Supported rider, Ginnie Turnbull, takes us through the events of the year so far with her team of young horses.
This Spring has been full of many outings, in different disciplines with very varying degrees of success!
The 4 year olds have quietly been going about their education with plenty of arena hiring, dressage tests and, when ready, starting to really hit the “big time” competing in the Clear Round first class at a BS Show.
We have 4 very different characters this year. Two of the youngsters lack confidence (to use our word for it). Although that sometimes dresses itself up as naughtiness, it is only that they find it hard to process situations that are new and they cannot process those new situations quickly. We made the decision that they needed to see a bit of the world because, although occasionally we have had a very mixed day on them, they need to learn that life doesn't begin and end here and that sometimes they have to think on their feet.
The other two babies are totally different. Both quite confident in their own ability and although there have been ups and downs, they seem to be able to compute their environment quicker.
Our first outing into the big world was to Vale View BYEH. I think we will call it character building for Will and I! Monty who is fed on Muscle & Focus, said “That's fine I’ve got this... although, is that my friend I can see ahead of me? I think I will go with her!”
Spider said he hadn’t really ever seen a SJ before! Cadence said we hadn’t broken her in at all and why were there a load of space ships in the arena and decanted Will with a wonderful standing dismount. And Flora said “Let’s just get this over with as soon as possible!"
'Oh dear' we thought! Never mind, more practice required!!
Roll on Bramham…… oh dear oh dear!
Monty said it was the most frightening place of all time and he deposited me in the warm up, Cadence attempted to do her test in slow-mo although tried her best, Flora tried to put her best foot forward (very proud of her) and Spider bypassed one jump and crashed through a few but seemed to have really got it by the end (good boy)!!
Again much much more practice required!
Then we went to Aston Le Walls and 'Hooray! By George they had got it!' All 4 were much much better with Monty achieving brilliance with a BYEH qualification golden ticket (very well deserved too). Will and I were very pleased with them all and, more importantly I think, the processing speed is improving!
Wonderful dressage horse Grace, whom I share the ride with her owner/breeder Jonathan, went to the Winter BD Champs and finished 12th which we were thrilled with. Since then she is consolidating at Medium level although my goodness it is a steep learning curve. We have had the same judge 18 out of 20 times and I now have such a nervous twitch when I enter the arena, I turn into Mrs Bean and then follows a disastrous test. I need to improve, I need to improve!
Ollie has hit the ground running with his eventing finally with a win at Offchurch, Bradwall and Solihull and a good placing at Catton. In between that was a fateful trip to Shelford where he resorted to his old ways of crawler mode in all phases. In fact at times it would be easier to carry him! He has since gathered his thoughts and I think we are slowly making progress - such a lovely lovely horse who just needs time.
All the horses seem to have gained confidence from their outings and although they are all progressing at different speeds, we are so proud of each and every one of them.
