also another big thank you to my sponsors Sue Carson Saddles, Baileys Horse Feeds, Eventing Images, Born and Bred Clothing, FMBs Therapy Systems and Equiclass Boots!
The full GALLERY of photos can be viewed HERE
Photos: © Tim Wilkinson, 2016 Alicia Hawker Eventing/Eventing Images – ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.