Petplan Equine
Sponsored Rider - Lili

September and October Update

Perhaps a slightly different update from me to start with; in September I married my boyfriend of 13 years, so when I look back in my diary it is full of things like �spray tan� and �site visit�. We got married on the first Friday and I can without any reservation, call it the best day of my life. I wouldn�t have changed a thing; it was perfect beyond any words. We got married in Bradgate Park, the first in living history. I rode in on Paddy and my father came in on Zu. Of course the horses had to be there!

Afterwards, the horses enjoyed a well-deserved week off in the field - I really like to give them breaks. I was then lucky enough to go and watch the BD Nationals and saw some fabulous combinations. Unfortunately my cloud nine mood was not to last as we were asked to move from our yard of 12 years. As a result, my head really wasn�t in the right place to take both Zu and Fons to the Petplan Equine Area Festivals at Sheepgate. Both boys didn�t get the marks and I was left feeling very disappointed.

Fons warmed up so well, in front of the leg and feeling nice all over. We went into the warm up and he started to spook and I was not quick enough. He then went awfully in the contact and I retired before the end. For entered the arena again for the second test and Fons had a meltdown at a plant pot. His medium trots felt mega but we still had contact issues so I was a little disappointed to see 56%.

Zu did not even try in medium trot and he was not supple going into the first corner as he totally backed off with the atmosphere. However, I did enjoy riding him and he felt so much suppler so I was proud of him but unhappy with 59%. I withdrew him from his second class and came home.

There are a few good things to take from the Area Festival, Fons is much less spooky and he is fine with the loud speakers now which is a huge step forwards.

We moved the horses the day after and I am thrilled to report that they took to it like a duck to water. Kiki and Polly who are both retired and live out, now have a lovely field shelter where I can shut them into at night. Zu took the longest to settle but they are now all very happy. I love the new yard, people and having a huge indoor school is a massive bonus.

A week after moving, I headed to Weston Lawns with both Zu and Fons and a rather bemused husband. Fons was a bit wild in the first test so I retired before the end. The second novice score was very fair as he loses confidence in the arena at the moment. Zu did two nice tests but we did not achieve very good marks which was a touch off putting but he was a good boy and we had a nice day.

Mid October, we went for our lessons with Charlotte Dujardin. By this point I felt a bit low, my confidence in my ability along with the upheaval of the move had left me feeling shell shocked. I told Charlotte which she immediately dispelled and said that Fons had a lot of talent, but wasn�t very easy and not many people would be able to ride him. This of course, made me feel better. We had two days of seriously positive lessons; but don�t get me wrong, lots of faults and things for me to work on. I went home with a plan, feeling inspired and ready to try again.

We took Zu to Hargate on October 25th just for a nice jolly. He is such a good horse now and his behaviour is so good that it is a joy to take him out. I was thrilled with the two novices, where he felt really �with me� and was rewarded with 68% and 69% which finishes off his winter novice regional qualification, not something I had even factored in with such a big lad!

With lots of teaching and clinics, we rounded the month off by taking Fons to Eland Lodge. He was in the Halloween spirit for the tests. I coasted round the first test for a well-marked 64% and in the second, sadly Fons had a moment, and shot out of the arena twice so we scored 61% with 8�s for my medium trots in a short arena. Obviously not what I planned but I was actually very pleased with him, he IS getting better. It will just take time-and hopefully I won�t get too discouraged in the meantime.