Displaying items by tag: Hacketstown

Friday, 25 October 2013 00:00

Awesome Airtime does it again

We have been having a much better time of it recently with all the horses performing to their best at their recent competitions. I would love to say that I have done something different to make this happen but all I can say is a bit of luck is winging its way back to Team Pickles and the winning (or almost) formula is back! The dressage judges have suddenly started to love us again and the poles seems to be staying up (most of the time anyway)!

Working back from Gatcombe this weekend where not only did Albert (Airtime) go exceptionally well Apple (Ciderpress) also went like a dream to complete a really really special weekend.

This year has been testing to say the least and when it all comes together it really does make you appreciate the good times!!!

Airtime felt awesome, he was a little naughty in his dressage however, he still managed to pull off a 42.8 which is our best score to date. I was thrilled as I felt he could have done better but still scored so well. Gatcombe decided to reverse the SJ/XC order so we went XC first followed later by the SJ. Luckily,this did work in our favor; I initially thought that it would be a disaster (which it was for a lot of people).  Airtime seemed to be well up for it, being one of the quickest times across county of the day as well as feeling like a total pro! The showjumping is always going to cause us a few issues however, I have to say the poles that fell were mine this time as Airtime was jumping his little socks off. I just got a bit free and sadly the poles came down. All was not lost though as 4th place it was in a very tough class of over 100.

In the shops at Burghley, I did treat myself to a new SJ hat with a bit of bling on it, so I am of course crediting my success to this as it really did look good and I know it gave us the winning (or almost) edge!

Ciderpress made a return to 1* and was totally mega. She jumped a fabulous double clear after a getting a stingy dressage mark to finish in the top 25. I was a little disappointed not to be top ten but seeing as it was her third event of the year one can’t really complain!

The BE90/100 crew are all going really well with Rosie v (Whole Lotta Rosie) back on top form with a win at West Wilts and a second at Llanymynech. She is such a pro now and it is so nice for Tina, Ian and Tiff to see her in action after their fabulous support in sponsoring us this season.

The horses and team have never looked smarter with all the rugs, jackets, etc so many thanks Red Horse Rug Clean and Central Clipper Care. Seeing as it is that time of year when we get the clippers out to start clipping and realise that our clipper blades are blunt, I have to recommend Central Clipper Care who will get those blades ready to do a great clipping job.

Percy (Knights Escapade) is also enjoying a good run, just missing out on winning a couple of times in his last few outing by having a few time faults, however, he is a horse I am looking after for next season and I want to do the best by him this year and give him the best chance of moving up to Novice next season.

Tully (Tullyoran Field of Dreams) is going from strength to strength just missing out qualifying for the 5YO champs this Autumn by 0.5 of a penalty at Llanymynech. I thought a 24.5 dressage might do it but sadly not! This is a horse I am very excited about competing next year and has improved so much from this spring when she was so green.

Wendy (Winsome Wendy) is also enjoying a great run having a win (Carlton) and a second (West Wilts) recently at BE100 and I have to say has never felt better. Mel and Kate are really enjoying watching her and it is so lovely to have such fantastic owners on board.

We also have a couple of horses for sale at the moment, a lovely hunter by the name of George, my lovely Shannondale Comet who I will greatly miss. We also have a really sweet ex racer, Jago, who is looking for a loan or purchase home to have some fun. All are lovely horses so please don’t hesitate to get in touch if you are looking for someone new in your life!

Coco (Miss Coco Chanel) is mine and Hannah Hendersons lovely 4YO who I am chomping at the bit to get going with next season. She is showing lots of promise and seems to have a fantastic attitude to work. She is very well balanced and has lovely paces so watch this space!

We have a few little projects on the go as well. Hacky (Hacketstown) is going to make a lovely pony for someone and Fizz (Hathaway No.1) is now broken in and I am mega excited about her. She is only three at the moment but her movement is spot on so watch this space! Ella, Rosie Ponies baby (she is now 4) is also going great and I think will be making a debut eventing next season.

The Team here are all going well. It has been a little bit of a running joke this year with the amount of people that have passed through the door though. My stress levels have never been higher but I think at last I have a solid crew who are all loyal to me and are doing really well in achieving their goals with their horses. Mary B did really well at the weekend on Brook (Take Your Pick), jumping a fab double clear in the ON; I was only a tiny bit jealous! Harriet Dickin also did brill at Gatcombe 1* on her lovely horse Bean who she has only had a few short months and has already started to form a solid partnership.

I am so thankful to the whole Team who have been working really hard to make the last few months of the season run smoothly and I can’t thank them enough after last winter. I know what it is like to be stranded and I am making certain that this year is going to be different!!

We have a month left of competing and next up is Moreton Morrell and Brooksby followed by Osberton next week with the lovely Airtime in the CCI2*.

So my next blog will fill you in on the next chapter and hopefully this weather will continue through October so we can have a fab end to the season and with a bit of luck a win or two along the way!

Until then peeps,

Colina

Published in Blog
Saturday, 26 April 2014 00:00

Well Overdue

It’s been a while……… but not due to the fact I have been sunning myself in the Caribbean or holidaying ‘down under’ but due to the fact we have been having so much fun at home with our lovely babies!

Coco, Roxy, Ruby and Little George have all been coming on leaps and bounds. Coco has muscled up and is becoming more and more consistent in her training. I forget she is only 4 years old and have to refrain from doing too much with her. Roxy is a lovely three year old, who we are breaking in, she has a real zest for life with a cheeky streak and I am hoping bags of talent!

Ruby has the ‘WowFactor’ as her name suggests and is a forward thinking, kind horse with heaps of presence and Little George belongs to Little Al and we have just got him under saddle. He is a really smart type but sharp as you like and has taken some time to get going – however, we are now riding him and he looks like he has the makings of a lovely pony.

We also have a very exciting new arrival on the way, in fact we have two new arrivals on the way, one planned and one not so planned. The planned one takes the name She's All Class and she is every bit of that. We took a trip to the Emerald Isle,  after seeing Lot no.33 in the GoforGold catalogue and short of a major tantrum I decided I was not coming home without ‘Princess’ as she is now called! So you guessed it home with Princess we came! She is now having a well-earned holiday and will be at the Team Pickles Head Quarters in the new year………

The other new arrival is one that was not so planned. After taking a trip to Ireland in the summer we fell in love with a very cute 14.2 that looked like it needed a bit of the Colina Pickles treatment and so the gullible idiot that I am bought the very sweet and unassuming Hacketstown – named after the town she was bought from. We could see nearly every rib when she arrived and she seemed to hate life and was definitely not a fan of humans or horses either. Over the months she has blossomed and has gained in weight and muscle. At a dressage competition a few weeks ago her co Owner did comment on how well she was looking and I did tend to agree! On closer inspection it turns out that Hacketstown is in fact in foal and is due…………….your guess is as good as mine!

So the CCTV is back in operation and we are all on foal watch, maybe a Christmas baby – Jesus is on its way! Only I could get myself into such a Pickle – quite literally!


The Team Pickles end of Season Party was pretty good fun and we seemed to have enough canapés to feed an army thanks to Miss T catering – can only give Vicky a huge recommendation if anyone is having a party, the food was excellent and plenty of it. Thanks to everyone who came, we were well over 40 which was great. It is just a really nice way to say thank you to everyone for their support this year as I genuinely couldn’t do it without each and every one who came.

We have a new member of the Team in the form of Vicky Ingles who is very hard working, conscientious and has a major passion for eventing. She has two lovely horses and has qualified for the Grassroots next year so we are aiming for a great season and a fun Badminton!

Mary B has gone on her holidays and is currently raving her way round Europe whilst Little Al is coming away in January on a ski trip with the boss – not sure who to feel sorry for there!

Jodie P is sadly leaving us in the new year but total respect to her for working her notice and not letting the Team down, she would almost be the first! Just as I think I have a really fab team, somebody wants out, I try not to get too upset about it now as sadly it’s a common occurrence!!!!!

So the next blog will most probably be in the New Year when we are back into the swing of getting ready for the 2014 season.

 

See you then………….

 

Published in Blog