What a week we had at Scope, but first let me go back and fill you in, in some of our latest adventures.
We had a great show at Anvil Park with a 3rd in the 1.15 and just a pole in our first foxhunter. Sadly our last show before Scope didn't go quite as well as Anvil. She jumped clear in the newcomers, but an annoying fence in the jump off. We then had a slight disaster in the foxhunter I lost her brain after the newcomers jump off. It didn't fill me with great confidence that we were ready for Scope yet. However Sky had an Equine Touch session by the fab Helen Choma where she found she was slightly tighter down one side. She had the rest of the week off and went for a gentle hack on Friday. Saturday soon arrived and we were on the road. Sky settled in straight away, as she loves being stabled. Our first class was the 1.15 in the grass arena. I've only jumped once on grass this year at Rutland County which left me feeling slightly apprehensive. Sky jumped fab, but I didn't quite ride her down a distance enough for just one down. Once the decision had been made to move my 1.05 class from the indoor arena. We got our number down fairly early on, which I was extremely glad about as the class had to finish that evening and continue the next morning. Sunday wasn't quite our day as we had a fence in the 1.05 but I couldn't complain at the way she was jumping for me it was more a case of sack the rider. We had an early start on Monday as our class started at 7am and I was drawn 20th to go. Sky was on flying form still, I just had to make sure I rode her. She was clear in the first phase and went through to the jump off section. I didn't go any quicker I was just after a nice double clear. We tapped the very last fence but it stayed. I was over the moon. We finished 19th qualifying us for the final. Another early start on Tuesday for our 2nd 1.05 prelim round. Rider error meant a fence down coming out of the double. I wasn't overly bothered as we had the 1.15 final in the evening. I was extremely nervous and even had a glass of wine at lunch time but it didn't seem to help. The stands were full of people unlike the early morning qualifying round indoors. I was just hoping to get round and not embarrass myself, or be sick off the side of my pony. Sky wasn't the least bit bothered by the crowds, she went in and knew her job. We tapped the first couple before I decided to ride the poor horse. The course was getting bigger the further round we jumped. A silly pole jumping out the double, and some time penalties, but I couldn't have been happier or prouder. The prosecco was definitely being opened. Wednesday was our last class, the consolation final for the 1.05. Sky was mega she jumped clear so we kicked on in the second half and we ended the week with a great double clear. Just missing out on another placing. I had an amazing time at Scope and a huge thanks to Erica and her family for taking me again. Next stop the Arena Uk Festival. Videos to follow. Amber x As the hunting season is drawing to a close it is all go again with the showjumping. Barbie is officially on holiday after a long, hard but great season. Sky has been to the odd meet since although it's not quite the same as when sat on my trusty Barbie pony. Our first show of the year we headed to Vale View for the 1.05 Scope qualifer and newcomer classes. Annoyingly I had the first fence in both classes which Sky didn't deserve. Determined to step up this season we headed of to Houghton Hall for the 105 and Newcomers again. Both went very well and we had a double clear in both classes. This weekend we headed over to Anvil Park Stud for another attempt at the Scope qualifer and Newcomers. Of course the aim in the 1.05 was a double clear to secure our qualification. But sometimes you can't help but try and go for it a little. Thankfully it paid off and we came home with a win! It's not often I say that. Now the Newcomers class Sky was jumping even better than her first class until I froze and forgot the course after fence 7 I turned a circle and then we carried on to finish the course with just 4 faults for the rider. Sky was awesome and I'm still annoyed I let her down. However I'm feeling a lot more prepared for our trip to Blue Chip. I'm hoping to get out jumping or at least to a lesson before we go. In more exciting news Annabelle has gone of for backing and will hopefully me home in couple of weeks. Amber x Heres 10 of my best buys which I adore and couldnt imagine now not having.
1. Thermatex Rug, Its my pride and joy it took a long time to arrive as I had my own colour choice of navy and Cerise binding. 2. Ariat boots. It doesn't matter which pair they are I have 3 pairs of boots now and love them all equally. They are super comfy and smart. 3. Free Jump Stirrups. I took along time deciding whether I should splash out on these. I adore them especially as I got a pink pair. I do however want a black pair too. However my bank balance is telling me no. 4. Horzehoods. Skys hood is great for keeping plaits in. Its very easy to put on with the zip and fits very well. 5. Fairfax Saddle. I was very lucky with this purchase managing to get it on sale. I love the tan and the changeable gullet system means I can use it on any of the horses. 6. Washroom. There is nothing better than being able to wash the horses with warm water through winter and then stand under the heat lamps whilst plaiting on a chillyday. 7.Menege. Although we never had one whilst I was eventing Henry. Its lovely having one now being able to jump more often not worrying about the hard ground through summer and also riding in the evenings through winter. 8. Ecogold. I love all of my ecohold products from saddle pads to XCountry boots they wash well and always look smart. 9. Metal Feed Bin. Its so much easier having one big feed bin. Especially as you can fit a whole bag of chaff in one compartment which is always a major struggle with the plastic bins. 10. Supplements. Sky isn't the same horse if she doesn't have her gastic maintance from Equine Science. It keeps her happy and on side to work. I can't believe I am writing a blog about a successful dressage outing, especially as it is about Sky. We headed off to Sissons Farm over near Peterborough for Prelim 18 with Sky and Henry on board. I was fairly confident Henry would do a nice test, however since not eventing since last year Sky hasn't seen the dreaded white boards since. It's fair to say I had no expectations for her. Henry was first to go in the class and gave a great test which set a high standard for the class. He really couldn't have given me much more. Now it was Skys turn she warmed up well but, I was trying to keep a lid on it so my aim was to keep her quiet. As we trotted round the ring I could feel her tensing up, lots of transitions whilst hoping the bell wouldn't go untill she was relaxed again. One of my problems is pulling back on Sky rather than giving with my hands I was trying my hardest to be very conscious of this through out the test. We had a few blips where I pulled back when she was hurrying. I came out quite happy she had behaved. I was hoping for a score in the 60's with Sky and a score in the high 60's for Henry. When we went to collect the score sheets Henry's score was out with 77% I was over the moon that is his best score yet. It was a long wait waiting for the rest of the results but eventually they arrived. They called me out as first place and I fully expected to ready Hooray Henry at the top of the score sheet instead I saw Charism. My heart stopped then I saw the score of 84.6%! I didn't even think a score like that was possible. I'm being honest when I say I haven't really schooled her on the flat since we started concentrating on BSJA. It's a test I'll never forget for either horses. Sadly Henry was pushed down to 3rd place. The following day we took Sky and Harry to a local pony club hunter trail. With Oasby coming round so quickly this was sky's chance for some x country practice before then. She did a lovely clear round the 90 as if she never stopped eventing. Harry was also a super star going clear round his 80. The more he does the better he gets he's such good fun. Next stop, Vale View for a spot of showjumping before Oasby the following weekend. Amber My website has been very neglected over the last few months. I hope I can start to get on top with it again.
We headed over to Stafford showground on Saturday 22nd. Sky and I weren't jumping till Monday morning so it gave us plenty of time to ride round the showground and have a look at everything. Monday morning came and I was excited to finally jump although rather nervous. The class was being run two phase, which is great for time but very annoying when you have a pole and want to jump the whole course. Sky was jumping well, but we were very unlucky and had the last fence down in the first phase coming out of the double. As we sadly didn't qualify 1.05 class as we had hoped we had a long wait till our next class on Friday. Fridays class was being run single phase. We managed to go clear in the first phase this time but had a similar mistake in the jump off section as Monday tipping a pole whilst jumping out the double. This did upset our rhythm slightly but we continued to finish the course with just 4 faults. Saturday was our consolation final. Although Sky had only jumped twice in the week. She was tired and I was having to work extremely hard, Sadly we rolled 2 poles in the jump off one was on the angle although I felt we had a good stride and then the last fence when I got her in to deep. We were certainly happy when we got home to our own beds on Sunday. We will now spend this month training before starting to look at blue chips qualifiers. Although it's been a year since I said I would no longer event Sky, its been tough and I've decided we will enter Oasby for a play round the BE100. I'm super excited. Barbie is coming back in to work slowly and will hopefully be ready for the hunting season later on in the year. Harry will also be off cubbing this season along with a few low level competitions. Amber x One of my main aims this year is to qualify to ride at Scope. After grooming for a friend the last couple of years, it was the first thing that I thought about, when I changed from eventing. After our trip to Keysoe for our first qualifying classes. Where we had an annoying pole in both our classes. Although, there is still plenty of time I would love an early qualification. Which meant we headed to Vale View on Saturday for the 1m and 1m05 class. After having Helen out to do the Equine Touch for Sky, she thought her saddle may be pinching. I decided to use Barbies saddle until I could get hers checked. We set of at 9am to get to Vale View for 10am. There wasn't many left in the British Novice when we arrived so I headed over to walk the course first before getting Sky out the trailer. She was jumping well in the warm up but I can't say I had much control. I just had to hope she wanted to listen when in the ring. She went on to jump a lovely clear. I memorised the jump off course as soon as I came out of the first round to make sure I didn't get lost. I was last to go in the jump off, I didn't watch anyone go before me which meant I hadn't seen any of the routes others had taken. My initial plan was to go for a steady double clear. However when someone told me to go for win. I decided to risk and go for it. I can't believe it paid off and we actually won the class. She jumped a great round, and I was over the moon. We are now a step closer to the Scope Qualification. I jumped of to walk the course for the 1m05 as we were first to go. She was jumping well but we were still slightly in jump off mode and had a disagreement coming into an upright which meant we had it down. Looking back I should have maybe given her more time between the 2 classes. We live and learn. Naturally of course I spent my winnings straight away on a new show shirt ready for Blue Chip. Amber x 2015 has already got off to mixed start. It didn't take long to have my first fall of the year. However I made it extra special and managed to fall off twice in the same day. I am now a fully fledged member of the tumblers club. We didn't let the falls stop us Barbie and I managed to pick ourselves up both times and continue to have an amazing day if a little muddy. The problem with hunting the only palomino in the field is everyone knows whose horse they are retrieving. After a long day hunting on the Thursday I decided to leave Barbie at home on Saturday and just take Sky to Houghton Hall for our first BS show of the year. It was lovely to meet up with fellow TwitterEventer Tamsin Drew and her ride Captain. Although I had visited Houghton before playing groom for a friend I had never ridden there myself. It was a lovely venue, I'll definitely be going back. Sky was great and produced two double clears in the British Novice and Discovery classes. We weren't quick enough for the placings which is something we will work on through out the year. Now we have our 4th BN double clear, we will step up and do Discovery as our first class. After our eventful day hunting last week, Barbie has been having a quiet few days, which meant I dug out my big girl pants and took Sky hunting. It was local to home which meant I could hack there to try take the edge off her. Apart from one incident with a gate resulting in a bruised thumb. We came home in one piece. We had the odd yeeha moment where she won't wait and queue. However she also received a lot of compliments on how smart she looks. Although there's not alot of jumping around us the odd fences we did do she was incredible. A few times I turned her round a stride a way and jumped, this wasn't my preferred jumping style but it avoided too many neck strap moments. Sadly I had to fetch her home earlier than I would have liked but my reins and gloves were so slippy I couldn't hold her when she pulled. Maybe there will be a next time for the grey beast. Amber x |
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