JJ1987
Well-Known Member
Well I've finally had chance to sit down and write this. Made a last minute decision to visit Barbury for the 3 star show jumping and cross country Sunday. Had a wonderful day....visited 3 years ago for the whole event and still very impressed! A lot busier this time and with more going on, was a little disappointed with the shops and food - there wasn't much choice food wise and there didn't seem to be many equestrian themed shops, the ones that were there were pretty expensive but we did get some bargains so not too much of a complaint lol!
Coming back to the competition, show jumping was fab and caught out quite a few people so that kept it interesting. Visited the Outside Chance bar for Pimms and sandwiches - like something out of a Jilly Cooper
low and behold we couldn't have bumped into more famous people! Mark Todd, Zara Phillips (and the very lovely Mike Tindall who has to be the sweetest guy ever!) and Carl Hester casually socialising right by our table - I was loving it! Bumped into Lucinda Green later on who was checking out the magnet rug stand - don't think the guy running it knew how to handle it!
Onto the Puissance - yes we did enjoy watching 2 male riders strip, Marcelo and Tappers were great sports and it just goes to show that eventers have real guts - the fence was huge! All credit to the girls, especially Nici Wilson, her horse jumped fantastic. Jitterbug (Laura Collett's horse) was so neat with her legs, they seemed to disappear into her body as she jumped! Nici's horse definately lived up to it's name though, it truly was fantastic and looked like it could jump even higher!
Then the cross country started....we missed most of the first fallers at the controversial water jump but watched a few and were watching the last horse to fall being loaded up in the ambulance. It seemed like a lot of those that became unstuck were not slowing up enough into the water but, as someone who's nowhere near competing at this level, I don't want to comment too much for fear of being told 'you go do it then' hehe! I think it was the right decision to take the fence out because it was a large percentage of fallers....altho the fence hasn't changed from a couple of years ago it just didn't seem to be riding as well.
Very nearly got to catch Mary King's horse Fernhill Urco but it did a fabulous job of jumping the fence string and nearly landed on another potential catcher so thought it best to just let it run a bit longer. Rodney Powell's second horse had a pretty shaker moment in the water....got stuck on the second part of the crocodile water and really struggled to get off the fence having dumped Rodney over the top - was in two minds of going to help it before it managed to wiggle free but it stood in the water shaking bless it, such a shame.
Absolutely loved the show though, fantastic finish as it went right down to the wire. Laura Collett is fabulous to watch, cannot believe she's only 21 but she rides like someone twice her age. Think some of the regulars should be watching their backs
Rayef is gorgeous up close...we moved down to the finish towards the end to see the last couple finish and couldn't believe how tall Will Fox Pitt is up close (and very pretty hehe) but Rayef was absolutely stunning up close, can only dream of having a horse like that wow! Is it a little bit sad I also got quite star struck seeing Fox Pitt's groom, Jackie - I was trying to explain it to my mum and she was like, so she doesn't actually ride, she just helps out?? (totally didn't understand my views lol)
All in all, a fab day, was lovely to get so up close to the stars and would thoroughly recommend this show to anyone who enjoys eventing but would rather not have to walk round the whole course to see everything!
Biscuits and ice cream to all who get this far! Just realised how long I've been writing!!!
Coming back to the competition, show jumping was fab and caught out quite a few people so that kept it interesting. Visited the Outside Chance bar for Pimms and sandwiches - like something out of a Jilly Cooper
low and behold we couldn't have bumped into more famous people! Mark Todd, Zara Phillips (and the very lovely Mike Tindall who has to be the sweetest guy ever!) and Carl Hester casually socialising right by our table - I was loving it! Bumped into Lucinda Green later on who was checking out the magnet rug stand - don't think the guy running it knew how to handle it!Onto the Puissance - yes we did enjoy watching 2 male riders strip, Marcelo and Tappers were great sports and it just goes to show that eventers have real guts - the fence was huge! All credit to the girls, especially Nici Wilson, her horse jumped fantastic. Jitterbug (Laura Collett's horse) was so neat with her legs, they seemed to disappear into her body as she jumped! Nici's horse definately lived up to it's name though, it truly was fantastic and looked like it could jump even higher!
Then the cross country started....we missed most of the first fallers at the controversial water jump but watched a few and were watching the last horse to fall being loaded up in the ambulance. It seemed like a lot of those that became unstuck were not slowing up enough into the water but, as someone who's nowhere near competing at this level, I don't want to comment too much for fear of being told 'you go do it then' hehe! I think it was the right decision to take the fence out because it was a large percentage of fallers....altho the fence hasn't changed from a couple of years ago it just didn't seem to be riding as well.
Very nearly got to catch Mary King's horse Fernhill Urco but it did a fabulous job of jumping the fence string and nearly landed on another potential catcher so thought it best to just let it run a bit longer. Rodney Powell's second horse had a pretty shaker moment in the water....got stuck on the second part of the crocodile water and really struggled to get off the fence having dumped Rodney over the top - was in two minds of going to help it before it managed to wiggle free but it stood in the water shaking bless it, such a shame.
Absolutely loved the show though, fantastic finish as it went right down to the wire. Laura Collett is fabulous to watch, cannot believe she's only 21 but she rides like someone twice her age. Think some of the regulars should be watching their backs
Rayef is gorgeous up close...we moved down to the finish towards the end to see the last couple finish and couldn't believe how tall Will Fox Pitt is up close (and very pretty hehe) but Rayef was absolutely stunning up close, can only dream of having a horse like that wow! Is it a little bit sad I also got quite star struck seeing Fox Pitt's groom, Jackie - I was trying to explain it to my mum and she was like, so she doesn't actually ride, she just helps out?? (totally didn't understand my views lol)All in all, a fab day, was lovely to get so up close to the stars and would thoroughly recommend this show to anyone who enjoys eventing but would rather not have to walk round the whole course to see everything!
Biscuits and ice cream to all who get this far! Just realised how long I've been writing!!!