Moreton

It was very exciting to have started the 2013 season at Moreton yesterday and I am happy to report that we had a very successful day. With eleven horses competing from the yard, five for me, it was quite an operation to organize.

Henton For Fun had a very good day to finish 5^th in his section of the BE100.  He followed up a good dressage of 27 with a double clear adding 6 time faults across country.  I was very pleased with how he seems to have come on.  It is easy to forget that he is still only a baby as he finds it all very easy.

Freddie Mac had a spin around the Open Novice  which he enjoyed.  He also jumped a double clear after doing a nice, much more relaxed test than I had expected.  It is exciting to be starting a new season with him feeling so grown up and confident.

Deli Star Hero also had a good run in the Open Novice.  It was lovely to have him back out again after quite along break and he felt on good form.   He scored 28 in the dressage had one fence down show jumping and picked up 6 time faults across country.

It was a big day for Brass Monkey as my only first timer and I couldn’t have been more delighted with how he felt in the BE100.  It was his first time in a dressage arena and he did well to only jump over the white boards once to score 34.  He then did a very confident double clear picking up a few time faults across country to finish 8^th. 

Top Biats gave the team the first win of the season in his BE100 section.  He did a lovely test to score 21 and jumped a superb double clear to finish on his dressage score.  It was very exciting for his new owners Judy & Jeremy Skinner and David & Margie Hall who bought him over the winter.  He has developed a great deal during the winter and is looking superb.

Shacklesborugh was having a run in BE100 with our rider Nicholas Bordas.  He had a very good day finishing 5^th after a good dressage of 29, one down and a time fault across country.  We are hoping to run him in his first novice at Twesledown next week.

Harry Dzenis, based with us this season, was also having his first run on a new ride Dromgurrihy Blue.  He had a very pleasing start to finish 5^th just adding a couple of time faults to his good dressage of 27.

Three weeks ago it was unthinkable Moreton would even happen so it goes without saying that the team did a fantastic job getting everything together in such a short space of time.  In fact the ground across country could not have been better and all the courses provided an encouraging and enjoyable  first run of the season.  

Sadly there was devastating news yesterday of the tragic death of Bruno  Bouvier whilst competing in Portugal.  He was one of the all time great characters of the sport who’s passion and enthusiasm was infectious.  He will be hugely missed on the circuit and my deepest sympathy goes to his family and friends at this very sad time.

A few shots from Moreton.  Thanks to Ian Loveland for the great pictures.

BE100 winner Top Biats

First timer Brass Monkey 

Freddie Mac enjoys his first run of 2013

Deli Star Hero back in action