Wellington

Wellington

Saturday

Just back from a rather busy weekend at Wellington.  It got off to a very good start….but not….with Cayiano.  He was competing in his 4^th event he did a very pleasing test to be in the lead on 28, then did a super double clear with no time faults to ‘win’ his section, but not….. as the stupid rider cantered straight past number five.  Something that at my stage of life I have been told ‘that is a mistake you will never make again’, but the reality is you do and it is always slightly unforgiveable.  In the big picture I am very pleased that he has had four good runs in his build up to going for the 5yo Championships at Osberton, where hopefully I will go the right way in all three phases.

Monday

My busy day was yesterday, where I had four horses competing over three classes, and obviously my main challenge was no errors of course.   Very happily on that front I succeeded, completing three different dressage tests, three different showground rounds and three different cross countries - where going the right way was very exciting.  

Under Oath was having his first run for a bit of a while and he had a pretty good day, he led the dressage on 26, rolled a couple of poles and then was excellent cross country.  

Next were the Advanced horses, Grafennacht I wanted to give another run after her rather disappointing Hartpury, and she was back on true form.  

She did a very nice test of 30, which doesn’t sound very good but had her in 3^rd.  She jumped a great clear show jumping and was really on the job and back to her old self cross country.  I didn’t go too fast as the ground was pretty dried out.  They had done a good job aerovating the ground but it was still bone dry and in parts it was hard to see where the aerovating was.    

Little Fire I wanted to give another run to as there aren’t many left this season.  He did one of the best tests he has ever done to lie 2^nd on 26.  He didn’t have a single blip or glitch and has really come one since Hartpury.  In the show jumping he was slightly crazy and had a couple down which was annoying, on the cross country despite going dead slow he was foot perfect.

So the day rounded up with a high and a very exciting 5^th place with Duke Legacy in the Novice.  I was very pleased with his dressage in which he got  27.  He had an annoying 4 penalties show jumping in what was a good round, and then went very well cross country and still finished 5^th despite seven time faults. 

Now I am home for a day and then off to Bicton with Oratorio tomorrow which is going to be very exciting.  There are only 38 starters and we are number 16 so we will be going mid field.  Dressage is on Friday and we are hoping for a nice late start on Saturday.