Don't know what to say!.....
It was amazing!!
Planning for the weekend
It was so exciting to be planning my first "Away-stay" competition with Fred and my first one since Aston-le Walls with Dream in May 2009 with Sian and Bek.
Having qualified for both the Show Jumping AND then the dressage along with Kim, I excitedly got on to the Hartpury Secretary for local Livery Yards. We were given a list of 4. The first two went to voicemail and we never heard back, so after 24 hours, I decided to ring Lyne House Livery. It felt like fate because Dream and I were probably happiest at Donna's yard in Lyne. The lady picked up on the first attempt of calling and messaged back later that night to confirm spaces for Fred and Marley and for us to stay on site in the lorry. And so the weekend was on and on Friday 19th May, the brushing, tack cleaning and lorry packing of camp stuff commenced.
DAY ONE: Saturday 20 May - Show Jumping Championships at Hartpury
I had the morning all planned to a T - arrive at the yard for 8am, poo pick Fred and Ruby, top up water and then 8.30am move Dora to Fred's field, bring Fred down for a brush ready for 9.30am pick up by Kim. Leave 9.45am. Arrive Hartpury 11.15am with time to spare to course walk 12 noon.
Car packed and wearing my new waterproof trainers, I headed to the yard. As I began poo picking I realised that whilst my feet were indeed dry from the overnight due, going through the long grass meant my ankles and calves were not so much! But it wasn't too bad and there was plenty of time to dry out. I was all done by 8.20am and paced waiting for Jayne. Who never ever arrives late, usually arrives early... and fretted until she arrived at 8.45am. As Jayne parked up ready to hold on to Fred, I saw Phoebe bringing in Ice from the 30 acre field. "Is Dora still out there?" "Erm, yeah" she replied "they're down the bottom". So off I set, realising as I opened the gate I had not brought a headcollar, nabbing one of Ciara's I headed off to the bottom corner of the 30 acre field..... to discover, No Dora. Perplexed and stressed I rang Jane. Dora was in Rolo's field up the front because it would be easier for me. D'oh. Legs now very wet (but new shoes holding up great!) I march back up the field and back up to the front fields to collect Dora. Some time after 9ish I got Fred back to his stable. All I needed to do was brush out the plait in his tail and brush his body. Still plenty of time before Kim arrived.....
Unfortunately, Marley having had his bath decided to set off around his paddock and roll, so poor Kim was chasing time and arrived having fuelled up with us at 9.55am. We very quickly loaded all our stuff in to the lorry and I ran down to grab Freddie. Throwing on his travelling boots and praying he would load quickly. Thankfully when he spotted Marley he walked straight in, we shut up and we were off.
Arriving at Hartpury
We were lucky that the M5 had no hold ups and we arrived at Hartpury at 11.30am in good time, just as the 70cm jump off was being prepared - perfect.
I wasn't sure what to expect as the jumping was in the outside arena and dressage indoors this time unlike when we came up previously for the Riding Club Championships. But the outdoor course looked AMAZING! Every fence was something exciting and bright and bold. We've got used to jumping 80/85 now at home and so the fences didn't look particularly over large or wide. Again, having not competed anywhere apart from home since the 'dreaded June BRC horse trials in 2022', I wasn't expecting to go clear in the first round. I wanted to, but I couldn't guarantee it and I was happy to take what came.
Freddie warmed up like a pro. The warm up were sending people up when they were ready and as it was quiet after a couple of good pops, they let me go up. However at the 'gate' they were hoping to go in Drawn Order, so a little internal panic ensued within me when I thought we were going to get held but thankfully the competitor that should have gone in was being a diva about not being ready and insisting that I go in and they allowed it. It let me be the one that said "I really don't mind, honestly.."
And off we set, just allowing each fence to come to us and he jumped BEAUTIFULLY - clear without time faults (it was 325mpm but the course was SOOO large I was worried we might not get around in the time!) and into the jump off. There were 35 in the class and 25 made it through to the jump off. This time we did go in Drawn Order and we were 15th to jump.
There were a lot of competitive kids on ponies, riding - as you would expect - like kids on ponies. Boot, yank, boot. I said to Jayne and Kim, I'm not here to ride Fred like that. I'm going for a steady clear. Also, it's been about 15 years since I jumped Table A7 show jumping where you jump, then go back in for a jump off and have to remember the reduced course lol. I DIDN'T do any funky turns I just rode for the steady clear, which we got in 52 seconds [the kids were getting around in 37 seconds, although not always clear!]. We went into 5th or 6th place I think and held our breath as the remaining 10 went in (rosettes and prizes to 10th), we held 9th until the last two riders knocked us in to 11th. Just 12 double clears out of 25 though. I was delighted.
AND I could now eat!
After a bit of photo shopping and watching the 90cm class, we packed up for the day and headed to find our livery yard where we would plait up, (re-bath Marley!) and set up camp for the night. It was a beautifully warm and sunny day. The plaiting went well, we got our beds ready for the night and settled down to a bit of pre-pub tack cleaning. We found a local pub with gorgeous outside seating and views and tucked in to some lovely food and (naturally) a nice large glass of wine.
Even better was that Freddie had settled straight away with his buddy Marley up two boxes and I could see Freddie from the lorry and he could see me.
DAY TWO: Sunday 21 May - Novice 37A Dressage Championships at Hartpury
I woke up at 4am needing to wee but didn't like to wake everyone else, but by 6am I was desperate and it turned out Kim had also wanted to get up and wee - lol. We briefly contemplated getting up then to see to the horses but decided to wait. Wee free, we all fell back in to a deep sleep and at 7.50am, with neighing and movement going on around us from the other people also camping there for Hartpury, I thought we should probably see to the horses. Other than muck out however, all I had to do again was brush through Freddie's tail having removed the plait so it was nice and crinkly and thick and we weren't on until 3pm and 4.30pm, so we weren't leaving the yard until midday. Kim decided to plait in the morning, so whilst she plaited I mucked out her bed. We had so much time that we even forked up the livery yard's muck heap :D
I had the presence of mind to bring a flask of tea so at least we had a hot cuppa, and eventually it was time to get going.
We arrived, opened up the back for the boys and headed in to get more tea and food (not for me) and watch at bit of the Prelim classes.
I walked in and saw the arena for the first time.... all dressed, looking huge AND with a second set of judges at 'E'.
We watched some of the Prelim riders and whilst some horses were struggling with the set up becoming spooky and tense, some were knocking out BE-E-EAUTIFUL tests....
And suddenly the whole enormity of what we were doing - competing at a CHAMPIONSHIPS at NOVICE level - only our 4th EVER NOVICE TEST - totally overwhelmed me. I went outside and burst into tears. Kim laughed at me, she said "How can you come here and jump all that and then freak out about doing dressage. You can't get hurt doing dressage."
After that I got a grip on myself and reminded myself to "Be more Maurice" just enjoy it. You got here, enjoy it. But maybe just don't try and ride between the judges at E and the display of flowers, approach them from behind :D
Once again, Freddie warmed up like a pro. We'd discovered when the times came out that in fact whips weren't allowed. But I didn't need it. He was up and nicely forward and Kim even set me off crying before I went in. We had to warm up in one arena, then move the 'holding' arena and then go in. I thought this might confuse Fred and get him on edge, but he was super chilled.
And so before we knew it, I was riding in, greeting the judge (from behind) at E and riding to present to the judge at A. She said that I could walk past before they rang the bell as they were "very spooky" but I wanted to come of the left rein in, so I said, "oh that's ok I'll go the other way", the bell rang and we were off.
He trotted beautifully up to A and down the centre line - although did his "usual" halt - sigh- we're working on that - but trotted away lovely, turned nicely at C and as I was preparing for the RSVP move, he clocked a killer tree at S and shit his pants. Realising I wasn't going to get to S, I simply rode the move from our spook and continued on, riding a bit more firmly with my legs to 'hold' any more spooks!!
He tried his little heart out. As we came past M I could feel he considered spooking at the judge at the halt at C and I just rode a bit harder for the "no you're bloody not". We halted at C and although still in his body - he turn his head to have a good look at them before we moved off. We lost balance in canter after the medium back down to working canter just around A, but otherwise I was really pleased with him. He gave me the best that he was capable of that day and I actually even reminded myself to enjoy the test and enjoy being there whilst I was riding it. When I did my final halt, salute, and left the arena on a long rein. I couldn't speak for tears. I was so proud of him and I was trying to tell him that with a very squeaky, strained voice.
Once again we went in to about 5th/6th and once again were slowly knocked down hanging on right until the last two riders knocked me into 11th - AGAIN. But I don't care. I'm just so made up that we did so well in our first proper outing AND at a CHAMPIONSHIPS in over a year.
This video is my little 'medley' of the weekend.
The jump off round:
The dressage test