July 2009
Myerscough KBIS qualifier - 1 July
I just took Trev to the final KBIS qualifier at Myerscough. He won the class with 63.08% and I soon realised Indi’s score of over 70% had secured my place at the final at Stoneleigh.
Training at Spruce Lodge in Ireland
The next day I had to set off for Para Equestrian Ireland’s 3-day training camp at Joan Keogh’ Spruce Lodge. This is an amazing equestrian centre with stables and the most comfortable accommodation ever – we felt like we were staying in a 5-star hotel! It looked as if no expense had been spared, and I can’t thank Joan enough for providing this facility and letting PEI use it for training.
I took Indi (or should I say Gerry and Mark Savage took him in their lorry while we flew!) and we had daily lessons with Donie McNamara in the build up to Hartpury CPEDI and subsequently the Europeans in Norway. We also had some talks with a nutritionist and physio sessions.
Unfortunately, when Indi arrived he had a temperature, and it soon became apparent that his sheath infection had flared up again. Anyway, we must have caught it fairly quickly as Indi soon recovered after some antibiotics and pain killers, and I only missed one lesson.
All the riders had a great time and the horses were going well – it was nice just to relax and have a good chat in the evenings, as we are normally only together at competitions.
Hartpury CPEDI3*
Hartpury this year was hectic! All year my plan had been to take Trev to Hartpury as an individual as the Irish weren’t thinking of sending a team. However, as July approached we started to hear that perhaps PEI would be sending a team, as a warm up to the Europeans. This meant if I was selected, I would have to take Indi to Hartpury – even though I had hoped he would have a rest from his busy schedule, while I concentrated on Trev.
Finally, almost on the deadline for entries, we heard that I had been selected to ride on the Irish team at Hartpury and that I could also take Trevor and ride as an individual, self-funded. I knew it would be hard work but thinking long term, I knew Trevor had to go to his first international in 2009, in order to make sure the selectors would consider him to represent Ireland in 2010.
Hartpury was a fantastic step forward in Trevor’s education. Although he didn’t have the best scores ever, he never put a foot wrong and he was much admired by many of the other riders who could see his potential (including Lee Pearson).
With Indi, we finally settled on a hanging cheek snaffle and a drop noseband instead of the double which he had learned to evade. On the last day, particularly, Donie got Indi going really well in the warm up for the kur. He entered the arena feeling really soft and forward but suddenly, about half way through the test he turned to cardboard and refused to go forward – he’d managed to get his tongue over the bit – even with a drop noseband keeping his mouth shut. It spoilt the rest of the test but somehow I managed to finish the test more or less on time with the music.
On a better note, the Irish team finished in 2nd place behind Team GB.
It’s very tiring competing two horses at an international – think I’ll aim just to take one horse in future!