Petplan Equine
Sponsored Rider - Jack

September and October Update

Well the season has come to an end and winter is very much here. September was a slightly quieter month for me eventing, but still as busy as ever riding and training. I headed off to West Wilts with Landsman (Scooby) who did a lovely dressage and scored a super 27.5, unfortunately the show jumping didn't go to plan as the heavens opened and Scooby spooked at a person leaning on the fence next to a jump. Luckily we went on to ride a super clear inside the time cross country and we were back smiling.

At the beginning of October we headed to our local and one of my favourite events, Dauntsey Park. As previously mentioned in my blogs Dauntsey hasn't always been a lucky stomping ground for me. Scooby rode a lovely smooth test for 32.3, which put him in a great position. Scooby pulled out all the stops show jumping for a fantastic clear. The cross country is always big and bold, Scooby was flying and making light work of the course, up until I saw a bit of a flyer a few fences from home, poor Scooby tried his very hardest to pop in an extra stride, sadly it wasn't there and I went over the fence without him! Ouch!

After a not so successful day at Dauntsey we head off to Calmesden, another local event. Scooby rode a nice test to score 32, and then rode a slightly spookier show jumping round compared to the week before. Scooby warmed up for cross country and was feeling his normal fresh self, but a few minutes before we were due to leave the start box there was a long hold on course. After a while I chose to withdraw from the cross country, due to the fall the week before and then a long hold we were better to finish the season happy.

The last few weeks have not gone quite to plan, the season didn't end how we had hoped with Scooby, and Rocco's season was cut short missing the last few events. We were show jump training when Rocco and I both fell. With the help of Petplan Equine and Kelly Harrison at B&W Equine Vets, he has had the very best care with no stone left unturned in getting him back on the road. It was found that he had fluid and inflammation in the coffin joints and bruising on the navicular. He is currently enjoying his holiday and will be back into work to start indoor show jumping in the new year.

My lovely three year old named Cuba is now fully broken in. She's been such a joy to work with; she hacks around the lanes and fields and will walk, trot and canter in the school and has even popped a small fence. Cuba has the best brain of any horse I've ever broken in. She has just had her wolf teeth removed so will have some time off before returning to work again very soon.

I've started what feels like an endless task of clipping the whole yard, ready for a winter of show jumping. I have lots planned for the coming weeks and there was me thinking we were meant to slow down over the winter!

Top tip for the festive season

During firework session I keep an eye out for when any local displays are on and speak to any neighbouring properties to see if they are planning their own fireworks. I like to keep my horses in their normal environment; if they live in, keep them in and if they live out, keep them out, but in safe and secure fields. You can leave the radio on in the yard to drown out some noise, but most importantly have your torch ready to go out and check on stabled and turned out horses if you hear any fireworks. After fireworks night, always go for a walk around your fields to check that none have landed in your fields.