Monday 9th May 2011 - Two wins and an E for eejit
Having had an easy week while we were at Badminton it was time to concentrate on the other horses. We had Lights (Ardfield Lightening), Cordie (Adam's Curse) and Rosey (Miss AJ) out at Hambleden at the weekend.

I'm riding Lights for my head girl Hollie Bradshaw as she's expecting in August. He is an awesome jumper but wouldn't be the biggest fan of flatwork. However he managed to stay on the bit for his whole test for a score of 33 which we were really pleased with. He then did a super double clear and won his section by a massive 7 marks! He'll aim at Great Tew NRF and then go intermediate at Salperton.

Cordie meanwhile was doing his 1st novice. He is a really lovely horse owned by Lynda Hollinshead and I've just started riding him for her this year. He has a super jump, very genuine and really smart on the flat. He did a good test for 32 and again a lovely double clear. He also won his section so very impressive for a 1st timer. He felt a little green cross country but is so honest, he'll come on a lot for the run.

Rosey's turn on Sunday and thoughts started to drift towards a hat-trick.... Little bit far fetched bearing in mind it was her first intermediate. Started off very well with a 26.4 dressage however 2 poles down scuppered our chances. She actually jumped very well but she hasn't jumped much on grass this year and the ground was very tacky in front of the jumps so I think it just took her by surprise. The cross-country was technical and caused lots of problems, but she just loves it. We went all the straight routes and she was super, although I took her steady. She is such a bold clever mare, she really would jump anything you could put in front of her. Needless to say I was a bit surprised to see a big E on the scoreboard.... I had jumped the wrong last fence. What an eejit. Thankfully she wouldn't have been placed as I had gone steady but very annoying all the same. She has never had a cross country penalty and now has a big E on her record. At least we know she's able for the next level and she heads to Aston le Walls for her next run.

Tayto (Master Crisp) has stopped trying to buck me off at every opportunity and will start pre-novices next month. He did manage to get me off for the 3rd time just before Badminton - cross-country schooling on pretty hard ground the day before we left, without a fence in sight. Not my brightest idea. He is very cool though and I'm looking forward to starting him off.

Tuesday 3rd May 2011 - Badminton
Well, what an amazing experience.... Before going to Badminton, I had felt that to get 2 horses to the 1st trot up was an achievement, never mind what happened after that. But as soon as we got there my competitive side kicked in and I knew we had to have a crack at winning it! Although things didn't go 100% to plan, I've come out of it with real confidence in knowing that I am lucky enough to be riding 2 horses who are more than capable of competing with the best in the world and with a bit more experience and luck there's no reason why we won't go back next year and have a go at winning it.

Jimmy (Vaguely North) started off with a very accurate and forwards test. He really kept his cool and tried his best for me, so I was a bit disappointed with our mark of 57.2. We were 4th to go though and the marks were quite erratic. In any case his dressage is improving all the time and he did his best for me so I was pleased. Paddy (Master Crusoe) was meanwhile being a little nightmare! He was completely overawed by all the people who had turned out to see him and was wild with excitement. Riding him on Saturday morning I thought we'd be lucky to get in the arena, and to stay there. Then Holly started to plait him.... He knew it must be his turn to show off soon and when I rode him at lunchtime he was a different horse. By the time it came to his test he was dying to get in and show everyone how brilliant he could be. 42.2 - Even during the test I didn't think we'd get that mark and couldn't quite believe it afterwards. He truly is a great showman - I think he genuinely believes that the whole crowd had turned up purely to see him and no other horse. If only he could tell Jimmy that if you prick your ears and look like you're enjoying it you'll get more marks.

Then Jimmy's turn to be amazing. 4th to go around our first 4 star and he was incredible, finishing bang on the optimum time. Wow. What a feeling. He is the most incredible cross country horse - it never even felt like we were in top gear - he simply cruised around. By about fence 7 I had a grin on my face and I'm pretty sure he had to. The only hiccup was pecking on landing at the quarry but he finished so well we were all over the moon. When we got back to the stables however it was clear that he was a bit sore - we thought he must have just knocked himself but unsure what damage he may have done we took the hard decision not to present him on Monday for the trot up and risk jumping him. It was absolutely devastating for all concerned especially his owner Henrietta. He really didn't deserve it after making it look so easy - 1 of only 7 inside the time. We have since found out that he had only knocked into himself thank God and will be back in work in a few weeks after his holiday. It was a case of really bad luck, but we're hoping to aim him for Burghley in the Autumn.


Then Paddy's turn. Having spent much of the time in between my 2 rides with Jimmy, I feel I wasn't focussed enough starting on Paddy - I was in auto-pilot for the first 5 fences. When we turned into the rolltop at 5 Paddy's attention went from the fence onto the crowds and I wasn't quick enough to respond. I tapped him with the whip to get his attention but I should have done this 10 strides out - not taking off over the rolltop.... at which point he took off with me down the hill and never locked onto the skinny. Once I had copped on after our hiccup we had the most fabulous round - again like Jimmy making it all seem easy. For a little horse he is incredibly brave and scopey and finished full of running. I feel he could certainly have got very close to the time and I was furious with myself for my mistake. His heart rate was back to normal within a few minutes and our vet couldn't believe he had been cross country when he checked him Sunday night. He proceeded to jump a brilliant clear on Monday which made my mistake all the more infuriating. However it was the only mistake we made all week, certainly one I won't be making again and he is only 10! Very promising for the future and all in all a week that has given me invaluable experience.

Obviously the European Championships in Luhmuhlen in August is a big dream and it would be so incredible if we were lucky enough to get there. Burghley the week after is a big aim and both horses should start their preparations for it at Barbury in July for the CIC***.

Will keep you posted!

Saturday 16th April 2011
Well the big one is almost upon us. Next Wednesday, baring any last minute mishaps I'll be driving with 2 horses to Badminton for my first go at it. Both Jimmy (Vaguely North) and Paddy (Master Crusoe) are in tremendous form and have had a pretty foot peerfect preparation. At Aldon they both finished on their dressage scores in the Advanced Intermediate for 3rd and 6th place.

Then at Belton they both produced their best form in all 3 phases with Paddy finishing 3rd in the Grantham Cup, 2 marks behind winner Oli Townend and Jimmy in 12th place, out of about 80 starters. Jimmy knocked 6 marks off his previous best dressage at 3 star level for a 52, show jumped clear (although picked up 4 time faults - think the jockey was a being a bit laid back!) and flew cross country. Paddy meanwhile did a 42 dressage! Show jumped clear and again flew cross country. As it was their last run before Badminton and the ground was good, I let them bowl along cross country but even still was surprised to find I was only a couple of seconds over the time on both and next to Oli the fastest times of the day. Delighted with their fitness and both have come out of it well and raring to go.

Next stop with them was Weston Park where I just did the dressage. Although a long way to go for a test - I thought it was a good opportunity to run through the 4 star test on grass. Just as well as I forgot my test on both of them! Well good to get that out of the way before Badminton....


Having been forgotten about at home for a few days while we were busy at Belton and Weston, my own 5 year old Tayto has decided he's happier without me on his back and has spent the last week trying to plant me on the floor - managing twice!! Being a bit superstitous I think I'll need to let him get me off one last time before we go, or else Holly's agreed to push me off. Just hope she does it in the school and not out hacking!

Very very excited about next week, lets hope everything goes to plan!

Saturday 12th March 2011 - First Events
Well the season has started and our first outing was to Isleham for the Open Intermediate with Paddy (Master Crusoe) and Jimmy (Vaguely North). They are both aiming for Badminton this year so it was important to get them out early.

Paddy did an amazing dressage for a score of 20.9 which included a 10 for his final halt!! He then show jumped fantastic in what was very holding ground and cruised around cross country - although I made sure to take him steady for his first run. He ended up in 4th place all the same. Jimmy on the other hand was WILD! So unlike him but he was very excited to be allowed out.... He settled for his dressage and did a nice test but couldn't quite contain himself in the show - jumping, got a bit quick over his fences and had 2 down.... He jumped super cross country but again was a bit over enthusiastic so I decided he should definitely go to Tweseldown for the Open Intermediate 4 days later and get the bunnies off the controls in his head....

This proved to be a good idea as he was super and back to himself. He did a nice test for a score of 33, show - jumped beautifully and was cool cross country to finish 5th. Next outing for the 2 boys is Aldon on 20th March for the Advanced Intermediate so fingers crossed they stay in such good form.

We also had new ride Adam's Curse (Cordy) out for his first event at Aston le Walls unaffiliated in the BE100. He is a lovely addition to the yard - full thoroughbred owned by Lynda Hollinshead with a super jumping technique, floating paces and a trainable temperment, so I'm really looking forward to competing him this season. He flew around Aston and finished 4th, so his plan is to go to Swalcliffe for another BE100 and then go Novice at Sapey on 12th April.

We had good news in that Master Crusoe has made it onto the Badminton start list with Vaguely North 1st on the waitlist which means its very likely he will get a starting slot too, if their preparation continues to go to plan - very exciting so fingers crossed!!!

It was a lovely surprise to be awarded the Irish Field Senior Event Rider of the Year in February, and also to find Jimmy and myself on the cover of April's Eventing Magazine which is just out, flying around Blenheim's CCI course last year.


Next outing is Aldon, followed by Rosey and Doc's seasonal debut at Gatcombe - lets hope they're not too wild!

Thursday 23rd December 2010 - Please Santa can I have an indoor school??
Once again apologies for the delay in updating my diary. We have been mad busy the last few weeks - as no doubt everyone else has -dealing with this Siberian weather, but we also have just managed to move house which is so exciting!! Very glad we managed to get in before the snow arrived because we are now well and truly stuck. Up until this week I've managed to get the horses worked pretty much every day even if it meant boxing up to use an indoor school nearby, but now I have just admitted defeat. Thank God we are able to use a horsewalker but oh what I would give for an indoor school!

The horses meanwhile are all in great form. To finish off where I left off - Osberton. Fair play to the organising team who really did their utmost to keep the show on the road but the elements got the better of them in the 6 year old Championships which Miss AJ was competing in. She did her best test to date to score 44 and with an unlucky fence down she was still in the top 10 going into her favourite phase - XC. Sadly the overnight rain left no choice but to cancel the class although I really think the team there did phenomenal work to enable the CCI* and** show jumping to go ahead.

We still had Lion D'Angers to look forward to, and once again Miss AJ performed with the consistency she's shown all year to finish 14th. I was slightly disappointed as I really thought we'd get in the top 10 but we were unlucky to be drawn 1st to go in the dressage on Thursday morning (amazingly the same draw as the last time I had a 6 year old competing there in 2007!) I think she was quite hardly marked, but in any case Lion really is a wonderful event and a great experience for young horses. I've no doubt she'll come on a lot for it, and hopefully be able to return to compete in the 7 year olds next year.

Since then we've not had much of a break as Paddy (Master Crusoe) and Jimmy (Vaguely North) came in early November to start their winter training. With Badminton so early next year I'm already getting very excited and this weather is probably doing them no harm as they've had quite a busy couple of months! We've been down to Carl Hester for some lessons which has been brilliant, and both have been jumping super so I can't wait to get them out for some shows when the thaw comes. The others had about 6 weeks off and have been back in work about a month - all in great form and looking super.

We had a visit from Lorna from Baileys Horse Feeds who gave us some of their New Performance Balancer to try out along with Digest Plus - a prebiotic supplement to promote a healthy digestive system. I cannot get over the results so far - Valiance has always been a tricky horse to bring back into work while keeping condition on, as he can be a bit wild until he's remembered what a bridle and saddle are, and the performance balancer has worked brilliantly. While Miss AJ has never wintered terribly well. Haylage- no matter how good a quality would tend to go straight through her and she wouldn't eat enough hay, but with the Digest Plus we've been able to feed her ad-lib haylage and she hasn't run up at all. Really would recommend both products to anyone struggling in this cold weather to keep the condition on their horses.

Meanwhile I was desperately hoping to get some hunting in over Christmas with a new 4 year old addition to the yard - Tayto (named after the famous Irish crisps!) - but sadly I think its going to be another week of spreading grit, shovelling snow off the walker and dreaming of an indoor school!

Very Merry Christmas to everyone and lets hope 2011 is a successful one!!

Xx

Tuesday 21st September 2010 - Finally - a diary!!
Well it has taken me until almost the end of the season to begin my diary, but i guess there's no better time to start than on the back of our best results to date at Blenheim. Both Master Crusoe (Paddy) and Vaguely North (Jimmy) performed outstandingly to finish 6th and 14th respectively in the CCI*** out of 84 starters, and in the process have qualified themselves for Badminton. I will be a whiter shade of pale by May next year but these two horses deserve their chance having been consistenty placed all year at top level and both have hardly put a foot wrong. It really is such a team effort to keep these horses on form at this level, and huge thanks for the great season we've had to date has to go to my top groom Holly Bradshaw first and foremost, along with Sarah Ward for all her help with our flatwork, Ellen Stanwell (chiropractor) and Marnie Malgarin (physio) along with amazing owners and supporters offering help and advice along the way.

On a personal level, to have 2 clear rounds inside the time cross country (out of 7 in total) at Blenheim was unbelievable. I felt it was possible as both horses were super fit but to pull it off was pretty cool! Jimmy is without doubt the fastest horse I've ever ridden. His owners tease me about switcing careers again to run him in the Grand National.

Sadly Valiance (Doc) was unable to compete in the CIC*** 8/9 year old Championships. As I warmed up for dressage I just felt he wasn't quite right. Luckily he's been diagnosed as just having a slight fetlock strain which he must have picked up the day before and which can only be described as "one of those things". There is no lasting damage but as we have no other competitions for him this year we have decided to give him an early holiday with Jimmy and Paddy and come out all guns blazing for next year. Doc has had a very good season for an 8 year old - with his top result being 3rd in his first Advanced finishing on his dressage score. He promises much for next year. Extremely talented he just needs some more growing-up time.

Althought the Advanced horses have finished up for the season we have youngsters to keep us busy, and have just had the news that Miss AJ (Rosey) has been selected to represent Ireland at the World Young Horse Championships in Lion D'Angers in October. Only three 6 year olds are chosen so this is a real honour and one we're really looking forward to. Before Lion we're heading to Osberton where Rosey is competing in the British 6 year old championships and Holly is competing in her first 3-day event, the CCI*, with her horse Lightening. There will plenty of nerves to be calmed and this time it won't be mine!

Although it has taken me a while to begin this diary, I will try and keep you updated with the horse's progress in their next events and over the winter,

All the Best