We warmed up for our dressage, a little rusty but Blue was slowly remembering it and prehaps that was why our test was so tense with excitement. We scored an average 37.5, I was pleased with this as a first run and was all set for the rest of the day. I was keen to take on board all my tips from Alex for the showjumping and rode a very determined and positive round to go clear, I couldn't have been more pleased the big ginger giant had done me proud!
The xc was my worry, one xc schooling session... and I had to do a whole course on a horse who gets so excited by this phase he nearly climbs his way out of the start box. The helpers at Bicton were amazing and didn't count aloud so Blue remained nice and calm and went in the start box no problems. Blue ate up the course, half way around he took charge and really meant business with finish with a lovely clear and time faults for going too fast... whoops! Oh well, we finished 11th not bad for his first time back out.
After our exciting adventures in Devon we headed over the bridge to Monmouth with both Wally and Blue, we wanted to give Wally a let down run to end the season and take the bull by the horns next season and attack ON with both horses next year. We ran them both in the open100, Monmouth is a fab event and is always a good fun and friendly day. Wally was first in the section and did a very tense test, Blue on the other hand did his best test with me scoring 32.5.... even if in the warm up he was mainly stood on two legs or trying to jump the fencing! Both horses flew the sj with great clears, this was the point when I knew I was in with a chance of a placing. The pressure was on xc, a lovely flowing course however, it was very short striding at combination fences so I knew my horses would find this tricky.Wally set off like a rocket and at the first main combination a hexagon logroll to ditch and phesant feeder where the latter was on a one stride Wally bounced it!! We finished clear and one second over the optimum time so finished on our score of 43.4 to take 15th, next it was the ginger giant. Blue was rearing all the way to the start, for those of you have been to Monmouth being at the far end of the lorry park this was a long trek to be playing dancing horses! He started lovely however after his antics and flew the course to finish inside the time and that was taking the long routes to waste time.We finished 7th, elated we waited for the prize giving and recieved a lovely rosette and bottle of wine for being one of a handful of elusive people to finish on their dressage score.
Wally is now on his winter holidays and Blue now heads to Broadway, I can't wait after the season i've been having... BRING IT ON!!
