Smiths Lawn

LEXI III- 9th (BE100)   MONTJOYS BOY- 6th (NOV)

KNIGHTS ESCAPADE- 5th (ON)

A lovely day at Smiths Lawn with two newbies - Lexi and Montjoys Boy.
Lexi a lovely 15.2hh 6yo Lux Z mare that i have bought to produce and sell. She has taken everything in her stride and absolutely loves  eventing although still very new to it. She did a green test with plenty to look at going on around her for a 34 dressage, then went on to jump a great double clear, she was a total machine and didn't look at a thing... as if she has been doing this for a long long time. She finished in 9th place in her BE100 section.

On to the novice horses with the striking chestnut Montjoys Boy belonging to Emily Tweedie. A horse that she has produced herself from a 3yo and has come to me to take up the levels. A nice test with a few costly mistakes of just not really knowing him at this stage. nevertheless a score of 30. He then had a very unlucky pole at the last fence in the show jumping but went on and jumped clear XC and gave me a great feeling ahead of the remainder of the season. He completed on 34 to place in 6th position.

Knights Escapade had a great spin in the Open Novice, a fairly perfect dressage of 24 lying in 1st place, but sadly just adding 4 faults after an unlucky pole in the SJ but went on to go clear XC inside the time to finish in 5th place.

Hartpury International

CCI* - CRUISE ON INNY 6th  CCI*- ECHO P 16th

The young boys really could not have gone better. Both doing lovely tests, Cruise On Inny doing his test on the Thursday scoring 45.9, he tried so hard and did a really great test, again still with plenty of room for improvement but certainly well up there after the first phase.
Echo P in his first season of eventing exceeded all expectations, performing a beautiful dressage of 44, lying in 4th place over night after the dressage phase completed.

The XC had enough questions for both of these young horses but most of all the increase in distance to 8 minutes would be a good ask for them. Having been used to only 4 - 4.30 minute courses they were going to have to keep concentrating right till the end. They both took on the challenge and went clear XC, Cruise On inny just showing his experience from last year and stamina going well and just adding 0.8 to his dressage score. Echo P flew and gave me a great ride but did tire towards the end resulting in a few more time faults to drop him just out of the top 10 in a very close scoring CCI* section.

Both horses despite the longer distance came out very well on sunday morning and were some what spritely for their trot up. They both jumped amazing clears in the SJ, again a different format to what they are used to. But both felt so well and jumped their very best. I am so so excited for these two 7yo's and what more they have to give next season.

Undalgo De Windsor was competing in the CCI**, he scored a respectable 53 dressage, with plenty to improve on over time but remained very rideable and relaxed in the indoor environment. The XC had plenty of questions and he answered all of them. From accuracy to bold jumping but gutted to say at the 3rd from home, a costly mistake due to inexperience and possibly feeling a little tired meant we unfortunately fell after he tapped the top of the combination. a very unlucky mistake that i am sure he will have learnt from. A real shame after a classy round!