I am sorry it has been an extremely long time since my last blog, as you would expect Eventing has bought me ups and it downs! And kept me very busy!
I can very excitedly announce the arrival of another Greenhays baby at the beginning of June. He has already shown his increasingly cheeky attitude to life and is quite a handful apparently! He is with Valerie Kemp who really rates him already. His mother The Good Faerie is now in foal Langaller Staring Role which is very exciting as he is still very young and will move to Harry Meade`s yard for next season. The big question is – Will I be riding Rufus around BADMINTON in the future? (I hope so!)
A visit to Bicton Arena BSJA showed both ponies outstanding talent. Euro Timex produced two very fast double clears in the 1.10m and 1.20m, winning both. This double resulted in a first write up in Horse & Hound for both of us! Not only did Timex perform well but Kativa Shadow jumped his first affiliated 1.10m and 1.20m. Although he is small he is very fast putting in rounds similar in time to Timex, but unfortunately rolling the last rail in both jump offs, still finishing a respectable 6th in the 1.20m.
At the final Pony Trial, (Salperton cic*) Euro Timex showed his huge ability and also what a pony he will be for the future. He was harshly marked in the dressage scoring 54.1 (FEI marking) although it was not bad in the section. He then continued his good jumping form for a double clear inside the time (one of only 3) finishing 6th.
Espionage had a successful trip to Barbury international, it was the first time I had been there and certainly a very nice event! Alba did a much improved dressage for 29.5 and then a super double clear around a tough track. This performance put us into 2nd in a section of over 40 full of professional event riders. A great result and both mine and Alba`s best at this level.
Great Witchingham International was a 6 hour drive for the cic* but well worth it. Timex was faultless and it was the first time he has really started to feel confident out on the xc. Being the only pony in the section of over 45 he did his best test yet for 46.3 (FEI Marking) putting us in 5th overnight. He then retained this position on jumping day by posting an effortless double clear with just 6.4TP better than most horses!
More recently I have been doing a lot of Affiliated Showjumping and Dressage. With Timex winning 3/4 of elementary his tests! scoring up to 74% we are now qualified for Petplan & the winter champs. He also one the 1.15m at Crofton Manor, missing out by 0.36 of a second in the 1.10m.
Lastly it is very exciting that my sister Kitty has got a new pony JK (spotted by me) who will hopefully give her some invaluable experience, continuing to be trained by me. He has jumped beautifully out BSJA for Kitty and I, and will make his eventing debut with kitty this weekend.
Alexa X