It was a fairly quiet weekend for me with no eventing, so instead I was eventer-turned-showjumper for the day on Saturday. I headed off for some BS (British Showjumping) at The Hand EC with two grey boys, Leo (Soltair Justice) and Joey (the hunter-turned-showjumper!).
Joey jumped in the 1.10m and newcomers and just had a silly pole in the jump-off in each, very frustrating as we did some speedy times. Leo then jumped a foot-perfect round in the Foxhunters. I like to get out and go BS as much as I can during the summer when I do not have an event on as it keeps the horses’ and my eye in and gives me much-needed practice over decent courses.
Sunday was a non-horsey day and instead we took the RIB (rigid inflatable boat) to Weymouth for some water-sports. I definitely think we should stick to horses though, our family is not very good with boats… we ended up breaking down at the beach and had to get our kind friends to tow us back. It was a very slow journey to say the least!
It was back to normal on Monday, taking Leo and Kitkat (Another Breakfast) for dressage lessons with Emma (Fisher). We fine-tuned Leo up for his novice run at West Wilts the next day and gave Kitkat a really good session, as it’s hopefully all systems go for Blenheim and we have lots to do between now and then.
We have a winner…
Leo won his novice section at West Wilts, which was hugely exciting as it was only our second ever event together and I’ve only had him a month. I thought his dressage had improved from the previous week even though the mark did not reflect it with a 34.5, but he then went on to jump another effortless double clear. I am now really looking forward to running him round the intermediate at Bicton this weekend.
All the horses were checked over by my great physio Ginny Ince this week and as they were having their tight bits sorted I felt I should go and get mine done too. A very good friend of mine called Millie Batten has a sports massage qualification and so I try and go see her as often as I can as there is no point the horses feeling tip top if I am not too. It isn’t a particularly pleasant experience at the moment as my muscles are a bit tight, but hopefully I will be feeling the benefits soon.
Also I had some good news in that my mare Totty (Totten Lady, pictured at home with Kitkat) has been given the all-clear to get back to proper work after a few frustrating niggly problems, so I am hoping I can get her out to some autumn events.
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I have Bicton this weekend with Kitkat running in the open intermediate and Leo in the intermediate. They have been putting in a lot of effort to make the ground perfect for us so it should be a great weekend of eventing.
Rosie
Check out H&H’s other eventing blogger, Lauren Shannon
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Rosie Fry has been blogging for Horse & Hound since shortly after she left university to concentrate on eventing full time in July 2013. She is the sister of National Hunt trainer Harry Fry and helps school and exercise his horses when time allows.