Hartpury - jumping

The show jumping course was quite big but nice and inviting, and overall rode extremely well.  I was therefore very disappointed that Oratorio had three down.  He did not have his jumping socks on today, so he and I will have some homework.

However he gave me a great ride cross country and jumped a good clear with 12 time faults.  I didn't hurry him and a lot of horses were quicker, but today was his first run since Bramham and it was not about speed.  He was very straight and honest and fairly relaxed, so from that point of view it was a very productive day and thankfully he has finally got off the start blocks.

The 3* course was very inviting and flowing, Eric had made a few good changes but it was not a difficult track at all.  It was luckily not one that we needed an OI run to set you up for as I would normally do.  

Kazu also had three poles in the show jumping, keeping me company, frustratingly his round was otherwise very decent.  He also had a great ride cross country and was clear with six time faults, and that will hopefully have set Taco up perfectly for the World Championships.

It was a great win for Tina Cook and Billy the Red, particularly after her very chequered season, after a couple of tense outings this result could well have put him back on the map for WEG selection which would be excellent.