Somehow we have managed to survive training horses through a very long wet winter with only soggy skin and minor chaffing! It is a tough game preparing event horses when they have been boxed up all winter. So it was a nice feeling to let them out of the start box at Aldon.
Before we get in into telling you all about Aldon I thought you might enjoy watching a short video of Graf Liberty who had an abscess in his lip a few weeks ago and couldn’t wear a bridle. We thought we would give the rope head collar a go and were amazed that the feel was almost identical – what a great horse he is.
Graf Liberty jumping in a rope head collar - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9_oZ9oy9_c
It’s disappointing to say the least to have worked tirelessly all winter to have the horses ready for the season only to have the horses make you feel like a complete amateur by trotting sideways down the centre line at your first event. We were lulled into a false sense of security when the horses went so well at the Australian training camp two weeks earlier. I don’t know how, but somehow they can sense that it is an actual one day event and not just a combined training day. Plus the sun was out for the first time in a while and the grass was green so we can’t really blame them for being frisky. It sure makes me miss the Australian summer! Nothing like 40 degrees and 90% humidity to quieten your horse down.
Dutchman on cross country
We had a great first day with the young horses. Dutchman, a nice young horse who joined the team at the end of last year, completed his first BE100 to finish on a score of 20.8 and Wild Duchess, who is proving to be a very consistent competitor finished on her dressage score for second place in the Novice. It was a shame to end her blue ribbon run, but you can’t have everything!
TS Jamaimo showjumping at Aldon - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_H0MpCmZwS4
Graf Liberty puts in a great jump
Next it was the big guys turn. We took Graf Liberty, Tempranillo and TS Jamaimo for a run in the open intermediate. It was a mixed day. Tempranillo had her first ever rail with me and I am still in shock over this! But she was forgiven after a lovely dressage test and super cross country. Graf Liberty was fresh in the dressage but still managed to impress the judges and jumped the showjumping and cross country as he always does; effortlessly.
TS Jamaimo was great both on the flat and show jumping
TS Jamaimo put in the most settled dressage test of the three and jumped a beautiful clear round in the showjumping. Unfortunately we took a tumble in the cross country after a slight ‘getting to know each other moment’. We were both fine and have no doubt both learnt a little bit more about each other.
Nothing like a bit of eventing to keep your feet firmly planted on the ground!