SEPTEMBER 2007

Well..the season has run away with us again! Senator is well established running in Novice sections. Not without dramas but that would make life too easy. Dressage and Show jumping is still improving, X.country has given both of us pause for thought. His first outing at Stockland Lovell was probably the easiest one to ride although he was fairly spooky. Then there were a lot in between where he reckoned he knew it all and stopped listening. He was then pulled up short and was "organized" in no uncertain terms. He then through his dummy out of the pram and said if he couldn't do it his way he wouldn't do it at all. He's still testing the water but, although looking long and hard at a spooky bounce and trying to destroy the triple bar into the water at Charlton Park, he then seemed to grow up in about five strides and finished the last two thirds of the course a different horse. Feeling and looking like he had at long last relaxed to the job in hand. We have one more outing at Tweseldown provided it is not cancelled due to foot and mouth.

Thunder is on the market. We have decided, or perhaps he has!, that he will be happier at a slightly lower level in eventing. His show jumping is very good. His dressage is even better and he loves hunting. He will be advertized in the Horse and Hound this week. He is a real character and could give the whole family a lot of fun.

Lucy Stevens has been back with the eventing team having purchased Mr. Tommas earlier in the year. A lovely horse with a really willing character. Their first outing together was the Pony Club Area trials where he produced a lovely double clear  and fair dressage to Qualify for the National Pony Club Championships at Nottingham. For a horse who had spent nearly four years  kicking his heels in a field  it  was a real baptism of fire! All  credit goes to Lucy, with some  input  from  me,  for a really good seasons' work. They achieved another brilliant double clear at the championships only being pulled down by a dressage test that was asking a huge question from a very willing character with very few miles under his belt. As a partnership they have gone on to complete many Pre-novice classes at BE Events. Mr. Tommas is having to learn very quickly and has risen to the challenge  like his exemplary Welton and Master Spiritus breeding. Lucy has been sensitive with him and given him every oppurtunity to realize his potential.

These will be updated as soon as possible in between competitions.

JUNE 2007

Things have moved on a lot from last year.I started competing again in Nov  2006. We did some unaffiliated dressage up at The Grange. Headley Senator and Copper Carisma, (Thunder) coming away with two rosettes apiece. Becky rode the two babies, Waternish Dream and Rambling Allie. They both behaved beautifully, managing to contain themselves in both  tests in which they were entered. We did some unaffiliated indoor show jumping where Thunder was placed and qualified for the Indoor Winter League Championships. There was another dressage show where again we were in the top three places. Also did some Indoor BSJA where Thunder clocked up a fourth in the Discovery class.

In March we were at The Grange again.. Thunder winning both his classes at Novice level.. Senator also did well coming 2nd and 3rd in two Novice tests. April brought the Cornwall Dressage Group's first competition of the year at Tall Trees. Interestingly enough we ended up with the same results for both horses only this time there were prizes for the highest percentages as well! Becky rode Allie again achieving her first placing of a fourth in a Prelim test.

Our first eventing outing was to Moreton in Dorset. Thunder ran in an Intro class. We finished on our dressage score to come 2nd overall. It was a lovely way to start the season especially after such a long convalescent period.

Second time out was to a Pre-novice at Stockland Lovell. We should have had a second run at Intro level  but the event was cancelled due to lack of entries. Unfortunately it was a step too quick for Thunder who decided he really could not cope with the water towards the end of the course. He had done all the technical stuff early on so I was a bit fed up to say the least. It was Senator's first time out since April 2006 so he was very brave to have an ok dressage test, two down in the show jumping and a great clear x-country to finish up with a 9th placing.

Senator has had two runs since then. Pre-novice at Pontispool and Novice at West Wilts. Had two stops x-country at the former and one at the latter both down to the fact that we are changing his education slightly in order to improve his technique. He is not being allowed to bowl in on the stride he chooses at slightly too fast a pace. He has to wait for the shorter one to get his shoulders up and at the moment he is still arguing the point at times. It is improving his show jumping dramatically and the adjustment will happen across the country. He even had his first double clear in a 1.00M class BSJA to finish 7th out of a jump-off with 29 starters!

Thunder also doing well at BSJA with a 2nd in 95cms class. He also did exceptionally well at St Columb horse show. Entering the Ridden Hunter showing class and the Working Hunter class, winning both of them and claiming the Working Hunter Championship and the Reserve Championship for the whole day. His talents are endless! Amazing what a good bit of schooling can do! Not to mention looking the part. He was ridden beautifully that day by Helen Keen. She has a lot of experience in the showing circuit and did him proud!

Senator's next outing should be Novice at Nutwell Court.