I love showjumping and for the past few years I have been juggling breaking, producing and competing my own horses with building a career in recruitment.
Verity
Verity has been riding since an early age and has developed a passion for eventing, she also juggles a full time career with producing and competing her own horses as she is a secondary school maths teacher
During a very busy couple of weeks we have managed to squeeze in a BE Novice run at Eland Lodge with Bean and Jumping with Bean and Redhill SR.
Verity and Bean finished in 8th place at Eland Lodge, with an excellent run around a testing cross country course being the highlight of the day. Bean And Redhill SR both attended Kingswood Equestrian Centre's British showjumping show on Sunday with the main focus of the Show being the Katherine James Qualifier for the Cushion Bed Fesitval of Showjumping.
With Verity currently focusing on Keeping Bean fit enough to event we gave the ride on Redhill SR to our good friend Sam Wall. Redhill SR was drawn early in the first round and Sam did a lovely job, resulting in a fluent and relaxed clear round. Verity was next up and produced another clear for the team! Sam also managed to get all 3 of his other rides through to the jump-off. Again drawn early in a strong jump-off, Redhill SR and Sam produced a lovely clear, making some nice turns, this was a fantastic achievement as Redhill SR has never been ridden against the clock. Verity and bean then took centre stage towards the end of the draw, Verity loves to go quick and this round was no exception she made all of the turns and eventually ended up in 5th place with Redhill SR finishing in 7th place. Special mention must go to sam who finished 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 7th on his four rides (3 of which had not jumped at this level before!)
So with Bean now qualified for Scope and penciled in for a few more B.E. runs and Redhill SR improving with every show we could be in for another exciting summer!
Another good run, BE novice
Last sunday we made the trip across Shoropshire to Llanymynech, After a very pleasing dressage test, Verity and Bean recieved a slightly disappointing score of 31.5. Verity's flat work instructor was on hand and both Verity and Sam seemed surprised by the score.
A tricky showjumping phase was causing poles to fall as we warmed up for our slot, however Verity and Bean produced a lovely round with a very unlucky rub at the planks resulting in four faults.
Verity and Bean then stormed round cross country course with frequent compliments from the commentator, finishing with just a couple of XC time pens to round off a very pleasing day's work. Verity and Bean finished on a score of 38.7 in a very credible 7th place overall. If the plank had have stayed in the cups in th SJ'ing they would have finished in 2nd place!.... ...it's a tough sport.
We would like to thank Samantha Morrison for her help and support on the day and also our good friend Mr. Tom (Dave) Jones! Tom is a 'fanatical photographer' who has had his work published in some of the finest equestrian publications. Tom must be credited for some of the pictures we have used here on our website, and is a very good friend and we would like to thank him for his excellent pictures, support and friendship over recent years. One day I will get him on the other side of the camera and we'll make him a star!
Brigstock international horse trials
Verity and Bean returned to B.E. Novice competition on Staurday at the Brigstock international horse trials. After a slightly disapointing dressage of 35.5, bean went on to produce a foot perfect showjumping round and then stormed around a tricky and testing cross country course, earning verity and bean another BE point. It was a baking hot day with temperatures soaring and the competitoin was pretty hot too! Mrk Kyle, Oliver Townend and Piggy French all had horses in Verity's Section which was topped by a young rider from Germany who finished on an amazing dressage of 18!.... ...Awesome!
With a another novice run planned in a couple of weeks time and plent of showjumping and dressage this weekend we are hoping that the good weather continues.
Double Clears all round!
May bank holiday weekend saw in the start of the new year for double clears BSJA and none of our horses disappointed. After a few annoying 4 faults recently we set off for Kingswood on both days keen to put this right.
Drew and Mullentine Zola were first to tackle the British Novice built by Giovanni. The track included some quite challenging turn backs for a british novice but Zola and Drew had it all under control jumping a lovely round without touching a fence. Redhill S.R and myself went next and despite a slight rattle at the last jumped a steady double clear.
On Sunday we returned to Kingswood hopeful of a repeat performance of the day before. Zola and Drew had an unfortunate fence in the BN but we are still very pleased with the ability he is showing and how much he has improved since Drew started jumping him.
Redhill S.R put in another fluent and confident double clear in the British Novice, so much so that we decided it was time for her to tackle a Discovery. This was definitely the thing to do as she jumped it well except for an unfortunate fence on the way into a double. I cannot wait to jump another now! She is a wonderful mare with such a fantastic attitude to life, I feel so excited about continuing to produce her.
Stormhill Sun Bean did not allow herself to be overshadowed however she jumped a lovely double clear in the 1m amateur qualifying for the 2nd rounds. My error in the newcomers getting far too close to the oxer at number 6 off the corner meant we rolled a pole and the jump off was not meant to be!
We returned home very pleased and proud to own and ride the horses that we do.
Easter Weekend
The Easter weekend began in style for us, Verity took Redhill SR and Bean to Kingswood E.C. for their British Dressage Show.
Redhill S.R. was up first, competing in both Prelim classes. We had high hopes forthis 5yo daughter of elite showjumping stallion - Secret Rumour, as she has been working well at home. S.R. did not let us down winning her section of both Prelims, taking the qualifier with a fantastic score of 70%. A delighted Verity then had a long wait as Bean was going straight into an Elementary for the first time. Bean also pulled a win out of the bag to round of an excellent day's work!
On Sunday and Monday we took Redhill SR, Bean and Zola to Weston Lawns for their first outdoor jumping shows of the season. All the horses jumped really well, coping well with the blustery conditions at a very busy show. Unfortunately we had a severe dose of "4-fault-itus!". However we returned home on Monday evening having had an excellent weekend, with some very pleasing performances.
