Another busy weekend with our horses out competing, after last weekends successfull trip to Fieldhouse's BSJA Show our attentions turned to the B.D. show at kingswood.

Our lovely 4yo continued to impress, winning her section of Prelim 15 with a score of 68.26%, gaining half of her qualification for this years regional finals. A delighted Verity then took part in a very strong prelim 19 class, finishing in second on Stormhill Sun Bean with a score of 69.09% and in third on Redhill S.R. with a score of 68.64%. Redhill SR continues to improve and Stormhill Sun Bean made an impressive return to the dressage arena following her break.

We also took our new mare, Lioness, to field house to a BSJA training show, she had never been to a show before. Lioness behaved perfectly, coping with the travelling, warming up and competing as if she'd been doing it for years, she jumped a lovely clear and is now ready to begin her affiliated career.

It was very difficult to get motivated yesterday (Sunday) afternoon, we had been very busy taking horses schooling and to training shows at various venues on Friday evening, Saturday and Sunday morning and the endless rain seemed to make everything take twice as long. We had planned to take Redhill SR and Stormhill Sun Bean to Field House equestrian centre to their BSJA show. However we decided to brave the conditions and make our way over to the show, leaving the yard at 17.00 last night.

We arrived just in time as the course was being set for the British Novice. Verity rode Redhill S.R. in this class and they produced a lovely, flowing double clear leaving them to take the final award, finishing in fifth place and giving Redhill S.R. another double clear for her record. Verity is really begining to click with this 4yo daughter of Secret Rumor. It was then a mad rush to get the horses swapped over and Bean ready for the Discovery. Having not jumped since scope (early September) we thought a quiet pop round a discovery would be just the ticket, once the bell rang the plan changed slightly, Verity and Bean stormed round to finish in second place.

We are now looking foward to another busy week with plenty of shows this weekend to get ready for.

On Thursday 29th October, Verity took our lovely 4yo Mare, Redhill SR (seen below competing at Scope 09) to compete under B.D. rules at Field House Equestrian Centre, Marchington. This athletic daughter of grade A showjumper Secret Rumor, has really grown up during her 4yo year and is begining to work very well at home under the watchfull eye of Samantha Morrison.

Field House is a very popular show centre and with it being half term, each class had excellent entries. As with all of our outings with young horses, we look at them as being education rather than competition, however, Redhill SR and Verity performed a fantastic test, scoring 70% and finfihing second in a very strong prelim class.

Verity was delighted with the way in which this ever improving mare behaved and performed, recieving judges comments such as "a lovely athletic young horse" and "excellently produced"  We are looking forward to improving Redhill S.R.'s dressage and also working towards achieving more BSJA double clears over the winter. 

We have added two new horses to our team:

Arrow is a 3yo AES registered Bay Gelding by the Stallion Padinus (Heatbreaker) out of a lovely Hannovarian sports horse mare, by the same stallion as Tim Stockdale's former ride Wiston Bridget. We purchased Arrow several weeks ago from our friend Sarah Flintham from Upton, Nr Newark.  Sarah and her family do a fantastic job rearing their youngstock, Arrow came to us straight from the field, looking well and strong, he is now being quietly introduced to work. Arrow brings forward some fantasic blood and is a very 'Modern' type, standing at 16.3 now, with striking good looks and excellent paces he will be one to watch next year! If you are looking for a youngster please contact us and we will forward your details to Sarah, she has some fantastic stock.

Lioness (Gladys) is a Black ,16.1, 5yo, Mare by Charlie Edwards Stallion Lion D'or, purchased from Gwyn Owen only last week. Gladys was broken at 3, by Gwyn and put in foal. She has been re-introduced to work and is now schooling nicely on the flat. She is a compact mare with very balanced paces and is a joy to have on the yard.

We are looking forward to working with and competing both of these exciting young prospects over the coming months and years and would like to thank both Sarah, Gwyn and their families for ther time and hospitality. (Pictures of both horses to follow)