We took 11 horses to Hartpury so as you can imagine it was quite an expedition and now feeling rather exhausted, however, it was a good trip with 9 wins so well worth it! We had horses for the Premier League, the CDI and the National Young Horse Shearwater Final. I have to say that the shows organisation was very good and the running of things couldn't have been much better. Mike rode Woodlander Dornroeschen in the Small Tour Premier League and Half Moon Delphi in the Int 2, both mares went very well and won their classes respectively to qualify directly for the Nationals. Monet was unfortunately a little too hot in the Int 2 struggling to relax and execute the all important halt and walk although the rest of his work was excellent. We had a good start to the CDI with a one two in the Prix St Georges and continued good placings in the Int 1 and Freestyle with Torino and Woodlander Rockstar, Torino very nearly made it a hat trick, just missing out on Int 1 victory with having a few mistakes although the quality of his work was the best it's ever been! I was very pleased with Rockstar who was as level headed as ever and went in to do his job like a pro, there is still room for improvement but he has come on so much since the beginning of the year. Two Sox and Marakov were a little sharp in the Grand Prix having a few mistakes (Marakov more so who looked like his eyes were going to pop out of his head!) Two Sox did a great Freestyle to win with over 72%, it was really nice as he had not done the music for a while and Marakov settled well to win the Special- Mike used slightly different tactics in the warm up compared to the Grand Prix and instead of trying to acclimatise him to the atmosphere he kept him well away from it until the last possible moment which seemed to work! On the Saturday we had the National Shearwater Championship, I rode Woodlander Wavavoom and Mike rode Woodlander Farouche in the 5yr Final, Farouche was on fire and won with a comfortable lead while Wavavoom did a good job and was well placed. Mike also had another ride in the 6yr Final with Dargento, an attractive liver chestnut stallion, a fairly new addition to the yard, who finished 3rd.
We were back home for one day and then had to go off for the Badminton Young Horse Final where Farouche strutted her stuff again, not at all affected by it being on grass and thoroughly enjoying herself. She was once again victorious and is now aiming for the Young Horse World Breeding Champs in Verden (3-7 Aug), fingers crossed she continues her good form! We have more or less 1 week until we leave for Verden and then 1 week at home again before the Regionals, it is all systems go!
