We seem to have very little to do event wise this month, especially in comparison to the last few weeks, but it is a welcome break before the madness that is always July when everything seems to be happening at once. So instead we are out pracising our showjumping. We went to South of England show, to which we took Boundalong, Tickeridge and Coevers Diamond Clover. Thursday was a nice quiet day, all jumped well in the Newcomers class. Flynn had the first fence down in the jump off, (although the rider was the one at fault!) Then Tigga had the last jump off fence, Muffin saved my reputation though by coming 7th out of a field of nearly 70. We were back early Friday morning after a night of very heavy rain which obligingly stopped just in time for our class to start. Tigga again just jumped the Newcomers class, and had a repeat of the previous day, jumping a lovely round and having the last jump off fence down, grrrr! Flynn was a little carried away having been allowed to go fast in the jump off the previous day, and carted me around the early part of the course, but after clouting fence 3 he then finished the round in a far more polite manner, he redeemed himself in the Foxhunter class however, only his second attempt at this height he jumped superbly, he had the last 2 fences down in the jump off but showed that he has ample scope to move on up a level. Muffin again jumped beautifully in the Newcomers, this time finishing 5th and then went on to have a very rare 4 faults in the Foxhunter, but as it is the first fault she has had in several months we will forgive her.
We then went to one of our few events this month, one I have not attended before at Berkshire College. I will certainly be going again as it was a really nice, friendly, well run event, and an ideal place for moving up a level. After his 2 days of showjumping Flynn was mush more amenable in his dressage test, although strong as ever, he was not short or tight through the neck as can be the case with him, and I was thus rather disapointed with his mark of 36, although the comment on his sheet of 'needed to work more forward into the contact' had me in stitches!! He added nothing to this jumping or cross country except for the 2 time faults I accrued by going too fast, (oops, slapped wrist) however we were not the only ones as the course seemed to ride exceptionally quick for some, but it dropped us down from 2nd to 5th place, I'm pleased in a way though, as it means he is ready to start thinking of moving up a level before too long.
Tigga also benefitted from 2 days jumping but in totally the opposite way, whereas Flynn calmed down, Tigga perked up and felt much more uphill in his dressage, to lead his section with 27. He also added nothing to this jumping, but again I had 1 too fast time fault, relegating us to 2nd place by 1/2 a penalty but as with Flynn I'm actually rather pleased as he is getting quicker and more switched on in this phase with every outing, this was the first time he has pulled me all the way to the finish.
Lite My Fire was the last to go of the day for us. I was a little disapointed with her mark of 37 for dressage, but she is starting to feel much lighter in the forehand and more grown up in the showjumping and the 4 faults she picked up were totally my fault for adding too many strides to the last. The cross country went very well until 2 from home when she took a dislike to a rolltop before the water and frustratingly our day ended here, so off for schooling for us.
