Fantastic Frickley. A very sweaty double BE report!

[charlimouse]

This has potential to be a bit of an epic report, so I shall attempt to keep it brief, and just put in a load of pictures!

First up was Jem's BE100 dressage. It was hot, and there were tons of flies around. Jem being a bit of a headshaker managed to hold it all together for her test to get score 31. Good pony!

Next up was Pickle's BE80 dressage (I have now owned him exactly 6 weeks!). It was getting hotter. He did a nice test, just getting a little on the forehand, and showing some resistance in the transitions when he lost balance. Scored 36, which I thought was a little mean, but most people had scores in the 40's so still competitive.

Back on Jem for her SJ. Not her strong point. By this time it was very hot! Amazingly she jumped really well and we managed to leave all the fences up.

Off to the XC. I was beginning to melt! Jem was fab, settled straight into a rhythm and flew round clear comfortably inside the time.

Washed Jem off, stuck my head in a bucket of water in an attempt to cool down. Hopped on Pickle for his SJ. He was awesome, and carried me round for a clear.

Off XC. I don't think I have ever felt so hot! Pickle flew, and was foot perfect. He is an incredible horse. Practically perfect in every way (I can't believe he is only 5!). Finished 2 seconds inside the time. clever horse!

So both horses finished on their dressage scores. Jem ended up 4th and Pickle was 2nd . My horses are amazing! So a much better day than this time last year, as it is exactly a year since I smashed my jaw. What a difference a year makes!

 

[kirstyl]

Fantastic, well done and in extreme heat too!!

 

[Cazzah]

Brilliant results! The new course at Frickley looks lovely too!

 

[kerilli]

well done you, great piccies and great results!

 

[Muddyboots]

Well done! I had a silly refusal
Xc - still gutted! So frustrated!!! Do you know who the photographer was?? I grinned at the camera over one fence but couldnt find the pic when I looked in there trailer so wanted to emial them??

 

[sabel]

What a lovely report, how fantastic to get placed on both horses!

 

[measles]

Great report and super pics Your new boy looks like a really good sort. Is he irish by any chance and how is he bred? Very well done on the placings and as you say what a difference a year makes!

 

[TableDancer]

Well done, fantastic! Love Pickle - it makes such an incredible difference when they have that "can do" attitude, doesn't it?! After a few wimpy warmbloods - nothing wrong with them, just hard work to start with - our little grey pony has been such a breath of fresh air Is Pickle a stayer or a project?

 

[jules89]

looking good! I don't envy you in that heat

the no7 oxer in the BE100sj above looks big!

 

[charlimouse]

Sorry I can't quote as I am on my phone.

Muddy Boots- the photographer was Julia Sherwood I think. The pictures in my report are courtesy of my Dad.

Measles- he has some ID, TB and god only knows what else! He was bred by the Lowmoor stud by Poetic Prince. Apparently his Dam did well showing, Although I don't know anything else about her.

Tabledancer- he is a keeper for the next few years, until the youngsters are grown up, then I will decided which ones to keep and which to sell.

 

[stencilface]

Great pics of both of them, and what fantastic results too you must be over the moon

Love pickle too, but I don't think he looks very happy, please send him to me ASAP, address is: I want your pony, Please please please, dreamland, west yorks

 

[Puppy]

Brilliant, well done I am a huge Pickle fan already - he looks like such a star

 

[renegade]

Well done with both of them, another person here that is a Pickle fan. Frickley looks like a nice course.

 

[CAH7]

Great report, fab results, love Pickle

 

[Hornby]

Excellent report however Pickle needs to come to me to do dressage, I can see he would prefer that to all those uninteresting jumps!

 

[Princess Jess]

Brilliant as always, doesn't Pickles look like a pro already! And I guess Jem's not bad either

 

[MandyMoo]

well done - fab results and lovely photos!!

 

[mudmonkey17]

Brilliant results what lovely horses well done

 

[georgiegirl]

well done! I am a huge pickle fan he looks like so much fun!

Frickley was a lovely course we had a really good day there and I think its a welcome addition to the calendar. My only gripes with it was I didnt think the dressage ground was up to much but hey ho we were all in the same boat. sj and xc courses were fab.

I think your in my section a few before me next weekend at allerton so we must make sure we get to say hi!

 

[charlimouse]

For all those who are willing take Pickle off my hands, he will eat you out of house and home. Therefore I think I had better keep him!!!

georgiegirl - Will have to make sure we actually meet. Having said that I reckon I will be on so early (3rd in the section, starting at 8am!) I won't be particularly awake!

 

[charlimouse]

I also agree with you on the ground front Georgie girl however at the prize givings the organisers did say that 2 weeks ago they had been under water, so I feel I can cut them a little slack! I would think with this extrordinary rainfall they were just pleased to be able to run. Yes they ground wasn't perfect, but they did acknowledge this, and i'm sure every effort will be made at future events.

 

[web76]

Re the ground in the dressage field:

Charlie, the estate owner, had reseeded the field with an amenity grass specifically for the event. However, given the weather we have had this year the grass had never properly taken leaving a very poor grass cover. Also, and as mentioned, two weeks before the event we had 47mm of rain in 24 hours that left half of the arenas under standing water and the event in the balance - this also meant that we couldn't roll it nice and flat because we would have ended up with too hard a surface (after the rain came a week of baking weather!).

As organisers we were therefore left with a unsatisfactory dressage field for competitors. However rather than cancel we decided to run. In the circumstances we felt that this was the correct decision. Given another year, the grass in the field will be properly established and should provide an excellent surface.

An organiser

p.s. A big thanks to all the competitors and volunteers who supported the event - we have had some lovely messages of encouragement. We have had lots of positive feedback about ways to improve the event for 2013