Gus is not a huge dressage fan...
This month has been an interesting one on all fronts. I have been to so many events in a short space of time I seem to have lost track of who did what and where – no I’m not complaining and I wish the season wasn’t ending in three weeks.
West Wilts
Dan did a good test and then proceeded to remind me that he is 5 years old and not perfect by refusing to go near fence nine in the show jumping. Apparently the horses galloping directly toward him on the cross country – on the OTHER side of the fence, were too terrifying to cope with. Bad Dan. Gus did a much better test, ran past every distance I saw in the showjumping with a distinct dose of over enthusiasm and then went really well cross country. On the way home the truck started making an odd noise when I turned the wheel. Oh dear …
Decided that week that there was a need to go schooling at Lyneham Heath – a beautiful property down the road that has a full cross country course and show jumps. The plan was that Summer would ride Parker directly at Dan whilst I show jumped, which worked a treat. On the way home the truck made an even worse noise when I turned the wheel. Oh s**t …
By the time I got home it was clear that something was wrong with the power steering – the truck was making the most awful noises and I was wrestling the wheel to make the corners. Not ideal as I am completely mechanically challenged and Mercedes were being less than helpful. Google to the rescue and three phone calls later a really nice mobile mechanic came out and fixed the power steering, with 4 litres of power steering fluid and the tightening of a bolt. £200 later, I wished I’d knew where to find that ‘minor’ problem. There may have also been a moment when I wished I had brought “The Bridget” over with me from Australia as she never broke down … Oh well.
Purston Manor
A 4am wake up call followed by a white frost upon arrival wasn’t exactly what I was hoping for. The cross country course walk was punctuated by my swearing under my breath about my impractical shoes – forgot waterproof footwear, boat shoes weren’t cutting it. Got back to the truck, took Dan off the truck to tack up, next minute CRASH BANG WALLOP. Whole barn door goes flying off hinges attached to Dan’s head collar. More swearing. Chase horse round truck park, catch horse, re attach to side of truck. Find barn door, all hinges smashed. Swear some more, get on to do dressage. Dan redeems himself with a lovely test, one pole down and a great clear cross country. Destructive behavior forgiven.
Gatcombe
Gus did a nice test and got his best mark to date. I marred it with a fence down in the showjumping but lots of improvement from West Wilts. Blyth and I pushed in to go cross country early because we wanted to go home, I said he could go first and I would follow him. All was going well cross country until I cantered up to fence 14 and heard on the loud speaker ‘and Blyth Tait has just fallen off Kondraki at the water’, uncharitably my first thought was – well he had better get out of the way! Apparently this was on photographer Libby Law’s mind too as she said to him, “oh you’d better hurry up and move” whereupon Blyth said “It’s only Laura, she can just go round me!” In any case, everyone was fine, we all finished and for the first (and maybe only) time in my life I managed to beat Blyth.
Moreton Morrell
We all went off in the rain to Moreton, having ridden everything else that morning courtesy of a very late draw. Dan did an ok test, however was still not fussed on horses galloping in close proximity to him so had a few tense moments. He show jumped nicely and then I walked the course and at fence 15 stopped, phoned Blyth (who had finished and gone home) and debated the merits of withdrawing. With no word of a lie, it was the biggest BE100/Pre Novice I have ever seen in my life. However I decided to harden up and go and Dan rewarded my faith (insanity?) by being an absolute superstar the whole way round.
Dauntsey
Dan did a good test- average mark, clear showjumping, clear cross country. Useless rider went too slowly cross country (6.4 time penalties) and missed out on finishing in the money as a result. Pats for the pony and more training for the rider.
Next we are off to Broadway where Dan does his first novice and Gus has his last novice start before Aldon where he will go intermediate to finish the season. If you had told me in February that Dan would be off to his first CNC* in October I would have said you were mad, but that is the benefit of being here and having so many events to give them miles at and having such good help.
Round and round and round...this is what my morning consist of!
In other news, I have a new job - doing, you’ve guessed it, DRESSAGE horses in the morning for Henriette Andersen. I just can’t seem to get away from the blasted things. It’s great because I still have time to ride mine though I have to admit that after last Monday when I bandaged 60 legs in a morning, I was beginning to think it was a bit mental.
I'd like my new horse to be a combination of the following three horses plus Charlton Ultra:
Hands Down X - photo: Main Event Photography
Sugoi - photo : Cobie Sheehan
Wesley - photo : Main Event Photography
I am also attempting to find myself another going horse to fill the gap that Sugoi’s demise left which is proving exceptionally difficult. Hopefully with winter approaching I will have time to look at a whole lot until I find something that will fit into my criteria which is as follows: Must be as scopey as Sugoi and Hands Down, as well behaved in public as Charlton Ultra, as careful as Wesley, move as well or better than Dan and as nice to deal with as Gus. I don’t really want much.
Winter is also going to be the time where I apply myself to trying to find some sponsors and some horses that I don’t own because frankly my bank account looks a bit sick after this whole hemisphere relocation extravaganza!
Until next time, happy eventing,
Laura
P.S Have just read article on what people feed their horses…and pondering that black jellybeans, licorice, sour snakes, Polos and red frogs didn’t make the list. Perhaps that’s just my odd horses.
