Josh Thompson is counting down the days...

Well I have been very busy since my last blog. I have finally done some winter competing, in an attempt to try to be closer to the leader-board as we set off XC rather than play catch-up after a drastic dressage! Shannah is now jumping, and both are cracking on with their fitness work.

I have so far made two BS(JA) ventures to Osbaldeston with Duncan. First off, back in January, in our first competition together since September we entered the Discovery, 1.05m and Newcomers. We had one pole in the first round, then eight faults in the other two classes but this was really just an exercise to work on ring-craft. For our first competition back he jumped well and our partnership is definitely developing. Last weekend we had intended to do the Newcomers and 1.15m, but when we got there we round out that they had cancelled the bigger class due to lack of entries. This then meant a quick warm-up, an entry into the Discovery, and a case of ‘learn the course as you go in the ring’, he just had one down but due to me still navigating my way around the course all was forgiven. In the Newcomers he produced a much better round to go clear, and into the jump-off. He was really jumping nicely and we were much more in tune. In the jump-off the fences had been raised to 1.15, and I was under strict instructions not to ride for the time. He had two fences down, but that was only due to me trying the old showjumpers turns! Again, I was happy though as this is the first time I have done this height on him in competition.

I have also taken the plunge into the affiliated world of British Dressage-on a ticket- in an attempt to conquer the white boards. I took Duncan to a local affiliated competition as a warm-up, squeezing two entries for the prelim tests. He was possibly a little excited but produced two much more flowing tests than he did last season, for 61 and 61.5 %. We finished 5th in the second class, and received a nice rosette! There are still small things to work on with him, but he is now much more rideable and if we can just do what we do at home we are on target.

Last Saturday my trainer and I went to Richmond Equestrian Centre to do the two novice classes. We arrived at Richmond late after a series of small set-backs, including taking the wrong set of wagon keys and discovering that the correct keys were at home. It was not until we stopped for petrol half an hour later that we realised, so we had to give mother a call to drive over with the correct keys and my jacket and hat which had also been left at home! That meant that Duncan was left with only 10 minuets to warm-up and although he worked nicely enough outside this has a negative effect on both his tests. He found the indoor arena very spooky, and produced an extremely tense test in the Novice 27. However, he worked much better in the outdoor in the Novice 34 receiving an 8 for his lengthenings. Shannah at his first outing of the year again was very tense in the indoor arena, and did not like it at all. However, after a proper warm-up he performed much better in his second test. We got 62.5 %, with a -2 for error of course. I was really pleased with him, as considering he is a little rusty at the moment and we produced one of our better tests. He picked up a 5th and a 4th, and Duncan also finished 6th in his second test.

It is now only 22 days until my first event of the season, Lincoln. I have Shannah entered for the ON and Duncan for the Novice, and it should be a good pipe-opener for Witton JRN the following weekend. I have calculated that due to school I am only able to ride a grand total of eight times before we make our 2010 eventing debut, and in that time there is a lot to fit in. Hopefully next weekend I will take them both out to another dressage competition, which will hopefully mean no overly excited horses at Lincoln! Yesterday I had a brilliant lesson on Duncan; he went the best he has ever gone for me, and after seeing the physio earlier in the week Shannah is now on top from too. Then the following weekend I hope to take them both showjumping to Osbaldeston, and round preparations off with a Thursday afternoon off school and a trip XC schooling. Busy times, but they are both doing very well and mum is working on their final fittening work and before we know it we should be on the road!

I wish you all the very best in your early season runs, lets make 2010 a year to remember. Hopefully by my next blog I should have complete my first two BE events of the year, and most importantly The Ten Mile, the school running event I have been aiming at all year. So until then farewell!