Petplan Equine
Sponsored Rider - Charlotte

September and October Update

So the beginning of September started off on a very sad note as we had to say goodbye to one of our horses, Charmeur (Stan). I bought Stan on the 24th December 2014, as an early Christmas present to myself. I was told about him by a friend, and he was described to me as, "He has one hell of a jump on him, but he can be quirky at times." So I thought that was right up my street. We went to try him, and out came this very hairy, scrawny horse. He was unfit, but gave me the most amazing feeling over the fence. I knew buying him was a risk, as he didn't have very good x-rays and wasn't completely sound on his vetting, but I fell in love with him, and I wanted to take him under my wing and try everything in my power to get him fit and sound, so he could do what he loved best, which was jump.

Everything started off brilliantly, and he jumped many double clears, but as time went on, I just felt he wasn't entirely comfortable in himself. He became very stressed, so I gave him a few months off to chill in the field, hoping it was just the stress of competition, combined with his ulcers. During his time off, he started to walk very funny, almost like his hocks were locking out of place, and his back became very sore. After two months off, I decided to give it one last chance with him, so I tacked him up, crossed my fingers, and got on him. Stan just wasn't himself; he didn't want to move forward. The vet confirmed my feelings that he was in pain; he didn't know what he wanted. If he was in his stable, he wanted to be in the field. Then I would turn him out, and he galloped round and wanted to come in. So I had to make the heart breaking decision to put him down. I sobbed my heart out, as he was the most kind hearted horse you could come across. He had obviously been in pain from the day I bought him, but he always tried 110%. He deserved a dignified end, and to be put out of pain. It was the best thing for him, and I think more people should make this horrific decision. I fear sometimes, people keep horses going for their sake, rather than the horse's welfare.

After a sombre start, the month got much better. On the 9th September, we went to Crofton Manor with Bivanti (Owned by the Porter Family), Empire VI (owned by Andy Austin) and Castleview Bouncer. The horses knew how to cheer me up! Bivanti jumped double clear in the 1 metre open, which she jumped beautifully. Empire VI also jumped a foot perfect double clear in the 1 metre open and then went on to jump his first Newcomers (1.10) double clear. Castleview Bouncer jumped a double clear in the 1 metre open too, and then in the 1.10 open I just got the feeling he was lacking a bit of effort which resulted in three fences down. Horses have off days too!

On the 16th September, we battled with the elements, and decided to take Empire VI and Castleview Bouncer to Crofton Manor EC in the torrential rain. Empire proved his versatility in the rain and produced a clear round in the 1 metre open to come 2nd, and then had an unlucky fence in the Newcomers jump off. Castleview Bouncer jumped round the 1.10 open with just one down, and then the heavens opened. Buddy does not like water or puddles. I walked the course for the 1.20, and the surface had puddles on it, but I thought as I was there, and very wet, I would give it my best shot. He warmed up very well, where there were no puddles. We went into the ring, and it is safe to say, we didn't get very far at all! He stopped at the first fence, because of the puddle, and then he came back around and jumped it and then proceeded to do the same at the second fence. So with that we were eliminated!

On the 7th October, we went to Crofton Manor EC with Empire VI and Castleview Bouncer. We arrived late as we were stuck in traffic. Usually I give Empire a long warm up for his first class, as he can become very tense. By the time I got on him, I had two horses before me and then I would have to go into the ring. I cantered around the warm up twice, jumped two fences, and with that we had to go in the ring. I wasn't feeling overly positive, but he proved to me how much he has grown up in the last two months. It was his first ever indoor show, and he jumped a super double clear in the 1 metre open. If anything, he was a little cocky and over confident. I then put him in the Newcomers. He was jumping a really good round, and then half way round we had a slight communication error, which resulted in us going past the fence we were meant to jump. I came back around and he jumped it, and the rest of the round was good. He was feeling overly confident, which is unusual for him, so I thought I would cease the opportunity, and put him in the Foxhunter (1.20) to move him up a level, and see how he responded. I usually would never do three classes on one horse, as with the travelling I do not think it is fair at all. He rose to the occasion and jumped a foot perfect clear round.

Castleview Bouncer jumped the 1.10 open and he felt brilliant but the jockey let him down at the first fence, and we just ended up a bit too close, which he couldn't jump it from. I pulled myself together and we came back around and proceeded to jump a clear round, but it was slightly sticky. I then went into the 1.20, he warmed up absolutely fine, and then when I went into the ring, he just didn't feel himself. He stopped at the first and second fence, and then walked out slightly lame. My worse fear, I hate it when the horses have injured themselves doing something they love. So we took him home, to let him rest. It turned out just to be a tweak, I’m guessing from where he stopped in the 1.10.

On the 9th October, we had a brand new five horse walker installed, which I was very excited about. I have wanted to buy one for ages, as I think they do the horses the world of good in regards to fitness.

We decided to try a new show centre on the 14th October, so we took Empire off to Quob Stables EC, whilst Buddy rested at home. This was a new venue for Empire, who had only jumped at Quainton and Crofton Manor before. He was brilliant. He jumped another double clear in the Newcomers, and he just felt mentally exhausted in the Foxhunter, and just made two green errors, which resulted in two fences down.

I have a new ride called Quainton China Girl. She is a seven year old mare, owned by Harriet and Linda Evans. She is very sweet and quite green for her age. On the 18th October I took her to Addington to give her a pop around the British Novice (90cm) as she hasn't done much for two years. She popped around it with just two down. Both were simple inexperienced mistakes and she shows an awful lot of potential.

We ventured back to Addington on the 27th October with Empire and Castleview Bouncer. I got a little bit enthusiastic in the 1.05 speed class on Buddy, which resulted in a very quick time, but four faults. Empire jumped around the 1.05 speed class for a schooling round before the Newcomers, which he jumped another beautiful clear round. He then did exactly the same in the Newcomers, and we started to make some jump off turns. He even nearly jumped me off coming out of a double. I absolutely love Empire, and I appreciate the chance I have been given to produce him. Unfortunately Andy who owns him is a dealer, and therefore he is for sale. I am hoping that I can find an owner, who sees as much potential in him as I do, and they will give me the chance to continue producing him. I think he is potentially a 1.40 horse, but not only that, he has the most loving temperament, and he is like a pet!

Addington set us up nicely to go to Crofton Manor on the 30th October with Empire for the Winter Novice Qualifier. In this class the top two horses qualify for the Royal International Horse Show where you jump in the main ring. Something I have always dreamt of. We arrived and there were over 80 horses in it. Most of them a lot more experienced than him. There were a lot of jumps in the ring, and I knew they would come up very quick whilst jumping my round. I watched a few horses go, and poles were falling all over the place. I thought I would go in the ring, and just attack the course. He jumped absolutely fantastic, and we were clear until the last fence, which was an upright of doubles. The fence before was an oxer, which he opened himself out over, and I just lost a bit of steering on landing, which resulted in not getting the best approach to the double. He had the first part going in down behind and jumped out super. It sadly wasn't meant to be our day. But in the first round there were only 18 clears out of 82 horses, and hardly any on just 4 faults, most were cricket scores. Not bad for a horse that has only been jumping in the ring for 3 months.

It's been a very exciting two months with horses coming back into work. The first to come back into work was our homebred Renkum St George who is a five year old. He is out of my Mum's mare Wiston Bridget, who Tim Stockdale used to jump internationally. She was a very versatile horse; she jumped Grand Prixs, Derbies, Nations Cup and Puissance. He had previously been backed, and turned away. Due to him being a very big sharp horse, and me being very small, we have sent him off to a fantastic jockey, Jamie Jenkinson, who lives five minutes around the corner from us. Jamie is getting him started again, and then he will come home for me to ride. I am the first to admit when something is too much for me and instead of being silly and trying to re start George myself as I know he is too strong for me, Jamie is doing a brilliant job. The second horse to come back into work is Iliandra (Lilly), who is a Heartbreaker mare. We bought her as a five year old, and jumped her up to Newcomers. Unfortunately during training one day, she tripped over a pole, and injured herself. Due to her amazing temperament, and her bloodlines, we decided to give her two years off, and breed from her. She is now back in work and we are working on getting her strong before we start to jump her. She is a big mare but the break has done her the world of good and she has grown into herself. The last horse to come back into work is Buenos Aires (Troy), he has finally got the all clear, and he is on the road to getting back into work, albeit very slowly!

Top tip for the festive season

During fireworks, keep your horses to their normal routine, if they are in, make sure they have lots of hay which they can eat all night long. If you are going to leave them out, make sure they have enough grass or hay to keep them distracted. Check your fence line to see if there are any weaknesses in it, so if they do panic, they are less likely to hurt themselves.