So Tattersalls started extremely well…..actually with a win before I’d even got on a horse…. I was honoured with the title of Best Turned Out Male in the Trot Ups!!! Very proud of myself….even if I did take more changes of outfits than a 21 year old going for a weeks clubbing in Ibiza!!
The dressage with ‘Quanti’ was stress free and then he went on to go clear inside the time over the cross country course moving us up to 8th place. It was a testing course and seemed to cause several riders a few problems throughout the day.
We were all up bright and breezy the next day, eager to get on with it! ‘Quanti’ was on a roll and popped round the showjumping course with ease, produced a lovely clear and moved us up to finish 5th in a very hot YHCCI*. I could not be more pleased with him, and for his owner, Laura Cocking, – from start to finish he behaved and rode with the attitude and enthusiasm that belies his age and years of experience.
‘You’ve Got The Lux’ (Poppy) felt amazing despite having a couple of green moments on the cross country course. It was the biggest track she has ever seen but she was bold and her super keen feisty self…. there’s no holding a good woman back!! She finished off jumping a clear showjumping round, and I feel she learnt a lot and grew up a bit! We all came home happy from our trip to this well run event in Ireland, and excited to have 2 very promising horses that are still only 7 years old.
I’d like to say a big thank you to Move Right Therapy for the use of their Theraplate – both the horses had regular 20 minute sessions which they benefitted from massively. And they looked after us too – complimentary wine – bonus!! The ground was testing to say the least but they both trotted up beautifully on the final day.
In between all the trips out and away we seem to have had recently I’ve been just as busy at home teaching, my regular clients are full of ambition and super keen to do well – I give them homework and they actually do it!!
I’ve just backed a 4 year old home bred – ‘Baby Lucky’ – another mare to add to the string. She is a real sweetie and is giving us no trouble yet….it may be the lull before the storm but we’ll see! Day 3 of her education saw us off the lead rein and behaving like a grown up! She’s now jumping round some small fences in the arena, she enjoys it a bit too much, and I have a job containing her excitement…Her moto is ‘scream if you want to go faster’ ….
And I have to mention ‘Echo’ – a 5 year old I bought in Ireland earlier this year – a definite yard favourite.I’m slowly asking him more questions and stepping up his work, he is incredibly laid back and a great calming influence for ‘Baby Lucky’ – horses like these two make me realise why I do this job. He has just attended his first Burghley Young Event Horse class at Richmond where he produced a beautiful first ever dressage test for a leading score, and then proceeded to jump very sweetly round a relatively decent and technically built showjumping course. The confirmation judge really liked him, just dropping him one mark putting him into the final gallop leading by two marks. We were all feeling optimistic as he has a good big ground covering stride but we were left surprised and disappointed that this judge clearly disagreed with the other judges and pulled him in 2nd last dropping him overall to 5th, therefore missing out on qualifying. But that’s showing for you and I know his day will come! We are heading to Field House for the next BYEH qualifier with three 5 year olds and a 4 year old. They are all completely different so let’s hope one of them has what they are looking for!
And more exciting news… I have finally invested in a new lorry! Just got it in time for the British Masters at South View where ‘Tawnmore Lux Crusalier (Jerry) jumped in the 1.20 classes. We had brilliant double clears on the first 2 days, placing us 2nd and 4th in huge classes, unfortunately we rolled the first fence in the Grand Prix on the final day. Jerry’s owners, Lily Roberts and family came to watch him and enjoy the wonderful hospitality always provided by this fabulous venue.
Now that we have the possibility of some rain I will begin to get the eventers entered up again for their autumn campaign and look forward to carrying on where we left off and getting out again!
I’d like to add how grateful and excited we all are to welcome Fine Fettle Feed and Spillers Horse Feeds to Team Hankey, joining our current sponsors Sederholm and Bombers Bits. We couldn’t do what we do without the support of these companies so a big thank you!
Well I’m off now to do another rain dance!!!
