I had an interesting morning at the Hunter Show judging the ridden sport horse classes. I judged the 4,5,6 year old ridden sport horse class which was judged as a show class and then went on the judge the individual age categories where they had to also jump. The championship of these classes was eventually won by the six year old sport horse ridden by Louise Bell which was a lovely athletic moving horse and showed really excellent technique over a fence. It was really well presented for the class.
We went on the Show Horse championships with Aflie (Times Square II) and Daisy (Shybont Navaho Girl). Alfie really surpassed himself here and won the Young Riding Horse class and then went on to be 3rd in the Large Novice Horse Riding Horse. Both these classes were well contested and we were really thrilled with these results. Steph rode like a woman possessed in the Novice class and the result proved itself!! He has now been sold to Rachel Chadwick and will go to his new home this week and we wish them all the success for next season. He has been such a lovely horse to produce and over the months has really matured and grown in strength. Next year I am sure his new owners are going to have some serious fun with him!
Daisy was second in the coloured horse class at this championship - as usual she behaved beautifully so I am now looking forward to HOYS with great anticipation!! All fingers and toes crossed!!
Sam (Socialiser) and Kate are forming a good partnership with each other. Poor Kate started off quite crooked in her position so was despatched to the chiropracter - she has been three times now and the difference is very marked. Kate has also had sports massages from Annabel Galt (she also does my horses as well) to help loosen those tight muscles - All this together with weekly sessions of Pilates has made a dramatic difference to Kates riding and she and Sam are really starting to show real promise - I am quietly excited about their progress and I am sure competitions will soon be imminent! Unfortunately horses cannot go correctly if the rider does not sit straight - Kate has shown to me how determined she is and has made formidable progress in a short space of time. This combined with two lessons from Rhett Bird and my lessons are all beginning to take shape - well done Kate!!
I have also had Eileen and Desmond Jenkins Ricardo Z three year old hack mare in to break - She was a joy to back (she had been well handled and shown successfully in hand which always makes my job easier) - I am very excited about her for next season. She is a fantastic mover and has lovely conformation. She has been with me a total of three weeks and already is going forward nicely with good transitions and has proved very bold when taking her out of the school around the fields on her own. I consider that she has done enough now and she will go back home for a couple on months to grow on and mature and then come back to me in the new year.
I have also had a five year old small hack in for schooling who is coming on very nicely, proving to have a very good brain.
Daisy is getting on well with her preparation for HOYS - her coat is looking very good under all those rugs - Holly and I are very fastidious in making sure they have enough rugs on at this time of the season because although it is warm during the day the nights become very chilly and this is when the coats just begin to turn. I have also clipped Sam the four year old dressage horse - he is being prepared for the DHI Challenge at the Brightwells sale in November and hopefully Holly will be contesting him for this competition (although I think Kate will be in hot pursuit at this rate!!) We are busy sourcing music etc.
Holly has also been to Rhett Birds to try out a six year old for Anna Harvey (Wizard) which hopefully she will be competing on in the next couple of months. It is a lovely horse by Rhodium and it is a fantastic opportunity for Holly to gain some more competitive experience - she loved producing Warwick for this owner so is quietly excited about this prospect as well.
We have also been to see another four year old dressage horse to produce for a client for sale which is a lovely athletic horse and hopefully he will be arriving after HOYS so that we can start his campaign.
Next week is HOYS so I will update you after that!!
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