So, what has been a quieter month for me and all the horses has also been an exciting one, competing at the Nationals and Bodyguard coming back home.
Earlier in the month I ran a British Dressage ‘Have a Go Day’ at the lovely Manor Grange Stud. This is opportunity for any non-members to come and chat about British Dressage, ask any questions, have a lesson and run through a practice test of their choice.
I was pleased to join lots of new members at one of my last events as a British Dressage Northern Region committee member, as I come to the end of my time allowed at the end of the year.
Annabelle had her first stay in the lorry as we packed it up for five night’s away training with Rhett Bird before heading to the Nationals. As always Annabelle was amazing, loving her ‘glamping’ and meeting Bodyguard for the first time.
We travelled down to Rhett’s with Felix for a few days training prior to the Championships, giving me the chance to run through the test in a different arena as Felix can be spooky. Any opportunity to get him used to a change of venue, the better. He was brilliant with lots of improvements made over the few days and leaving us feeling prepared for the Nationals.
I also had lessons on Bodyguard, having not sat on him since the end of April. It felt amazing to be back on board although he is definitely the one who gave me my flat stomach prior to Annabelle coming along, as it’s the first time ever I’ve had to ask for a walk break in a lesson as my stomach muscles, (or lack of them), were burning! Sitting trot and holding him with my core was killing!
Trying to cheat and go rising, Rhett clearly noticed saying, “Now back sitting.”
Bodyguard felt amazing and I couldn’t believe how much I had missed riding him while he’s been at stud and while I was having Annabelle. He is now back at home in full work and I am hoping to bring him out at Inter 2 level early next year.
We arrived at the Nationals on the Saturday, before competing Sunday morning. On the Saturday I just stretched Felix out and showed him the warm up arena. He was a star, taking it all in his stride and actually giving me some of his best trot I’ve ever felt, even though we were aiming just to stretch, we had a little collected play before letting him down again as he felt so good.
Sunday morning we were up early for the arena walk, leaving Annabelle in the lorry with mum having a lie in.
Around 10 o’clock I got on and headed down to the warm up. Felix worked in brilliantly and I felt so proud having Annabelle there at the side of the arena watching me as well as Gary, mum and dad. I also have to say thanks to Georgia who came with me for the whole trip so I could get on and off without having to worry about Felix and was able to concentrate on Annabelle.
We entered the arena on a high, and although he became a little tight in the atmosphere he gave me some of his best work. I was initially disappointed with our score of 70.49%, but it was the Nationals and any score above 70% I have to be pleased with.
If only I could have been 1% higher I would have been in 3rd not 13th place but I can’t be disappointed with a three-month-old baby born during training, it was an achievement getting there!
Back at home we have just brought our homebred three-year-olds in from the field ready to start backing, so hopefully I will have lots of exciting news to report next month.