Milli's on a winning streak.....

Another busy weekend for us last weekend as we had our usual, fortnightly jumping lesson with David Pearson-Smith and Milli jumped brilliantly, We did some tricky lines / distances to really make her think and she found it great fun! She just keeps amazing us with her ability, so much so that in our final jump round before our lesson ended, as I made the turn back to a very big double of uprights I asked her to do a flying chance, Milli squeaked, bucked and continues dis-united to the double. Two strides away she finally decided she should concentrate, changed so she was on the same lead and popped through the two strided double with ease, making it feel like it was 95 cm when in actual fact it was 1.35/1.40m!!!!! David finished the lesson by trying his best to persuade me to concentrate on pure show jumping with her as she has so much to offer!

The next day (Sunday) we were out at a dressage competition and we had very late start times with my first test being at 3.52pm. The late start was quite nice as I could get plenty done at home plus the weather was lovely, well beautiful sunshine until I got on to do my first test when the clouds started to come over. First I was in Prelim 18 on mum's mare, Foxborough Star, aka 'big' Milli. She performed a lovely test for me and we scored 69%, just missing out on a placing as I went wrong twice......It's a long time since I've had to remember 3 different tests but thankfully this was the only time I went wrong that day! Now the grey clouds had turned to rain and I still had three tests to ride!!! With 'big' Milli I also did the Novice 24 which was a bit of a gamble as I hardly ride the mare at home and it was only when I was warming up I asked mum what was her medium trot was like, mum's response, was 'no idea, she's not done any before!' With this in mind I decided to play carefully as i didn't want to ask too much and her to run off across or even out of the arena!! Despite this being her first Novice test and first time ever doing some of the more advanced movements, she performed a super test to score 68% which resulted in us finishing in 4th place in an arena of 15+ competitiors so we were chuffed!! 

(For more pictures of 'big' Milli and a video of our test please Click Here)

Milli was also out for a party and this was her first time back competing in a dressage arena since Chilham Horse Trials back in August last year! We did two Novice test, 24 and 30. After Milli working so well at home recently I was very excited to see how she did and as always Milli never disappoints. Despite the stormy wind and rain in the warm up, which resulted in us being absolutely soaking wet and freezing cold, she performed two brilliant tests to win both classes with 73.27% and 72.69%. I was chuffed to bits as although it was unaffiliated dressage I was amazed at the standard of combinations there with lots of very nice tests being performed throughout the day! Milli also gained some super marks and comments from the judges which was nice, even for her medium trot which has suddenly developed from a run / waddle across the arena to actually getting comments like 'promising steps shown with more to come'. I'm getting very excited about the forthcoming season with her as she's working so well both on the flat and jumping.....roll on our first event!

(For more pictures of Milli strutting her stuff and to see a video of our tests please Click Here)
Another bit of exciting news is I've brought myself a 3.5t lorry......now all I need is for it to be converted by my lovely boyfriend and his dad. I can't wait to get out and about in it when it's finished....I will keep you updated as the conversion takes place :-)

Until next time,
SG Eventing
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***Keep Calm & Canter On***
***Eventing 2015***