Catching Up

After the interschools showjumping at Moreton Morrell, Smem's now decided that she wants to do more showjumping on Ruby. This is NOT going to happen as Ruby is due to go back to stud in April. Fingers crossed for a successful outcome this time.

The day wasn't an unqualified success but we went home happy. Zorya went clear in the first class then put Smem off in the next, although they did re-unite to finish the course. Ruby, on the other hand, decided it was all a bit of a lark and knocked the smallest fence down both times, but apart from that went clear. She has a huge jump and in a bigger class I'm sure she'd concentrate better. Given that she'd never done any showjumping before or competed indoors, she didn't do too badly.

The team pulled out of last weekend's team chase because of the snow, but this weekend nothing could stop them. It was a very early start because the clocks went forward last night and I had to pick Smem up at 7:30 so she could wash Zorya. She has the knack of getting absolutely filthy and is really difficult to get clean. Fortunately she doesn't object to being hosed down so by 8:30 we were all ready to go.

Cait got a new horse recently, a really sweet Gelderlander called Georgie. This was their first team chase. Here she is after their round with Zorya.

As usual Charlie took the lead. As I think I've said before, as an ex-racehorse, Charlie isn't the easiest horse in the world but he has really taken to team chasing. Second horse was Jet, another thoroughbred but only 15 hands, then Zorya (another thoroughbred) with Georgie bringing up the rear. The biggest problem was keeping a reasonable pace so that the team kept together. Apparently Smem spent most of the course shouting at the others to slow down!

About halfway round there was a section where they had to jump into and out of a pen, with the additional test that three of them had to be inside the pen at one time. A real test of control. They did it brilliantly.

The commentator commented on how well they took the final fence and they managed to finish in a reasonably compact group, with the hallmark whoop from each as they cleared it. I'm sure their time would have been five seconds slower if they didn't do this as it makes the horses put on an extra spurt to the finish!

Now we're waiting to see how they got on. Because some of the team members are juniors they have to compete in competitions that are decided on an optimum time rather than first past the post. They managed to come in 10 seconds under time so they should come somewhere. I'm not relishing the time when they start to compete in the big classes!

Ruby's been practicing...

for the inter-schools show jumping competition next week.

No, seriously, she has been practicing properly. These fences may look tiny but the second part of the double is 3ft. I know cos I took a tape measure and measured it. Getting over the fences won't be a problem - just negotiating the corners!

It's that time of year again......

Looks like the first Team Chase of the season will be on 16 March. At least we won't have to get up at the crack of dawn to get there.

Unfortunately I won't be able to go to the next one (on Easter Day!) because Ra and I are off to Cardiff that weekend to watch the Tigers in the EDF Energy Semi Finals. Strangely enough we missed the Heythrop last year for exactly the same reason! How inconsiderate having them on the same weekend!

The first cross country of the year was a couple of weeks ago. It was touch and go whether it would go ahead because there had been a heavy frost the night before, but after an hour's delay, Zorya and Charlie were the first pair out on the course. The girls were given strict instructions to 'take it steady' (not in Charlie's vocabulary) but they did a lovely clear, the only sticky moment coming right at the end when, on clearing the final fence, Luti (Charlie's jockey) let out a huge WHOOP of joy and he shot off, nearly failing to spot the rope directing him to the finish. Fortunately both horse and rider spotted it at the last minute and everything was fine. A great performance by both.

On a more worrying note, later on in the competition the Air Ambulance was called to take a rider (a member of the King's Troop) off to hospital with a suspected neck injury. Hopefully said soldier is now fit and well and has been able to return to her unit! They are an incredibly brave (or slightly mad) bunch. The majority of them have never even been on a horse when they join up! They're the ones you see trooping the colour and pulling gun carriages and the like. Of course, being soldiers they also go on active service (don't worry, they swap their horses for tanks).