May 2010
Manor Grange 9th May
I took Indi to do the para tests at Manor Grange and Gemma brought Trev as she has been working hard on him at home. Both horses worked in really well and I was pleased to get 67.4% in the team test and 63.3% in the championship test.
Trev looked good but was a bit tense in the test and achieved 60% but it was Gemma's first BD affiliated test so we were all really pleased.
Vale View 23rd May
I know we shouldn't complain when we get good weather but the day at Vale View was really too hot for doing dressage. Working in was outsidewhich was fine but tests were being ridden inside - it was boiling hot and so stuffy you could hardly breathe in the indoor! Anyway, Indi worked in well but not suprisingly lost a bit of energy in the heat during the tests. We still achieved two good 2nd places behind Simon Laurens but would have liked higher marks.
New ride - Wespoint First of Many
Hannah Moody contacted us to say she knew about a nice horse available for lease. I wasn't really looking for another horse just now, but Hannah said he was quite special so suggested I should come and have a lesson on him, and see if we got on.
So on 6th May we went down to Gunthwaite Dressage to meet Fly (aka Westpoint First of Many). He belongs to Rebecca Palmer and her family and had previously competed successfully up to Medium and in BYRDS dressage, before Rebecca went to uni. A British Warmblood by Fulton, he is the full brother of World Class GB para rider, Natalie Povey's mare Fizz - Westpoint First Lady.
At first sight he just looked like a nice, ordinary horse. He had a massive grass belly and when I got on,I could hardly get my legs round him! Anyway, I started my lesson, and although he was a bit lazy due to being overweight, I could tell he was much easier to ride than Indi, very submissive and well schooled, and riding him I felt totally safe. I managed a good shoulder in at the first attempt and there were a few flashes of how good he could be once he was fit.
I knew immediately that he was too good to miss so we arranged to come and ride him again a couple of weeks later,and go from there.
To cut a long story short, the next lesson went even better and on 27th May, Fly arrived at Binns Lane Farm. With 3 horses to ride there are busy times ahead!!!
The farrier and physio came to all horses at the end of May and Fly started a new course of vaccinations ready to get his FEI passport in time for Hartpury in July.