Calmsden weekend

The rain finally came and we had a very wet cold day at Calmsden on Saturday.  However, it was great to have some of Catherine’s horses out for the first time in ages.

Secret Night hasn’t done an event since 2016 and very much enjoyed himself doing a double clear after a nice test of 27.  He felt just like the old boy.  I managed to jump the wrong second last fence so he ended up with an E on the board, but he should have had an HC anyway.

I was having my first ever ride on Catherine’s new horse Summer at Fernhill, and he was very surprised to be back in action.  His dressage was fine but a little unpolished, he got 35.  He jumped a nice round show jumping and was unlucky to roll a pole.  And on the cross country he was very cheerful to be out and was very 'on the job' for a clear.

The Graduate was just having a rather nice Novice run, and he also did a nice test and got 27.5.  Rolled a silly pole show jumping and popped around the cross country for fun.

Valmy Biats gave me an exciting win.  He did a very good test as he usually does to be in the lead on 26.8, followed it up with a double clear and won comfortably by 5 marks.

The exciting day was Sunday with two BE100 first timers.  Teachers pet and homebred, Crunchie, was out for the first time.  He was quite bewildered by the whole day, particularly as he had to fit three days work suddenly into one.  His dressage was really totally respectable and a score of 32 exceeded all our expectations.  He does go very nicely on the flat but the only arena he had seen before was our own.  In the  Show jumping he didn’t jump badly at all, and  although he had three poles I was very happy with how he felt, and I am sure as he strengthens he will find it so much easier.  On the cross country it was all about going between the flags, there were a lot of fences and undulations that he had never met before, and he was remarkably grown up about the whole deal.  Annoyingly he had one silly runout at a corner coming out of the water, but it was a rather grown-up question and we fell into trot, luckily second attempt was fine.  He is rather tired today.  

Inspiring Isa is a little bit of an experienced 5 year old, having done a bit of jumping.  She was also a bit inconsistent in the dressage and ended up with 39, but the marks in her arena were all rather harsh.  She jumped a beautiful clear and was super cross country.  She was rather surprised to be on a course but she jumped her socks off and also did finish rather tired.  It will be interesting to see what both horses make of their next event at Broadway next Sunday.

Calmsden is a real favourite, it is a lovely event with a great atmosphere. The team had worked so hard on getting the ground OK and they had spiked everything.  They really didn’t deserve the horrible day they got on Saturday but as they had spiked the rain did at least go in.  Some of the warm ups got a bit mucky, and we had rather forgotten this year what mucky is!

Photos from William Carey Photography