The rain has finally stopped and the well in our kitchen is full! What a relief as I have been hearing stories about the drought of 1976 for the last three months (from the mother) and thankfully someone up there decided to do something about it; maybe a little too much all in one go and sadly disrupting our eventing season but I have to say it is the most the grass has grown in the last 18 months and the horses are loving it.
Last week was most odd as we were meant to be eventing Wednesday, Friday and Saturday but on a day by day basis Aston le Walls seemed to be falling victim to the weather. Finding this out 24 hours before the event made it tricky to make new plans but we managed to fill our time getting everything exercised. Living on twitter was the answer waiting for that decision – it really was nail biting stuff.
Waking up over the weekend to see blue sky was such a treat and made one realise what a rubbish time we have had weather wise over the last month. Rain and horses are just such a bad combo; they hate working in it, I certainly hate working in it but sadly neither mine or the horses feelings get taken into consideration and to work we must go. I can’t tell you how many times I changed my clothes last week and how grumpy the rain made me – sorry team!
However, Aston le Walls managed to run by some miracle over the weekend and even better they put an extra day on Monday for those who had lost out earlier in the week. I can admit I was one of the first to enter being very desperate to get a run with all my little lot.
Sherman (Sherman Lad) finally started his season and what a star he was – finishing fourth in the BE100. He made a couple of silly mistakes in the dressage as his concentration was not quite 100% (I will forgive him as it was his first event this year) but then jumped a lovely double clear and felt much stronger after his seasons hunting. We had such fun on Saturday as Sherman was my only ride and it was really nice to catch up with Tim and Vanessa Willes and for them to see the lorry – which if anyone is interested is just as amazing as ever. I still can’t help but get excited every time I get in it – I have been told I am a 'bit sad' a few times but what can I say; it is true love!
Hannah had Hugo (Rebels Hero) competing in his first BE100 and he went really well giving Hannah a very confident XC round after a good dressage and just one SJ down.
Saturday night I had the privilege of a night off and went off to Oxford for a hen do - a great time was had by all and I must be getting old as a) I managed to hold my drink and b) seemed to know when it was sensible to stop! I was certainly impressed with myself.
Sunday I back to the ranch to ride the horses for Monday and to see if Hannah had coped in my absence – she had – infact I am sure they were glad to see me go and get out of their hair for a bit. Mr Pickles was left at home babysitting the horses so really I had it all covered.
It was an early start on Monday to Aston but Jonny and Becky were there to make sure all the horses were ready to go on time. All my times were pretty close so I decided as the dressage was such a distance away to stay down there and have the horses brought over. What I didn’t do was contemplate how freezing cold it was going to be; usually by mid May things are looking up??? Not this time as I froze for a good 3 ½ hours – I think it is safe to say that I was pleased when phase one was over!
Phase two was all about the Show Jumping and what a bun fight it was! The indoor school crammed with 20 people all jostling to jump the warm up fence at the same time is not a pleasant experience and none of my horses thought so either. Comet who I thought would have a complete nervous breakdown at the sight of so many horses was actually very grown up – phew!
The star of the Show Jumping had to be Pia (Burggraffs Pia) who went in a jumped a lovely round. Brooke (Take Your Pick) sadly had a rail down, Albert (Airtime) jumped ace but had (an unlucky) two down and Comet (Shannondale Comet) decided he had forgotten what jumping was until we had got over the fourth and had 3 down. Not a great Phase 2 I thought to myself as we headed off the XC…….
Albert was my first XC of the day and he made it feel so, so, so easy. Having had a couple of rails I thought it best not to go flat out and he cruised round easily with 2.8 time faults. Brooke was slightly quicker and Pia gained 0.8 and Comet bless his socks decided that the naked lady on fence two was all a bit scary and ran past it. Once we had got over the naked lady he jumped a lovely round and for his first run at Intermediate gave me a great feel. It was the right choice moving him up and he will have learnt a lot from that run.
So with phase 3 completed and all the horses washed off and happily munching the grass it was time to see how we had done and all I can say is I WAS A WINNER!!!!!!! Yes the mighty Pia landed us our first victory of the season. To be fair it was due, as at Kelsall her stupid jockey taking an extra loop cost us winning, so at Aston she was given that glory. Brooke’s rail stopped us winning another section but second place for her second run of the season was not a bad effort! Albert also landed us in the top ten with a 9th place in a third section and for his first intermediate with me I was thrilled to bits. I can’t wait to see how they all go at Pontispool – let’s hope we can carry on the form.
This weekend we are at Mount Ballan with Toddy (Quick Brown Fox) doing his first run, Mr Mackenzie doing the Novice, Flash in the Novice with Katharine, Rosie Pony in the BE90 as well as Jonny, Suzie and Katy Bell. We are going to be busy but I am sure a lot of good fun will be had along the way.
So until then, enjoy the sun shine (while it lasts)
Colina
It has been a hideous week with the weather and we have all been struggling to stay afloat at Team Pickles. The cancellation of Badminton was really devastating to all those who have put months of work in as preparation. I don’t think it was an easy decision to cancel it and being an Olympic year it was a crucial stage for so many to prove their form – my thoughts go out to you all and also to the Grass Roots competitiors as Claira Miesegeas was heading there for the BE100 final with the lovely Bruce II. Hopefully they will reschedule the final but still it won’t be the same.
Well everyone, the time is getting near for the gruelling half marathon myself and Suzie are about to embark on. The training has been done and, the blisters are here the toe nails are gone and the pain barrier has been pushed through- so now all that is left to do is for you all to donate. Please log on to justgiving.com and sponsor us @ 
I have decided to join the twitter mania that is happening around me so please bear with me whilst I find my feet. I am not generally very ‘techy’ so it might take me a while to get the hang of it! However, I already have 15 followers and I think I know what a #tag is so feel free to join the club!!
Well it has certainly been a busy couple of weeks and there is lots of news from Team Pickles. The first bit of which I can hardly contain myself from excitement about- the arrival of my new lorry. For three years my dear old lorry has been over worked and wanting a quieter life and for three years I have had to nurse her along telling her that retirement really is just around the corner. That corner has finally been turned and my lovely new shiny lorry has arrived and I really, really love it.
Well this weather has certainly been a little erratic to say the least. I went from being frozen to my bones at Swalcliffe to boiling hot at Gatcombe, all within a week. The poor horses don’t know where they are when the weather is like this; I find it usually takes them all a few weeks to get used to a warm spell and by that time it is usually freezing cold again.
Well the season has started off better than I could have hoped for. We have had an action packed weekend not only eventing but doing dressage at Soihull in the middle.