My Diary:
Please click on the links below for past diary archives…
November/December 2009 – May through to July 2009 – May & Badminton 2009 – February 2009 – January 2009
Spring/Summer 2010
Half the season gone already… how did that happen!!? They say time flies when you are having fun, I don’t know that studying for my finals was fun but time certainly flew by while all of that was happening. I haven’t stopped! I spent so much time preparing for the season in January and February, visiting so many different jumping and dressage shows that this season and last season feel like they have somehow merged together! I also thought I would be extra organised and try to get most of my coursework done before the season started. That plan didn’t work so well though because once you have finished a piece of work I find I try to keep improving it until the deadline so in effect I just made more work for myself!
Forgetting about University, I was excited about this year’s Eventing as I had a good string of horses. Society Spice and Pardon Me II who would both be at four star level, Junior who would be at three star level, Balloo IV and Greenlawn Sky High who would be at two star level and then the most talented and exciting young horse I have ever had to compete, my boyfriend’s Extreme of Cavallini (Lennie), a 6 yr old jumping stallion.
There was one event in particular that I was really looking forward to this year… can you guess…Badminton! Last year provided both Society Spice and myself with the best introduction to four star level that I could have wished for, and returning there with Riz again but also with P was really exciting. P is the first horse that I have produced in Eventing myself and worked up from the lowest level at Intro, now to the top, so finally reaching that level with him is rewarding in itself. The weeks running up to Badminton were really hard work. Trying to get both horses fit and doing the best that they can as well as trying to get all of my University coursework done and looking towards my exams was a challenge. However due to my support team I managed to do it! I had a great Badminton again, Society Spice improved on last year to come 15th and Pardon Me II went as well as I could have hoped for his first time at that level to finish 24th (Don’t get me wrong however, although I was pleased with these results, next year I am pushing to do even better!).
Following Badminton I was quickly brought back down to earth with my dissertation, amongst other things, to complete and then three final exams to prepare for. My degree is in Business and Management, so wherever possible I have tried to relate my coursework to Eventing and what I do which I found hugely beneficial. My final exams, I think… fingers crossed, went ok but I am still waiting on results! The day after my finals I went to Houghton Hall where I spent most of the week eating and sleeping and trying to catch up on some much needed rest! As well as this very important rest I also had Greenlawn Sky High and Balloo IV competing in the CCI* and CCI**. This was very exciting as it was Barney’s first CCI* and he is my baby who I adore and think a lot of and it was also exciting because Balloo has been going so well this year, not being out of the top six so having another shot at a CCI** with him was great. Barney went really well, he jumped a very nice double clear and did me proud. He felt so good that I am now aiming him at Hartpury CCI**. Balloo was also a little champion and came 2nd in the CCI** just behind Bettina Hoy with a double clear. I couldn’t have been more pleased with him, he is one of the most genuine horses I have ever sat on and he has the biggest heart and it is made of gold!
The day after Houghton I had Lennie’s first Novice. Mark my words everyone Lennie is a superstar of the future!! I have never sat on a horse that has the combination of so much ability and talent, so much heart and such a good attitude, he is the ultimate! For a stallion he is so well behaved and quiet. He belongs to my boyfriend Max Routledge and we are hoping that he will Show Jump to the very top level with Max and Event to the top level with me. We don’t feel that many horses could do this and be successful in both disciplines however he is such a quick learner and has such a good head on him that we think he will be a champion on the Jumping and Eventing circuit. He is bred for jumping and dressage so has really beautiful paces and a seriously scopey and tidy, careful jump. I have never enjoyed starting off a young horse in Eventing as much as I have with Lennie. I am also intending to use him for breeding myself in the form of a very generous 21st Birthday present form Max in the form of a foal. I am a sucker for babies and I can’t tell you how excited I am!
Following Lennie’s first novice was Bramham with Junior! This was also very exciting, as I have also produced Junior myself, from the beginning, and you probably get the gist of how I am with my horses by now, but I love him so much!! Junior is very inexperienced, however he is an absolute cross country machine, probably the best I have ever sat on cross country, so we have decided to keep upgrading him all the time he is happy and confident. He is also a jumping machine so the only thing that lets him down at the moment is his Dressage. Once he is stronger and really established he will be very nice on the flat too. He did very well at Bramham and I jumped a steady double clear on him to finish 13th. I am now hoping he will do Blenheim or Boekelo!
That is at least a quick round up of the first half of my season, I have so much to look forward to at the moment I am very lucky! Off out to ride now, but I will keep you updated!
