After a busy week with the family we were back out eventing with both horses at Firle Place.....

So after a very busy few weeks with the family, involving lots of trips out, lunches everywhere and lots of alcohol drunk it was back to reality and work.....

(Please click on the images above to view a larger copy)

First was Tiff's first ever event and I couldn't wait to see how she did! She did a cracking dressage test, scoring 31.5 which was the second best score! Next it was the SJ and as it was her first ever event I only did the 85cm class so she would find it easy! In fact I think she found it too easy and didn't really try in the SJ so we picked up 8 faults from two poles......too small I think! The XC, although small was a very testing track and as I was entered HC due to my age I decided to take some long routes at the more complex combinations and as Pony Club mark all jumps in

a combination a, b, c etc it did mean we  picked up penalties but I wasn't going out to win, I just wanted her to have a good run under her belt, so I am very pleased with how she went!

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Next it was Milli's turn and with an 8:30am dressage time we were in for one very early start! It was our last attempt to try and qualify for the Lycetts four year old Championships and despite another great result, 6th place, it wasn't quite good enough to qualify! Oh, well she is only 4 and hopefully has many seasons ahead of her eventing :)

I have been woking hard on her dressage since she did a bucking broco impression at Chilham in the dressage and I am pleased to say she went really well, again scoring any 8's and getting positive coments about her future ahead. The judge did however note at the bottom that she needed to show a bit more enthusiasm...she is only a 4 year old! With this negative comment at the end I from thewas very pleased when she scored 31.5, 3rd best in my arena, so hopefully those dressage scores in the 20's aren't too far away.

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As you can see from the picture or if you were there, the weather got quite wet throughout saturday morning so I was doing my SJ in the wind and drizzle! This didn't bother Milli though and the course was slightly more up to height than at recent events meaning she respected the fences more and jumped a super clear, so going into the XC it was all to play for as only 3 in my arena jumped clear round the SJ.

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Unfortunately the weather got worse and we went XC in torrential rain, which considering the bad summer we have had I haven't done in a while! Milli however didn't mind the rain at all and set off really well. It was quite a challenging XC course for BE90 level and even including a drop into the water which is something Milli has not done before.....this didn't scare her though and she dropped straight in and jump out easily :) The next fence, fence 9 was where we picked up our penalties.....it was only a simple log fence but there was a sharp right turn after it into another field and behind the fence ahead was a herd of incredibly scary black and brown cows which were obviously going to eat Milli alive! Bless her, she eventually jumped it when I approached on a slight angle so she wasn't jumping into the cows. She went on to finish the rest of the course really well! Although we picked up penalties XC we still finished in 6th place, showing just how tough the XC was for the babies.....4 didn't even finish it! Although I am slightly dissapointed that we didn't qualify for the Championships I am so so pleased with how Milli has porgressed this year, finishing in the top 6 every time out! I am even more pleased as she is my first homebred that I have produced myself.....roll on the future :)

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Thankfully Roxie's times were much better, 12:10pm dressage, with time to walk my XC course in between dressage and SJ.....much better!
 

Roxie was remarkably quiet and travelled really well to Firle, I think mainly because of the Five Star Bedding pellets I have put down in the trailer ensuring what she is standing on is a secure surface whisch doesn't move. She continued to remain calm whilst I warmed her up for the dressage and performed a very good test. The test we did isn't one that suits her, with medium canter on the long side tempting her to take hold a bit before the corner etc, but she was very well behaved! We scored 34.0 which put us 6th after this hase in a big arena so I was very pleased with the mark.

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I couldn't wait for the SJ which is unusual for me but I have been working so hrd on Roxie's jumping recently and doing lots of grid work using verticals to make her more careful, oh and also got a brand new saddle courtesy of Fire Cracker Saddlery, check out their website as they have hundreds of top quality saddles for sale and offer a 48hour trial period too! Roxie was jumping a super round and clearing the fences easily and staying in a lovely rhythm, well until fence 10! It was the last fence and it was a triple, she jumped in really well but caught the back rail of the 'a' part which paniced her a little (as always!) and she rushed slightly just tapping the 'c' element of the triple! How fustrating, a great round going from clear to 8 faults at the very last minute! However I am so pleased with the improvements recently and I genuinely believe if she hadn't hit the back rail of 'a' she wouldn't have rushed, but there are 'ifs' 'buts' and 'maybes' for eveything aren't there.....if milli went clear XC she would have won be a mile.....the list goes on!

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For the XC, as it was only a Novice trackand Roxie was slightly speedy at Chilham I decided to set out steady and maintain a good rhythm throughout the course, which we did and she jumped superbly, infact the rhythm was so good that we got 6 penalties for going too fast! It didn't even feel fast, I just let her go at a speed she was happy with and more importanty a speed that I had contrl of with Roxie as she can get a slight adrenaline rush XC at times! We took all the direct routes and at fences with a slight turn i between we hit the 'a' part on a very acute ange and went straight to the next fence and she felt super! In fact she made it feel incredibly easy, proving that we are now ready to take the LEAP up to Intermediate level.....wish us luck!

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We will be making our Intermediate debut at South of England International towards the end of September if everything goes to plan! We have one more run next weekend at Goring Heath where we are entered in the IntermediateNovice section so a great chance to do an Intermediate dressage test and SJ round.

For more pictures taken of Milli and Roxie whilst we were competing at Firle Place, please check out my Gallery page! Also videos of both horses can be seen on the SGEventing YouTube channel by clicking on the following link: http://www.youtube.com/user/SarahGaddEventing

That's enough of me waffling on for now, So until next time,

SGEventing
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Keep Calm & Canter On