The last three months have been busy. The aim was to qualify the horses if possible for the BD Summer Regionals. Also, Kingston Maurward was one of the regional qualifying venues for the Hickstead Dressage Masters, qualification was on a points league with a semi final to decide the horses to go to Hickstead. The opportunity to try for a place to ride in that hallowed International Arena was very tempting so I thought we ought to have a try for it.
I attended several of the Kingston Maurward qualifiers, with the result that we were well up on the points table, at one point we topped the leaderboard with three horses! All PREs. As a result, we went to Kingston Maurward on 20 and 21 June to contest the semi finals. It was a great weekend, we stabled at the venue, the weather was perfect, and we stayed in the lorry. The top four in each semi final got to go through. Hugo (Jugador XVIII) was second in his Novice class, on a score of over 71%. Anthony (Fulminante-Cen) won his Elementary class. Toro (Centauro II)was 4th in the Advanced Medium, but sadly just pipped into 5th in the Medium. So that meant that all three were qualified for Hickstead at three levels! It was just the most wonderful feeling to have got them all through, I only hoped to get one, possible two if I was lucky, so great celebrations all round.
Toro has come on in his work so much that we pulled forward our plans to try an Advanced by a month. His scores were so promising that we pulled forward his PSG debut as well, and he did his first PSG at the end of May, fittingly on Delia’s birthday. He scored 63% which was perfectly reasonable. He has done another two since, with the same score so is showing consistency. Each time we make little errors, nothing major and the foundation is sound.
All three have also secured their qualifications to the BD Summer Regionals, at four different levels – Novice, Elementary, Medium and Advanced Medium.
As a result we are now out of points for both Anthony and Hugo, but that is fine as both are well ready to move up a level. Hugo will do elementaries this autumn, and is working on the medium work. He is starting to work on his half passes in trot and canter, and this winter will start to learn his flying changes. With such a secure counter canter and simple change, it may take a while for him to realise what I want, but he has the advantage of a particularly good uphill canter to start with, with great suspension, so he will not find them hard. I have recently put him in a double bridle, he looks so grown up!
Anthony is now competing at Medium, and he is working towards secure Advanced Medium work this winter. His changes are good, very smooth and in the rhythm of the canter. However he does have a little issue with straightness, and this really has to be addressed this winter, particularly in the canter. I want to improve his suppleness especially in the half passes, and also his medium trot, which is now looking like a medium trot, but he is still more expressive in front than behind. More work from the ground I think is in store for him!
Anthony is the proud father of a gorgeous colt foal, Rey di Mundo, quite a name to live up to! He is just like his dad, black with a little white star, and quite adorable.
Toro, now competing at PSG will work towards the upper levels, he can already do the two time changes (seems like only yesterday he couldn’t even do a change! Less than a year ago!) and has a really good ability to sit for the pirouettes. He will do an Inter1 in the spring I hope. He already can do a few steps of piaffe, but is a little lazy for the passage. This means more strengthening work this winter, he is still nowhere near strong enough to sustain the collection.
And Chico (Orfebre) will reline his brakes! He has a few displays to do this summer/autumn, which will be fun as there is not the pressure of a competition, and he just loves his adoring public! This winter he will do some more Inter 1s, and hopefully will try an InterII, he is working hard on his piaffe and hope to be ready to attempt a Grand Prix maybe next year.
So, a busy July ahead of me, we start by going to Sparsholt Festival of Dressage (18 July)to contest the freestyles, all at their respective new levels, then straight on to Hickstead(20/21 July). We are there for three days, then home, time to clean the lorry and reload to travel again down to the Regionals for four days(27-29 July). Do come and cheer us on, or visit us in the stables, I think we are finally showing the dressage fraternity that the PRE is here to stay and is to be treated with respect!!
This year has really seen a sea change in my success with the horses, and that is due to many reasons, but the most important is FOCUS. I have concentrated on the horses and their training, and although the money ran out ages ago, the headstart I got with the training bursary from BAPSH really enabled me to set up a better structured training plan, with more visits to my trainer. I go three or four times a month, each time with two horses, the trip takes two hours there and two hours back and I reckon I ought to have my own pump at Severn View Services. But its worth it.
Competition success is not to everyone’s taste, but I need to have that buzz, I love it when the horses do well. But the horses have to be trained well and enjoy their work and I have to be happy that they are willing partners in the journey. This winter will be less competing and more training and I love to feel them develop under me, to experience those moments when they finally “get”something, like the first change or achieving the bend in a half pass. I never push them beyond their capabilities, but every now and then they offer that little bit more, and that makes all the hard work worthwhile. For all of you out there competing at whatever level, Good Luck and keep the flag flying for the PRE!!
