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Going from Strength to Strength
We took Data to the British Dressage Summer Regionals at Frys in East Yorkshire and were delighted with how he went.
Data was in great shape and was placed seventh in his section with a good score of 67.29%. We were all extremely thrilled with his performance, especially his owner Judy Bettinson.
We got some lovely comments from the judge, her words were… ‘This combination will go far, a very promising partnership’. I was over the moon with these comments and proves all the hard work is worth it.
The weather stayed nice too and Judy, Data’s owner supplied the picnic for the day which was divine with lots of lovely food and drink.
Zeus is going from strength to strength and we are busy competing him steadily to gain more experience.
He still has his moments and he decided he would test my ‘stickability’ a couple of times in the warm up but thankfully I stayed on board.
However he was very good during his test and was placed sixth in his Prelim class. I was very pleased with him and so were his owners Bernie and Kevin.
Catch up again soon!
Harriet
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From Dressage Arena to Pony Club Camp
August 2, 2010
DATA took part in his first ever medium test this month. He came second at the Riding Club Area dressage competition with a score of 62%. We were all really pleased with him and we are now very excited that we will be competing at the National Riding Clubs Championships in September.
Zeus is also going from strength to strength and his owners are very pleased with him. Since he went to his first competition he has really improved dramatically which I am really pleased with. It is also very rewarding that all my hard work and patience is paying off!
I have been really busy for the last couple of weeks teaching a group of pony mad youngsters at Pony Club Camp which has been brilliant. They have definitely kept me on my toes!
On Tuesday the group I was teaching wanted to take their ponies for a hack so I borrowed a horse and we all set off. They said it would take around 40 minutes, and they assured me they knew where they were going… but two and a half hours later we were still out, lost on the North Yorkshire moors!
Apart from that little escapade the week ran very smoothly and everybody rode very well and all the horses went well.
On one of the afternoons my sponsors, NAF, came along to talk to everybody about supplements and other products from NAF. Craig, the area representative brought along some sample products for people to have a look at and it was a great opportunity for people to ask questions about their horses and ponies.
One of the sample products that was passed around the group was Ice Cool, a cooling leg clay for use after strenuous exercise, but some of the boys came up with a better use for it …. WAR PAINT! Within minutes their faces were covered in tribal like clay coloured stripes!
I was also lucky enough to be invited to the Pony European Championships at Bishop Burton College and was able to watch some of the show jumping classes there which was fantastic. It’s great to have a huge championship taking place at one of my local venues.
I am now getting ready for the British Dressage Summer Regional Championships held at Fry’s Equestrian Centre in just over a week’s time, this will be the first time I have competed at the regional championships so I am really looking forward to it. Let’s hope we put in a good performance!
Happy Riding!
Harriet
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A First Dressage Outing For Zeus
ZEUS went to his first dressage competition at the weekend and behaved really, really well.
I was so pleased with how he coped working in with all the other horses. He did a nice test and did everything I asked of hi.
His halt was super at the end… not one bit of fidgeting! His walk was really good, very settled and didn’t jog, all his transitions were good too, for a young horse who has only been in ridden work three weeks I was delighted especially as he finished fourth in his class.
Data was very good too he was third in his novice test and was second in the elementary. I was very pleased with him and as it was my first competition with him I learnt a lot about how best to warm him up and how he reacts in a competition environment.
Working horses at home is never the same as when they go to a competition so it was a great opportunity to have a ‘practice’ before the riding club team competition next weekend.
I have had a new girl start working for me part time, she is going to cover weekends and help Vikki in the yard when I am away competing. Rachel is currently doing her GCSEs and is going to be a great addition to the yard.
It was great to see some rain in the last few days and it was a very welcome sight as the grass was starting to look a little brown and the ground was getting very, very firm. Hopefully the grass will turn green again and the ground should soften up in time for my next competition.
We have started painting our stables which is a mammoth task and somehow there always seems to be more walls than you think! So the horses are playing musical stables at the moment while one by one we get each stable painted.
Happy Riding!
Harriet
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An Emotional Bramham
Well Bramham was an eventful week, I took my little chestnut horse, Sultao De Valada (Sultan to his friends!) to compete and Snowy came along 
partly to keep Sultan company and mainly to keep him working as five days off would make him very naughty!
The action began on Thursday. In the afternoon, we had a briefing where the ground jury introduced themselves to us, explained who they were and where to find them if we needed them. Then we were free to walk the cross country course – my first of three course walks!
Later that afternoon, the trot up got underway. They were held in front of Bramham House with a lot of spectators. The trot up is always a bit of a fashion show for the riders too! I wore white jeans and a t-shirt with a smart black jacket over the top with some nice posh shoes that thankfully I was able to run in.
On Friday I was last to do my dressage test. We managed a respectable 59 penalties and were lying in 12th place in the under 25’s section.
Saturday dawned and being drawn last to go, I was able to walk the course again with my trainer and also go and watch some of the other competitors in action to see what the course was riding like.
There were quite a few difficult questions which were causing problems, and the water was a real toughie. It was good to get an idea beforehand so I knew where to aim! Course designer Ian Stark brought his many years of experience to Bramham and really beefed up the course bringing in some old fashioned rider frightener type fences.
In the end, I had two run outs on the cross country course and we finished with 40 jumping penalties and 32 time penalties, which left us in 24th place after the cross country.
On the Sunday, we had a few fences down in the show jumping and remained in 24th place, completing our first CCI***.
It was disappointing not to have gone clear on the cross country but it was excellent experience for both myself and Sultan – we will be back!
I will be sitting down this week to plan my next lot of competitions, and also hope to take out new horse, Data, to compete very soon.
I am also visiting my sponsor, EquestrianClearance.com at their head office to catch up with the gang and also edit some of the ‘how to’ clips we are planning to put on You Tube – they are small practical guides giving advice on flatwork, jumping and stable management.
I will also be spending some of my sponsorship money on rugs and a few other bits and pieces – there are so many great bargains to be had!
The weather seems to have gone a bit typical of the English Summer! My holiday to South Africa in May seems a long time ago now – as you can see from the picture whilst I was there, I was able to practice my stickability on a banana boat!
Bye for now!
Harriet
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Trials and Tribulations
Over the last week, I have been getting to know my new horse, Data better. Data is a nine-year-old chestnut gelding who is a lovely horse to ride and handle.
I have had him on the yard for two weeks now, and although he hasn’t done many competitions he is a very willing horse.
My plan is to concentrate on his dressage and show jumping this year and see how he progresses. He has qualified for the British Dressage Northern Regional Summer Finals at Laura Fry’s so we are off to a good start!
Last weekend I took Sultan to Brigstock. He did a lovely dressage test, and we had a fence down in the show jumping but then unfortunately had a nasty fall on the cross-country course.
We were both fine and fortunately my Point 2 Air Jacket deployed in fine style with Sultan then legging it the minute he got up and it took a while to catch him!
Hopefully we will have better luck at Bramham, we have had more training with Chris Bartle this week, practicing lots of ‘skinnies’ and this weekend will not compete as Bramham follows in a few days.
I am having a nightmare deciding what to wear for the trot up at Bramham, especially as we won’t know if it will be hot, cold or raining! I can’t run in heels – many of the other girls do – so it’s flat shoes and trousers I think – any tips or ideas are most welcome!
Also I have to make sure that I co-ordinate my colour scheme with Sultan, who is bright chestnut – it’s a big no-no to clash!
The hot weather has been taking its toll. I avoid riding in it so have faced lots of early mornings as a result. I have made sure that I keep myself and my horses hydrated by drinking lots of water.
I will be going over to Sowerby Bridge to my sponsor’s at EquestrianClearance.com on Friday – we are working on my website and also editing the video series for You Tube that we filmed last month. It’s a ‘How To’ with myself and some of my pupils and gives instructional tips and advice. Watch this space to find out when it goes on line!
Bye for now Harriet.
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