Bovington

We had a very enjoyable outing to Bovington, after the last two years being cancelled because of weather it was great that this time they were rewarded, the weather was lovely and the ground was perfect.

I had Larav Gold Star in the BE100 in our first run for Ibby Macpherson.  He is a young horse out of Tinarana Goldwave of Ireland, and this was his first 100, and what better way to start than with a win.  He got a lovely genuine dressage to put him in the lead on 22.  He jumped a good clear show jumping, it wasn't altogether perfectly tidy but he is a careful horse and that is what matters.  He then jumped the cross country in a very confident matter of fact way and seemed to be worried by nothing.  So finishing on his dressage score he stayed in the lead.

I was riding Violetta in her first Novice, having done three 100's I felt she was ready to up the ante.  She did a super dressage and scored 24, despite a wrong canter lead strike off, her dressage also had her at the head.  She then jumped a lovey round show jumping with one clumsy moment resulting in a fence down.  The cross country was no problem to her at all but I took her quietly around for 14 time faults and she still managed to finish 6th, with her first BE points it was a landmark in her eventing career.