2013 round-up

Well I just looked back to see if I made any aims for 2013 but I guess as he was coming back from injury at the time I didn't bother.  So, no written aims but I'm pretty sure my aims were to get back out eventing, qualify for Regionals and qualify for Badminton!  I know I did also want to do the Blenheim Eventers Challenge which didn't happen and also to qualify for Area Festivals at Novice - qualifying for the finals wasn't on the agenda.

So, given we missed a large proportion of the year due to his mysterious foot problems, here is a list of what we did achieve this year;

March brought our first BE win in horrendous conditions at Tweseldown in the BE90, finishing on our dressage score of 29.  Such an amazing feeling to finally get a win and he made it feel easy.

Sadly, March also brought the start of his lameness problems so we didn't get back to eventing again until BCA in June - he felt good, he ran well finishing on his dressage score of 30.5 but sadly that only got us 9th place so no more Regionals qualifications and even worse, despite a trip to the spa afterwards he was lame again the next day.

More time off and we got back on the road again in time for Tweseldown in July.  In hindsight the ground was probably a bit hard for him given his problems but he did an awesome dressage test for 24.5 and I had no doubts about his soundness.  He wasn't jumping that well in the SJ warmup though and eventually threw in a stop and deposited me on the ground.  Again, with hindsight possibly should have stopped there but went into the ring and he jumped a great clear round and didn't seem to be feeling his feet at all so decided to take him XC and he flew round bagging another win.  Sadly, the following day he was slightly off again and an MRI scan followed shortly afterwards - fortunately it showed no soft tissue damage so he started being shod by the remedial farrier at Liphook which worked brilliantly.  Natural balance shoes all round and my happy horse was back.

In August we went to the Area Festivals at Oldencraig and came 4th in the Novice, qualifying for the Finals - mounted prize giving was great fun!  We also did an Elementary Music qualifier at Pachesham and won on 68%, qualifying for the Regionals.

In September we did the Area Festivals at Wellington and he was 3rd in the Novice in a huge class, and 2nd in the Novice Freestyle getting over 70% and qualification for the Regionals.

In October, the ground had finally softened enough for us to be allowed to go eventing again.  BCA BE90 Regionals was our first competition back.  We made too many green mistakes in the dressage and I thought our chances were blown but with his customary double clear he snuck into 6th place (the final qualifying spot) by virtue of being one second faster XC than the person on the same dressage score as us.  Talk about close.  So, despite the most stop start year ever, we had finally achieved our ultimate aim - Badminton Grassroots and am finding it hard to contain my excitement and I just hope I can keep him sound until then.

The rest of October saw a couple of very wet events - Pulborough I elected not to run XC in torrential rain despite being in 3rd place on 25.5 after dressage as I couldn't justify the risk.  Larkhill he did a nice enough dressage, but I didn't ride great in the SJ and so one down left us in 8th place.  He was awesome XC though.  Followed that up with a couple of trips back there for HT and he zoomed round the RC Open track  clear, although a bit slow (mostly BE100 with a few Novice fences thrown in for good measure) as ground was very holding.

November we had a blitz on dressage and managed to get enough points for Prelim/Novice Winter Regionals, winning 5 out of 6 classes including a Prelim on over 72% and an Elem on 68% (3.5% clear of the rest).

December we have had some fun with some hunting and jumping and not so much dressage.

And now we look forwards to 2014 - our aims are:

• number one would be to have a year without injury
• I would be over the moon to get a double clear at Badminton and to come in the top ten would be absolutely amazing - he is capable but we will need some luck on our sides
• To come top ten in any of our Regionals classes/Petplan Finals would also be a super achievement
• Moving on from there I would like to get 3 double clears at BE100 and get to the Blenheim Challenge and also qualify for a BE100 Regional Finals and dare I say it, qualify for Badders 2015!
• We are also working hard on the dressage and I'd like to do the Area Festivals at Elem and get top 10.
• Would also like to do a Medium Freestyle and get over 60% in a straight Medium test.  I've never done an affiliated Medium so that would be a great achievement, especially with my little giraffe.