Petplan Equine
Sponsored Rider - Jack

April to June Update

Well the event season is now well under way and so far we've had a real mix of highs and lows. Landsman (Scooby) and I were balloted out of Goring Heath, our first event of the season. So we were full steam ahead for Larkhill where I had Scooby and Tambourine Man (Jerry) entered. This was my first affiliated event with Jerry and now my first event of the season. He did a lovely dressage test to score 32, which was competitive in his section. We went on to jump double clear, annoyingly added a few time faults cross country kept him out of the top 10. Unfortunately, Scooby developed an abscess in the run up to Larkhill so he was unfortunately withdrawn. He was very cross watching the lorry leave the yard at 5am from his stable!

Scooby was back on top form in no time so I took him and MGH Rococo (Rocco) to Rectory Farm's combined training. Rocco was feeling fantastic for his first outing at a BE100 since we took a heavy fall jumping last September, to finish 4th and Scooby finishing 6th. After this outing, Scooby headed to the very beautiful Hambledon, an event I've never been to before, but will definitely be going back to next year. Scooby really knuckled down in the dressage and produced a fault free test scoring 26 taking the lead in a very competitive section full of everyone who's anyone in the event world. Sadly being his first event of the season excitement took over show jumping so we picked up a few costly rails, but a speedy cross country clear around a big tough course pulled us back up the order to finish 8th.

With Rocco going well at combined training and cross country schooling he headed to his first event at Moreton Morrell. Rocco wasn't to be outdone by stable mate Scooby so also scored 26. The show jumping at Moreton Morrell is normally big and spooky, on this occasion it wasn't, so Rocco had a few lazy poles. He was rather pleased to be going out the start box again. He was slightly rusty starting out but came home feeling very confident and finishing in 8th spot. A few days later after a couple of days out to my local event (which is far too big for us) Badminton, I headed to Broadway with Jerry and Scooby. Both boys felt great in their dressage tests, Jerry picked up a fantastic 27 and Scooby another 26. A winter of hard work paying off. Scooby jumped a super clear show jumping, Jerry was feeling the heat and was too forward and flat so we had two down. Both feeling incredible cross country and going inside the time meant Scooby finished 4th and Jerry in 9th place.

After Moreton Morrell and Broadway, the horses had a quite few weeks before Ascot Under Wychwood. Scooby went on day one and wasn't quite himself in the dressage so I chose to withdraw him and save him for another day. I took Rocco on the second day and scored yet another 26, a theme going on here! He went on to jump a lovely double clear to win. After the last 6 months with him on the side line this meant a lot to me, patience and hard work do pay off.

Scooby was back to himself in no time but I chose to withdraw him from Nunney just to give him an extra week of work before eventing again. Next, Scooby and Rocco both headed to Treborough Hill. Scooby was very pleased to be back out just about containing himself in the dressage for 33, far too much bouncing show jumping so added a pole, then was very fresh and spooky cross country, taking a very large disliking to the drop into the water, and very nearly sending me for a dunking. Rocco continued his top form heading straight into the lead on a 27.3 and jumping double clear to claim his second win in a row, this time leading by 6 marks.

In between eventing, I've been having lots of fun producing Danielle Bell's Dingo Bay. He's taken to life on an event yard very well and absolutely loves jumping. He's been show jumping and cross country schooling and showing all the well bred sport horses this he can do just as well as them. On a rare weekend off I took Dingo to a local venue for his first competitive outing at dressage. Well the first test, I went wrong, not once but twice and then the judge heard me clicking so we were eliminated. The first time I've ever been eliminated at dressage, so that's now ticked off the list and hopefully I won't repeat it any time soon. Luckily we redeemed ourselves by winning our second test. He's not my normal stamp of horse but it gives me the biggest smile riding him as he's a quick learner and really gives 100% at everything he does.

It was great to catch up with Petplan Equine at The Hickstead Derby, I managed to avoid the rain and enjoyed a great day of show jumping and shopping.

My competition tip

On the morning of a competition, I like to make sure the horses have enough time to eat their breakfasts in peace, while I pack the lorry and then start mucking out (After a long day you won't want to do this when you get home). When arriving at an event, I'll unload my horses have a quick leg stretch and drink. It is very important to me to offer the horses’ water throughout the day and allow them access to their hay net.