Monthly diary — June 2013

At Houghton 3*CIC, despite a deep arena, he did what I considered a reasonable test. Unlike his previous 3*, the judges didn’t agree… Undeterred and wearing a Mexican Grakle - after its previous success - we tackled the showjumping. And he was appalling.

CF threw his head in every direction and was as difficult as I’ve ever known him. How we completed the course I do not know, let alone finish on four faults. Lissa felt I shouldn’t risk going cross-country. I was in two minds but decided to give it a go. I tacked up and lowered the noseband two holes to where it had been reasonably successful at Chatsworth. The ground was poached so we picked our way but it quickly became clear he wasn’t flinging his head and I had good control – in fact, we finished with time faults, which is unheard of for him.

Untacking, I found a lump under CF’s throat, right where the Grakle had been for the showjumping .Worried the noseband had caused it, I had it checked out. It transpired CF had an abscess after the dentist had accidentally cut his gum a week earlier. No wonder he had been highly agitated when the noseband was tighter. And despite it all, he still qualified us for a CCI3*.