Great start at Hambleden where we saw sun, rain, wind and snow / hail and then a fun end to the weekend with Milli.....

After having such a great day at Boomerang Stables for the Supastuds and Roxie schooling so well in our Dressage lesson last week I couldn't wait to get to Hambleden International........

The weather had been slightly, no wait, incredibly unpredictable the week prior to the Horse Trials so we were pleased it was still going ahead! We arrived and I got Roxie into her stable which she was more than happy to do as there was soooo much grass in there! I then went to do my first course walk whilst mum and Max put up the tent.....YES we were camping in APRIL!!!!!

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My first thought of the course was OMG! It was a very technical up to hight course, but I hoped it would look better on second course walk?!? I came back from my course walk to find tent up and mum and Max sat down in the sunshine.....well until the next shower anyway! We started getting Roxie ready for the dressage and the heavens opened, so I ran to te tent and got my self ready and thankfully when I came out it was sunny!

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Roxie was rather lively when I started to warm her up as the dressage wam up was right next to the XC warm up!! She soon nuckled down and began working really well :) In I went and she did her usual around the arena......she likes to make us think she is going to be an idiot in the arena and canters sideways around the arena! Thankfully as soon as I enter at A she calms down! She was really good throughout the test and I was very pleased with her work.

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We got back from our dressage just in time....as soon as we got into the stables the heavens opened again! Except this time it was marble sized hailstones, OUCH! This went on for about 15 minute and made it look like it had snowed....yes were were camping in April and there was snow around our tent......we were in for a cold night :( Next was our trot up and yet again the weather behaved and out came the sun which caused a beautiful raindbow write across the field where the Stables were!

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Roxie flew through the trot-up with flying colours. We got Roxie back in her stable and then set of for course walk 2. The course looked much more rideable this time, I think it looked worse first time round because I was just rushing round to see some of the fences. It was still going to be the most challenging XC course that we have done but after closer examination to some of the more complicated combinations I couldn' to get out there the next day! I then went to walk my SJ course and saw my dressage score of............................50.2!!! This fantastic score put us in 6th place after dressage! I was chuffed to bits as I was in a very competitive arena of mailny professionals :)

We then headed back to the tent for something to eat. When I went to feed Roxie the person next to me asked if I was disappointed?! Disappointed?.....with what?! I was then told that the rest of the competition had been cancelled :( The wet weather had caused lots and LOTS of mud which was causing chaos on the main road outside the venue when lorries were being towed out by tractors!

I was so disappointed, although both the SJ and the XC were going to be testing tracks I couldn't wait to get out there......oh, well at least we ae still in one peice and can look forward to another event now! Also on a ositiv note I am so, so pleased with her dressage, she has come on so much over the winter and my score was 66.52%! There are still many little things to improve on as well so hopefully this score can only get better?! As we were all set up camp, we decided to stay the night and head back in the morning ans it did Roxie good to stay away from home for a change.
 

We were back home saturday after lunch so we got unpacked and then went of to walk the XC course for the hunter trials competition that was being held by West Street Pony Club. I decided to take Milli as she has only been XC schooling so wanted her to be out in the 'competition atmosphere' before her first event next month. She was super, jumping eveything that I put infront of her!! I did the Novice pairs first, so followed my sister riding her horse Todd, just so she got the right idea and then I went back out in the individual competition and she was just as good!

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For more pictures and videos from these competition please check out my Gallery page! We are out eventing again this weekend with Roxie at Nurstead BE Horse Trials and then we wil be at Chilam Park Horse Trials in May with Milli for her first ever event....I can't wait :)

So, until next week

SGEventing
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Keep Calm & Canter On