Houghton Cross Country

 We have had a very satisfying cross country at Houghton Hall with all three of the 1* horses doing clears inside the time.

We woke up to a very hot morning and the ground was still pretty good and Seventh Heaven took on the cross country in a very grown up way.  He found a lovely rhythymn and took it all in his stride, giving me a very good ride and finishing comfortably 10 seconds inside the optimum time.  It was a long course for a 1* with the optimum time of 8.29, so it is a lot further than the youngsters are used to going as most novice events are about five minutes.  He will have hopefully come on enormously for his experience and I hope that he comes out well tomorrow which he should.

Extraordinarily there was a huge storm whilst we we're out on the course with colossal rain, hail and winds. Almost an inch of rain fell in an hour and the ground took it well.  

Yes I Can then went cross country in very different conditions.  He too coped very easily with a super clear finishing inside the time, and moving up to a rather unremarkable ninth place.  He also noticed that it was a bit further than usual but coped easily.

Andrew had a good ride on Andarilho, who took it all on very easily.  He did not enjoy being asked to go so far but Andrew convinced him and he performed very well.

So on to tomorrow and hoping that will all finish happily.  It has been a useless event for any form of communication by phone or internet, but we have managed just about to stay in touch.

Signature is very much enjoying himself and has been on very good behaviour throughout.  I have just heard that Kevin McNab has really hurt himself, fracturing a vertebrae in his back, so I wish him all the best and hope he recovers very soon.  This will be very disappointing for him as he was hoping to go to Luhmuhlen, but that is sadly the nature of our sport.