Sophie Jenman and Westhills Maximus in the BE90 Open D
It was a fairly relaxing day at Chilham Castle with a small number of spectators enjoying walks with their dogs around the beautiful parkland and even time for a tipple at the Wild Spirits of Kent trade stand. However the horses that had to gallop up the long hill, providing us with a great view over the course and distant countryside, probably didn’t find it quite so relaxing
The BE80 and BE90 horses that were competing today needed to be fit thanks to this long pull up the hill; the course winds gently downhill from the Starter Box, ably manned by Chris Kirby who has a reassuring word for all competitors heading out on course, towards the two water jumps then the long climb back begins. By the time they reach the top the riders don’t have much puff to turn around and enjoy the view.
For the BE90 riders who finished early in the day such as Yvie Jeanne, there was plenty of time to try out the various concoctions that caught our eye on the Wild Spirits of Kent stand.
Riding over - Yvie and Andrea try out the various blends
Yvie was competing in the BE90 Section C riding Andrea Funnell’s Brian’s Boy, a horse she started to ride last June and immediately put on a diet.
“He was seriously obese” says Yvie “He had never done cross country before but, although he is still a bit shy of water jumps, he is learning his job pretty well”
While the show jumping ring at Chilham is centrally located near the trade stands, the dressage arenas are a little walk away, down to the flatter area near a pretty lake and overlooked by the Castle. Here we spotted Michael Ashton, the New Zealand born make-up and hair stylist to the stars who counts Adele among his clients, who was, not surprisingly, beautifully turned out for the BE80(T) riding Belton’s Entente Concordiale
Tomorrow the BE100 and Novice riders hit the track – take a look at the course they’ll be jumping around here
