Jack - Petplan Equine Ambassador

I’m hugely excited to have been selected to be a Petplan Equine Ambassador for the third year running. At the beginning of February, Petplan Equine invited us to The Unicorn Trust Equestrian Centre in Stow on the Wold to catch up with the Petplan Equine team, JB Promotions and new and old ambassadors. Petplan Equine had organised on a fantastic few days away; media training, photoshoots, which Rocco loved being centre of attention, and an opportunity to meet our local equine media journalists.

The past few weeks have been very busy picking up the horses fitness and preparing for the season. Tim Grey’s Ivor (Beechhill Anglo) and I have formed a great bond over the winter and he’s improving all the time. He’s been to two low key combined training at West Wilts being placed 2nd and 3rd on super dressage scores and clear show jumping rounds. After going well at West Wilts combined training and picking up placings at indoors eventers challenges, I decided to enter Ivor for Rectory Farm’s combined training which has a much larger atmosphere than he’s ever seen so it was a going to be a big ask for him. It’s a great place to go for pre event exposure. Ivor did a stunning test to score 26 on his first test on grass and in the rain; he jumped a super round and just had a green pole at fence one meaning he finished in 3rd place.

Scooby (Landsman) also went to Rectory Farm’s combined training and did a lovely smooth test to score 25 and a clear show jumping round left him unbeatable to win! First win of the year!! Rocco (MGH Rococo) has been to a couple of indoor eventer challenges picking up rosettes each time out.

I took Jerry (Tambourine Man) and Rocco to their first event of our season at Swalcliffe Park. My winter dressage lessons hugely paid off with Jerry who did a lovely soft and relaxed test to score 24.3.

I do not always find him the easiest in the dressage phase. He went on to jump a foot perfect double clear round and finish on his dressage score to come 3rd in a very competitive open section. Rocco was very pleased to be back out eventing too doing a lovely test to score 28.8, he jumped a great clear round show jumping. With Rocco, my main aim is The Mitsubishi Motors Cup at Badminton in May so he didn’t run cross country on this occasion. Frustrating as if he had been clear cross country, he would have won, but we’re looking at the bigger picture!

I went to evening dressage with Michelle Cooper’s Jupi, Kathryn Huges’ Bam Bam and my own Jackson. Doing three tests in 50 minutes was a little bit of a rush but it certainly paid off with Jupi coming 1st, Jackson 4th and Bam Bam 6th. Jackson has also been out show jumping and cross country schooling and is being prepared to start eventing in the next few months; he’s still green but showing huge ability and talent.

Throughout the season, I like to keep my horse’s routine varied and fun. For most of my horses, I work them in the school every other day and hack them out on the days in between. I make sure I jump them once and week and try and get them out for a canter on grass; mostly for their own enjoyment. I'm not a huge fan of horse walkers, instead I like to get my horses out and see the real world, as I believe it sets them up far better for competitions.

The next few weeks are going to be very busy with training, fitness work and competitions with Rocco gearing up for The Mitsubishi Motors Cup. I’ll keep you posted on how our prep work goes and how we get on at the main event!