Socialiser (Sam) went to Solihull affiliated dressage on 9th July to do two Novice tests where he won the Novice 28 with 73.3 and was 2nd in the Novice 36 Qualifier with 70.8 and I was very pleased with his more confident way of going and it was a good run up to Badminton the following week.
On 14th July Holly and I took Warwick out for the first time to Aston le Walls affiliated dressage where he won the Novice qualifier and was 2nd in the non qualifier behaving immaculately. This was his first party so it is always interesting to see how a young horse reacts to a new situation for the first time. He was confident and forward going and not at all spooky so a very good start for his career - well done Holly!!
We were up early the next day to take Sam to the Badminton Young Dressage Horse Finals. There were 53 in the class and I was delighted with the way he behaved. It is a very spooky dark indoor school with lots to look at for young horses. He scored 37.6 which was in the top half so a decent score for him to finish with. He is maturing all the time in his way of going and becoming more and more rideable as he gains in confidence. Hopefully now we have finished with the teenage spotty adolescent stage and he is finally growing up!!! We are really starting to understand each other!!!
We all trundled off the the Royal International Horse Show where Steph competed Times Square II (Alfie) in the Amateur Riding Horse. I think he was the only four year old in this class and he finished 8th and once again went very well for Steph so a very pleasing result for the pair of them. He is a very genuine four year old and I am looking forward to producing him next year for Steph when he has matured more - He is such a quality horse. The next day I was lucky enough to ride Clare Blaskeys riding horse I'm a Blue Chip which is a horse I have admired for many years especially when he won Horse of the Year Show with Robert Walker as a youngster. He is a lovely easy ride and I was delighted to be 7th with him - he holds his 14 years very well and is a credit to Clare and her team. I have to say the only reason I was lucky enough to be able to ride him was because Clare's back has been giving her some trouble and she has been signed off her riding duties for a while not that I am complaining!! Ginny and Toby were in the ring roughly the same time as I was so Holly was despatched to hold Ginny's hand and groom for her and give her moral support and help. We were all absolutely thrilled when Toby and Gin were 5th - an absolutely brilliant result and Ginny rode her pony beautifully with complete focus - very well done Ginny - I was very proud of the pair of you!! I have to say that Holly is brilliant at keeping people calm when they are nervous so 10 out of 10 to her and I think I have now been made redundant!! The pair of them are off the the side saddle championships together next weekend to take Toby for the Mountain and Moorland side saddle class while I go off to Mid Herts with Steph and Alfie and also to ride Clares riding horse "Glen" once again.
Hols and I were once again at dressage today at Aston le Walls with Sam and Warwick. Sam surpassed himself today where he won both the affiliated novice classes completing his Novice qualification for the Winter Regionals. Warwick once again went very well for Holly and was 2nd and 3rd in the Novice classes as well. We managed to get some very good photos of him which we shall post up on the web site as soon as possible. We shall probably take Warwick out next week without his stable mate to further campaign his novice qualification.
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