I just had Vendredi Biats out in France doing the CCI* for six year old horses. He traveled out really well and loved staying away from home.
He unfortunately had a pretty early draw and did his test early on Thursday morning. I was delighted with how he went and how he coped in such a big arena, he did some super work and it was definitely his best 1* test to date. He made one tiny jog step in his walk and came a little against the hand for a moment when he suddenly saw the big spectators stand. Other than those tiny mistakes he was super, staying nicely in the contact and good in his frame, so I was rather dissapointed with his mark of 50.2. They were marking extremely tough on the first day and although I was disappointed with the score it still left us in 2nd place over night. Unfortunately the judges seemed to get out of bed in a better mood on the Friday and didn't seem to mark nearly as toughly. Due to this we moved from 2nd to 10th and were one of only two combinations from the Thursday to still be in the top ten on day two.
Watch our test here:
Although the cross country wasn't massively big, it had a few testing questions and was the first real stamina test Vendredi Biats had ever faced. The course was nearly 9 minutes long. He made it feel easy and flew round, he didn't tire at all and finished easily inside the time, maintaining our 10th spot.
He trotted up really well on Sunday morning and didn't seem any the worse for all his exertions the day before. The show jumping track was up to height and had some technical lines, but Vendredi Biats jumped a super round and made feel very easy. His clear jumping moved him up to a very creditable 7th place in the very competitive Young Horse World Championships.
Watch our round here:
I had Creevagh Cooley in the CCI* and Vendredi Biats in the CICYH* for 6 year olds.
Creevagh Cooley was a star from start to finish, she did a fantastic test in an atmospheric arena. She stayed very calm and concentrated and made very few mistakes. She scored 38.6 to sit in 3rd place going into the cross country.
Watch our test here:
She then was foot perfect round the cross country, she found it very easy and took everything in her stride giving me a great ride. She finished full of running and was very happy with her efforts.
She trotted up really well on Sunday morning before the show jumping. She went into the show jumping feeling very good and nice and fresh after her cross country the day before. She jumped a super round, round a tough track that was causing plenty of trouble. Her clear was one of only a couple in the top ten and it elevated her from 3rd to the winners spot!! She was a star all week and certainly deserved her win after performing so well and constantly all week.
This was her last run of the season, so what a way for her to finish her year. She is now sadly for sale along with her owners other horse Mo Cuiske do to some personal problems. It's a huge shame as I think a lot of both horses, but hopefully they will find some wonderful homes where they will be able to reach there full potential.
Watch our round here:
Vendredi Biats was a little naughty in his test, he did some nice work but also made some annoying errors! Particularly when he temporarily forgot how to rein back!! Although it wasn't the best test he can produce he still did some good work and scored 43.4 which put us in 14th place.
Watch our test here:
He then show jumped brilliantly. Now he has got stronger and more balanced he has really begun to excel in this phase. His clear moved us up to 10th before the cross country.
Watch our round here:
He then cantered round the cross country making it feel very easy, he finished comfortably inside the time and moved up to 7th in the six year old championships. It was a perfect final run before he heads of to Le Lion to do his first three day event.
Straight after Blenheim we headed to Pontispool on the Monday with Mo Cuiske in the Open Intermediate and BGS Captain Morgan in the Intermediate Novice.
Mo Cuiske did a super test, scoring a 9 in the process. He scored 31.6 which put him right amongst the top few.
He then jumped a superb clear in show jumping. I was delighted with his round as he had got very nervous jumping at Blenheim in the big atmosphere at the weekend. So it was great to have him back to his normal self so quickly.
He then flew round the cross country and made it feel so easy. He was foot perfect the whole way, we picked up a few time faults to finish 3rd.
Having not ridden BGS Captain Morgan for a week he did a super test and hadn't forgotten any of his training. He scored 31.4.
He then jumped a brilliant clear show jumping.
He gave me a great ride cross country and was extremely unlucky to pick up 20 penalties at the water, he jumped down the two steps into the water well then pecked badly on landing, unfortunately I went up round his neck and neither of us were in a position to jump the fence in the water a few strides later so I had to turn a circle to reorganise ourselves! It was such a shame as he didn't do anything wrong.
Ceylor LAN did a super test and the biggest atmosphere he has ever competed in. He got a little tight about his changes, but his over all balance particularly in his canter was much better and he is getting stronger all the time. He scored a competitive 44.4, which put us in 13th. I was a little disappointed with his mark and there was quite a difference from one judge, one had him in 7th, one in 8th and the other in 27th. Had the latter judge been even a small bit nearer the other two he would have been going into the cross country in an even stronger position.
Watch our test here:
The cross county wasn't the most technical track that he has ever jumped round, but it was big and very long and hilly so a real stamina test. Ceylor LAN was fantastic from the first to last fence. He kept a great rhythm and jumped out of his stride. He got a little tired towards the end but kept jumping beautifully. He finished 5 seconds inside the time and moved up to 6th place.
Watch our round here:
He trotted up brilliantly on Sunday morning in the fog, like Persimmon at Vlair I have him a little jump in the morning, he felt super, not at all tired and nice and loose through his body. He then jumped in the afternoon and put in a foot perfect clear, he gave himself plenty of time in the air and didn't touch a thing. His faultless round elevated him to a fantastic 3rd after horses ahead of him made errors. I was absolutely delighted with his performances over the three days, he finished the highest placed Brit and highest placed 8 year old! He has had an outstanding season making the move up to 3* feel effortless. To have won and finished 3rd out of 100 starters in his two CCI***'s really is quite outstanding. I am incredibly lucky to have such talented horses currently coming through the grades.
Well what can I say, Blair was an amazing experience and brilliant competition where Persimmon couldn't have gone better. We were asked to be pathfinders and run first for the team. This was a huge honour, but also a massive responsibility!
We were fourth to go into the dressage arena on Thursday morning and at that point the leading test was a 48. Persimmon was fabulous and rose to the atmosphere and occasion. He did some amazing work, including completely square halts to start and finish the test with. He felt expressive and concentrated, so it was a huge shame he was a little late on my aid for our last change. He scored a 36.9 which put us comfortably in the lead at that point and I couldn't have been more delighted with him. Nicola was our second team rider that day and she to did a stunning test, which by the end of day one put the team into the lead! William and Pippa produced great tests on the Friday, but the Germans were at the top of their game and produced to stunning tests to take the lead at the end of the two days of dressage.
Watch our test here:
Cross country day dawned and it was very rainy and wet, the ground up until that point had been perfect, so it was a huge shame that the rain had to come in. Luckily I know Persimmon performes really well in the rain and mud so I set out onto the cross country full of confidence. He gave me a brilliant ride round a tough, hilly, stamina zapping course. He was near on foot perfect everywhere, we had to go a little steady at times down the hills as the ground had got very slippy and we had to take a long route at the last water on team orders. This cost us quite a lot of time but he finished full of running and just 20 seconds over to pick up 8.2 time faults. This moved us up to 5th going into the show jumping. Unfortunately it was a mixed day for the other team members, Pippa did a brilliant job on her young horse Sandman to jump clear, Nicola was having a great round, but has a very annoying 29 at the double of corners and William retired Bay My Hero when he was struggling with the conditions. The course caused a lot of trouble and even with our problems team GBR still managed to retain the silver position.
Watch our round here:
Persimmon trotted up brilliantly on Sunday morning, then had a little jump school early on in the day before the show jumping got under way. He felt great in his body and not at all tiered from his exertions the day before. After jumping him in the morning I was full of confidence that we could jump well in the afternoon. Persimmon warmed up brilliantly and went into the ring on springs. He easily jumped his best three day event show jumping round ever, he gave everything feet to spare and felt amazing. He jumped a super clear to clinch team Silver and individual 4th, we missed the individual bronze by an agonising 0.1 but I couldn't be more delighted with Persimmon and our performance together. He tried his heart out for me all week and was a complete star.
Watch our round here:
His brilliant performance is down to his talent a lot of hard work not only from me, but my fantastic team that is always 100% behind me. I must say a huge thank you to his owners Jane and Frank Inns for entrusting Percy with me, Emily Slater my head girl, Eilir Whiting and Nina my working pupils, Jo Jones who helps part time, Grieg Elliot my super farrier, Marnie Campbell the horses Physio, Winston Williams and Maggie Turner the chiropractors, Liz Brown and Spike Milligan the vets, Nick Buton and Tracy Robinson who help me on the flat, my super sponsors, Toggi, Champion, Mole Valley, Topspec, Woof Wear, Wow Saddles, Equiclass, Aqueos, Flying Changes, Yeoman Haylage and Kate Negus. UK Sport Lottery Funding has made a huge difference to me and the support team at Blair was second to none. And last but not least a huge thanks to my ever supportive family, Ben King my husband for putting up with everything and being there when I need him, my mum Jane Boggis who is always there for me and a huge help with the horses, my dad Peter and my crazy siblings, Charlotte, George and Lucy.
I had Mo Cuiske in the Advanced, Vendredi Biats in the Intermediate and Wish Upon A Star in the Open Intermediate.
Mo Cuiske did a super test and is beginning to find the more advanced movements a little easier. He scored a competitive 32.
Watch our test here:
He then jumped his socks off round a tricky show jumping track and produced a fabulous clear, which moved us right up with the leaders.
Watch our round here:
Unfortunately the cross country didn't quite go to plan, I set out with every intention of riding a fast clear to try and put us well in contention of a top placing but I ballsed up! I came off the turn to fence 2 and ride forward for a long one I thought I'd seen, then three strides out I decided that maybe that shot wasn't there, so I hooked and hooked until we were at the base of the fence and in an impossible place for Mo Cuiske to take off from, he tried to get out of the way, but couldn't and had a very understandable 20 penalties. I was so cross with myself as it was entirely my fault, so I gave myself a kick and then Mo Cuiske absolutely flew round the rest of the tough track and made it feel like a pony club course. I was delighted with his performance but appalled with mine!
Watch our round here:
Vendredi Biats did his test late in the day after a lot of rain so unfortunately the ground had deteriorated a lot in the arena and it was very muddy. He did some fantastic work though and coped well with the ground, he got a little stuck in the mud at the end of his test and broke into canter, but other than that he was great and scored a 9 for his entry and one also for his simple change. He led his section on a 25.7.
Watch our test here:
By the afternoon the show jumping ground had got very muddy and the course was casing a lot of trouble, but he jumped his heart out and put in an exceptional clear.
Watch our round here:
He then flew round the cross country and felt super, but he had an unfortunate 60 penalties at corner combination. He jumped the first element well, but slipped on the turn of the dog leg to the corner so we missed it, as I felt he had done nothing wrong and the run out was purely down to him slipping on the approach I didn't correct him before coming to the fence again, unfortunately as he has never had a run out before, he thought it was a great new trick so ran out the second time. This time it was very uncalled for so he had a good smack and then jumped through the double of corners brilliantly and stormed round the rest of the track.
Watch our round here:
Wish Upon A Star did a lovely test, but got a little stuck in the mud at times. He scored a competitive 30.7.
He then jumped very well in the wet ground and was very unlucky to have a fence down. We didn't run cross country as we didn't feel the ground was suitable for him.
I had Vendredi Biats and BGS Captain Morgan in the CIC* and Creevagh Cooley in the CIC**.
Vendredi Biats was a star in his dressage and really enjoyed doing his test in a long arena for the first time. He did some lovely work and is strengthening and improving all the time. He scored a very competitive 42.1.
Watch our test here:
He then jumped an immaculate clear in the show jumping and found it all very easy.
Watch our round here:
By the time we went cross country it was raining rather heavily and although Vendredi Biats loves the rain and the wet, it was very slippy so we had to go a little carefully round the tight corners. He gave me a fantastic ride though and felt very mature and grown up round the track, we picked up a few time faults due to the wet ground and moved up to 4th place. In doing so he was the highest placed six year old in the 100 plus starters and gained his all important Le Lion qualification.
Watch our round here:
BGS Captain Morgan produced a very polished and mistake free test to score 40.7, which left us right up with the leaders.
Watch our test here:
He then jumped a lovely round in the show jumping and was extremely unlucky to have his first ever pole down with me.
He to went cross country in the slippy conditions and jumped a great clear, but picked up some time faults to finish in 10th place.
Watch our round here:
Creevagh Cooley did some lovely work in her test and is begining to find the two star movements a little easier, she was a little cheeky in one canter transition, but other than that she did some very quality work. She scored a competitive 46.7.
Watch our test here:
She then jumped a super clear in the show jumping, she was very happy to be out and felt back to herself after her little mishap at Barbury.
Watch our round here:
She then flew round the cross country and made it feel very easy, I thought after her round we should finish with a top placing but unfortunately when I went to look at the score board I had been eliminated. I had know idea why as she had gone so well, so I spoke to the TD and he informed me I had jumped the wrong side of a flag. I did knock a right flag down, but as I hit it with my right foot, I couldn't see how we hadn't gone between it, also it was at part B of a combination and had I jumped the wrong side of it it would have been physically impossible to have got to part C, which they agreed I had jumped, so after much discussion they decided that the jump judges decision was final and that I was eliminated. I was extremely disappointed for Creevagh Cooley and her very supportive owner as she had gone so well.
I had Wish Upon A Star and Creevagh Cooley in the Open Novice and Acis in the Novice.
Acis was having his last run with me as he has been sold to a younger rider. He has been with his new rider Hope for a couple of weeks and met me at the event so she and her trainer Gubby could watch him at a competition with me before Hope takes over the reins at her first competition. Acis did a super test and certainly hadn't forgotten anything in the two weeks he'd been away. He scored a 24.8
He then jumped a fantastic clear in the show jumping and stormed round the cross country and gave me a super last ride. We picked up 2.4 time faults which left us in 2nd place. It is sad to see Ace go but I wish Hope and Ace all the best together.
Wish Upon A Star also did a fantastic test to lead the section on a 24.5.
He then jumped a super double clear, he felt a lot less rusty than at our first run together at Aston and I feel we are beginning to form a good partnership. We picked up a few time faults which knocked us down to second.
Creevagh Cooley was having a quiet confidence building run round a novice after her little mishap at Barbury. She jumped a super double clear and felt really happy and back on form. She now heads to Somerford CIC**.
I had Persimmon and Ceylor LAN in the CIC*** at Hartpury.
Persimmon was having his last run before Blair European Championships. He did a good test and showed some great extended work, but we unfortunately made some little mistakes which were a little annoying but it was best to get them out the way before Blair! He scored a 43.1 which left us in 10th place.
Watch our test here:
He then jumped a super clear in the show jumping and felt on great form.
Watch our round here:
He gave me a great ride round the cross country, he was really looking for his fences and flags. We picked up 3.2 time faults which put us into 6th place.
Watch our round here:
Ceylor LAN showed some super work in his test, his changes are still work in progress but he stayed rounder through them and was less exuberant. He scored a 45.8 which put us in 14th place.
Watch our test here:
Like Persimmon, Ceylor LAN jumped a brilliant clear in the show jumping.
Watch our round here:
He was great round the cross country and made it feel very easy. We didn't go flat out for the time as I didn't feel he needed rushing at this stage so we picked up 5.2, this left us in 13th place in an extremely large section.
I had Vendredi Biats in the Intermediate and Mo Cuiske in the Open Intermediate.
Vendredi Biats was doing his second intermediate and did a fantastic test, although he is still a little green at this level he is coming on all the time and showed some lovely work. He scored a very competitive 27.5.
Watch our test here:
He jumped a lovely round in the show jumping and was very unlucky to have one down when he lost a little balance on take off down a related distance.
Watch our round here:
I decided not to run him cross country as it was on the firm side and he was running the following week at Somerford in his first CIC*.
Mo Cuiske did a good test, he was feeling rather jolly and full of himself after his advanced debut a few weeks earlier. He scored a 34.1.
He then jumped a good round in the show jumping but was rather too exubarent in the combination and was very unfortunate to have both parts down. He then jumped a super but due to the firmness steady clear round the cross country.
I just had BGS Captain Morgan in the Open Novice. He did another great test, he is incredibly consistent and very rideable in the arena and scored a competitive 27.
He then jumped a super clear in the show jumping and made it feel very easy.
He cruised round the cross country, he took everything in his stride and was bold and straight at all the accuracy questions. He finished inside the time so completed on his dressage score for 6th place. It was a great preparation run before his first CIC* at Somerford.
I had Persimmon, Mo Cuiske and Ceylor LAN in the Advanced and Vendredi Biats, Creevagh Cooley and Wish Upon A Star in the Intermediate.
Persimmon was having his first run since Bramham and felt fantastic. He did a super test, he was extremely accurate and very rideable. He scored a 26.8 which put us in second place by 0.1 of a mark!
Watch our test here:
He was then on absolute springs in the show jumping, he felt brilliant and jumped a superb clear.
Watch our round here:
He then flew round the cross country, he made it feel easy and really enjoyed himself! I think he was extremely happy to be back out eventing again. He picked up just a few time faults to win his section.
Watch our round here:
Mo Cuiske was doing his first ever advanced and was a star. He was a little green at times in his test, but showed some quality work to score 35.
He then tried his heart out in the show jumping and jumped an immaculate clear.
Watch our round here:
He then stormed round the cross country making it feel effortless, he certainly didn't notice the step up in level. We picked up a few time faults to finish in 8th place in extremely large and competitive section.
Watch our round here:
Ceylor LAN was having his first run since Tattersalls, he was a little jolly in his test which resulted in a couple of annoying mistakes, but it was great to have him out feeling so well. He scored a 32.
He then jumped a great clear in the show jumping and tried extremely hard when I saw a bit of a long shot into the double, he did all he could to leave the poles up for me.
Watch our round here:
He then gave me a lovely ride round the cross country and was really enjoying being out, unfortunately his exuberance got the better of him at a ski jump down to a corner. He ballooned the ski jump and rather than landing on the slope going down to the corner he over jumped and we landed right at the bottom of the hill in a bit of a heap so we couldn't get to the corner. It was a real shame as he had been jumping so well, but it was a green error that we will both learn from.
Vendredi Biats who is only six, was doing his first Intermediate. He was a little star and found the step up easy. He did a lovely test with just a few baby wobbles in it when he was a little green. He scored the second best mark of 30.5.
Watch our test here:
He then did a wonderful clear in the show jumping in tricky conditions and out of very dead deep ground.
Watch our round here:
He then stormed round the cross country and didn't seem to find it any more taxing than a novice which was brilliant. He seemed to really enjoy himself and the horrible conditions didn't seem to put him off at all. Him picked up just a few time faults to finish in a brilliant 3rd place.
Watch our round here:
Creevagh Cooley did a good test, but found the ground in the arenas quite hard work. She scored 33.
She then jumped a good clear in the show jumping. Unfortunately she didn't quite feel her normal self on the cross country. She wasn't travelling very well which is very unlike her so I made the decision to pull her up so we could find out why she was a little off colour and save her for another day.
New ride Wish Upon A Star was having his first run for along time. He stayed very relaxed in his dressage and did a super test to score 24.
He then jumped a great round in the show jumping and was extremely unlucky to have one down. I think he was still a little surprised to be out and was lacking a bit of match practice.
He then was super cross country and gave me a lovely ride until the coffin at the third last. I think it was just a bit of rustiness as he hadn't been out for so long. He unfortunately suddenly saw the ditch as he was jumping the first element he suddenly saw the ditch and left his leg, depositing me in the process! It was a real shame but the most important thing is we were both ok. We will be doing a bit of ditch practice over the next couple of weeks before our next outing.
I am absolutely delighted to be able to say that Persimmon and I have been selected to be part of the squad of twelve traveling up to Blair in September for the European Championships.
I am absolutely delighted for Percy and his ever supportive owners Jane and Frank Inns. Percy has been extremely constant at 3* level having been 2nd at Bramham, 6th at Blenheim and 5th at Boekelo CCI***'s as well as finishing 3rd at Belton and 4th and Barbury CIC***'s.
I can't say a bigger enough thank you to all my wonderful owners, horses, support team, World Class and sponsors. All of whom have helped me hugely to achieve this dream.
I had Vendredi Biats in the Novice and BGS Captain Morgan in the Open Novice.
Vendredi Biats did another superb test, I am just so impressed with how he has developed and improved since the spring. He scored a leading mark of 23.3.
Watch our test here:
He then jumped a super clear in the show jumping.
Watch our round here:
I decided not to run him cross country as although Beanie had done a great job with the ground it was still on the firm side and after his recent runs where he has been so good I decided he didn't need the extra mileage.
BGS Captain Morgan was on great from again and did a lovely test to score 29.3 which put him in 3rd place after this phase.
He then jumped a super clear, round both the show jumping and the tough cross country track. He picked up .4 of a time fault which left us in 3rd place.
I had Ard Core in the Open Novice and BGS Captain Morgan in the Novice HC.
Ard Core did a much improved test since her last run and stayed a lot more happy and relaxed. she scored a competitive 30.
She then jumped a wonderful clear in the show jumping and found it extremely easy.
Watch our round here:
She then jumped a lovely clear round the cross country. As it was only a novice she found it very easy and cruised round happily. We picked up a couple of time faults which left us in 7th place.
BGS Captain Morgan is really becoming a dressage pro. He did another lovely test and apart from getting a little upset in the rein back he was nearly foot perfect. He scored a leading mark of 25.3.
Watch our test here:
He then jumped a wonderful clear in show jumping.
Watch our round here:
He then jumped a super clear round the cross country. It was such a shame he was running HC as this performance would have put him in the winners slot.
I had Vendredi Biats in the Novice, BGS Captain Morgan in the Intermediate Novice and Creevagh Cooley and Mo Cuiske in the CIC**.
Vendredi Biats was the star of the week, he did a fantastic test to score an amazing 16.3! He is getting so rideable in his tests and is now finding the novice tests easy.
He then jumped a brilliant clear in the show jumping.
Watch our round here:
He then gave me a fantastic ride round the cross country. It was a tough novice track and he made it feel extremely easy. He finished on his dressage score to win his section by 7 marks!
Watch our round here:
BGS Captain Morgan did another constantly good test, and didn't find the step up to intermediate too much of a struggle. He scored a very competitive 29.8.
He then jumped a super clear in the show jumping and again found the step up easy.
Watch our round here:
Unfortunately the cross country didn't quite go to plan, he gave me a great ride bar taking a dislike to the first water. The water was died and this took him by surprise, he jumped through it the second time really well and was great through the next water. It was a real shame as he would have finished 2nd in a very competitive class.
Mo Cuiske did his best 2* test to date, he showed some great work and is getting more and more consistent with every run. He scored a very competitive 43.3.
Watch our test here:
He then had a very unfortunate two fences down in the show jumping. He found the arena which over looked the whole sight a little distracting. He jumped the majority of the course extremely well so it was a huge shame he got a little distracted at times.
He then gave me a lovely ride round the cross country and made it feel very easy, bar one misunderstanding at the owl hole on the mound. I just really think the he thought the hole was far too small for him to fit through. It was a really shame as he is such a bold cross country horse, but he really didn't understand what he had to do.
Creevagh Cooley is getting better and better in the dressage as she is getting stronger in her body and more confident. She scored a 42.2 which left her in 8th going into the show jumping.
Watch our test here:
She then jumped an immaculate clear in the show jumping and coped with the tricky arena exceptionally well.
Watch our round here:
We then a slight disaster cross country! She was giving me a fantastic ride and making the track feel easy, but we unfortunately took a dunking at the crocodile water. This water always claims a number of victims every year and like Mark Todd stated in his column in Horse and Hound I too would love to see it burned! Looking at the photos of the fall it looks like she just didn't see the green hedge in the green water. She is such a careful horse so having a fall is completely out of character for her, but the most important thing is both she and I are none the worse for it other than getting a little damp!
I just had the one ride at Purston, BGS Captain Morgan. He was running in the Open Novice.
He did a lovely rhythmical test, staying really rideable throughout and showed some lovely work. He just made one small error when he miss understood my leg aid and offered me canter rather than trot. He scored a very competitive mark of 25.
Watch our test here:
He then jumped a foot perfect clear in the show jumping.
Watch our round here:
He then flew round the cross country giving me a great ride to finish comfortably inside the time to win his section.
I had Acis, Vendredi Biats and new ride BGS Captain Morgan in the Novice and Mo Cuiske and Creevagh Cooley in the CIC**.
Acis did a fantastic test to score a leading mark of 24.8.
Watch our test here:
He then jumped a lovely clear in the show jumping and feels like he is developing all the time.
Watch our round here:
He then flew round the cross country and made it feel very easy, he picked up a couple of time faults, but still won his section comfortably.
Watch our round here:
Vendredi Biats also did a fantastic test, he scored 25.8 to lead his section.
Watch our test here:
He then jumped a lovely clear in the show jumping and made it feel easy.
Watch our round here:
He then jumped a super clear in the time round the cross country, he gave me a great ride keeping a super rhythm.
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BGS Captain Morgan is a new ride, who has come to me to be sold, as he has 43 points he had to compete HC. He did a super test staying relaxed a balanced. He scored 25.3 which would have put us at the top of the leader board.
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He then jumped a brilliant clear round the show jumping and didn't find it at all taxing.
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He jumped a lovely clear round the cross country and found it all very straight forward and easy.
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Mo Cuiske did a great test in the CIC** and showed some lovely work, he got a little tight in his walk which was a shame, but as he hadn't had a run since Aston he was forgiven. He scored a 45.
Watch our test here:
He then jumped a lovely clear in the show jumping, but unfortunately I was a little on the slow side and picked up two time faults.
Watch our round here:
He then absolutely cruised round the cross country and found the tricky track that caused a lot of problems extremely easy. We picked up 4 time faults which put us in 6th place:
Watch our round here:
Creevagh Cooley, although still a little green at this level in the dressage did a super test, her simple changes weren't quite as direct as they could have been and she tripped over fairly badly at one point, but other than those couple of mistakes I was thrilled with her. She scored 45.2
Watch our test here:
She then jumped an immaculate clear in the show jumping.
Watch our round here:
The cross country would have been her toughest track to date and she flew round like a pro and picked up 3.2 time faults. This left her in a fantastic 4th place.
I just had Persimmon running at Bramham in the CCI***.
He had is test early on Friday morning and was fantastic. He warmed up really well and took it forward to his test. He did some brilliant and expressive work and stayed extremely rideable. He did his best changes in a test to date and was completely rideable. He scored a 38.9 which left us in 3rd place going into the cross country.
Watch our test here:
After some over night rain the ground for the cross country was near perfect considering all the dry weather we have had recently. Persimmon was on mega form and gave me a near foot perfect ride round a typically big Bramham track, we picked up a couple of time faults, as although Persimmon finished full of running he got a little on his shoulders towards the end of the track so I had to set him up a little more than normal. He super round kept us in 3rd place going into the show jumping.
Persimmon trotted up really well on Sunday morning and flew through the trot up. The show jumping was big and square and causing plenty of trouble, but after warming up brilliantly I was confident he would jump well in the ring. Persimmon jumped a super clear and easily jumped as well as at a one day which was a fantastic feeling. His clear moved him up to an amazing 2nd place. I couldn't have been happier with his performance all week and am now keeping my fingers crossed that we might get selected to go to Blair.
Out in Tattersalls I had Creevagh Cooley doing the CCI* for six and seven year old horses and Ceylor LAN in the CCI***.
Both horses were outstanding all week and came home with the most exciting results.
Ceylor LAN at only 8 years old was competing in his first CCI*** and couldn't have gone any better in my wildest dreams. He is still green and inexperienced at this level and was going to Tattersalls to try and get his Olympic qualification. He did a super tests in which he stayed forwards, through and swinging. He made a few small errors but did some brilliant work. He scored 42.3 which put us in 4th place going into the cross country.
Watch our test here:
The cross country course was big, bold and challenging, but Ceylor LAN answered every question set out in front of him with ease. He kept an lovely rythm and made the track feel remarkably easy, I picked up 3.6 time faults as I was conscious of not over pushing him. The last thing I wanted was for him to feel tired or to have a bad experience. The course caused plenty of trouble and even with our few time faults we moved up to 2nd going into the show jumping.
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He then jumped an absolutely foot perfect round in the show jumping, he didn't feel at all tired and the cross country certainly didn't seem to have hindered him in anyway for this final phase. I was delighted with him and couldn't have asked for more. I wasn't watching Andrew Nicholson jump as I felt he was a dead cert to win so was completely gob smacked when someone came running up to say that we had won as Andrew had had a fence down!! Everything is still sinking in and I still can't believe that my exceptionally talented Ceylor LAN has won his first CCI*** at only 8!!
Watch our round here:
I really can't thank UK Sport and the funding I recieve through the lottery enough. Their added support has made a huge difference to me. I also owe a huge thanks to my amazing owners, sponsors, Toggi, Topspe, Woof Wear, Wow Saddles, Champion, Mole Valley, Yeoman Haylge, Equiclass, Aqueos and Flying changes and my fantastic team. None of this would be possible without you.
Creevagh Cooley was competing in her first three day event, she did a lovely test and showed some real promise. She is still big and weak and struggles to keep control of her powerful paces in the arena, but I was thrilled with the work she produced. She scored a 48.3, which put us in 16th place going into the cross country.
Watch our test here:
The cross country was not overly testing for the CCI* and as Creevagh Cooley had just been competing in Intermediates this spring she found the course rather small! She gave me a great ride and finished easily inside the time to move up to 12th place going into the show jumping.
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The top 15 were all very close so I was very aware that a clear round could potentially move us up a long way. Creevagh Cooley jumped her socks off and jumped a beautiful clear which moved us up to a fantastic 5th place!
Vendredi Biats did a lovely consistent test and is getting better and better to the contact. He scored a leading mark of 27.8.
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He then jumped a foot perfect double clear to finish in the time and win his section comfortably.
Acis not to be out done by his stable mate also did a super test and scored a 27.8!
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He then jumped a. Great round in the show jumping and was extremely unlucky to have one fence down. He just got a little tight jumping towards the trade stands that were situated very closely to the junking arena. He then jumped a super confident clear round the cross country to finish 8th.
I had Persimmon, Mo Cuiske and Creevagh Cooley in the Open Intermediate and Vendredi Biats and Acis in the Novice.
Persimmon did a lovely test and found the test very easy and didn't make one error. He scored a leading mark of 24.1
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He then jumped a brilliant clear round the show jumping. I ran him very slowly round the cross country as that was always the plan and the ground was rather firm. This prevented him from winning, but I was really pleased with his way of going.
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Mo Cuiske did another solid consistent test and like at Withington the judge and I weren't quite on the same wave length and he scored a disappointing 34.1.
He then jumped a fantastic double clear. We just ran slowly due to the firm ground.
Creevagh Cooley was in the same arena again as Mo Cuiske, other than staring at the show jumping in her halts she did a good test but scored a disappointing 35.5.
She jumped well in the show jumping but had two down, one in the double and one in the treble as she made up a little too much ground and struggled with the deeper arena surface. She then jumped a super but steady clear round the cross country.
Vendredi Biats was much better behaved in his dressage and did some super work and showing big improvements, he changed legs in his first medium canter which was a shame but I was chuffed with his improvement. He scored a super 28.
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He then jumped a lovely clear in the show jumping and flew round the cross country making it all feel easy. As it rained during the afternoon the ground had got rather slippy, we picked up a few time faults to finish in 3rd place.
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Acis did another super test, he is really becoming loose and elastic in his work and scored a top mark of 28.3.
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He then like Vendredi Biats jumped a brilliant double clear. Due to the slippy ground he picked up a few time faults for 5th place.
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I had Persimmon and Ceylor LAN in the Advanced, Mo Cuiske, Creevagh Cooley and Ard Core in the Open Intermediate and Vendredi Biats in the Novice.
Persimmon did a super test in the Advanced. He did some lovely work and just made one mistake in his last extended trot when he misunderstood my aid a popped into canter. It was a real shame as extended trot is one of his highlights, but I was thrilled with his overall way of going. He scored a top mark of 27.9.
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He then jumped a fantastic clear in the show jumping and made it feel very easy.
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He jumped brilliantly around the cross country, he was fairly keen at times and nearly needed a bigger track to back him off! He jumped the tricky corner combination really well and will now have a quiet run round and OI before Bramham. He picked up a few time faults and finished in a super 3rd place.
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Ceylor LAN did a much more consistent test than at Belton and got in far less of a muddle in his flying changes. He stayed forward and through and is coming on all the time and is really beginning to get the hang of the more advanced tests. He scored a competitive 32.1.
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He then jumped a super clear round the show jumping.
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Like Persimmon he jumped brilliantly round the cross country and found the corners the caused plenty of trouble easy, we picked up a few time faults and finished in 6th place.
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Vendredi Biats was a little naughty in his dressage, he did some really nice work when he wasn't spooking at the judges car! He scored a 36.
He then jumped a good round in the show jumping and was extremely unlucky to have the last fence down.
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He jumped a steady round around the cross country as he wasn't in the most competitive position, but he made the track feel very easy and I was thrilled with how he is developing.
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Mo Cuiske did a lovely test in the OI, he was his usual consistent self, so I was extremely disappointed with his score of 34.6.
He then jumped a good round in the show jumping and was unlucky to have one down when he lost a little concentration. I didn't run him or any of my OI horses as on the Saturday we hadn't had any rain and the ground was very firm, so I decided to save them for another day.
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Creevagh Cooley was in the same arena as Mo Cuiske and like him I was really pleased with her test, but again the judge didn't agree and we scored 34.1.
She then jumped a super clear in the show jumping.
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Ard Core warmed up very well and showed some big improvements in her trot work, but was a little disappointing in her simple changes and walk where she got a little upset. She made up for it though with a super clear in the show jumping:
I had Mo Cuiske in the Open Intermediate, Creevagh Cooley in the CIC** and Persimmon and Ceylor LAN in the CIC***.
Persimmon did a lovely test in an atmospheric arena. He did some super work, but had two tiny breaks into canter which was a huge shame. He scored a 46.6 which left us in the top ten in a huge class of over one hundred going into the show jumping.
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He then jumped the most fabulous clear in the show jumping, I think it was possibly the best round he has ever jumped.
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He then absolutely flew round the cross country. He made it feel very easy, he was rather keen and loved every second of it. We picked up just 0.8 of a time fault which moved us up to an excellent 3rd place.
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Ceylor LAN did some lovely work in his test but through a bit of greenness at this level he got into a little bit of a muddle with his changes and had a little spook in his medium canter which meant he changed legs when it wasn't required. It was a real shame as he showed some quality work. He scored 55.5 which left us in 60th place.
He then like Persimmon jumped a superb clear in the show jumping. He really helped me out after jumping a triple bar rather big and ran out of a little room at the upright following it, but he was extremely neat and careful at it.
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He gave me a fantastic ride round his first CIC*** and made it feel very easy. He didn't seem to find it anymore taxing than an Open Intermediate which was brilliant. He picked up 3.2 time faults which moved us up to a super 16th place.
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Mo Cuiske did a very good and consistent test scoring 30.
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He then jumped a great round in the show jumping and was extremely unlucky to have one down.
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He then stormed round the cross country to pick just a couple of time faults up and to finish in 10th place.
Creevagh Cooley after her fantastic test at Weston was a little full of herself in the very busy and atmospheric CIC** arena. She showed some quality work, but also made some rather large errors when she was lacking concentration on me. She scored a disappointing 66.3, but she is still very green at this level so we have plenty of time and plenty to work on.
She was rather keen in the show jumping and had one down due to being a little too feisty. As she had only run the week before we chose against running her cross country.
I had Vendredi Biats and Acis in the Novice and Cooley Plan B and Darustud Cooley in the BE100.
Vendredi Biats did a lovely test, he could have showed a little more in his mediums but he found the slope of the arena a little tricky with his balance.
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He then jumped a great round in the show jumping and was unlucky to have one down when he lost a little balance coming down hill to an oxer. He then jumped a super clear round the cross country to finish in 8th place.
Acis did a superb test showing some lovely work, he broke in his medium trot which was a real shame as I asked for a little too much. he scored a 27.3.
He like Vendredi Biats he found the unbalancing show jumping arena a little tricky and had a very unfortunate one fence down. He then flew round the cross country and finished just outside the top ten.
Darustud Cooley did another super test and scored 23.5.
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He then jumped a lovely clear in the show jumping.
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He gave me a great ride round the cross country, but unfortunately I was a little too speedy and picked up 4 time faults for going too fast!! This dropped us from the top few to 10th.
Cooley Plan B did a good test in a tricky arena for young horses so I was rather disappointed with her score of 32.3.
She then jumped a lovely round in the show jumping and like the novices horses had one down when she lost a little balance jumping down hill.
She jumped very well round the cross country but unfortunately had a green stop at a step combination into a quarry, she dithered a little on the edge and was given a 20. She then flew round the rest feeling really confident.
