Aston Le Walls - slightly more local event but still just as busy!

Day 1 of Aston was the Novice with the lovely Confession Time.  Proving how rideable he is and how much stronger he is getting on the flat, he did a lovely test, especially with the XC going on just behind the judge at C. Not quite his 28 but a respectable 32. Just caught out on one combination in the showjumping, over jumping in and making up just too much ground, after what was a nice round. Deciding next time we need bigger jumps to compensate his huge jump! Another amazing round XC from him, finding it all very easy and staying in a lovely rhythm the whole way round.

Day 2 of Novice, back with CHF Archie. He produced an accurate test with moments of tension to score 32. He jumped well but certainly showed that he is finding this height rather easy and distracted on one occasion for an unlucky pole. His first pole in many runs! A super XC round, and got to let the handbrake of and develop his gallop across the amazing ground at Aston Le Walls.

10^th- Interlaken W, did another accurate test to score 31 in the white boards. He went on to jump a super double clear inside the time to finish 10^th.

Novices all done and it was the turn of the BE100 horses next.

Tango Blu, did a much improved and more settled test than Tweseldown to score 31.5, He then proved himself to be Mr Consistent in the show jumping phase for another clear. Unfortunately caught out early on at the water, having jumped in boldly we missed the skinny coming out after a green spook at a filming camera. Something that these young ones all need to get used to, and the many distractions that can occur out on course. A real shame after lying in a very competitive position but plenty learnt for him from this outing as he went on to give me a great ride.

5^th- Renegade Cruising, improved even since his run at Tweseldown, he did a lovely dressage of 30. And a much more settled show jumping round remaining in a continuous rhythm for another lovely clear. A speedy clear round XC saw him place once again for 5^th.

2^nd- Time To Gamble, gold star for this 6yo homebred, who again has learnt so much from his last outing. A really consistent lovely test to take an early lead on 27.8. He held his lead in the dressage and went on to jump a foot perfect double clear. He could do no more to hold the win, as the last rider went XC on the same dressage score but closer to the optimum time by 1 second, it meant he placed 2^nd. But we all take it as a win!!

Diamond Court -the first event for this gentle giant, standing at 17.2hh and still plenty of maturing to do at only 6yo. He did a lovely chilled dressage test with some lovely moments and showing plenty of potential to score a respectable 33. His size, strength and weakness showed in the show jumping phase adding a few poles to his dressage, but couldn’t have been happier with him after a super bold and confident clear XC. A great starting point for him with plenty more to come.