All systems go for Gatcombe - until rain stops play!

So it was all systems go for Gatcombe - lorry was packed, dressage test learnt, boot polished - all until Mum came up and told me it was cancelled.

So we are re-routing to Sapey Novice for a run (hopefully as on waitlist atm)  and on Sunday we are heading off to Addington to do the 1m10 amateur qualifier. May be an interesting one as Addington always seems to build big to me but there we go.  Fingers crossed it runs - weather forecast is not particularly positive!

Jump Practice at Attington...

Today we went for a lesson with Austin O'Connor - Jasper and I had a complete misunderstanding recently where he downed tools and decided that since I had no idea what I was talking about, it was safest to avoid all problems by just not jumping. Serves me right for trying to reinvent the wheel!

Lesson was 8:30am which meant the happy leaving hour from the house at 7:15am. Mum didn't seem over the moon and neither did Jasper tbh. Was a bit worried Jasper had taken a real bash confidence wise but luckily he appeared to have completely forgotten the incident and jumped really positively. Austin put a lot of focus on keeping the canter forward and confident and this translated into a very confident round with Jasper getting me out of trouble whenever required with no worries.  Lots of stress of corners being an opportunity to 'breathe' and not to panic about getting to the next fence. 

So it's off to Gatcombe (fingers crossed) for Jasper and I. We are super duper excited and the whole family is coming. Stabling the night before so new things everywhere - luckily we're stabling with the previous owners of Shipton Moyne who sound very welcoming and very forgiving to my novice blunders! Whilst all systems are preparing to go - the weather atm doesn't look particularly positive. My fingers are crossed for an early call to save us the drive up and the stabling fee but it'll be an outing whatever we choose.

Wish me luck and I'll keep you posted!

Claire Balding eat your heart out...

More of an unusual update from yesterday which heralded the day when Warwick University takes on Coventry university in our annual University 'Varsity' in riding. It was a major point of pride for both teams and as a result the university radio station ventured outing of their warm studios and travelled to South Leicestershire to broadcast from the outdoors.  Whilst I haven't been doing university teams this year I was aiming to go along and support our riding team and was asked to commentate for Warwick University radio! So if you're bored, tune in to:

http://audioboo.fm/boos/1251092-varsity-2013-equestrian-radio-commentary

And listen out to yours truly giving analysis on each round! 

PS: If you're interested; Warwick university won decisively. Result!

First outing of the year and a little announcement...

Aston Le Walls Report - Season finally underway!

So finally got underway today at Aston Le Walls, feels like an eternity and somehow like yesterday for last year's season.   Jasper was entered for the BE100 and I was really hoping for a confident double clear - boy did he deliver!

Starting with the dressage, Jasper thought that warming up next to the XC was madly exciting so it wasn't the most relaxed test we have done. (At one point we sailed down the canter warmup chasing the horse going cross country!)  Came out and guessed 34 o was disappointed with 37 as we have been doing our homework over the winter but hey ho.

SJ was very straightforward but still really struggle to get the proper SJ canter in a warm up where you can't really circle or deviate hugely from a straight line but will practice working on this at home so next time there will be much less stress. Any advice gratefully appreciated! Went in and he popped round beautifully for a clear so maybe I worry too much!

 Onto the XC where he FLEW round brilliantly. There was a quite tricky left hand turn to a full size corner but he stayed straight as a die and popped it - he's become much stronger over the winter so I find it a lot easier to stop him falling on his shoulder on turns.  Pleasantly towed me round the course and came in well inside the time.

Next outing is.... GATCOMBE! Deliriously exciting, he jumped so nicely today my fingers are crossed for a good run.    Homework we have booked in is two more sets of cross country schooling and as much flatwork and jumping help I can muster before then.  Exciting times ahead!