Great to be back out competing.....

We had a great weekend out competing, I was out on Diaz and Sophie was competing on mums 'big' Milli. We went to a local Combined Training show held by SMP Events at Blue Barn Equestrian Centre. The SMP Events held by Scott and his team are brilliantly run competitions and the facilities at Blue Barn are second to none so if you haven't been there before I thoroughly recommend you go and check it out.......there's always a rang on things on too :)

It was Diaz's first combined training outing and her first time jumping in the competition environment. She behaved beautifully and won her first dressage test with a score of 69.7%, our score would have been 70%+ but muppet on top (me) forgot to walk at the right marker so we got -2 marks! We then jumped around the 75cm course, which looked absolutely tiny and Diaz is capable of much more but I wanted her to have fun and enjoy her first jump outing. She jumped a great round, just picking up an unlucky 4 faults for a babyish mistake at the beginning of the course. After a short break we were back on to do our second dressage test and Diaz performed another super test and we came 4th. She was starting to feel a bit tired I think which the judge picked up on but we got 8's in both our tests and fantastic comments from the judge including 'very attractive and elastic horse, huge potential here!' Diaz's tiredness soon disappeared when the jump saddle came back out and she went on to jump a fantastic clear around the 85cm track making it feel very easy! I can't wait to get her out to her first event now :-) She behaved beautifully all day, standing quietly at the lorry munching on her haynet between rounds! For more pictures of us on the day as well as a video of our second test and SJ rounds please 'CLICK HERE'.

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Sophie had a brilliant outing with mums mare as they prepare for their first affiliated event at Brightling this weekend. She won the junior Prelim test with a 70+% score and junior Novice test with 64+% as well as jumping two super sj rounds which resulted in Sophie winning the overall juniors combined training.....great weekend for us all :-) 

Team Gadd are off to Brightling BE Horse Trials this weekend but a slightly different way round to normal....I will be groom / trainer on the floor and it will be Sophie competing on 'big' Milli. It is their first BE90 and first affiliated appearance together so we wish them the very best of luck. Check back here next week to find out how they get on.....

Milli will be back out competing over the next few weeks too, I haven't decided when / where yet but will post on here our plans when I've decided what we're doing! Roxie will continue to chill in the field but I might start taking her for the odd hack out every now and again as she does love a nice wander out round the roads!

Until next time,
SG Eventing
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