Well the title says it all – I am all entered up and raring to go! Well not quite raring but I have conquered quite a few miles over the last week, my best being a five miler – and no it wasn’t on a horse. I do however, need a better pair of trainers, £20 cheap and cheerfuls don’t quite take the work load and my prize for all these efforts is a very black and sore toe!
On to horses which seems to be in plentiful supply around here! There I was easing myself gently back into the swing of things after Christmas when bang we got seriously busy. Hannah, Jonny and Chrissy have had a shock to the system but have now acclimatised and are up to speed. That is the problem with having a few months that are quiet. One soon gets used to it and then it’s a struggle when things get busier.
We have had the horses out quite a bit and Ernie (Olympic Tracer) was out at his first BD last week scoring very well in the Prelim and Novice tests. He finished first in both tests and went so well. It was a real breakthrough for me as he was calm and obedient and really willing to try his little socks off!
We have a few new policies at Team Pickles – one of which being that anyone who forgets their dressage tests at a competition faces a £2 per class fine and this will go up by 50p every time an error is made. Jonny is in the lead at the moment going wrong twice at the same outing as Ernie. Hannah has one under her belt and Olivia has one error as also. All the money is going into a pot until we have earnt enough to do something constructive with it (which at this rate won't take too long!)
We also have another rule; anyone who falls off has to bring cakes in and can you believe it someone fell off before me to start the new rule off (I am too kind to mention names but the said person has come off twice, double cake making preferably chocolate) – I was convinced I would be the first!
So back to the dressage and other than going wrong Millie went very well for Jonny and he learnt a lot from riding through the tests; it was also good for Millie to get into an arena or two before we start eventing as she can be a little spooky at times.
Suzanne has now taken over the reins of Lily (Bits and Pieces) and they were part of the gang who set off last weekend for a spot of Dressage with along with Zoe on Seamus and Olivia on Newby. All horses were so well behaved and Lily came away with a few red rosettes, seamus was close behind with a second and Olivia picked up her first dressage rosette – so really well done team. I decided to go on foot for this occasion as last time I was on a horse and it did not go well what with tears, forgetting tests, (see why I have a new rule)? swapping saddles and general mayhem I decided stress levels would be far less if I was firmly on the ground to help!
I was meant to go Show jumping last week but as it was soooooooo cold last Tuesday I postponed until this Tuesday. I took Albert (Airtime) and Pia (Burggraffs Pia) for their first SJ outing over at Allenshill and they both jumped extremely well – Pia was very excited and gave me a difficult ride until she had jumped enough to calm herself!
Albert was very good and felt really confident so I am even more anxious to get started with him this season. The first event has been entered the countdown has begun!
Today was all about the dressage and the venue was Solihull. I took the mighty Comet (Shannondale Comet) who came back from his hols with his mummy Lady Butler last week, Pia and Brooke (Take Your Pick). Comet started us off with a Novice class scoring 65% and finishing second, he then went on to win an Elementary scoring 65% again. I was really pleased with him as he has only been schooling again for 10 days (he has done a months road work), and I feel he can give me so much more. He wasn’t quite in self carriage today and was losing balance in the more difficult movements. The highlight for me was his attitude – no spooking, no worrying about horses coming near him (he has a phobia) – only really grown up Comet – long may it last!!!
Brooke was on really great form today and kept up her !00% winning streak by coming 1st and 1st in both her medium tests. Her second one was better than the first as she was a little tense which ruined some of the movements. I am really looking forward to taking her out again as she is a pleasure to ride and train.
Pia on the other hand had other things on her mind today. Having gone Show Jumping on Tuesday I am not sure it was a great idea to be doing dressage two days later as she only had one thing on her mind – and no it wasn’t dressage! She is quite a big horse, not in height but her frame and length and when she is a little wild I find it difficult to keep her consistent to the contact and today sadly was one of those days. I think next time I will make sure she does no jumping for a few days before. My other disadvantage was that I only had 20 minutes between my two tests and for Pia she needed a longer warm up - although I am not convinced much would have calmed her down today she was just in one of those moods!
Next week we will venture out Show Jumping again and perhaps a little XC Schooling. I have an all day Pony Club SJ training session on Sunday which is always good fun as I love teaching the members and seeing them progress as they get older.
So until next week where I will give you all the highs and lows and will enlighten you into who has been baking cakes and who is out of pocket to the dressage pot!
Colina
