It’s been a very busy couple of weeks since our CCI3* debut at Blenheim.
Just a few days after getting home and unpacking, we were back out competing, first up was Gatcombe, a local venue for us and I had MISERDEN RAVELLO (Flo) in her first Novice, LAWA (Torres) in the Open Novice and NANKIN DES RUETTES (Nonks) in the CIC2*.
Princess Flo was an absolute STAR, producing a 31.3 DOUBLE CLEAR to finish just outside the top ten in 12th place, not bad for her first Novice. She is an absolute jumping machine!
Torres took top honours for the yard this weekend, finishing on his dressage score of 27.5 to pick up 3rd place in a very competitive Open Novice. I think his hitchhiker friend Toughberry helped him though…
To round off the weekend Nonks competed in the CIC2*, the cross country had been causing all sorts of issues, and sadly it was to catch us out also, Nonks was going so well, jumping the best he has ever done, unfortunately a mis-communication coming out of the water result in a refusal, and I opted to retire and save him for another day. I’m so annoyed with myself as he so deserved a clear round.
The following weekend was Morton Morrell, and what a FUN day it was with my grey and black unicorns!
Six year old MISERDEN RAVELLO jumped another double clear in only her second Novice adding a few time faults to her 35.0 dressage to finish in 11th place. Unfortunately she found doing dressage on a hill in an arena the shape of a parallelogram a bit unbalancing, but she tried very hard!
Lovely LAWA finished 3rd again in the Open Novice adding just 0.8 time to his 30.0 dressage!
To finish off the weekend we headed to Chepstow UA One Day Event with WHITEHAWK KENTS GOLD (owned by Bex Greenwood) and CHOCOLATE (owned by Nicky Smith’s and Margie Vile) in the BE90. WHITEHAWK KENTS delivered a beautiful 30.0 dressage to WIN here section! He is the coolest, turbo charged pony around! Toughberry came with us for all three phases today as Bex is #kickingcancersbutt. CHOCOLATE also produced a 30.0 and two great jumping rounds, unfortunately a little green moment cross country cost us a top 3 placing.
My next event Dauntsey with FIVE! but before then I will be attending the Final of the Mark Todd Bridging the Gap Scholarship, and I am so excited.
Photos: Whatley Manor Gatcombe Horse Trials.
© Tim Wilkinson, 2016 Alicia Hawker Eventing/Eventing Images – ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.